What is timecode?
Timecode is the address of every frame in a video, written as HH:MM:SS:FF: hours, minutes, seconds and frames. At 01:02:03:12, 1 hour, 2 minutes, 3 seconds and 12 frames have passed. Since frames depend on the frame rate, the same timecode points to different moments at 24 and at 30 fps.
Also called: SMPTE timecode, TC
Reading a timecode
The last field counts frames, not hundredths of a second. At 30 fps it runs from 00 to 29 and then rolls over to the next second.
| Field | Value in 01:02:03:12 | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | 01 | 00 to 23 |
| Minutes | 02 | 00 to 59 |
| Seconds | 03 | 00 to 59 |
| Frames | 12 | 00 to the fps minus 1 |
Why timecode matters
It is the shared language of editing. When the director says the good line is at 00:14:32:08, the editor jumps straight to the right frame. Cut lists, EDLs, XMLs and review notes all use timecode.
Mixing frame rates is the most common mistake: adding timecodes from 25 and 30 fps gives a wrong result, and 29.97 fps adds the drop frame rule on top.
Timecode in FilmScribe
In the transcript, every line shows the timestamp where it starts and every word has its own timing. When you export to Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve and Final Cut Pro, on Studio and Agency, each segment points to the exact spot in the original media, so the editor's timecode is the raw file's. For timecode math, the calculator is free.
Timecode calculator Add, subtract and convert timecode to frames, seconds and milliseconds, from 23.976 to 60 fps, with drop frame. Open the calculator →Working with timecode without mix-ups
- 01
Say which timecode you mean
A clip carries the source timecode from the camera, and the timeline has its own record timecode. Notes should say which one they use, or the editor jumps to the wrong place.
- 02
Sync cameras and recorders
On multicam shoots, jam every camera and audio recorder to the same timecode at the start of the day, and check again after breaks or battery swaps, since internal clocks drift.
- 03
Write all four fields
In notes, always write HH:MM:SS:FF with leading zeros, like 00:04:07:12. Shortcuts like 4:07 drop the hour and the frame and get misread on long timelines.
- 04
Burn a window into review copies
When you send a cut for notes, burn the timeline's timecode into the review copy. Every note the client writes then points to the same frame you see in your editor.
Related terms
See all terms →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between timecode and a timestamp?
A timestamp usually stops at seconds, like 00:14:32. Timecode goes down to the frame, like 00:14:32:08. To find a line, a timestamp is enough; to cut on the right frame, editors use timecode.
What does a semicolon in timecode mean?
It means drop frame, used at 29.97 and 59.94 fps. In 00:01:00;02, the ; before the frames tells you some frame numbers are skipped so the clock matches real time.
Does timecode always start at 00:00:00:00?
No. Many cameras and timelines start at 01:00:00:00 or use time of day. That is why it pays to agree on the starting point when you hand off files.
Captions, clips and paper edits. All in one place.
Upload a video or paste a YouTube link. We transcribe every word with its timing, and you take the result to social media or to your editor.
See the result on your own recording before adding a card.