Editorial / timecode
Timecode calculator and converter
Translate a timecode address into frames and clock time, or turn an absolute frame count back into a timecode address.
Runs locallyNo sign-inFree
Browser-local toolVC / TIM
Production notes
What this result means
Convert SMPTE timecode to absolute frame count and elapsed time, including 29.97 and 59.94 drop-frame timecode. Results are intended for planning and convenience; confirm critical values in your editing, encoding, or delivery system.
Useful for
- Checking EDL or cue-sheet positions
- Converting frame notes to editorial timecode
- Confirming drop-frame clock alignment
Assumptions
- Timecode starts at 00:00:00:00 and does not include a date or reel offset.
- 23.976 and 59.94 refer to 24000/1001 and 60000/1001 fps.
- A semicolon is used in displayed drop-frame timecode.
Limits & checks
- Negative timecode, 24-hour wrap, user bits, and VITC/LTC transport are not modeled.
- Drop-frame numbering is supported only at 29.97 and 59.94 fps.
- Timecode labels do not identify the source media frame cadence by themselves.
FAQ
Before the final export
Does drop-frame timecode remove video frames?
No. It skips some frame numbers so the timecode clock stays close to real elapsed time.
Can 23.976 use drop-frame?
Not in the common SMPTE scheme implemented here.
Why does 01:00:00;00 equal one clock hour?
The drop-frame numbering rule compensates for the fractional 29.97 or 59.94 frame rate.