In this Sony Movie Studio Platinum 13 tutorial, I show how to render/export 48fps, 50fps and 60fps video, suitable for upload to YouTube.
YouTube now allows users to upload Higher Frame Rate (HFR) video. The people who are the most excited about this are Gamers, because high frame rate video is far superior for recording fast moving objects. However there is no restriction to anyone recording and uploading high frame rate video. It has a super real quality that makes people look like they could jump straight out of the screen. The future is now here just a few short years after HD video revolutionized YouTube.
Topics covered in this tutorial
Advantages of High Frame Rate Video
How to Record High Frame Rate Video
How to Discover my Source Video's Frame Rate and Media Properties
Starting a New Project - Quick Method
Importing Video into Movie Studio Platinum and Setting Project Properties
Checking your Project Properties and Tweaking a Few Extra Settings
How to Create a Custom Make Movie / Render As Export Template
Creating a Custom Mainconcept AVC/AAC Template
Creating a Custom Sony AVC/MVC Template
Advantages of High Frame Rate Video
High frame rate video is double the frame rate of conventional video, which means the video image will look a lot sharper. If an object is moving fast across across the screen, where it is located in Frame 1 will be very different to where it is located in Frame 2 (on and on it goes). With higher frame rate video, there will now be Frame 1, Frame 2, Frame 3 and Frame 4........ to record the travel of an object. This means the video should appear to have a lot less Motion Blur and hence be sharper and clearer.
Recording at a higher frame rate is also used for creating smooth Slow Motion effects in post production. If you plan to add some slow motion sequences to your projects, you must record at double the normal frame rate or higher. Some cameras like Go Pros can record at 24, 25, 30, 48, 50, 60, 100, 120, 200 and 240 fps. If you were going to deliver a project at 50 fps or 60 fps, you should record your slow motion sequences at 100/200 fps or 120/240fps and then slow the video back down to the Project Settings frame rate. This will give you super smooth and very sharp video.
Traditional Frame Rates
Traditional video up until now is normally recorded at 24 fps, 25 fps or 30 fps.
- 24 fps (23.976) is used for creating the "film look" and what Hollywood Films have traditionally used.
- 25 fps is the main frame rate used in countries that support the PAL video system.
- 30 fps (29.97) is the main frame rate used in countries that support the NTSC video system.
High Frame Rate Video
High Frame Rate video is often referred to as Double PAL 50p or Double NTSC 60p (59.94) video, because that is exactly what it is. There are three double frame rates you can choose from.
- 48 fps is a new HFR format that Hollywood has been experimenting with. Peter Jackson's The Hobbit was filmed at 48 fps. Using this higher frame caused a polarization of views. Many people didn't like the new look, however others see this as new way forward. There is an interesting article that discusses this here.
- 50 fps is Double PAL and used in PAL countries.
- 60 fps (59.94) is Double NTSC and used in NTSC countries.
How to record High Frame Rate (HFR) Video
High Frame Rate video can be recorded in two main ways.
Gamers use screen capture devices or software programs to record exactly what they see on their computer monitor or TV screen. Most Gamers prefer to record at 60 fps, no matter which country/video region they live in, because websites like YouTube can play back 48 fps, 50 fps and 60 fps in all regions and countries.
If you are recording HFR video with a digital camera, you will be limited to the recording options that have been pre-programmed into the camera. If you buy a DSLR or Mirrorless camera in the USA that supports high frame rate video, it will be an NTSC model, which means you will be able to record at 60 fps but not 50 fps.
If you buy your camera in Europe, Asia or Australia, it will probably be a PAL camera and only support up to 50 fps video. However camera technology has been evolving extremely fast during the last 2 years and progressive manufacturers like Sony and Go Pro, often sell International Models which can be set to PAL or NTSC settings, which means you can record at any frame rate you like. Go Pro seems to be the only camera that offers 48 fps unless you are using a professional video camera or an external video recording device.
How to Discover my Source Video's Frame Rate and Media Properties
This is a bit of a side step before we continue and a good tip for becoming more confident in understanding different video formats. If you go to the Project Media tab or Explorer tab and click on top of your video, you will see a read out that describes your Video's Properties and Format.
Here is the example I showed in the video tutorial at top of this article. It tells us that the video is 1920x1080, uses an actual Frame Rate of 59.94 fps, is Progressive style video and uses AVC video format.
I always do this step when I create a new project, so that I am confident my Project Properties are going to be set correctly. If you screw up your Frame Rate settings, it can really turn your whole project into a big ugly mess.
Special note for Gamers who Video Screen Capture from their computer monitor - please read the following before you continue !!!
Normal video you see on YouTube and your TV, uses an Aspect Ratio of 16:9. Most computer monitors use an Aspect Ratio of 16:9, however some monitors use an Aspect Ratio of 16:10.
16:9 monitors use resolutions like 1280x720, 1600x900, 1920x1080, 2560x1440 & 3840x2160
16:10 monitors use resolutions like 1280x800, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1200 & 2560x1600
If you have captured your game play on a 16:10 screen, you can't use the Match Media settings technique I am about to show below. Instead you will have to set your Project Properties manually to the same as what you see in the screen shots. When you import your 16:10 videos into a 16:9 project, you will end up with small black bars either side of the video.
