ARRI Frame Rate & Playback Calculator
Calculate slow motion speed, playback duration, shutter speed, exposure shift, and estimated media runtime for ARRI-style workflows.
Why an ARRI frame rate calculator is useful
Frame rate decisions affect everything: motion feel, playback duration, exposure, storage, and post-production timing. On ARRI productions, especially when shooting high frame rates for dramatic slow motion, having a quick calculator reduces guesswork and helps the whole team stay aligned.
With one set of numbers, you can answer practical questions such as:
- How slow will this shot play back on a 24 fps timeline?
- If we record 8 seconds on set, how long is the resulting clip in edit?
- How much light do we lose by overcranking?
- How quickly will this frame rate burn through media?
How to use the calculator
1) Set your timeline frame rate
This is your intended playback frame rate (for example: 23.976, 24, 25, or 29.97 fps).
2) Enter capture frame rate
This is what the camera records at. Higher than timeline means slow motion (overcrank). Lower than timeline means fast motion (undercrank effect in playback).
3) Enter clip duration and shutter angle
Clip duration is the real-world recording length. Shutter angle affects exposure time and motion blur. A 180° shutter is a common baseline.
4) Optional storage planning
Enter a baseline data rate and your media size to estimate runtime. This is especially useful when planning longer takes at high fps.
Common ARRI frame rate scenarios
- 24 → 48 fps: 2x slow motion, subtle and cinematic.
- 24 → 60 fps: 2.5x slow motion, great for movement detail.
- 24 → 120 fps: 5x slow motion, dramatic impact.
- 25 → 50 fps: 2x slow motion for PAL pipelines.
- 30 → 60 fps: 2x slow motion for 30 fps delivery.
Shutter angle, exposure, and motion blur
Shutter angle controls exposure time per frame. The basic formula is:
Exposure time = (Shutter Angle / 360) ÷ Capture FPS
As capture fps rises, exposure time gets shorter unless you open shutter angle. Shorter exposure time means less light reaching the sensor, so you may need more illumination, wider aperture, or higher ISO.
The calculator also compares your setup to a 180° shutter at timeline fps and shows an estimated exposure difference in stops.
Media and data-rate planning for high speed shots
High frame rates typically increase data usage. Even when codec behavior varies by camera mode, a proportional estimate gives production a reliable planning baseline.
- Estimate how much runtime your current card capacity provides.
- Forecast card swaps and download cycles for the DIT team.
- Avoid mid-scene interruptions during high-speed coverage.
Practical on-set tips
- Confirm max fps for your exact ARRI camera model, codec, and sensor mode.
- Check whether your selected resolution or anamorphic mode changes the fps ceiling.
- Test playback speed in pre-production to match creative intent.
- Communicate frame rate decisions to editorial and VFX early.
- Monitor light levels as soon as you increase fps.
FAQ
Does this replace camera manuals?
No. Use this as a fast planning tool. Always verify camera-specific limits and data rates in official ARRI documentation for your firmware and recording format.
Why is my runtime estimate different from real-world results?
Actual media usage depends on codec mode, compression behavior, sound channels, file overhead, and card formatting. Treat runtime as an informed estimate, not an exact guarantee.
Can I use this for non-ARRI cameras?
Yes. The math for speed factor, playback duration, and shutter timing is universal, so it works for most digital cinema systems.