Timecode to Frames Calculator

How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter the timecode values: hours, minutes, seconds, and frame number (HH:MM:SS:FF format).
2. Enter your video\'s frame rate (common values: 24, 25, 30, 60 fps).
3. Check "Drop Frame" if working with 29.97 or 59.94 fps NTSC video.
4. The calculator displays the total frame number starting from frame 0.

Timecode to Frames Formula

Frame number is calculated by converting timecode components to total frames:

Example: Timecode 01:02:03:12 at 24fps: (1×3600 + 2×60 + 3) × 24 + 12 = (3600 + 120 + 3) × 24 + 12 = 89,304 frames.

Full Description

Converting timecode to frame numbers is essential for frame-accurate video editing, synchronization, and referencing specific moments in video content. While timecode (HH:MM:SS:FF) is human-readable, many editing systems and workflows work with frame numbers internally. Understanding this conversion is crucial for professional video production.

Frame numbers start at 0 and increment with each frame. Timecode provides a way to represent these frame numbers in a format that\'s easier for humans to understand and work with. The conversion is straightforward but requires careful attention to frame rate, as different frame rates produce different frame counts for the same timecode.

This calculator handles the conversion automatically, accounting for hours, minutes, seconds, and frame numbers. It also supports drop frame timecode for NTSC video (29.97/59.94 fps), which periodically drops frame numbers to keep timecode synchronized with real-world time. Use this tool when working with frame-accurate editing, creating edit decision lists (EDLs), or synchronizing multiple video sources.

Frequently Asked Questions