Please help me understand timeline rate vs produce rate with slow motion

Nicko1117

Newbie Joined: May 14, 2016 22:58 Messages: 2 Offline

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Sep 01, 2017 11:51

Hello all. I'm trying to understand FPS a little better when it comes to the various aspects of video. I am shooting sports cars and action sports. I tend to shoot at 60 FPS so that I can have regular speed video as well as slow motion mixed in where I need it. I usually slow my footage to 40% from the 60 FPS which would result in 24fps.

My first question is, Do I use a 60 FPS timeline or 24 FPS timeline for all my clips? I have seen conflicting information on this. Obviously when you are in the middle of shooting, it is not always possible to quickly go into your settings to change your frame rate so I tend to stay primarily on 60 FPS and if I need slow motion then it stays pretty smooth since I don't go below a 24 FPS 40% reduction.

My second question is, what do I produce the project at? Which setting? Do I use the 24 FPS no matter what because that is what the so called "film look" is or do I produce in 60 FPS because that was what my camera originally recorded the clips at?

I hope I explained this clearly. Much appreciated for any feedback.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Sep 01. 2017 11:54

tomasc

Senior Contributor Joined: Aug 25, 2011 12:33 Messages: 6464 Offline

Sep 01, 2017 12:00

I have 59.94 fps set in preferences and see no ill effect on any produced video yet as my original are of that or 29.97 fps.

Prizm

Newbie Joined: Oct 01, 2007 09:07 Messages: 36 Offline

Sep 01, 2017 19:47

If you're shooting at 60fps, then I'd go with a 60fps timeline. If you import a 60fps video to a 24fps timeline, then every clip will look slow motion by default (your timeline plays 24 frames per second, but your clip contains 60 frames per second).

Depends how PD handles it, but you might have to speed up all your clips. What would that do to the audio? At worst it would speed up the audio and then you'd have to do pitch correction.So it might mean a lot of messing around for most of your video. The only good thing is for your slow motion parts, you won't need to artificially slow down the clip since a 60fps clip would play back in slow motion by default on a 24fps timeline.

If you really want the 24fps look, then it'd be best to film the bulk of it in 24fps and use 60fps for shots you want in slow motion.

Some editors have a frame rate/interpolation plugin that can adjust the frames to give it a 24fps look (or can help give your 24fps video a 60fps look). Don't know if PD has this feature though.

Nicko1117

Newbie Joined: May 14, 2016 22:58 Messages: 2 Offline

Sep 01, 2017 22:41

Quote If you're shooting at 60fps, then I'd go with a 60fps timeline. If you import a 60fps video to a 24fps timeline, then every clip will look slow motion by default (your timeline plays 24 frames per second, but your clip contains 60 frames per second).

Depends how PD handles it, but you might have to speed up all your clips. What would that do to the audio? At worst it would speed up the audio and then you'd have to do pitch correction.So it might mean a lot of messing around for most of your video. The only good thing is for your slow motion parts, you won't need to artificially slow down the clip since a 60fps clip would play back in slow motion by default on a 24fps timeline.

If you really want the 24fps look, then it'd be best to film the bulk of it in 24fps and use 60fps for shots you want in slow motion.

Some editors have a frame rate/interpolation plugin that can adjust the frames to give it a 24fps look (or can help give your 24fps video a 60fps look). Don't know if PD has this feature though.

I actually don't think that is the case. I've dropped 60 fps footage before into a 24 fps project timeline. It plays back in normal speed. You can still then use the speed tool to make the slow motion smooth. Just didn't know if it was proper to work on a timeline and render in the fps you shot. Really wish PD had an "interpret footage" like premiere pro has so that you could smoothly make 60 fps look like 24 fps if u had to.

Prizm

Newbie Joined: Oct 01, 2007 09:07 Messages: 36 Offline

Sep 02, 2017 00:19

Quote I've dropped 60 fps footage before into a 24 fps project timeline. It plays back in normal speed.

Yeah I just tried it with PD, and it processes the clip and drops frames to make it match 24fps. It does this independently of the audio, so that's good. Premiere Pro does the same. It does seem sluggish when editing these converted clips though, it seems to reprocess them to 24fps on the fly (which is a good thing in case you decide to slow a clip down).