---
title: "DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor intelligent edit modes: Smart Insert, Append, Ripple Overwrite, Close Up, Place On Top, and Source Overwrite"
author: "Cutsio Team"
date: "2026-05-15"
lastmod: "2026-05-15"
category: "DaVinci Resolve Advanced Workflows"
excerpt: "The DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor features six intelligent edit modes — Smart Insert, Append to End, Ripple Overwrite, Close Up, Place On Top, and Source Overwrite — that use the smart indicator to eliminate timeline navigation."
tags: ["DaVinci Resolve","Speed Editor","Smart Insert","Append to End","Ripple Overwrite","Close Up","Source Overwrite","Cut Page"]
---

## How do intelligent edit modes work on the DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor?

The Speed Editor's intelligent edit modes use the smart indicator in the timeline to determine where to place clips, eliminating the need to manually set in and out points in the timeline. The six edit mode keys are located above the in and out buttons for easy reach by feel. Each time you edit, the Cut page keeps the focus on the source tape, allowing you to stay in browse mode and place clips continuously.

![Edit Modes](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/keyboard/edit-modes/edit-modes-lg@2x.jpg?_v=1603341771)

## How does Smart Insert work on the Speed Editor?

Smart Insert is similar to a traditional insert edit, but smarter. It eliminates the need to switch to the timeline and place an in point. Press Smart Insert and the speed editor locates the nearest edit in the timeline and inserts the clip at that location, pushing everything downstream to make room.

![Smart Insert](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/keyboard/edit-modes/insert-lg@2x.jpg?_v=1605159854)

This is ideal for adding B-roll between existing clips without manually positioning the playhead. The smart indicator automatically detects the correct edit point based on your timeline position.

## How does Append to End work on the Speed Editor?

Append to End adds the selected clip to the end of the timeline. Set in and out points on the clip in the source viewer, press Append to End, and the clip is added after the last edit. This mode is perfect for building edits from content shot in time order.

![Append to End](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/keyboard/edit-modes/append-lg@2x.jpg?_v=1605159849)

For editors who pre-select footage in Cutsio and export an EDL, the XML import effectively appends clips in the order they were highlighted. The Append to End mode on the Speed Editor mirrors this behavior for manual additions.

## How does Ripple Overwrite work on the Speed Editor?

Ripple Overwrite replaces a clip in the timeline with the selected clip. If the new clip is a different length, the timeline duration ripples to accommodate the change — longer clips push downstream, shorter clips pull in. This is one of the most popular edit functions for fast replacements.

![Ripple Overwrite](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/keyboard/edit-modes/ripple-lg@2x.jpg?_v=1605159858)

## How does Close Up work on the Speed Editor?

Close Up creates two camera angles from a single camera shot. Shoot your subject with a wide or mid shot, press Close Up, and the Speed Editor creates a slightly zoomed-in version of the same shot and places it on the track above. This simulates a second camera angle without requiring a second camera.

![Close Up](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/keyboard/edit-modes/closeup-lg@2x.jpg?_v=1605159852)

## How does Place On Top work on the Speed Editor?

Place On Top puts the selected clip on the layer above the background footage already in the timeline. If no layer exists above the background, the speed editor adds a new video track automatically. Use this for titles, graphics, and overlay elements.

![Place On Top](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/keyboard/edit-modes/place-lg@2x.jpg?_v=1605159856)

## How does Source Overwrite work with multi-camera footage on the Speed Editor?

Source Overwrite is designed for multi-camera shoots with synced timecode. It automatically matches the clip's timecode to the timecode of the current timeline position and places the clip in sync on the layer above. Browse through your shots and add cutaways without manually aligning clips — a simpler alternative to traditional multi-cam editing.

![Source Overwrite](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/keyboard/edit-modes/source-lg@2x.jpg?_v=1605159861)