What Frame Rate Should You Be Filming In?

Summary

This video explores frame rates in video production, starting from the basics and moving up to more advanced topics like shooting on high-end cameras. The creator explains the difference between 24 and 30 frames per second (fps), emphasizing the cinematic feel of 24 fps, while also touching on higher frame rates like 60, 120, and 240 fps for slow-motion effects. The video also offers insights on why certain frame rates are used in different contexts, including television and film. The creator promotes a beginner-friendly course for those wanting to dive deeper into camera settings and filmmaking techniques.

Takeaways

• 🎥 The video is a segment from a larger course on camera settings and frame rates, aimed at beginners.
• 📷 Frame rate is measured in frames per second (fps), with 24fps being the standard for cinematic looks.
• 📖 Frame rates work like flipbooks—still images played rapidly create the illusion of movement.
• 🌍 Different regions use different video standards: NTSC (common in the U.S.) uses 23.976fps and 29.97fps, while PAL (common in Europe) uses 25fps.
• 🎬 Most movies are shot at 24fps to mimic traditional film cameras and achieve a cinematic feel.
• ⚙️ Shooting and editing must be done in the same frame rate for consistency—mixing frame rates can lead to choppy or incorrect playback.
• 🏃‍♂️ Higher frame rates (like 30fps) produce smoother footage, commonly used in news, sports, and reality TV.
• 🎞️ Slow-motion footage requires higher frame rates (like 60fps or more) to maintain smooth playback when slowed down.
• 🎶 In music videos, slowing down footage requires speeding up the song during filming for proper lip-syncing.
• 💡 Shooting at 60fps or higher consumes more data and light, making it more complex but useful for specific effects like slow motion.

Q & A

What is frame rate and how does it affect video playback?

Frame rate refers to the number of still images, or frames, displayed per second in a video. It affects how smooth or choppy the video appears. A lower frame rate results in choppier playback, while a higher frame rate offers smoother motion.

Why do we use frame rates like 23.976 and 29.97 instead of exact numbers like 24 and 30?

The frame rates 23.976 and 29.97 were introduced due to technical limitations when color TV was developed. To make the technology work, broadcasters slowed down frame rates by 0.1%, and those standards were kept despite advancements in technology.

What is the difference between NTSC and PAL standards for frame rates?

NTSC is a video standard used in countries like the U.S., where common frame rates are 23.976 or 29.97 frames per second. PAL is used in many other regions, and the standard frame rate there is typically 25 frames per second.

Why is 24 frames per second considered the most cinematic?

24 frames per second is considered cinematic because it's the standard frame rate used in most films. This frame rate originated from film cameras, and digital cameras adopted it to mimic the aesthetic of traditional cinema.

Can you mix different frame rates in a single video project?

Mixing frame rates in a video project is possible, but it’s not ideal. If you put 30 frames per second footage into a 24 frames per second timeline, the editing software will drop frames, which could result in a jarring or inconsistent look.

Why would someone choose 30 frames per second over 24?

30 frames per second provides smoother motion, which is commonly used for content like news, reality TV, and sports. It’s more universal because almost all cameras can shoot in 30 frames per second, and it works well for fast-moving content.

What happens when you try to create slow-motion footage from a 24 frames per second video?

When you slow down 24 frames per second footage, it can appear choppy because the frames are stretched out, leaving gaps. To create smooth slow motion, you need to record at a higher frame rate like 60 or 120 frames per second.

Why is shooting at 60 frames per second beneficial for slow-motion effects?

Shooting at 60 frames per second provides more frames to work with, allowing smoother slow-motion footage. You can slow it down to 50% of its original speed without losing quality, ensuring that the footage remains smooth and fluid.

What are the drawbacks of shooting in 60 frames per second for regular video playback?

Shooting in 60 frames per second requires more data storage and processing power. Additionally, the quality per frame might be reduced if you're limited by bandwidth or storage, and most videos don’t benefit from the additional frames in regular playback.

How do professional filmmakers sync audio when shooting in slow motion for music videos?

When shooting in slow motion for a music video, the song is sped up during filming, and the artist lip-syncs to the faster version. In post-production, the footage is slowed down, and the audio is synced to match the original speed of the song.