Trouble with 1080P 59.94 FPS Playback

I'm using the free version of Davinci Resolve to try to edit and playback .mts format video from my Sony A6000 camera recorded at 1920x1080P and 59.94 FPS. The playback in both the source and timeline viewers is choppy. I used the media management command under the file menu to transcode this to DNxHD which should be much less taxing on the system, but the DNxHD chops and stutters too. Titles / text overlaid on the video in the project timeline is perfectly smooth. Setting the playback rate to 29.97 FPS in the project settings window then hitting lowercase L twice to playback at 2x speed is perfectly smooth though.

Does someone have a link to an example 1080P 59.94 FPS clip that Davinci Resolve should be able to playback smoothly without any choppiness or stuttering that I could try? I'd like to narrow the problem down to my setup or my video files. If someone has a known good video clip I could try, that would help me immensely. 15 seconds or so would work just as long as it has some motion in it.

When I get home tonight, I'll try to add my system configuration to this topic. I created a post on Friday with all the relevant details but it seems to have either gotten stuck or lost in moderation. The brief version is I'm running Window 10 on an Intel 8700K CPU (6 cores at 3.7 GHz) with an Nvidia P4000 (8 GB DDR5) and 32GB of memory. PCIe M.2 SSD for C:, SATA SSD for D:, and RAID 1 SATA HDD pair on E:. Cache is on C:. I've tried video on C:, D:, E:, with the same results. I'm using the latest version of Resolve which I downloaded on Friday. 16.1.2 but I can look it up tonight to confirm.

Thanks,
Glen

Here's the detailed system specs and software versions:

Davinci Resolve Version 16.1.2.026

Operating System: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit (10.0, Build 17134) (17134.rs4_release.180410-1804)
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700K CPU @ 3.70GHz (12 CPUs), ~3.7GHz
Memory: 32768MB RAM
DirectX Version: DirectX 12

Card name: NVIDIA Quadro P4000 (8GB DDR5)
Display Memory: 24440 MB
Dedicated Memory: 8089 MB
Shared Memory: 16351 MB
Current Mode: 3840 x 2160 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Monitor Model: HP Z32
Native Mode: 3840 x 2160(p) (59.997Hz)

Thanks,
Glen

[Peter Chamberlain]

60fps is not trivial... but for now, please confirm the timeline frame rate is set to 59.94?

60fps is not trivial... but for now, please confirm the timeline frame rate is set to 59.94?

Thanks for getting back to me. I'm pretty sure it is but will have to confirm this weekend when I'm back at the house and can get to my desktop PC.

Here's a rundown of the project settings related to resolution and frame rate:

Timeline resolution 1920x1080 HD
For 1920x1080 processing
Pixel aspect ratio: square
Timeline frame rate: 59.94 frames per second (dimmed out / not changeable)
Playback frame rate: 59.94 frames per second
Enable video field processing is NOT checked

What's the next thing to check?

Also just 10 seconds of video in a format that is not taxing to play back smoothly would really, really help.

-Glen

I'm able to play back smoothly in the Edit page some 59.94fps 1080P h.264 8-bit GoPro footage I have, with Show All Video Frames checked and at 4x speed. I have the Studio version of Resolve and have switched on the NVIDIA decoder in my Resolve preferences. https://developer.nvidia.com/video-enco ... ort-matrix

Have you looked at the Windows Performance Monitor while playing back your files? Particularly, the CPU, the GPU, and your storage drive.

Also, please let us know what NVIDIA driver version you have.

I have the same problem.
Not Canon C100 ii 50p 1080 mp4 nor Sony xavcs 50p (both h264) is playing smoothly.
Doas not matter the project fps, playback fps, doas not matter if only in mediapool or on the timeline ...
The litle "fps meter" up left of the playback shows green dot - 50 fps all the time, playback is bloody choppy though.

It ONLY plays smooth if I create optimized media in (in my case) 25fps or reinterpret the footage to 25 fps wich makes a slow motion out of it (I whant neither of those).

The problem is that I just need a playback of a loooong clip (wedding in this case) that I intencionaly recorded in 50p so I have the option to slow it down SOMETIMES.

My advice for any H.264 files is to use Optimized Media. I like the Cineform 10 bit option at 1/4 resolution.

I'm having a similar problem with a high en pc... was anyone able to sort this? I did my own post if anyone is interested in reading but is basically the same, 59.94 plays choppy even if the green dot doesnt show any frame drop, and it does it from source monitor and timeline...Even with a very light 8 bit file.. The moment I drop that clip into a 23, 24, or 25 timeline it plays perfect.
No need to add that even with optimized media to LQ plays chopy on 59.94..

here is a link with a rough example

In the Edit page though the green dot is displayed showing that the video is running at the correct speed, the viewer is designed to drop frames to save computer resources if they are running low. You can always select Show All Video Frames, but if your resources are low the audio playback may be compromised. h264, especially at higher frame rates is very demanding on the CPU. As you have found, a lower framerate improves matters.

In the Edit page though the green dot is displayed showing that the video is running at the correct speed, the viewer is designed to drop frames to save computer resources if they are running low. You can always select Show All Video Frames, but if your resources are low the audio playback may be compromised. h264, especially at higher frame rates is very demanding on the CPU. As you have found, a lower framerate improves matters.

Charles thanks you very much for your reply. I will try that now... but honestly how much can a 90 MB clip compromise my i9 9900 64gb ram and rtx2070 computer?

