Free tool
Timecode calculator
Add and subtract SMPTE timecode, convert frames to timecode and move timecode between frame rates. It handles drop-frame at 29.97 and 59.94, and shows how long every result really plays.
Add or subtract timecode
Subtract an in point from an out point for a duration, or add durations for a runtime.
Frames to timecode
Type in either field. Frame 0 is 00:00:00:00.
Convert timecode between frame rates
Finds the frame at 24 fps that plays at the same moment as this timecode at 23.976 fps.
How timecode math works
Timecode reads hours, minutes, seconds and frames: 01:02:15:12 is 1 hour, 2 minutes, 15 seconds and 12 frames. The frames count up to the frame rate and roll over, so ordinary arithmetic gets it wrong. To add or subtract, convert each timecode to a frame count, do the math in frames, and convert back.
A timecode second holds the nominal frame count: 24 at 23.976, 30 at 29.97 and 60 at 59.94. Those NTSC rates actually play at 1000/1001 of that speed, so an hour of 23.976 timecode takes 1 hour and 3.6 seconds of real time. That's why each result shows real time next to the timecode.
Drop-frame timecode
Drop-frame timecode fixes that drift at 29.97 and 59.94. It skips frame numbers 00 and 01 (00 to 03 at 59.94) at the start of every minute, except every tenth minute, so an hour of timecode lasts almost exactly an hour. No video is dropped, only numbers. A semicolon before the frames marks drop-frame: 01:00:00;00. The calculator rejects labels that never occur, like 00:01:00;00.
Questions
How do you subtract timecode?
Convert both timecodes to frame counts at the same frame rate, subtract, and convert the difference back to timecode. A timecode second holds the nominal frame count (24 at 23.976, 30 at 29.97), and drop-frame rates skip the dropped frame numbers. The calculator does both, so 01:00:00:00 minus 00:59:59:23 at 23.976 is 00:00:00:01.
What is drop-frame timecode?
Drop-frame timecode, written with a semicolon before the frames (01:00:00;00), is used at 29.97 and 59.94 fps. It skips frame numbers 00 and 01 (00 to 03 at 59.94) at the start of every minute except every tenth minute, so the timecode keeps pace with the clock. No video frames are dropped, only numbers.
Why does an hour of 23.976 timecode run longer than an hour?
23.976 and non-drop 29.97 count 24 or 30 frames per timecode second but play at 1000/1001 of that speed. One hour of timecode at those rates takes 1 hour and 3.6 seconds of real time. Each result in the calculator shows its real time.
How do I convert timecode between frame rates?
Choose the frame rate the timecode was recorded at, then the rate to convert to. The calculator finds the frame that plays at the same moment at the new rate, rounded to the nearest frame. Between 23.976, 29.97 and 59.94 non-drop the hours, minutes and seconds stay the same, since they share the same slowdown. Between 23.976 and 24 the timecode drifts 3.6 seconds an hour.
Log notes on this timecode, on set
TCnotes stamps every note to the frame against live timecode, then exports markers for Premiere Pro, Resolve and Final Cut Pro. Free for one project, with every export format.
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