diff --git a/src/emu/recording.cpp b/src/emu/recording.cpp
index a395aaabcfb..6613b069b90 100644
--- a/src/emu/recording.cpp
+++ b/src/emu/recording.cpp
@@ -179,8 +179,8 @@ bool avi_movie_recording::initialize(running_machine &machine, std::unique_ptr<e
 	// build up information about this new movie
 	avi_file::movie_info info;
 	info.video_format = 0;
-	info.video_timescale = 1000 * (screen() ? screen()->frame_period().as_hz() : screen_device::DEFAULT_FRAME_RATE);
-	info.video_sampletime = 1000;
+	info.video_timescale = 0x3fff'fffc; // multiple of 60, for screenless machines
+	info.video_sampletime = screen() ? screen()->frame_period().as_ticks(info.video_timescale) : 0x0111'1111;
 	info.video_numsamples = 0;
 	info.video_width = width;
 	info.video_height = height;
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ bool avi_movie_recording::initialize(running_machine &machine, std::unique_ptr<e
 	info.audio_samplerate = machine.sample_rate();
 
 	// compute the frame time
-	set_frame_period(attotime::from_seconds(1000) / info.video_timescale);
+	set_frame_period(attotime::from_ticks(info.video_sampletime, info.video_timescale);
 
 	// create the file
 	avi_file::error avierr = avi_file::create(fullpath, info, m_avi_file);