Each media asset has its own properties, which are used to control its behaviour inside your project. An asset’s properties can be displayed by clicking the gear next to its name in the Project Media list. Different types of media have different settings.
Media Properties ![]()
Clicking this gear icon displays key information about the video. Some properties can be edited, while others are directly linked to the source file and cannot be changed.
- Name: The name of the source media file. If you change the name here, it will only affect the way the media is displayed within the HitFilm Media panel. The original media file on your hard drive will remain unaffected.
- Path: Shows the file directory where the source media file is located on your system.
- Video
- Frame Rate: By default the frame rate of the source file is used. If you wish to force a different frame rate, you can deselect the From Source option, then manually select a different frame rate. Changing the default frame rate will change the playback speed of a clip, relative to the frame rate of the timeline. For example, a 24fps clip on a 24fps timeline will play at normal speed. Reducing the asset’s default frame rate will create slow motion playback and increasing it will create fast motion playback. This can be useful for creating slow motion effects, by importing a high-frame rate clip, then manually assigning it to play back at a much lower frame rate. For slow motion it is always best to shoot at a high frame rate if possible. A video shot at 48fps and then changed to 24fps will create a convincing, smooth slow motion effect.
- Aspect Ratio: By default the pixel aspect ratio of the source file is used. If you wish to force a different aspect ratio, you can deselect the From Source option, then manually select a different aspect ratio.
- Alpha: This option will appear only for files that contain an alpha channel By default the Alpha blend mode of the source file is used. If you wish to change the way the alpha is processed, you can deselect the From Source option, then manually select a different option. Straight is for alpha channels where all transparency data is stored in the alpha channel itself, and none in the color channels. Premultiplied is for files where a predetermined background color is blended into the transparent areas. If you import a file that contains transparency, but it is not displaying correctly, try changing the alpha mode it uses.
- Resolution: Resolution is a permanent property of the source file, and cannot be edited.
- Color: The Color Bit Depth is a permanent property of the source file, and cannot be edited.
- Codec: The codec used to encode the video is a permanent property of the source file, and cannot be edited.
- Audio
The audio properties of a clip are displayed for reference, but cannot be edited directly in HitFilm.- Format: Lists the format of the audio, including its bit-depth and the number of channels it contains.
- Sample Rate: The sample rate of the source file. It is recommended that the sample rate of your imported audio match the sample rate used in your project settings.
- Codec: The type of compression used to encode the audio in the source file.
- General
- Container: Lists the container used by the source file.
- Duration: The total duration of the source file, in Hours:Minutes:Seconds:Frames format.
You can also change a media clip’s alpha channel behavior between Straight or Premultiplied. This is particularly useful when importing OpenEXR images, which do not specify the best mode.
Other Asset Types
Special assets have different properties. More information can be found about these in the Compositing section, in the following chapters: