FPS Workflow

d90123

Member
I am 95% sure I am ok, I honestly just wanted to double check my onsite shooting workflow with folks here so I do not waste a week of shooting. I have done video projects in the past, made some big mistakes, am currently getting better, and again just wanted to double check.

I will be shooting a series of instructional videos. In the past I have shot at 30 frames per second, but I have found I do like the look of 24 better. The reason I shot 30 is because my drone only had 30.

For my new projects I want to shoot all my main footage at 24 fps because i like the look, and it seems like it will make for smaller files (these are long, digital downloads so it does help). I will mix in drone footage shot at 30 fps and drop it onto the 24 fps timeline. I actually like the effect of it playing a bit slower. I will also shoot some rare shots with my other cameras at 60 fps for slow motion stuff.

There is so much conflicting information out there, I just decided to post here before I start shooting. Thanks for any reassurance that the above workflow will be ok!
 
We've been doing exactly what you are talking about shooting our documentary. Some drone, lots of Go Pro and lots of b-roll footage. All interviews are shot at 23.98 for a 23.98 timeline but all other b-roll footage is shot either 30p (drones and some Go Pros) or 60p (Canon C200, C300 MKII b-roll and Canon XF-405 b-roll and our Go Pro Hero 6s) because it is sports and we know we will want to do speed ramps and slow motion on some of it. 30p for a 23.98 timeline also works great for gimbal footage, smooths out those little bumps and bobbles without looking "slow motion", has a nice surreal quality. Our rule has been, if it has talking heads, 23.98, everything else 30p or 60p. If our drone did UHD 60p, I would shoot that but Mavic Pro only does UHD 30p and that's fine.
 
Using higher framerates in a 24p/25p timeline for slow-motion is a common practice in the industry, but it's important to make sure your NLE knows what to do.

For instance...in FCPX you can drop in 30p/60p/etc. into a 24p timeline, but the software will then only drop the frames of the footage and play everything back at regular speed (no slow-motion).

If you would like slow-motion for those 30p/60p clips, you need to make sure a certain setting is on for those clips (they call it "Automatic Speed" in FCPX). It will instantly turn that footage into slow-motion.

Also - keep in mind - you're able to lower the shutter speed below the framerate on some cameras and you can't do that with footage you want to slow down later. So if you're planning on using the 30p or 60p from the other cameras for slow-motion, the shutter needs to be AT LEAST 1/30, 1/60, respectively. (Higher is recommended for nicer slow-motion.)
 
Using higher framerates in a 24p/25p timeline for slow-motion is a common practice in the industry, but it's important to make sure your NLE knows what to do.

For instance...in FCPX you can drop in 30p/60p/etc. into a 24p timeline, but the software will then only drop the frames of the footage and play everything back at regular speed (no slow-motion).

If you would like slow-motion for those 30p/60p clips, you need to make sure a certain setting is on for those clips (they call it "Automatic Speed" in FCPX). It will instantly turn that footage into slow-motion.

Also - keep in mind - you're able to lower the shutter speed below the framerate on some cameras and you can't do that with footage you want to slow down later. So if you're planning on using the 30p or 60p from the other cameras for slow-motion, the shutter needs to be AT LEAST 1/30, 1/60, respectively. (Higher is recommended for nicer slow-motion.)

Good FCP X tip Nor Bro!
 
Thank you for the replies. I think for the first project in my life i am finally going to have a good handle on what framerates to shoot before i actually am shooting.
 
in FCPX you can drop in 30p/60p/etc. into a 24p timeline, but the software will then only drop the frames of the footage and play everything back at regular speed (no slow-motion).

I believe it works the same in Premiere: unless you first right-click on the file and choose interpret footage > 23.976fps, then dropping a 60fps in a 24fps timeline will just drop frames.

Does anybody know how to do this in Resolve? I'm switching to that in September (or whenever my p4k arrives) and my otherwise very nice 101 tutorial from Ripple Training doesn't explain anything about frame rates
 
Thanks. That's basically identical to Premiere in all fronts, so, great!!

(and sorry for my lazyness)
 
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