Frame Rate vs Resolution: What Should You Prioritize?

If you’re creating a livestream or even just recording a video, the resolution and frame rate that you pick does matter. Understanding how they both affect the video that you are attempting to capture is essential for creating an unrivaled experience. 

We’ll take a look at both of these, and break them down so that you are better equipped to make decisions on them.

What Is Resolution?

Resolution can be summed up as how many pixels are in the image. An image is created of pixels, and if you didn’t know what pixels are they are small dot of color that when put together make up the whole of the image. 

Common examples of some resolutions include:

• 720p
• 1080p
• 4K

As the resolution gets higher, the total pixel count increases, and as the pixel count increases the overall sharpness, clarity and detail of the image increases. 

What Is Frame Rate?

Essentially a frame rate tells you how many “frames” are shown in the video per second of video playback. Each video is made up of a collection of frames that are played in order. However the higher the framerate that does mean that you are sending more data.

Common frame rates include:

• 24 frames per second
• 30 frames per second
• 60 frames per second

When using a higher frame rate you get a much smoother look to the video especially if anything has fast movement in the scene. Sometimes you might want to have a lower frame rate like 24fps for artistic reasons. 

When to Prioritize Resolution

Choosing a higher resolution for your stream can be helpful if you are:

• Displaying video on large screens
• Capturing fine details
• Recording content for editing later
• Producing cinematic-style video

However this is highly dependent on your goals, if you are trying to stream something with a lot of movement then a higher resolution may not be worth it if you have to choose between it and frame rate in order to preserve stability.

When to Prioritize Frame Rate

Higher frame rates can be better if:

• Capturing sports or fast motion
• Showing dynamic camera movement
• Streaming gameplay
• Broadcasting live events with rapid action

Ultimately, the choice is up to you whether to prioritize resolution or frame rate but keep some of the above in mind.

Bandwidth and Performance Considerations

When you are setting up a stream it is important to understand both resolution and frame rate will increase the bandwidth needed and contribute to processing requirements.

Take for example:

• 1080p at 60fps requires more bandwidth than 1080p at 30fps.
• 4K at 60fps requires significantly more bandwidth and processing power.

If your network or computer is struggling, it would behoove you to lower either resolution or frame rate so you can improve stability. See the above portions to help you consider which is the right move for you.

The Balanced Approach

For most people looking to produce a professional looking stream, 1080p at 30 frames per second will  provide an excellent balance of clarity and reliability.

If everything is going great from that starting point, you can play around and go to a higher resolution or frame rate, but make sure that you are stable at those higher settings. 

Final Notes

Both resolution and frame rate are important aspects of video, whether it’s pre-recorded or live streamed. They both contribute to video quality but do so in different ways. Hopefully you should now be better equipped to know the difference between these two settings so that you can find the right balance between them for your content type as well as your bandwidth capabilities. 

For additional guidance on optimizing video settings, explore related Knowledge Base articles or contact technical support.