Understanding Frame Rates: 23.976 vs 24 vs 29.97

If you are new to video editing, you have likely stared at your project settings and wondered: "Why are there so many options for 24 frames per second?"

You see 24. You see 23.976. Sometimes you even see 23.98. Are they the same thing? (Spoiler: No). Choosing the wrong one can lead to audio drift, sync issues, and quality control rejections.

1. True 24 fps (Cinema)

This is the "Gold Standard" of film. Since the late 1920s, motion picture film cameras have mechanically pulled film through the gate at exactly 24 frames every second.

When to use it:

• You are shooting on actual celluloid film.
• You are delivering a Digital Cinema Package (DCP) for projection in a movie theater.
• You are creating animation intended for theatrical release.

If you are uploading to YouTube or broadcasting on TV, you are likely not using true 24.00 fps.

2. The Confusing One: 23.976 fps

This is what most digital filmmakers actually mean when they say they are shooting "24p."

Why does this weird number exist?

When color television was invented (NTSC), engineers encountered a problem. The extra data required for color interfered with the audio signal of the existing black-and-white broadcast. To fix this without breaking every TV in America, they decided to slow the video down by exactly 0.1%.

The math looks like this:

3. 29.97 fps (Broadcast TV)

Just like 23.976 is the slowed-down version of 24, 29.97 is the slowed-down version of 30.

This is the standard frame rate for television in the United States, Japan, and other NTSC regions. If you are shooting a news broadcast, a soap opera, or a reality TV show, you are likely shooting at 29.97 fps.

4. 25 fps (PAL)

If you are in Europe, Australia, or parts of Asia, your life is much simpler. These regions use the PAL standard, which is based on the 50Hz electrical grid.

In PAL regions, the standard is exactly 25 fps. There is no confusing "24.9-something." It is just 25. This makes timecode calculations much easier, as there is no need for Drop Frame timecode in PAL countries.

Summary: Which one do I choose?