If the program asks to Match the Media settings - say NO !
To remove the black bars, you can use Event Pan/Crop and set to Preset 16:9 Widescreen.
Starting a New Project - Quick Method
There are many ways to start a new project and if you are a Jedi Master, you probably have worked out your own method by now and don't need to listen to me. If you are a beginner, I like to keep things as simple as possible and use some cool shortcuts. My first shortcut involves completely ignoring the top section of the New Project window. We are going to use an easier method for setting the Project Properties and make sure they match your source videos.
1. Go to Project / New to start New Project wizard.
2. Enter a Name for you high frame rate project.
3. Check that the Folder location is set to where you want your project saved to. Click Browse if it needs changing.
4. Select Manage project files and this will auto-magically create a folder structure for your project files to live in.
Importing Video into Movie Studio Platinum and Setting your Project Properties
There is a simply way to start all your Movie Studio projects, which should gaurantee that your Project Properties are set accurately every time.
Import your first video directly onto the Timeline. As soon as you release your mouse button, the following window should pop up. If this window does not appear, it normally means your Project Properties already match your Source Video's Properties. Say YES to this question and/or select Always base project video settings on first-added video and then say yes.
Checking Your Project Properties and tweaking a few extra Settings
Step 1 - Press the Project Properties button above the Preview Window.
Step 2 - In the window below we can see that Movie Studio has set the Video Project Properties to Match the Properties of the video I imported into the project - the same video I showed the read out for in Project Media tab.
One setting that you will have to set manually is Full Resolution Rendering Quality, which should always be set to Best. By default the De-Interlace method is normally set to Blend Fields. This setting only has an effect on Interlaced Video if it is added to the project. If you know that all your videos are definitely Progressive style video, it is safe to set this to None. Most modern video is now Progressive, with Interlaced being an older format that is being used less and less.
Step 3 - Select the Audio tab and make sure Resample and stretch quality is set to Best. Then click Apply & OK.
How to Create a Custom Make Movie / Render As Export Template
Press Make Movie at top of desktop, then select Save it to my Hard Drive, then select Advanced Options.
Now you are in the Render As window and can select a Format to render/export to. The two best Formats for upload to YouTube are Mainconcept AVC/AAC or Sony AVC/MVC.
CREATING A CUSTOM MAINCONCEPT AVC/AAC TEMPLATE
Select Mainconcept AVC/AAC from the Formats list and then select Internet HD 1080p from the Templates list, then press Customize Template.
Double NTSC 60 fps (59.94) Custom Settings
If you are creating a 60 fps project, use the settings shown in screen shot below.
The most important thing to change is the Frame Rate to 59.94 fps
You can manually type this Frame Rate into the field.
The Encode Mode will vary depending on the capabilities of your computer. CPU only is the safest option if you are unsure. If you have a compatible Nvidia Graphics Card, use CUDA. If you have a compatible AMD Radeon Graphics Card, use OpenCL.
Once all your settings look good, you can save your custom Template for next time and then press Render to begin your export. What you name your custom template is up to you - whatever makes the most sense to you is correct!
Double PAL 50 fps Custom Settings
If you are creating a 50 fps project, use the settings shown in screen shot below.
The most important thing to change is the Frame Rate to 50.00 fps
You can manually type this Frame Rate into the field.
The Encode Mode will vary depending on the capabilities of your computer. CPU only is the safest option if you are unsure. If you have a compatible Nvidia Graphics Card, use CUDA. If you have a compatible AMD Radeon Graphics Card, use OpenCL.
Once all your settings look good, you can save your custom Template for next time and then press Render to begin your export. What you name your custom template is up to you - whatever makes the most sense to you is correct!
Creating a Custom Sony AVC/MVC Template
Select Sony AVC/MVC from the Formats list and then select Internet 1920x1080-30p from the Templates list, then press Customize Template.
Double NTSC 60 fps (59.94) Custom Settings
If you are creating a 60 fps project, use the settings shown in screen shot below.
The most important thing to change is the Frame Rate to 59.94 fps
The Encode Mode will vary depending on the capabilities of your computer. CPU only is the safest option if you are unsure. If you have a compatible Nvidia Graphics Card, use CUDA. If you have a compatible AMD Radeon Graphics Card, use OpenCL.
Once all your settings look good, you can save your custom Template for next time and then press Render to begin your export. What you name your custom template is up to you - whatever makes the most sense to you is correct!
Double PAL 50 fps Custom Settings
If you are creating a 50 fps project, use the settings shown in screen shot below.
The most important thing to change is the Frame Rate to 50.00 fps
The Encode Mode will vary depending on the capabilities of your computer. CPU only is the safest option if you are unsure. If you have a compatible Nvidia Graphics Card, use CUDA. If you have a compatible AMD Radeon Graphics Card, use OpenCL.
Once all your settings look good, you can save your custom Template for next time and then press Render to begin your export. What you name your custom template is up to you - whatever makes the most sense to you is correct!
Time for a cup of tea or crack open a beer ☺
About Derek Moran
Derek Moran is the author of all articles on Movie Studio Zen.
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