Timecodes

Common ways to display a timecode:

[NDF] None-Drop Frame Timecodes

Example timecode in drop-frame framerate: 10:00:00:00 (All separators are colons.)

Examples of drop-frame time codes: 23.98fps, 24fps, 25fps, 29.97fps NDF, 30fps, 48fps, 50fps, 59.94fps NDF, 60fps, ...

The main advantage of non-drop frame timecodes in film production is that they provide a more accurate representation of the video frames. In film production, the frame rate is often set to 24fps, since it is the traditional frame rate for motion pictures. By using a non-drop frame timecode, the editor can easily match the timecode to the exact frame of the video and make precise edits. This is particularly useful for cutting dialogue and sound effects, which must be perfectly synced to the video. For TV productions in Europe 25fps is used often used as Standart.

[DF] Drop-Frame Timecodes

Examples of drop-frame framerate: 29.97fps DF and 59.94fps DF

Example timecode in drop-frame framerate: 10:00:00;00 (The last separator is a semicolon.)

The main difference between drop frame and non-drop frame timecodes is how they handle frame rate discrepancies. A drop frame timecode drops certain frame numbers to keep the timecode in sync with the clock. This means that the timecode will always match the clock time, but may not always be in sync with the video. Drop frame is used when the frame rate of the video is 29.97 or 59.94 and it must skip frames 00 and 01 once a minute, except multiples of ten minutes.

[VFR] Variable Frame Rates

Many consumer devices, such as smartphones and digital cameras, use inconsistent frame rates for video recordings. These devices often default to using variable frame rates (VFR) in order to conserve battery life and storage space. This means that the frame rate can change throughout the video depending on the amount of motion and complexity of the scene. Additionally, many professional cameras also have the option to use VFR for certain types of footage.

It's worth noting that some devices use a different frame rate depending on the resolution or aspect ratio of the video. For example, a smartphone camera may record at a higher frame rate when shooting in 1080p than when shooting in 4K.

It's important to keep in mind that if you're planning to edit or post-produce the footage, you may need to conform the frame rate to a standard value, such as 24fps, 25fps or 30fps, in order to avoid issues with syncing audio, playing back the footage, or exporting the final video.