Three measurements
Frames, labels, and elapsed time
A frame count is the number of real frames. Timecode labels those frames. Elapsed time measures actual playback time, so the values can differ at fractional rates.
Timeline conversion
Frames & Timecode Calculator
Convert frame counts, timecode labels, and actual elapsed time without treating those three measurements as interchangeable.
Calculator
Choose a conversion
Fractional rates use exact rational values. Drop-frame options skip timecode numbers, not video frames.
Exact rates
Rational calculations
The calculator uses 24000/1001, 30000/1001, and 60000/1001 internally for 23.976, 29.97, and 59.94. NDF timecode counts at its nominal rate and can drift from real elapsed time.
Drop-frame
Numbers are skipped—not frames
29.97 DF skips two labels and 59.94 DF skips four at each minute except every tenth minute. This keeps timecode closely aligned with real elapsed time, but it is not a mathematically perfect wall-clock match.
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