Timecode & Frame Rate Converter
Translate SMPTE timecode across project frame rates. Calculate drop-frame offsets, exact real-time playback durations, and multi-framerate timeline conform drift.
Standard Frame Rates & SMPTE Bases
| Rate | Base | Drop Frame | Primary Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23.976 | 24 fps | NDF only | Film-look projects finished for NTSC territories and streaming. |
| 24 | 24 fps | NDF only | Cinema, DCP delivery, most narrative work. |
| 25 | 25 fps | NDF only | PAL broadcast: Europe, Australia, much of Asia and Africa. |
| 29.97 | 30 fps | DF / NDF | NTSC broadcast in North America, Japan and South Korea. |
| 30 | 30 fps | NDF only | Web video, screen recordings, some cameras and phones. |
| 50 | 50 fps | NDF only | PAL-region sport and high frame rate broadcast. |
| 59.94 | 60 fps | DF / NDF | NTSC-region sport, news and 60p broadcast delivery. |
| 60 | 60 fps | NDF only | Web video, gaming capture, smooth-motion social clips. |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Drop-Frame (DF) and Non-Drop-Frame (NDF) timecode?
29.97 fps runs slightly slower than 30 fps (1,000/1,001 ratio). If you count 30 frames every second, timecode drifts by 3.6 seconds every hour compared to real-world clock time. Drop-frame timecode compensates for this by dropping two frame numbers (00 and 01) at the start of every minute, except every 10th minute (00, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50). No actual video frames are discarded — only the timecode labels are adjusted so timecode matches wall clock time.
How do I convert 24 fps timecode to 29.97 or 25 fps?
When converting timecode between different frame rates, you must determine whether you want to preserve real-time playback duration (resampling frame numbers) or perform a 1:1 frame conform (changing playback speed). The converter above computes exact equivalent timecode while maintaining real-time duration.
Why does timecode use semicolons instead of colons?
In standard SMPTE timecode notation, a semicolon (`;`) or period (`.`) preceding the frame number denotes Drop-Frame timecode (e.g. `01:00:00;00`), whereas standard colons (`01:00:00:00`) indicate Non-Drop-Frame timecode.
What causes audio sync drift when mixing frame rates in a timeline?
Importing 23.976 fps footage into a true 24.0 fps timeline (or vice versa) without sample rate adjustment causes a 0.1% speed mismatch, which leads to approximately 1 frame of audio/video drift every 41.7 seconds (1 second every 17 minutes).