Judder on TVs and Monitors: What It Is and How to Remove It

Have you ever watched a movie or series on your TV or monitor and noticed annoying stuttering or small jumps in the image, especially when panning or moving the camera? If so, quiet, you are not alone. What you are experiencing is what is known as judder, a technical term that is increasingly being heard among those seeking the best viewing quality at home.

Although it may seem complicated, judder is more common than you might think. think And it has a solution in most cases. In this article, I explain it in detail. What exactly is this phenomenon, why it occurs, and most importantly, how you can correct it? in all kinds of situations: in Android TV, TV Box, players, consoles or any modern screen. Make yourself a coffee and stay, because after reading this article, you'll understand once and for all why your TV is doing strange things and what you can do to enjoy movies and series just like in the cinema.

What is judder and why does it appear?

The judder is a visual effect that produces small jumps, jerks or discontinuities in the fluidity of the image when watching a video on a screen. It's especially noticeable in sequences with long camera movements, such as panning shots, where the background appears to jerk forward rather than move smoothly.

The main cause of judder is Lack of synchronization between the frame rate of the content (fps) and the refresh rate of the monitor or television (Hz)For example, most movies are recorded at 24 frames per second (24p), but many TVs and monitors display images at 50, 60, 100, or 120 Hz. When these numbers are not exact multiples, the display is forced to repeat or interpolate frames, resulting in jumps and a lack of smoothness, i.e., judder.

Although it can sometimes be confused with the aesthetics of cinema (since 24p is not ultra-smooth either), the real judder is a technical defect which can and should be corrected. It's also important to differentiate it from the artifacts typical of some panel technologies, which can drag glare or distort lights in slow motion, but they're not exactly the same.

Why judder is so annoying on modern TVs

Buying a new TV, especially a mid-high range one, and realizing that movies and series are watched in fits and starts This is one of the biggest disappointments for any home theater enthusiast. Sometimes, even after activating the famous motion processing modes (such as TrueMotion, MotionFlow, or similar), the result is worse: the image looks artificial, artifacts appear, sharpness is unnatural, and... the stuttering is still there.

The problem is that these processing systems try to "invent" frames to smooth out motion, but they don't correct the source of the desynchronization. The bottom line is understand the technical problem to solve it at its root and avoid relying on patches that often aggravate the visual experience.

How does judder occur? How does the difference between FPS and Hz affect it?

To understand this better, let's look at a practical example. If you play a movie at 24 fps on a TV that refreshes the image 60 times per second (60 Hz), the bill doesn't add upThe TV has to alternate and repeat some frames irregularly to fill those 60 cycles every second. This is what causes the jerks, because some frames remain on screen longer than others.

Some technologies, such as the classic pulldown 3:2, they try to adapt the 24p signal to 60 Hz by repeating some frames more than others, but the human eye still notices irregularity in slow movements.

However, if the TV is capable of operating at exactly 24 Hz or multiples (48, 72, 120 Hz), it can display each frame at the same time, eliminating the judderMany modern models already include this 24p mode, but you'll need to enable it and make sure both your player and TV support it and are properly configured.

Most common technical causes of judder and micro-stuttering

Now that you know what it is, let's see it in detail. Why judder and other jumps (micro-stuttering, jitter, etc.) may appear on your TV or monitor:

• Difference between frame rate and refresh rate: The imbalance between the content fps and Screen Hz is the main cause.
• Incorrect video output settings: If your player or TV Box is not sending the signal at the correct frequency, you will experience skipping.
• HDMI cable or connection problems: Faulty HDMI cables or ports with interference can cause micro-cuts or loss of sync.
• Outdated firmwareMany players and TV boxes resolve compatibility issues with software updates.
• Excessive image processing: Advanced motion or noise reduction filters may introduce artifacts and more jumps.
• Incorrect HDMI mode: Selecting the wrong HDMI mode on your device can also cause incompatibility.
• Energy saving options: Some power functions may modify the panel's response.
• Poorly optimized applications: Not all of them apps de streaming They implement the fps/Hz switching well.

How to identify if you have judder and not another problem

It is important to distinguish real judder from other image defects. Judder is usually most noticeable in panoramic movements or horizontal traveling shotsIf you notice the stage background moving in fits and starts—not large jumps, but small, rhythmic twitches—that's judder. If you're seeing distortions in the lights or creeping in bright areas, it's probably due to limitations inherent in the panel technology or the original film material, which aren't the same thing.

Effective solutions to correct judder and micro-stuttering

Adjust the refresh rate to match the FPS

The main way to avoid judder is simple in theory: Set both the player and your TV to work at the same frequency or at multiples of the original content (for example, 24 fps with 24, 48, 72 or 120 Hz).

