TIMECODE
Drop-Frame Timecode Explained
Drop-frame timecode changes certain frame numbers so that 29.97 or 59.94 timecode stays close to clock time; it does not remove video frames.
SHORT ANSWER
Start with the inputs you can verify
Drop-frame timecode changes certain frame numbers so that 29.97 or 59.94 timecode stays close to clock time; it does not remove video frames.
What the estimate means
The convention skips labels, not recorded frames.
Drop-frame and non-drop-frame timecode can describe the same frame rate but produce different timecode labels over long durations.
Where estimates go wrong
Confirm frame rate and timecode mode before converting, conforming, or comparing edit lists.
Keep the source measurements and assumptions with the result so another person can review or update the estimate later.
A practical workflow
- Identify the actual playback frame rate.
- Confirm whether the source uses drop-frame notation.
- Keep the mode explicit in exports, logs, and calculations.