Magic Lantern, frame rate override at DVinfo.net

Jeff Troiano · June 3rd, 2012, 06:42 AM

Hey all. A friend of mine introduced me to a fellow "indie" film maker last night. He has the ti3. We were talking about cameras, and I asked if he had heard about Magic Lantern. He hadnt, so I was explaining a little about it. I myself don't know a whole lot about, but have been using it for timelapse and the HDR bracketing features, but that's about it so far.

When I took out my camera and started showing him the menus, I noticed the feature "Frame Rate Overide". And I started messing with it (adjusting the settings). I haven't filmed anything using it. But I wanted to ask if anyone has messed around with it much?

I'm curious if I was to film at 26 or 27 fps, I would still need to conform it to 24p in post? On my FS100 I like to use the S&Q mode, and film at 30p, and conform to 24p (this is done in camera). As long as I don't need audio from the shot, it slows,it down 6 frames a second. I like the idea of the Magoc Lantern frame rate override, because I'd use 26p or 27p a lot. It slows things down oh so slightly, giving a dreamy feel to certain sequences, but unless you know it's slowed, you can't really tell. It just creates a,cool feel to the footage while still seeming like its real time.

I'm going,to have to play with this feature. Just wanted to know of anyone else has already?

Happy filming!
Jeff

Murray Christian · June 3rd, 2012, 08:19 PM

26 and 27 shouldn't be a real problem. On the 60D you start having trouble around 32 at 1080. To some extent it's just the speed of your card that's the thing apparently, as the buffer fills up quicker. If there's any major delay in writing to the card, even if it'd be a normal fluctuation at standard speeds, recording will be stopped. But if there's a lot a lot of change in the image you also hit trouble as the processor can't keep up with the compression any more and the camera will crash. (this can vary a bit by fiddling with the compression rate)

So for safety it's best to film locked off shots of fairly consistent subjects if you're going to do this sort of thing.
Some guys have managed to crank 5DIIs up really high this way, but their CF cards are much faster and more reliable.

Jeff Troiano · June 3rd, 2012, 11:48 PM

Thanks for the reply. If I get some free time, I'll have to run some tests. I'll post me here if I do.

Donald McPherson · June 4th, 2012, 05:52 AM

There were some problems with it freezing with the audio on. If this happens switch audio off. Although I think it is set to audio off (default) with the latest ML.

June 3rd, 2012, 06:42 AM	#1
Jeff Troiano Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 480	Magic Lantern, frame rate override Hey all. A friend of mine introduced me to a fellow "indie" film maker last night. He has the ti3. We were talking about cameras, and I asked if he had heard about Magic Lantern. He hadnt, so I was explaining a little about it. I myself don't know a whole lot about, but have been using it for timelapse and the HDR bracketing features, but that's about it so far. When I took out my camera and started showing him the menus, I noticed the feature "Frame Rate Overide". And I started messing with it (adjusting the settings). I haven't filmed anything using it. But I wanted to ask if anyone has messed around with it much? I'm curious if I was to film at 26 or 27 fps, I would still need to conform it to 24p in post? On my FS100 I like to use the S&Q mode, and film at 30p, and conform to 24p (this is done in camera). As long as I don't need audio from the shot, it slows,it down 6 frames a second. I like the idea of the Magoc Lantern frame rate override, because I'd use 26p or 27p a lot. It slows things down oh so slightly, giving a dreamy feel to certain sequences, but unless you know it's slowed, you can't really tell. It just creates a,cool feel to the footage while still seeming like its real time. I'm going,to have to play with this feature. Just wanted to know of anyone else has already? Happy filming! Jeff __________________ You motorboating SOB!

June 3rd, 2012, 08:19 PM	#2
Murray Christian Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 240	Re: Magic Lantern, frame rate override 26 and 27 shouldn't be a real problem. On the 60D you start having trouble around 32 at 1080. To some extent it's just the speed of your card that's the thing apparently, as the buffer fills up quicker. If there's any major delay in writing to the card, even if it'd be a normal fluctuation at standard speeds, recording will be stopped. But if there's a lot a lot of change in the image you also hit trouble as the processor can't keep up with the compression any more and the camera will crash. (this can vary a bit by fiddling with the compression rate) So for safety it's best to film locked off shots of fairly consistent subjects if you're going to do this sort of thing. Some guys have managed to crank 5DIIs up really high this way, but their CF cards are much faster and more reliable.

June 3rd, 2012, 11:48 PM	#3
Jeff Troiano Major Player Join Date: May 2003 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 480	Re: Magic Lantern, frame rate override Thanks for the reply. If I get some free time, I'll have to run some tests. I'll post me here if I do. __________________ You motorboating SOB!

June 4th, 2012, 05:52 AM	#4
Donald McPherson Major Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Aberdeen Scotland Posts: 815	Re: Magic Lantern, frame rate override There were some problems with it freezing with the audio on. If this happens switch audio off. Although I think it is set to audio off (default) with the latest ML.