Ever recorded a video only to find the lights seem to flicker in the final footage? This can happen when you’re shooting on your phone in The Createry because we have LED lighting.
This isn’t a camera malfunction; it’s a result of a technical discrepancy between your phone’s video capture and the electrical frequency of the environment.
This post explains why it happens…and how you can stop it.
Why do my videos flicker?
In most of North America, electricity cycles at 60 times per second (60Hz), which aligns with common video frame rates used in this region (30 fps or 60 fps), so this is the default that phones are set to. However, many parts of the world, including the UK, operate on a 50Hz electrical system. This difference can cause a mismatch between the video capture and the lighting, leading to the flickering effect.
To resolve this issue, you can adjust your phone’s video settings to match the UK electrical standard.
The videos below show a before and after of the difference when you’ve changed your settings. Warning: The first video contains flickering light.
How to stop video flicker on iPhone
All you need to do is switch to a PAL mode and the flickering will stop.
To do this:
- Open the Settings app.
- Navigate to Camera > Record Video.
- Enable Show PAL Formats.
- Select either “1080p HD at 25 fps (PAL)” or “4K at 25 fps (PAL)” depending on your desired video quality.
By switching to PAL format, your phone’s video capture will better align with the 50Hz electrical frequency, reducing the flickering in your videos.
How to stop video flicker on Android
Android is a bit more difficult as there’s no native way to switch to PAL/25 fps. However, changing your fps to 24 (which is a movie making standard) will almost completely eliminate flicker – unless you’re literally recording an LED light!
To do this:
- Open your Camera app and head to Video.
- Choose “more” or the Settings option, and choose “Pro video” or look for a settings option for frame rate or fps.
- You may have to switch between 8K, UHD, FHD, and HD to find the 24fps option.
- If you’re still seeing flicker, turn down your ISO and/or Speed by tapping on them and moving the bar down.
- Make sure your settings are saved, and head back to the video screen to start recording.
What if I’ve already recorded my video?
If you’ve already recorded your video and want to remove the flicker in post, your best bet is to use something like Capcut (the pro version) which has a “Remove flickers” tool.
Enjoy your flicker-free videos!