It's not because it has 90 MB, it's because it doesn't have more than that!
(massive compression)

It's not because it has 90 MB, it's because it doesn't have more than that!
(massive compression)

THat happened with GH5s footage aswell ALL I.. .at 59.94 only... any other frame rate plays smoothly.. really is not about the file, or the system specs Uli... A lot of user are experiencing the same.

It's still a complex decode. What happens with codecs like ProRes, DNxHR, or Cineform?
Of course, it's possible there is a specific bug with that speed. But if it's so general, I wonder why it wasn't caught during beta. Not enough American beta testers?

It's still a complex decode. What happens with codecs like ProRes, DNxHR, or Cineform?
Of course, it's possible there is a specific bug with that speed. But if it's so general, I wonder why it wasn't caught during beta. Not enough American beta testers?

I'm going to try with another coded and let you know! But it is weird indeed, what it's even more weird is that I came across with at least 5 topics describing the exact same issue, all of them users, only at 59.94 fps and nothing else... I starrt to wonder if we are experiencing it by being in europe.. but doesn't make too much sense. Anyhow I will keep you posted as soon as I try that!

UPDATE: Tried a DNxHR and the issue stil there.

It's still a complex decode. What happens with codecs like ProRes, DNxHR, or Cineform?
Of course, it's possible there is a specific bug with that speed. But if it's so general, I wonder why it wasn't caught during beta. Not enough American beta testers?

I'm going to try with another coded and let you know! But it is weird indeed, what it's even more weird is that I came across with at least 5 topics describing the exact same issue, all of them users, only at 59.94 fps and nothing else... I starrt to wonder if we are experiencing it by being in europe.. but doesn't make too much sense. Anyhow I will keep you posted as soon as I try that!

UPDATE: Tried a DNxHR and the issue stil there.

Your GH5 recordings play smoothly on my Davinci resolve computer -
so your problems must be connected to your laptop!

Seems like there is really some bug with 59.94 fps.

Seems like there is really some bug with 59.94 fps.

I know... specially after I tried all that footage in Premier Pro... and runs smooth as butter.. I'll try to record a more detailed video of all the options!

Seems like there is really some bug with 59.94 fps.

Also Uli feel free to watch this video, I think it shows very clear how the issue affects only DR and not Premiere Pro

Well, Premiere is a totally different program. But if 60 fps is smooth and 59.94 not, then there is a bug.

Well, Premiere is a totally different program. But if 60 fps is smooth and 59.94 not, then there is a bug.

That's exactly my point if another program can play it smooth and DR can't, it's because the bug resides there.

Why not use the other program then? It's less demanding on your hardware.
But that was not my point: if speeds beyond 30 fps don't play smooth, it's your hardware or project/timeline settings. If 60 fps run smoothly in Resolve and 59.94 not, then it's a bug.

Why not use the other program then? It's less demanding on your hardware.
But that was not my point: if speeds beyond 30 fps don't play smooth, it's your hardware or project/timeline settings. If 60 fps run smoothly in Resolve and 59.94 not, then it's a bug.

Sadly my hardware is strong enough to run resolve, if not, it would be choppy with other frame rates aswell, but it doesnt, it only does it with 59.940. Even 120 fps runs smooth, so I hope that replies your question. Im sorry if I hurt you as a DR fanboy, but sadly this it's bug of the software. There is a topic of a guy experiencing the same issue with a nvidia quadrro , i9, 128 gb ram... so again, your point is invalid.
I wont switch to other program because I know how powerfull DR is, and I know this can be issued. Specially when I could do it with a less powerful laptop on DR 15.

If you want a detailed information you can see the last post here (project settings, source video codec, etc etc)

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=113989

It doesnt get more complete than that, and there is also a link to each topic related to people with the same issue, so you can check that hardware issue is not a problem.

Both of your test clips run without a problem here. So it must be a PC issue, maybe someone can test them?

I was having trouble as well. With H.264 2.7k 59.94

I went to Preferences>Memory and GPU and set GPU Processing mode to AUTO. It was set to OpenCL

I have a NVIDIA RTX2070 GPU

Hope this helps

Josh

Resolve can't playback 59.94 fps on a 59.94 or 60 hz panel on the edit page anymore. This was broken after 15.2.3 and never fixed.

Color page is smooth as butter, the edit page is a choppy mess. This is not due to insufficient resources. codec, timeline resolution, optimized media does not matter.

It's also not only the video being choppy. The entire UI fails to update at 59.94/60 fps on a 59.94/60 hz panel. Using a 144hz panel fixes it.

It's a long standing UI sync / v-sync bug on windows and no amount of throwing hardware at the problem will fix it.

Please BM, take a look at it. I'm happy to provide a repro and any details.

Interesting...My above setting GPU Processing AUTO solution fixed my problem, but I am on a 240hz panel (gaming computer)

Thanks for the bug reveal. I hate going backwards with updates.

although a post 1 year ago, same is true for me. I've done several extensive tests and here are my findings.

I am running Davinci Resolve Studio 17.2 build 11 on Win10 64-bit, plenty of ressources available. Gopro footage recorded at 59.94fps (no matter if 1920x1080 or 2704x1520) is not played smoothly. Even when using proxy or optimized media. It does not make any change.

To get to the bottom of the problem in more detail I have enabled the following option in the settings.

Preferences --> User --> UI settings -->
[X] STOP playback when a dropped frame is detected

This allows, in addition to the usual visual FPS display, the detection of stuttering with a 100% confirmation because if a frame is dropped then the playback is stopped.

In color tab the timeline is played smoothly without any issues. It plays dozens of minutes of clips at fixed 59.94 with green dot, very fluid. So what it is done differently on the color tab behind the scenes? Is this a bug still existing?

is there any solution to this? any help appreciated.