Timecode Calculator
Calculate timecode conversions, add/subtract timecodes, convert to/from frames, and calculate durations. Essential for video editors and filmmakers.
Result
Frame Information
Timecode Reference
Frequently Asked Questions
What is timecode?
Timecode (SMPTE timecode) is a digital signal used in video production to label individual frames with a unique address. Format: HH:MM:SS:FF (Hours:Minutes:Seconds:Frames). It's essential for editing, syncing audio, and post-production.
What's the difference between Drop Frame and Non-Drop Frame?
Drop Frame (DF): Adjusts for the discrepancy between actual time and frame count at 29.97 fps by dropping frame numbers 00 and 01 at the start of each minute except every 10th minute. This makes timecode match real time.
Non-Drop Frame (NDF): Counts every frame sequentially, which causes a drift of about 3.6 seconds per hour from real time at 29.97 fps.
How do I convert timecode to frames?
Formula: Total Frames = (Hours × 3600 × fps) + (Minutes × 60 × fps) + (Seconds × fps) + Frames
For drop frame at 29.97 fps, the calculation is more complex due to frame dropping. Use our calculator for accurate conversion.
What frame rate should I use?
Common frame rates:
- 23.976 fps: Film/NTSC (US TV/film)
- 24 fps: Cinema/film standard
- 25 fps: PAL/SECAM (Europe, Asia)
- 29.97 fps: NTSC (US TV broadcast)
- 30 fps: Web video/gaming
- 60 fps: High frame rate/slow motion
How do I add two timecodes?
To add timecodes, convert both to total frames, add the frame counts, then convert back to timecode. Our calculator handles this automatically, including proper frame rate conversion.
What is 00:00:00:00 timecode?
00:00:00:00 is the starting timecode for most video projects (hour 0, minute 0, second 0, frame 0). Some projects use time-of-day timecode (e.g., 10:30:00:00) for multi-camera shoots.
How many frames in 1 hour of video?
Frames per hour by frame rate:
- 24 fps: 86,400 frames/hour
- 25 fps: 90,000 frames/hour
- 30 fps: 108,000 frames/hour
- 60 fps: 216,000 frames/hour