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Overcranking in 720/30p
Had a shoot yesterday and the format requested was 720/30p.
Towards the end of the day there was one shot they wanted as slo-mo. The only time previously I had done this was when shooting 720/24PN (a format specified by an editor – I’m not saavy enough to know when or why to use 24PN over 24P).
I went into Film Cam mode and adjusted the frame rate to 60 fps (this bit of useful info I had gleened from Barry’s book). I confirmed I was still in 720/30p and I shot the sequence. When I played it back, however, it played at the regular rate (unlike the version when I was shooting 24PN).
This was not an issue for the director or the editor.
What should I have done to have overcranked the footage correctly?
Thanks,
-Scott
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8 Replies
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You need to frame rate convert the footage in final cut pro. Only then you will see the over-crank effect.
Only P2 cameras can playback the over/under effects in camera.
Chris Bell
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Oops… I thought I was in the Varicam forum! I assume you were shooting tape….not P2.
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You need to shoot in 30PN.
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So, if 30p was specified, would it adversly affect anything for me to change the format to 30pn to grab the slo-mo and then change back to 30p, or should I have done it ALL in 30pn?
And what would’ve been the difference between the two? I’m assuming it’s something, otherwise it wouldn’t be offered, right?
Thanks, Rumpy.
-Scott
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You can still get the effect. Use FCP’s frame rate converter utility.
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Most of the variable frame rate settings in the HVX are standards that were developed for the Varicam, which records to tape. Rather than trying to change the speed at which the tape runs though the deck, the Varicam always runs at a constant frame rate of 60P, so when an off frame rate like 30 is selected it still records 60 FPS, but flags every other frame as being the ones you want. So even though you chose 60 FPS in the 30P mode, 30P still records 60 frames per second, thus it played back at normal speed, (BTW how/where did you play it back? In camera or in an editor). Since the HVX does not record to tape, they were able to add a few new Native modes to the camera. 30PN only records 30 frames, and thus doubles the recording time on the P2 cards. So recording 60 FPS in 30PN mode does what you think it should whereas any frame rate selected in a non-Native mode will still record 60 FPS to the cards. And if this is not confusing enough, all of the NLE packages seem to deal with flagged frames a little differently. I’m working in Avid, and as far as I know their is no variable frame rate support. I’ve heard Final Cut is better at this, but hopefully some one who knows a little more about this can help us both out, (Barry?)
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Thanks, Barry. I’ll pass that word onto the editor. And good to know for my own reference.
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“BTW how/where did you play it back? In camera or in an editor?”
I played it back in the camera. I didn’t call the director’s attention to it, since I wanted to see for myself first if it would show me the slo-mo or not.
I appreciate the info. Yeah – it is confusing. Especially if it shoots at 60fps anyway. So I don’t know why I need to select that as an option, unless that has to do with the “flagging” where the NLE system removes the extra frames unless I DO shoot 60fps. I should take a Saturday and shoot a lot of variables and see for myself what I come up with.
Thanks,
-Scott
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