Ratcheting

Ratcheting is a term coined by dani_phantump in 2026 that refers to the reversal of a clip without using a reverse option or effect. This method is done by the fine splicing of the entirety a forward motion clip, with the segments then rearranged precisely in reverse order, creating a manufactured clip "reverse" composed of the segments which remain in forward motion to typically provide a "choppy" result, visually and aurally akin to the clicking sounds of a ratchet tool. The choppiness of a "ratchet" reverse depends on the length of the small segments created from a clip; finer splicing usually results in a smoother visual reverse with the technique identified largely in the retained choppiness of the audio, while less finer splicing increases the visual choppiness, depicting the motion to be stuttering backwards.

Ratcheting was first developed as a technique by users of Windows Movie Maker, a program which had no built-in reverse effect, as a way to cheat a reverse effect in video output nonetheless. For years the technically was unofficially referred to in variations of a "WMM Reverse" for this reason. This technique was primarily first used by NS2, and was also subsequently used by DaftPunkYoshi, Emperor Ing and strong414bad. Occasionally, this technique has also been used by users of Sony Vegas and other editors that do have built in reverse effects due to appreciating the visual appearance of ratcheting as a technique and reversal method. This technique is similar in effect to stuttering or scrambling, as it is best utilized within tennis upon moments of defined or constant motion, as a way to create disruptions in and distortions of that motion. Ratcheting can also be accomplished with live editing techniques through the captured manual dragging of clips over the playback line as it progresses down the timeline during active playback.