New Find Out What Keyframe Interval Is, Why It Is Important, and to Change Its Value on OBS Studio with Simple and Easy-to-Follow Instructions for 2024

Find Out What Keyframe Interval Is, Why It Is Important, and to Change Its Value on OBS Studio with Simple and Easy-to-Follow Instructions

Many people may not understand what the Keyframe Interval stands for. However, it is a simple concept for video editors where the encoding settings determine the frequency at which the whole picture is transmitted.

The Keyframe Interval is responsible for how often a keyframe is generated within the video. A keyframe, also known as an i-frame, is a single frame that contains all of the necessary information for displaying a video. If the Keyframe Interval is set too high, it could lead to visible compression without compromising the quality of a video.

Keyframe Interval is essential in video streaming and recording, but it can be confusing. In this guide, we’ll help you understand this concept to enable you to create better animations.

Part 1. What Is Keyframe Interval

Keyframe Intervals, also known as “Keyframe Frequency” in Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder (FMLE) and vMix or “GOP size” by some encoders, is the frequency at which keyframes are generated in an animated sequence. This is an important parameter to consider when creating animations, as it can impact the animation’s file size, quality, and smoothness.

Keyframe Intervals are the distance in time between two keyframes. For example, if an animation is set to every 2 seconds interval and the frame rate is 30 per second, it means that every 60 frames, a keyframe is created.

Part 2. How Does Keyframe Interval Work?

Keyframes are important in video and animation because they mark specific points in time that can be used to create a smooth and consistent transition between different states or images. The Keyframe Interval is the amount of time that passes between two keyframes.

In order to create a smooth and consistent transition, the Keyframe Interval must be carefully calculated. In a 60-frame-per-second video, a keyframe is recorded every 5 or 300 frames. Delta frames are “difference” frames that provide an incremental change from the previous frame.

Keyframes are different from delta frames in that a higher keyframe value results in a clearer video with fewer transmission artifacts and vice versa.

The Keyframe Interval can be adjusted to create a faster or slower transition between two keyframes. A shorter Keyframe Interval will create a faster transition, while a longer one will create a slower transition.

For example, if you want your transition to look smoother, use a longer interval, like two seconds. Conversely, a zoom effect over a 0.2-second interval will be quicker.

Part 3. A concept closely connected to Keyframe Interval - Bitrates

The relationship between keyframes and bitrates is important to understand when creating video content. Keyframes are the frames in a video that are used to define the start and end points of an encoding process. The bitrate measures how much information is being transferred in a given time from one place to another.

When encoding video, keyframes are used to establish a consistent quality throughout the video. The bitrate is then used to determine how much information can be transferred without affecting the quality of the video. Thus, the higher the video’s bitrate, the better the quality.

Your mileage may vary regarding this explanation, as different encoders manage bitrates and keyframes in different ways.

For example, if you’re using an encoder like Wirecast, you might notice that broadcasting in a still background with someone talking results in a higher quality video as compared to a moving background. This can be reproduced using the same average bitrate and Keyframe Interval between them.

This happens because the delta frames have to share a lot more information to share in each frame in the video with a moving background. When you have an encoder like Wirecast, it’s working to keep your stream at an average bitrate. This can result in reduced quality if there is a lot of extra information in the delta frames.

Part 4. What You Need To Know To Set A Right Keyframe Interval

After understanding the important concepts in video editing, let’s see how to set the keyframe level in our videos appropriately.

Most streaming services will automatically set it for you based on your stream’s frame rate and bitrate. However, if you want to set the keyframe gap manually, there are a few things you need to keep in mind.

Set the frame interval at 2 seconds. Do not increase it from 4 seconds.
Disable the “auto” keyframe feature.
To allow for b-frames, use an encoding profile higher than baseline and use IDR-based keyframes.

Part 5. How To Change The Keyframe Interval On OBS Studio

Above is the basic knowledge of the keyframe interval. Then, how to apply it to your real video-editing work? In this part, we will choose OBS to show you the application process.

OBS Studio is a powerful yet free and open-source screen recorder and live streaming tool for Windows, macOS, and Linux. One of the most useful features of OBS Studio is its ability to change the keyframe interval on the fly without having to restart your recording or stream.

The process for changing the it in OBS Studio has been made more efficient since the classic version. However, some users may have trouble locating the new setting.

Here’s how to change the it on OBS Studio:

Step1 Launch the OBS Studio on your PC or laptop.

Step2 From the bottom right of the screen, open the “Settings” menu.

Step3 On the Settings Window, click “Output” and configure the output mode to “Advanced.”

Step4 Finally, edit the Keyframe Interval, set it to 2 seconds, and click “OK” to save your changes.

Part 6. Will Keyframe Interval Affect Your Video’s Quality?

When you try to set the keyframe gap by yourself, you may feel confused about the difference a higher or lower interval make to your video. Then, wil-l or how it affects your video’s performance?

In a stream, it determines the balance between smoothness and picture quality. A keyframe is a point that determines how often the entire frame is sent, as opposed to just the differences from the previous frame.

Therefore, if you set the Keyframe Interval higher, your video will be more stable with fewer artifacts but requires more bandwidth and processing power. Conversely, a lower Keyframe Interval value causes more artifacts but is less resource intensive.

A lower Keyframe Interval value will result in lower video quality, while a higher keyframe value will result in higher video quality. However, the optimal Keyframe Interval value can vary depending on the specific case.

For instance, you don’t need a higher Keyframe Interval for streaming a live video, but you have to use a higher Key Interval value for recording.

