Smoothing a slow motion shot. . . how can I do it?

[Stephen Pruitt]

Hi there. . .

We don't normally ever use slow-motion shots shot at 24fps, but in one spot we need to stretch a shot out a bit. We've slowed it down, but it is now a little jittery. I'm curious if there is some FCS command that will allow us to create intermediate frames that don't exist that will make it play smoother (like normal) but at our now slower speed.

I know this is probably totally elementary, but any suggestions would be helpful.

We have FCS 2 and also have Shake (but have never used it!).

Thanks much.

Stephen

 

[Uli Plank]

Shake has such a function, called flow motion,and Motion 3 too (probably the same core), but FCP is limited to frame blending.

 

[ThomtheEditor]

...as does after effects, frame interpolation thru weighted blending that has almost always yielded a satisfactory result

 

[A. Clint Litton]

How does the time remap handle stuff like this? Is its use relegated to frame blending as well, or handling it a little like taking 24fps source material and slowing it down to play back at, say, 18fps, in effect stretching out the length of the source footage. Thoughts?

 

[ThomtheEditor]

the ramp feature under the motion tab? that has the same limitations as speed changes within the timeline, the only difference is that you can keyframe time, in effect building your own motion curve to make multiple speed changes, or ramps, from one timescale to another at specific locations.

What you're looking to do is referred to as time stretching, taking a length of footage and making the entire clip either shorter or longer, but at a constant rate/percentage. In final cut both of these functions are handled the same way, with the only options given to you being whole frames (stuttery) or frame blending (blurry), for full frame interpolation you'reunfortunately going to have to leave final-cut for one of the options suggested above.

It's a shame too speed changes are one of fcp's worst features, i was cutting back in film school on a premier system (pre, pro-cs series mind you!) and even that had better speed estimations than final cut, sorry clint!
~T

 

[Alexis Hanawalt]

The BEST solution that isn't too expensive is the Twixtor plugin ~$300 - which does motion-weighted vector based frame interpolation - I slowed down someone sneezing to stretch out over several minutes and it looked like it had been originally shot at 50,000FPS. No kidding. We used it to light effect on a few scenes in Super High Me.

 

[Uli Plank]

I absolutely second this, Twixtor can yield gorgeous results.
Like any flow motion technology it's very scene dependent, though. If your background has high detail instead of being out of focus or uniform, it may be pulled along like some kind of jelly, and you'll need to mask.

 

[Stephen Pruitt]

I think I'll try Shake first. . . and then see about Twixter if it doesn't work the way I'm hoping.

Thanks!

Stephen

 

[Paul Provost]

Try using compressor also (less learning curve). it uses the same engine (optical flow) as shake and motion. if you go to the frame controls tab you can further tweak for higher quality...

 

[Mark L. Pederson]

Kronos plugin in Furnace for FCP by Foundry -

http://toolfarm.stores.yahoo.net/fofuficutprl.html

 

[Sidney L. Plaut]

an old trick is to use motion blur for increase it in the "motion tab."

very simple

 

[Dustin Bowlin]

The BEST solution that isn't too expensive is the Twixtor plugin ~$300 - which does motion-weighted vector based frame interpolation - I slowed down someone sneezing to stretch out over several minutes and it looked like it had been originally shot at 50,000FPS. No kidding. We used it to light effect on a few scenes in Super High Me.

Gotta agree with Walt, Twixtor is your best bang for the buck.