Which frame rate for Project and Sequence settings: 59.94p fps, 60p fps?

[Ash-426]

I have a video music project that contains various video files that were recorded at different frame rates.

These videos were captured by a multitude of individuals who were simply shooting footage for themselves and not intended for grander project.

Under properties numerous clips indicate to be non-standard frame rates; such as 28.0063fps, variable frame rate, or also odd 60fps rates. Others are closer are at standard rates.

My collaborator and I have already begun work on several different portions of the grander project in our respective project files.

I initially thought that 1080p 29.97fps would be most appropriate but as I worked on one song I tried a new sequence at 1080p 59.94fps and that appeared to address some issues I had been encountering with certain clips.

I would appreciate advice for which frame rate is the most appropriate for this project.

Originally this was simply intended for an online release but there may be potentional of releasing on physical media and I am not clear on whether our projects should be done at 60fps or 59.94fps.

My first project was initally 29.97fps then changed to 59.94fps to no ill effect, I have not conformed the footage frame to the sequence settings, and with the second song I started at 59.94fps.

The project audio is 24bit 48khz.

Also which format for export includes PCM audio?

Thanks for any assistance.

[R Neil Haugen]

You don't need to export in interlaced, thankfully ... that's ... messy.

Most of the 60fps stuff is probably actually 59.97 ... and hopefully, not interlaced. Some 59.97 is actually "29.97i" ... but as there are two "laced" frames per frame, it shows sometimes as "59.97" or something like that. For any problematic clips of that framerate, do check in MediaInfo as to whether it's interlaced or progressive. 

Many people who are used to producing 'cinema' projects always work in 24fps ... 23.976 actually. And then if needed, convert to other framerates from that. Some who are used to broadcast always work 29.97i.

And you need to assume that all media that doesn't have 23.976/24, 29.97, or 59.97 is probably VFR. Anything that is "30.81" ... yea, that's VFR.

[Ash-426]

Thank you for the reply, Haugen.

So should my sequence settings be:

Timebase - 60fps  -Rather than my current 59.94

Fields - No Fields (Progressive)

Displayformat - 60fps -Currently 59.94

Thanks again.

[R Neil Haugen]

I would stick with either 23.976 or 29.97 personally. Higher framerate just doubles file sizes.