Quote Okay, so it seems that PD16 is producing films/videos in Varible Frame Rate (VFR) is there a way to change it to Constant Frame Rate (CFR)?
I have looked over the setting and can't find it.

Thanks in advance.

Hi,
Can you give a bit more detail on :
How you have analysed the frame rate format?
Is there a particular reason you want one over the other?

Thanks
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you can use a little program called "Mediainfo" to check frame rates and many other things.

The reason I want one over the other is that I'm a film maker and many streaming services require my film to be in CFR. If my film is in VFR it is rejected. I do have a way to convert it but it is an additional 4-5 hours, so I'd like to save the time if possible.

Thanks

Quote you can use a little program called "Mediainfo" to check frame rates and many other things.

The reason I want one over the other is that I'm a film maker and many streaming services require my film to be in CFR. If my film is in VFR it is rejected. I do have a way to convert it but it is an additional 4-5 hours, so I'd like to save the time if possible.

Thanks

OK, this is by no means a comprehensive answer as the subject of frame rates and mis-reporting (or even finding out a true frame rate) is well known. The issue focuses particularly on h.264 and h.265 production.

Mediainfo does not necessarily report file info "correctly" but it is difficult to find out why or how that incorrect info can be rectified.

A google search will illustrate the difficulties ie these examples
https://github.com/HandBrake/HandBrake/issues/1533
https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/bug-magix-avc-w-nvidia-gpu-renders-variable-frame-rate-since-216--109496/
https://sourceforge.net/p/mediainfo/discussion/297609/thread/e0ef2ce9/#ab70

At this point one could go into the exact container and encoder characteristics that enable frame rates to be reported but it becomes increasingly complex and removed from the practical user of PDR - this is an example for interest:
https://cardinalpeak.com/blog/the-h-264-sequence-parameter-set/

So, your issue is probably better addressed starting from the client end. If your produced video is rejected for being VFR, it would be nice to know what that process is, because as far as my information goes, I understand that PDR does not support any VFR output.

If the files are being rejected as VFR by third parties, it is advisable to contact Technical Support and supply examples etc. as required, because PDR should not produce any VFR output.

There has been another recent issue relating to rejection for VFR so it would be good if the issue was fully investigated and I would recommend you raise a ticket with TS.

Cheers
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Thank you for the information. I have contact TS to see what they say. I did notice that some of my videos were in CFR. I wonder if the container is plaing a part. It seems WMV files appear as CFR but MP4 as VFR ...so I will continue to research this. Thanks again.

Quote Thank you for the information. I have contact TS to see what they say. I did notice that some of my videos were in CFR. I wonder if the container is plaing a part. It seems WMV files appear as CFR but MP4 as VFR ...so I will continue to research this. Thanks again.

This thread is about the same problem I am facing with Amazon. I have been using the MP4 H264 encoder and getting rejected as Variable Frame Rate product.

I have since re encoded with Handbrake (Constant Frame Rate selected) and Iam waiting for the results.

Could upgrading the Video Encoder have a effect on the H264 mp4 files output in Powerdirector 16?

Ray McLaughlin

I also used Handbrake and waiting results ...Amazon has been giving me a runaround for about 3 months ...I think they have some issues as well.

Quote I also used Handbrake and waiting results ...Amazon has been giving me a runaround for about 3 months ...I think they have some issues as well.

I used a Panasonic Gh4 to capture in UHD 3840 x 2160 and then transfered to the stock H264 1920 x 1080 to submit. This submission is a 25 minute Police drama with closed caption. First flile length didn't match.

Second I subitted a second show with our first but used a H265 encoder for the quality. Although I had read this was acceptable it was not and the files info was changed eliminating this format.

The third submission was where Variable Film Rate was blamed.

The Fourth subission was ten days ago and there is now a audio problem. I used Handbrake and the audio file type requested by Amazon. I need to check but I think the previous submissions were Wave files from Powerdirector 16. Amazon has indicated it will be another week,

Any insight into your settings would be appreciated.

Ray McLaughlin

We use several different cameras but in the end it is produced out as an mp4 with 5.1 surround sound. 29.97 FPS.
I have many films already on Amazon and other places but lately Amazon has been a big pain to get something published.
At one point TS told me that they could not publish anything for anyone as they had a software issue. So I had to wait a long time ...I finally grew tired of waiting and questioned them again. This is when they started saying the film file was rejected, but didn't offer a reason. Later after re-submitting and numerous TS contact I was hit with the VFR problem. But I also got an audio issue before that.

I think Amazon is going through some updates and are having issues with the process.

Here is my IMDB page in case you would like to see my list of films. - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2212798/

I will try to update if I happened to get some answers or anything new published on Amazon.

Also I used Handbrake on a couple of the films I have in limbo....and I'm still waiting. One film has been in limbo for well over 2 months.

Thanks
Tom

I will update also as things proceed. Have you upgraded your audio video codecs in the last few months?

Quote I will update also as things proceed. Have you upgraded your audio video codecs in the last few months?

No updates in the last while.

Hi zombietom & Ray Mc -

Do I understand it properly that you're both having the same issue with "Amazon Prime" - i.e. videos produced in PDR are disallowed because the site interprets the frame rate as variable???

I'm still wading through the excellent links posted above by PDModerator that illustrate the issues with MediaInfo & other software misinterpreting frame rate data. That "increasingly complex" link left me feeling increasingly simple!

I had intended to test your issue by uploading a series of videos to Amazon Prime but the complexities might be beyond me, given the info provided in those links

Cheers - Tony
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Quote We use several different cameras but in the end it is produced out as an mp4 with 5.1 surround sound. 29.97 FPS.

Tom, several of us use this as a guideline, https://videodirect.amazon.com/home/help?topicId=G202129880 Figuring what to do with each version of PD is often a challenge. A viable means for you maybe to create a 30fps progressive 1920x1080 profile vs your 29.97fps (maybe interlaced) for PD16. Basically, we've not had a VFR reject if MediaInfo reports:
Frame rate mode : Constant
Frame rate : 30.000 FPS

as it currently does with a stated profile vs when MediaInfo reports "Variable" even though it may in fact be "Constant".

Jeff