Create a Countdown in Adobe Premiere Pro CC (2018)

A countdown timer is a great visual element for sports videos, compilation videos, cooking shows, or anything that is time dependent. Premiere Pro does not have a dedicated countdown tool, but you can build one using the Timecode effect, a little cropping, and the reverse speed feature. It takes a few steps, but once you know the process it is quick to set up.

Today I am going to show you how to create a countdown in Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

How to Create a Countdown Timer

Generating the Timecode

1. Go to File > New > Transparent Video. Click OK with the default settings.
2. Drag the transparent video onto the timeline. Adjust its length to match how long you want the countdown to run.
3. Go to the Effects panel and search for Timecode (under Video Effects > Video).
4. Drag the Timecode effect onto the transparent video.
5. In Effect Controls, find the Timecode settings and make these adjustments:
   • Lower the Opacity of the timecode display down to 0. We will rebuild the look ourselves.
   • Uncheck Field Symbol to remove the semicolon formatting.
   • Set Timecode Source to Generate so it counts from zero.
   • Make sure the Time Display matches your sequence frame rate (24, 30, etc.).

Trimming to Minutes and Seconds

The timecode displays hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. For a countdown, you usually only want minutes and seconds.

6. Apply the Crop effect (Effects > Video Effects > Transform > Crop) to the transparent video.
7. Adjust the Left and Right crop values to cut off the hours and frames portions, leaving only the minutes and seconds visible.

Reversing Into a Countdown

Right now the timer counts up. We need to reverse it so it counts down.

8. Right click the transparent video on the timeline and select Nest. This creates a nested sequence.
9. Right click the nested sequence and go to Speed/Duration.
10. Check the Reverse Speed checkbox and click OK. The timer now counts down.

Styling the Timer

11. To change the color, search for the Tint effect and drag it onto the nested sequence. Adjust the Map White To color to whatever color you want the numbers to be.
12. Position and scale the timer using the Motion controls in Effect Controls to place it where you want on screen.
13. If you need to adjust where the countdown starts (for example, starting at 5:00 instead of the full duration), extend the nested sequence longer and trim the beginning to start at the time you want.

Tips

• Layer it over footage. Place the countdown on a track above your video. The transparent background means only the numbers show up on top of your footage.
• Add a background shape. Create a rectangle graphic behind the timer for a cleaner, more polished look. A semi-transparent dark rectangle makes the numbers readable on any footage.
• Animate the last few seconds. Add a scale animation to pulse the timer when it hits the last 3 seconds for dramatic emphasis.
• Use sound effects. Pair the countdown with a ticking sound for each second and a buzzer or alarm when it hits zero.

That is how you create a countdown in Premiere Pro. It takes a few more steps than a simple text overlay, but the result is a functional, customizable countdown timer you can use in any project.