Frame rate — measured in frames per second (FPS) — is one of the most important factors in how a video looks and feels. Whether you're converting footage for social media, fixing a compatibility issue, or just reducing file size, changing FPS is a common need.
What Is Frame Rate?
Frame rate is the number of individual images (frames) displayed per second of video. Higher frame rates produce smoother motion; lower frame rates can look choppy or cinematic depending on context.
Common frame rates and their uses:
| FPS | Common use |
|---|---|
| 24 fps | Cinema, film look |
| 25 fps | European TV (PAL standard) |
| 30 fps | North American TV, YouTube, most cameras |
| 60 fps | Gaming, sports, slow-motion source |
| 120 fps | High-speed slow motion |
Why Change Frame Rate?
Reduce file size: 60fps video has twice as many frames as 30fps, so it's roughly twice the file size. Dropping from 60fps to 30fps can cut your file size significantly.
Fix compatibility issues: Some platforms or devices only support specific frame rates. Converting to 30fps ensures broad compatibility.
Achieve a cinematic look: 24fps has a characteristic "film look" that many creators prefer for narrative content.
Slow motion: If you recorded at 120fps, you can convert to 30fps to create 4x slow motion playback.
Match a project's frame rate: When combining clips from different cameras, you may need to standardize the frame rate.
How Frame Rate Affects File Size
Frame rate has a direct impact on file size:
- 60fps → 30fps: ~40-50% smaller
- 30fps → 24fps: ~20% smaller
- 120fps → 30fps: ~70% smaller
These are approximate figures — actual reduction depends on the codec and content.
How to Change FPS with FinalConvert
- Open FinalConvert and load your video
- Click the FPS selector in the Video Settings tab
- Choose your target frame rate from the list
- Click Convert
FinalConvert will re-encode the video at the new frame rate. The process is straightforward and requires no technical knowledge.
Does Changing FPS Affect Quality?
Reducing FPS: The video will look slightly less smooth, but image quality per frame is unchanged. For most content (talking heads, tutorials, vlogs), the difference between 60fps and 30fps is barely noticeable.
Increasing FPS: FinalConvert can technically increase FPS, but it doesn't create new frames — it duplicates existing ones. This doesn't improve smoothness and isn't recommended.
Frame Rate and Slow Motion
If you recorded at a high frame rate specifically for slow motion:
- Record at 120fps
- Convert to 30fps in FinalConvert
- The result plays at 1/4 speed (4x slow motion)
This is a common technique for creating smooth slow-motion clips from smartphone footage.
Recommended Frame Rates by Platform
| Platform | Recommended FPS |
|---|---|
| YouTube | 24, 30, or 60 fps |
| Instagram | 30 fps |
| TikTok | 30 fps |
| Twitter/X | 30 fps |
| Vimeo | 24 or 30 fps |
| Plex/Jellyfin | Any (match source) |