Frame Rate help

Xenofex2 wrote on 12/14/2019, 10:30 AM

I am suffering from frame rate confusion and hope that someone can please help. I am aiming to put together six short video clips plus a possible purchase via Catooh for an introduction, but first would like to seek further advice re frame rates.

The six are all 1280 x 720 but five of the frame rates are 23.99, and one, 29.98.

Now I had understood, rightly or wrongly, that the frame rate for a project should be the same for all clips used. At this stage I did then check my MEP(19.0.1.31) and noted that 1280 x 720 settings already set within the Program for a new project were for 29.97 or 25fps, or of course one could use the User Defined option.

Now for no specific reason other than making a decision, I decided to use my Movavi Video Converter and set it (I thought) to convert to 1280 x 720 at 29.97 for all my six video clips.

But of the five videos that started out at 23.99 ended up, after using the Converter at …. 29.99, 29.98, 30.08, 30.01, and 29.97. Five all different and only one converted at what I was aiming for!. My sixth video, originally at 29.98 was converted to 30.03. So this has made it worse, six different fps. Now it could be that my issue is with Movavi and I need to seek help from them but just don’t know.

Incidentally, looking at Catooh, I see that my potential Intro clip is at 1280 x 720 at 30fps or presumably a cheaper option being at 640 x 360 at 30fps and assume this can be stretched/converted?. But now I also have a seventh fps in this very short project.

Think I need to put a ‘Frame Rate for Dummies’ book on my Christmas list.

Any suggestions are gratefully received.

George

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 12/14/2019, 12:05 PM

@Xenofex2

Hi George

The general recommendation is to set the project framerate to that of the majority source video.

However - what is your final framerate for export going to be?

Mixing different framerates is always a problem and can introduce issues which are difficult to work around.

For example, if you are going to be exporting at 30 fps there are potentially going to be some pulldown issues, particularly if there are scenes with movement across the screen or panning shots.

At 25fps export, potentially the pulldown will be more apparent in the 30 or 29.97 fps clips.

. . . . 29.99, 29.98, 30.08, 30.01, and 29.97 . . . .

Is this what MEP is reporting or MediaInfo analysis?

Personally I do not think the slight differences are of concern, IMHO they will have minimal effect in comparison to the effects of pulldown.

. . . . ‘Frame Rate for Dummies’ . . . .

How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go? 😂😂😂

HTH

John EB

Xenofex2 wrote on 12/14/2019, 1:00 PM

John,

I must admit that I had never heard of that term 'pulldown' but after reading that 'link information' I think I will now cross off my list that Dummies book. I don't actually fancy staying right at the bottom of a rabbit hole.

However there was a comment you made that I did pick up on that made us stop and think - 'is it what MEP is reporting or MediaInfo analysis'. Actually it was neither. I had right clicked each converted video clip and looked at Properties. Checking again but this time with MediaInfo and see that all are 29.97. What an idiot! - please don't agree.

Another lesson learnt.

Many Thanks John

George

johnebaker wrote on 12/14/2019, 1:33 PM

@Xenofex2

Hi George

It is good to know that Windows does not get frame rates correct.

Mystery solved and no rabbits in sight!

John EB

pmikep wrote on 12/15/2019, 11:33 PM

As Xenofex2 noted, I also noticed that MEP 2020 didn't always get frame rates correct either. At least not according to MediaInfo. And I presume that MediaInfo is the gold standard and tie breaker here?

Xenofex2 wrote on 12/16/2019, 4:26 AM

Sorry, just to clarify. It was not MEP that did not get the frames right.

I now know that each video clip used should all be the same frame rate so was just using the Properties tab (right click) in Windows to check before starting my project. I realise I should have used MediaInfo instead.

I had no problems with MEP and have since exported my video that in the end involved seven short clips of, initially, different frame rates without any problems.

George

pmikep wrote on 12/16/2019, 9:51 AM

Okay, my misread. In any event, it seems to me that sometimes MEP doesn't get the frame rate right either. I will grab a screen shot next time I notice it.