Dropping Frames on Export

[EricLeslie]

My last couple of projects have had footage drop frames only on export. This is happening in 14.5 and the current beta also.

I'm on Windows 10 with a Radeon GPU. Latest GPU drivers.

Footage is 100% 1080p 29.97 from 3 different cameras. The dropped frames are not affecting ONE of the cameras. So 2 cameras are dropping frames randomly. Playback in the timeline is flawless.

I've tried exporting h.264, HEVC, CBR, Unchecking Maximum Render Quality and last night I tried the CPU Render. I've cleared caches. The dropped frames change places with each export attempt.

I'm frustrated beyond the pale!

[Peru Bob]

Try turning off Hardware encoding in the export settings.

[Ann Bens]

Post compleet computer specs and setup.

[EricLeslie]

Ryzen 5 2600

32GB RAM

Radeon RX 480
Windows 10 Home

Editing from an m.2 SSD
Fresh install of windows. Latest drivers. Do you need anything else? 

I changed the Renderer to Software in my previous testing. Is that different than changing hardware encoding to software in the h.264 settings?

I just exported it using the Software Encoding option, NOT the mercury software setting and there are not any dropped frames. Is this a bug or do I have to live with the performance penalty of choosing the software encoder?

[EricLeslie]

I take it back, I reviewed the edit and the dropped frames just moved to new places, so I had to watch through all the way to find them. The problem remains.

[Averdahl]

...the dropped frames just moved to new places...

Then this is what you need to do: FAQ: How to clear your cache in Premiere Pro 2019

[Michael Grenadier]

Try using smart render.  Change your preview format in your sequence settings to a high quality all i-frame format like prores 422(hq) and render your entire sequence.  If it plays properly from the timeline, when you export make sure "use previews" is checked.

And if you want to track down the problem, please tell us the properties of your sources. 

mediainfo is a useful tool to tell us frame rate, codec, etc.

https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo/Download

Sounds like there may be an issue with 2 of your cameras.   Might tell us the models of all 3 cameras

[Averdahl]

Footage is 100% 1080p 29.97 from 3 different cameras.

Dropping frames at export suggest to me that there is a mis-match somewhere. If you have 1080p 29.97 footage the sequence you edit the footage in must be set to 1080p 29.97 and you have to make sure that you export to 1080p 29.97. If you export 1080p 29.97 to 1080p 25 you will indeed see dropped frames. If you have cam 1 on one timeline, cam 2 on another timeline and cam 3 on another timeline that you bring down in a fourth timeline using the multi camera feature, make sure that all three timelines are set to 1080p 29.97. (And double check that the source footage really are 1080p 29.97. It is easy to set the camera wrong.)

Since only two cameras are dropping frames a mis-match may not be the cause, so i ask you: How and where do you determine that there are dropped frames? What do you see instead of the frame/s you expect to see?

And, from what camera are the footage, Iphone or ARRI Alexa, or?

[EricLeslie]

I just looked back over ALL of my clips and they are in fact all 1080 29.97 and I'm sure that I exported the same.
Dropped frames show up as black frames. The audio can still be heard. 

As reported by MediaArea.net

Camera 1 is a Nikon Z6

24.3Mb/s 1920*1080 at 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS, AVC (High@L4.1) (2 REf Frames)

Camera 2 is a DJI Mavic Air 2

36.2Mb/s, 1920*1080 (16:9), at 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS, HEVC (Main@L4@Main)

Camera 3 is a GoPro Hero 8

42Mb/s, 1920*1080 (16:9), at 29.970 (30000/1001) FPS, HEVC (Main@L5.1@Main)

I will try using the Prores previews next.

[Averdahl]

Thanks.

It sems that you missed my answer earlier in this thread. Try it and report back:

"...the dropped frames just moved to new places...

Then this is what you need to do: FAQ: How to clear your cache in Premiere Pro 2019"

[EricLeslie]

 In my original post, I mention that I cleared the cache. I took a second shot at it by manually clearing the cache and the problem remains. 

I also tried smart previews rendering the entire sequence in ProRes 422, exported using previews and the dropped frames remain. Playback in the timeline was always smooth with and without changing the preview codec.

[Averdahl]

Can you maybe upload a short clip you have exported on YouTube so one can see how it actually looks?

And, what happens if you export using the settings below, with Maximum Render Quality and Render at Maximum Bit Depth un-checked?

[EricLeslie]

Here's a video I uploaded to Youtube, this link takes you right to a point where the video drops frames. https://youtu.be/XlNaWmu3pk4?t=349

I have exported ProRes 422, dropped frames remain.

I have exported in the above recommended CineForm, dropped frames remain.

I've done a little bit more troubleshooting. I exported ONLY the clip where the dropped frames occur and it exports perfectly in h.264. I then included the clip just before and the frames dropped again, in h.264. Also tried including the clip before with zero color grading or effects and the frames still drop. This is maddening.

[Averdahl]

I exported ONLY the clip where the dropped frames occur and it exports perfectly in h.264. I then included the clip just before and the frames dropped again, in h.264. Also tried including the clip before with zero color grading or effects and the frames still drop.

@EricLeslie If you create a brand new project and take those two source clips and place them on a timeline, do you still see dropped frames? Is it still possible to trigger dropped frames upon export?

[Averdahl]

@EricLeslie Read my post abowe as well. 🙂

I downloaded the movie from YouTube and noticed that it drops many frames at a time when it happens. I also found this at 00;12;29;24. (See the attached image)

I may have a solution, but before i am interested in the results of the question i wrote in my previous post. 🙂

[EricLeslie]

I appreciate your help with this. I am aware of that corrupted frame, that does exist in the original file. 

I created a new project, a new sequence and then copy and pasted those two clips into it. Exported h.264 using the Youtube 1080p preset and it exported without dropping frames. 

The original sequence was cut using a multicam sequence and then flattened for final export. Perhaps that's the culprit?