What FPS should I record in? (Frames per Second)
There’s alot of numbers and file formats when it comes to recording and exporting videos. So, what is the best frames per second to film? What is the best one to record in? Let’s take a dive and take a look at the numbers.
Commonly, at least in the USA, aka in NTSC regions, the common file formats for FPS include 24, 30, 60, 120, and so on (In PAL regions the numbers differ). Generally, when exporting/viewing a video, videos are generally hosted in 24, 30, and 60 frames per second.
Frames per second are how many “pictures” go by in a given second of video. Essentially, a video is like a flipbook, and frames per second determine how many pages go by.
Most cinema movies are exported in 24 frames per second. This both cuts down on storage/processing speed, but more importantly, gives some motion blur effect that is often deemed as “cinematic.”
Most YouTube/content creator videos are exported in 30 frames per second. This seems to be the current standard on most streaming platforms and is often the default when recording on cellphones or even many consumer/prosumer cameras. This is because 30 frames per second offer a delicate balance between being smooth and not looking artificial.
Sports fans and gamers appreciate videos exported at 60 frames per second. This is because, with more frames, fast-moving objects appear smoother and more “intense.” When dealing with action and fast-moving objects, 60 frames per second offers a smoother picture that captures more action.
Generally, when uploading a youtube video, it is smart to stick with 30 frames per second when exporting unless the video is “cinematic” based or action based. So now, what frames per second should you record at?
It’s always best to record in the frames per second that you are exporting in. If you are exporting in 24 frames per second, it is best to record at thirty. Yes, you can technically record in 30 frames, then export it with little problems at 24 fps, but you lose many of the benefits such as a good speed of motion blur, and run into the possibility of skipped/uneven frames. For the best-looking video, it is best to simply record in what you are exporting in.
What if you want to export in slow motion, aka slowing down the time when editing to get some nice effects? Well, in this case, you would have to record in higher frames per second then exporting. When you slow down the footage, all of the frames will still be used so you will not have to worry about skipped/uneven frames. Depending on how slow you want your video and the target export FPS, the recording format will differ.
One of the most commonly used slowdowns is from 30 fps to 24 fps. This results in the video playing back at 80% speed. This speed is not too noticeable of a difference, but noticeable enough to get a “dreamy” type of effect. This is used quite a bit in music videos, where actors lip-sync to a faster version of the song, so the video can be slowed down, and still look lip-synced.
One of the other common slowdowns, many a time for sport highlight reels is a slowdown from 60 fps to 30 fps. This slows down the footage by 50% and lets the viewer have a nice glimpse into a player’s actions. At Quill’s Digest, we recommend if you do this, to export the video 100% in 30 fps, and avoid having segments being played back at 60fps and some segments at 30 fps due to slow motion. This is because it can potentially cause codec mishaps, and viewers may wonder why some parts of the video look choppier than others.
The third and final FPS recording speed is 120 fps. Although there are many more speeds ranging from 240fps (most cellphone support this) to super slow-motion cameras. However, most consumer/prosumer cameras have a cap at 120 fps. On these prosumer cameras (don’t get it mixed it up with professional cameras), recording at 120 fps often leads to lower video quality as the camera uses less of its camera sensor, leading to lower quality pixels despite still recording at the same aspect ratio. As a result, when recording in these settings, it is imperative to know what kind of lighting you dealing with to avoid having grain. However, here is some math conversion if you do decide to use it:
120 -> 60 fps = 50% speed
120 -> 30 fps = 25% speed
120 -> 24 fps = 20% speed
For most content creators, the most typical types of slowdowns are from 60 fps -> 30 fps (50% speed) and 30 fps -> 24 fps (80% speed).
Overall, stick to recording and exporting in the same frames per second unless you plan on slowing down the video. When exporting a video, make sure all clips are at the same fps to create a consistent image.
We hope Quill’s Digest has been a help to you on your videography career! If you have any questions, feel free to contact us or leave a comment!
