-
multiple frame rates on one timeline
Hello Creative Cow,
I’m editing a 12 min. short film that, do to human error, involves 2 frame rates. The video was shot on the Panasonic DVX 100A. Almost all of it was shot in the 24P Advanced mode and captured into FCP using the advanced pulldown removal, and is now native 23.98 fps. A few clips, however, were shot in regular 29.97, and I need them to be able to be part of a sequence with all the 23.98 clips. I’m using the latest version of FCP 6, and I’m editing on a 23.98 timeline. I thought that FCP 6 was supposed to have some sort of “open format timeline,” where clips of different frame rates could be edited together seemlessly.
Though the playback quality for the 29.97 footage in the 23.98 timeline is decent enough (though not perfect) in the FCP viewer, the differences in frame rates becomes very apparent when I burn it to DVD (using DVD Studio Pro) and watch it on a larger television screen. I don’t even want to imagine what it might look like when projected onto a large screen as part of a film festival. The clips in 29.97 are very choppy/jerky, especially when the actors move.
This happens no matter what, even though I’ve rendered everything. I’ve also tried de-interlacing the 29.97 clips, and while it improves the overall picture quality it does nothing to help this jerky motion.
What am I doing wrong? Could I possibly have the wrong sequence/timeline settings preventing this “multiple format” feature?Could I be rendering improperly? Unfortunately, re-capturing the 23.98 footage as 29.97 in order to edit everything in a 29.97 timeline is not an option right now. I’d really appreciate any tips to fix this problem without re-capturing.
-
3 Replies
-
Use Compressor to convert the clips to the same frame rate. Make sure you turn on the Frame Controls and set the retiming controls to Better or Best.
-
Hi, Melissa. John hit this one right on the head. You mentioned that “a few” clips were shot at 29.97. This won’t take too long in Compressor, and like he said, turn Frame Controls on and set the controls to “Better” or “Best”. You might consider using “Best”, since you only have a few clips to convert. Don’t be alarmed when the file size of those clips jumps into orbit. I use this workflow quite regularly…although I’m ready to give the Nattress software a try, just to see how well it compares to the Compressor method. Good luck!
-
I was wondering if it is possible to edit clips that have different frame rates in the same timeline. I am using FCP 7. I have some footage that were shot on a canon 7D some at a frame rate of 60 and the rest 30.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up