Sensor framerate

[Stephen Rangott]

Hi all,

I'm investigating why I'm getting a audio sync issue with a RED scarlet. I shot some tests confirming 44.1 and 48khz with 24fps and 25fps. I'm yet to sync up the results, later this week.

However in the meantime I've just noticed that there is a new option in a newer firmware upgrade to change the sensor framerate. From what I can see it should automatically be changed to match the timebase unless you specify otherwise. What exactly is the purpose of the sensor framerate option if you can just change it through the timebase option? Is it purely a creative option or a technical option to reduce flicker in different regions. (Im in a pal region so if I had to match to a 60hz screen for whatever reason while maintaining a 25fps project)

Can someone please clear this up for me?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Trent Lillehaugen]

The camera firmware has always had two different frame rates.

First, you have the project framerate. You can also think of this as your playback rate.

Second, is the sensor framerate. This is the capture rate. This is the framerate shown of the top left of your monitor.

When you change the project framerate we automatically adjust the sensor rate to match. You can adjust the sensor framerate independently - allowing for slow or fast motion. When the two don't match you are in so-called varispeed mode. In varispeed mode the sensor framerate will be shown in yellow and audio recording is disabled.

 

[Stephen Rangott]

So basically its just varispeed in a different name? This is the first time I've seen the sensor framerate option, I'm familiar with varispeed and timebase it just seems like another name and option that could confuse people?

 

[Andre W.]

So basically its just varispeed in a different name? This is the first time I've seen the sensor framerate option, I'm familiar with varispeed and timebase it just seems like another name and option that could confuse people?

From the very beginning with the EPIC's / Scarlets / Dragons any time that you went into the upper left option and changed the fps you were always changing the sensor rate. Now it just gives it an official name. Other cameras do the same thing, calling it the same thing as well. Sensor FPS and then usually deeper in the menu Project FPS. That way you don't accidentally record 48fps for 48fps playback when you really want 48fps for 24fps playback.

 

[Stephen Rangott]

Awesome. Thanks for clarifying it for me.