This may involve enabling Cinema Mode, Movie Mode, or 24p in your TV or monitor's settings menu. Many TV boxes, Blu-ray players, and Android systems already have an option called "autoframe rate," which synchronizes the video output with the material being played.

If your TV doesn't allow exactly 24 Hz but does allow 120 Hz, that's also valid (120 is a multiple of 24), so the stuttering should disappear.

Check and update the EDID

The EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) is the data structure that the display provides to the source device to communicate its capabilities (resolution, fps, Hz, etc.). If the EDID is corrupted or outdated, incompatibilities may occur.

Search in the settings menu of your device (TV Box, Android TV, player, etc.) the option of reset EDID or perform a factory reset. This will force renewed communication between the two devices and may resolve the issue.

Check HDMI cables and connections

Judder and other micro-stuttering problems can be accentuated if there is a defective HDMI cable or low quality. Make sure Make sure to use certified cables (HDMI High Speed or Ultra High Speed) and try changing ports on your TV.

Place cables away from sources of electromagnetic interference (other cables, routers, etc.) to minimize signal noise.

Update firmware and applications

Many bugs related to playback and compatibility at 24p or its multiples are resolved by firmware updates on your TV, TV box, or player. Go to your device's settings and look for the update option. If the problem persists after updating, contact with the manufacturer's technical support to see if there is a specific solution.

Disable extra image processing or select the correct mode

Many televisions integrate advanced motion processing filters which can make the situation worse. Discipline to activate the Cinema, Movie, Game or PC Mode, as they tend to disable some of those aggressive features. In addition, deactivate options such as motion smoothing, interpolation, noise reduction and similar technologies. So, the TV will respect the original signal without modifying it.

If the image continues to be problematic, try different combinations of settings until you find the smoothest one. Ideally, you should maintain the video's original frame rate and a compatible refresh rate on your TV.

HDMI compatibility mode

Some players, TV Boxes and consoles offer various HDMI modes. Query your device's manual to see which one is best suited for your screen. Change Among modes like "compatibility," "high speed," "auto," and so on, you can fix signal problems. Always use the most standard and compatible mode that allows for maximum synchronization.

Review the power management options

Some energy-saving features may reduce the signal quality or modify the refresh rate on your device or screen. Make sure that both the player and the TV are in optimal, unrestricted performance mode, at least during playback of judder-sensitive content.

Consider app and player compatibility

Not all video apps adapt refresh rates well. If you only notice judder in a specific app (e.g., Netflix, Disney+, Kodi…), experiment to update it, reinstall it or use a different one. Query specialized forums if other users have reported the same error: sometimes it is an already documented problem and has a solution or a pending update.

Particularities according to the type of content and device

The judder behaves differently depending on the source of the content:

• En DVD PAL (25 fps), it is not possible to play them at 24p without losing synchronization, but American NTSC DVDs can simulate 24p if the player allows it.
• En consoles, media players and PCs, adjust the refresh rate of Windows, macOS or the device itself to the native output frequency of the content helps a lot.
• En Android TV and TV BoxMany models already include the autoframe option to automatically match the frequency. Turn it on whenever possible.
• En latest generation televisions, 24p mode is usually found in advanced picture settings or in the HDMI input menu, but it is disabled by default.

There are high-end players that were pioneers in allowing native 24p—such as Oppo, some Panasonic, and other brands—but today almost any modern TV or TV box should support at least 24, 48, 60, and 120 Hz on some HDMI input.

Common mistake when trying to correct judder

• Activating automatic motion processing (MotionFlow, TrueMotion, etc.) thinking that it will eliminate judder, when in reality it usually makes it worse or creates the dreaded "soap opera effect."
• Forcing video output to 24p on PAL discs or formats, which causes more problems.
• Leave power saving settings enabled during playback.
• Do not update the firmware of the TV or player.
• Thinking that every jerk is judder, without distinguishing it from artifacts from the capture or the original digital master.

Tests to check if your system is correctly configured

There are test videos and travel tests which you can easily find on YouTube or specialized forums. These clips depict camera movements at constant speed (for example, a landscape moving from side to side). If the flow is completely smooth, your system is well tuned. If you see rhythmic micro-jerks, you can still improve the FPS-Hz sync.

In short, although judder can be persistent or even frustrating at first, it can almost always be resolved if you spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself with your device's menus and options. With the steps I've outlined, you should be able to eliminate stuttering and enjoy movies and series with the natural fluidity they were intended for. And if all else fails, it's always a good idea to consult your TV or player's technical support, as sometimes there are hidden options or updates that don't appear in the standard menus.