Frame Rate Conversion & Retiming Calculator
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
Total Frames:
0
New Duration (Retimed):
00:00:00
Playback Speed:
100%
Result Type:
–
About Frame Rate Conversion and Retiming
Frame rate conversion is a critical aspect of modern video production, visual effects (VFX), and animation. Whether you are conforming high-frame-rate footage for slow motion or converting standards between NTSC and PAL, understanding the mathematics behind frames per second (FPS) is essential.
How This Calculator Works
This tool performs calculations based on the relationship between your Source FPS (how the footage was shot) and your Target FPS (your project timeline or delivery format). It helps answer two main questions:
- Total Frame Count: How many individual images exist in your source footage given its duration?
- Retiming/Conforming: If you interpret the footage at the project frame rate (e.g., playing 60fps footage on a 24fps timeline), how long will the new clip last?
Understanding The Metrics
Total Frames
This is the absolute count of images. The formula is:
Total Frames = Source Duration (in seconds) × Source FPS
Retimed Duration (Conforming)
This happens when you map 1 source frame to 1 timeline frame. If your source FPS is higher than your target FPS, the video plays in slow motion. If it is lower, it plays in fast motion ("undercranking").
New Duration = Total Frames / Target FPS
Playback Speed Percentage
This indicates the speed of the action relative to real-time.
- 100%: Real-time (Source FPS = Target FPS).
- < 100%: Slow Motion (e.g., 40% speed).
- > 100%: Fast Motion (Time-lapse effect).
Common Frame Rate Scenarios
- Cinematic Slow Motion: Shooting at 60 FPS and conforming to 24 FPS results in 40% speed (2.5x slower). This is the standard "smooth" slow motion used in movies.
- Sports Broadcast: Often shot and delivered at 60 FPS (or 59.94) to capture fast movement without motion blur.
- NTSC vs. PAL: Converting 29.97 FPS (US TV) to 25 FPS (European TV) usually involves complex pulldown or interpolation algorithms to avoid changing the duration/pitch of the audio.