Video- What is the Maximum Bitrate & Keyframe Interval for OBS

The Bottom Line

In this article, we’ve explored Keyframe Interval, how it works, and the relationship between keyframes and bitrates. We also provided guidance on setting the Keyframe Interval correctly and changing it on OBS Studio.

Hopefully, the information provided in this guide was helpful, and you now have a better understanding of Keyframe Intervals.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

The Bottom Line

Hopefully, the information provided in this guide was helpful, and you now have a better understanding of Keyframe Intervals.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

How to Put a Background on A Green Screen

The use of green screen in photos and videos is a common phenomenon. Starting from news broadcaster studios to visual effects in action movies, the use of green screen has become a commodity in photo and video shoots. This is because you can add background to green screen video and photo during the post-production phase as per your requirements.

Starting from replacing the green screen with a studio setup like news broadcasting to adding characters visiting an alien planet in movies, everything you can imagine is possible to including in your videos and photos. You will need a professional video editor and the steps on how to put a background on a green screen.

Way 1. Use Filmora
Way 2. Use iMovie
Way 3. Use Premiere Pro

How to change the background of green screen image

Part 1. How to put a background on a green screen to video?

The first thing you need to do is shoot your video with high-quality green screen in the background. Make sure that it is evenly spread and lit up so that there are no light and dark patches. Now that you have green screen video, you will need a professional video editor to replace the green screen with any background as per your requirements. Here are the three ways on how to add background to green screen.

Way 1. Use Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is the easiest video editor to add a background to green screen video instantly. Filmora is a professional video editor with an intuitive user interface. There are loads of tools to add visual effects and perform basic to advanced editing. Filmora is available for Windows and Mac users and you have to transfer your recorded green screen video to your computer. You can replace green screen with a video as well as photo as per your preference. Here are the steps to put a background on green screen video using Filmora.

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Step1 Download and install Filmora . Launch the application and click on New Project. You should have the green screen video as well as the background replacement video or photo ready with which you want to replace green screen background.

Step2 Import your green screen video as well as the background video or photo under Project Media folder. Drag and drop both of them to Timeline. Make sure the green screen video is on top of the replacement background video or photo.

Step3 Double-click on the video clip that you have dropped on Timeline. Go to Video tab and turn on Chroma Key option.

Step4 You will see on the Instant Viewer that the green screen of recorded video is replaced with the replacement background immediately. You can adjust the parameters under Chroma Key such as offset, tolerance, and edge thickness as required.

Step5 Finally, play the video and if you are satisfied, click on Export button to save the video in your desired file format.

Way 2. Use iMovie

iMovie is one of the most preferred video editors among Mac and iPhone users. This is because the app comes from Apple, and there are ample features to enhance your video content and quality with effects. Adding a background to a green screen video using iMovie is quite easy. But replacing a background of a video without green screen is rather tough.

Step1 Launch iMovie from Applications folder on your Mac as it comes pre-installed.

Step2 Import your green screen video as well as replacement background video or photo to Project Media folder.

Step3 Drag and drop them into Timeline and place the green screen video above the replacement background video/photo. Make sure that the duration of both videos is the same.

Step4 Click on the green screen video and click on Video Overlay Settings and select Green/Blue Screen option from the drop-down menu.

Step5 You can adjust Softness as well as Clean-up option so that the green screen effect is perfect.

Way 3. Use Premiere Pro

When it comes to professional video editing, Premiere Pro is undoubted one of the most widely used video editors. The learning curve is steep for amateurs, but professionals love to edit videos in Premiere Pro. You can edit 4K videos, 3D videos, multi-cam videos, and it supports cross-platform project workflow. You can replace green screen background with any desired background video or image. Here are the steps on how to add background to green screen in Premiere Pro.

Step1 Launch Adobe Premiere Pro and go to File> Import option. Select the green screen video clip as well as replacement background video and click on Open button.

Step2 Drag the video clips from the Project panel and place them to Timeline so that the green screen video stays at the top.

Step3 Go to Effects tab and click on Effects> Keying> Ultra Key.

Step4 Click on eyedropper tool under Ultra Key and use the tool to select the green screen background color.

Step5 Go to Ultra Key> Output> and select Alpha Channel option. Set Setting located under Output to Aggressive.

Step6 Go to Matte Generation and adjust Transparency using the slider available.

Step7 You will see the green screen get replaced by the video or photo you have placed below the green screen video in Timeline.

Part 2. How to change the background of green screen image?

Adobe Photoshop is one of the best photo editors that professionals use to edit photos as per requirements. You can change the background of green screen image and replace the green screen with any image of your liking. You should have a green screen image as well as a replacement image. Here are the steps how to change green screen image on Photoshop.

Step1 Launch Adobe Photoshop and import the green screen image as well as the replacement background image.

Step2 Copy the replacement image and paste it on the green screen image. Make sure you move the layer of the replacement image is placed below the green screen image so that it stays hidden.

Step3 Now select green screen image layer and go to Select menu and click on Color Range. You will get an eyedropper tool. Press Shift key and click the areas where green screen background is there so that you can remove it. Click on OK button when done.

Step4 Go to Select menu and click on Inverse option. Go to Select menu and click on Refine Edge option. This is to smoothen the edges so that no green screen is visible. Click on Ok button.

Step5 Go to Select menu and click on Inverse option. Press Delete key and the green screen background will disappear and the replacement image will appear in the background.

The Bottom Line

We have illustrated how you can add a background to your green screen video on your computer and also explained how you can replace green screen background in your photo with any image. However, for the best results, you need to use a green screen and use Filmora to add a background instantly.