Flicker Control Plug-In (V22pro build 250)

anthony-chiappette wrote on 8/10/2025, 3:15 PM

I'm having an issue with the flicker control plug-in. I've been shooting several videos of gameplay on pinball games (toys, not real machines). The games have an LED score readout. On the battery operated games, I have no issue with the score panel flickering. However, I have several which use an adaptor to plug into an outlet. On those games, the score panels flicker wildly. Not in real life, but when filmed. I use the same cameras (identical Canon models) to shoot the videos. I've discovered the flicker control plugin which works wonderfully, most of the time. Most of the time, the plugin removes the flicker completely (or mostly). Sometimes, however, when applied, the plugin still shows some flickering. Much less, but there is still flickering. This happens when I have videos from the same camera, shot at the same time, one after the other. I've attached short clips of a project I'm working on, just showing the LED panel. One flickers, one does not. The plugin setting are the same for both events, and the FX chain is the same for both.

Why does one flicker and the other doesn't? Any Ideas?

Comments

Alex-Pitel wrote on 8/11/2025, 3:42 PM

Could be because of changing shutter speed when filming... But I'm not sure

john_dennis wrote on 8/12/2025, 11:05 PM

@anthony-chiappette said: "On the battery operated games, I have no issue with the score panel flickering. However, I have several which use an adaptor to plug into an outlet. On those games, the score panels flicker wildly."

It's likely that power adapters for the games that have them don't have good DC filtering / regulation (assuming the output is DC rather than AC). If you record this type of activity often, it might be better to get a good regulated bench power supply than try to fix it in post. I have one that I built when I was in college that I still use on occasion, but these days, they are relatively inexpensive.

Examples: Link: Regulated DC Power Supplies

amendegw wrote on 8/13/2025, 4:42 AM

Also, your camera may have anti-flicker capabilities. When I Googled "Canon cameras with anti flicker for video", I got this.

Good Luck!
...Jerry

anthony-chiappette wrote on 9/1/2025, 9:58 PM

Thank you, Jerry. I am using Canon Vixia HF R800 cameras. I've had them forever, but they are very reliable. I did look into the menus, and I do see a flicker reduction setting, but it only applies to the cameras screen flicker.

anthony-chiappette wrote on 9/1/2025, 10:08 PM

@anthony-chiappette said: "On the battery operated games, I have no issue with the score panel flickering. However, I have several which use an adaptor to plug into an outlet. On those games, the score panels flicker wildly."

It's likely that power adapters for the games that have them don't have good DC filtering / regulation (assuming the output is DC rather than AC). If you record this type of activity often, it might be better to get a good regulated bench power supply than try to fix it in post. I have one that I built when I was in college that I still use on occasion, but these days, they are relatively inexpensive.

Examples: Link: Regulated DC Power Supplies

I should clarify, the panels don't flicker when I view them. The flickering occurs on video. I don't understand how the regulated power supply would work. The games already come with power adapters that output DC. How would I get power from the regulated power supply to the game?

andyrpsmith wrote on 9/2/2025, 3:30 AM

Human eyes have persistence of vision, ie the image remains visible on the retina for a period of time (look at a bright window and then close your eyes and you will see the image for some time after). So when you look at an electronic display flickering at 50/60 Hz your eyes see it as a constant image not a flickering one. Your camera looks via a shutter which can capture the fast flickering image so you see it on video.