# Pacing

> Set your scene partner's speed, add a delay before any line, and turn on Auto-advance so the scene keeps moving when you dry up.

- URL: https://www.offbook.com/learn/pacing
- Published: 2026-10-14

In performance, the scene keeps moving even when you dry up. Set how fast your scene partner talks, add a beat before a line, and let the scene move on after a silence, so you practice recovering and keeping the momentum.

- Video (MP4, 1:09): https://d2miifk9x400ct.cloudfront.net/v1/pacing/video.mp4
- Captions (WebVTT): https://d2miifk9x400ct.cloudfront.net/v1/pacing/captions.vtt

## Chapters

- 0:00 Intro
- 0:02 Playback speed
- 0:25 Pause before a line
- 0:35 Auto-advance

## Transcript

First, hear your scene partner at normal speed.

Now open Scene controls and set Scene playback speed to 1.5x.

Listen again. The same line now plays faster.

To add a beat before one line, open Edit Scene. In that line's timing box, set Delay before line, then click Save.

If you dry up on a line, Auto-advance moves the scene on after a few quiet seconds. You practice recovering and keeping the momentum, like in a performance.

Under Silence, turn on Auto-advance and pick a delay.

Let's run it.

Stay quiet for three seconds, and the scene moves on.

Turn Auto-advance off when you want more time to think.

Read the guide: [Practice settings & line detection](https://www.offbook.com/help-center/guides/practice-settings).

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