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What exactly is 59.94…? Is it frames, fields..?
Im interning at a post house and i see alot of footage that comes in from Varicams and i notice that every frame rate 23.98 and 29.97 is captured at 59.94, so my question is why is everything recorded at 59.94? I know that extra frames are flagged, but how can 59.94 frames play back at normal speed?
thanks
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3 Replies
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The Varicam VTR records at one speed 59.94 fields per second. Because it’s a progressive camera is can make that many discreet “frames” per second, unlike an interlaced camera which can only make 29.97/30.
When the camera has been set to record at 24fps (really 23.97 when Sys Freq is 59.94) the recorder records multiples of 2 then 3 repeated frames, just like in telecine when converting 24 fps film to video. The samething takes place at 29.97/30 only with this speed each frame is repeated twice.
Hope that helps!
JS
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So even if you record at 24, you can capture uncomprssed 59.94 and still have the 24p look to it?
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That’s correct!
With FCP and Firewire import or through qualified capture card you can edit in a 24p project whereby you only import 40% of the 60 frames (namely 24). These frames are identified by an “A” in the user bit (known as “A” frames).
This retains the 24p “look” as well as providing a considerable savings in storage. The smaller bandwidth also allows the use of less sophisticated (read cheaper) storage drives such as FW Drives and makes DVCPRO100 a no-brainer for producers looking for an inexpensive native HD workflow.
JS
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