Timecode is an electronic indexing method that denotes hours, minutes, seconds, and frames that have elapsed on a videotape. For example, a timecode of 01:03:30:10 denotes a frame that is marked at 1áhour, 3áminutes, 30áseconds, and 10áframes.

NTSC video (the video format used mainly in the United States) uses one of two formats: drop-frame timecode and non-drop-frame timecode. Drop-frame (DF) timecode is designed to match the NTSC scan rate of 29.97áframes per second (fps). Two frames of timecode are dropped every minute except for the tenth minute. No video frames are actually dropped. Drop-frame timecode is indicated by semicolons between the digits; for example, 01;00;00;00.

Non-drop-frame (NDF) timecode tracks NTSC video at a rate of 30áfps and is indicated by colons between the digits; for example, 01:00:00:00. Non-drop-frame timecode can be easier to work with, but does not provide accurate timing for NTSC broadcast.

For example, a typical 1-hour show uses 52 minutes of video. If your program ends at 01:52:00:00 (non-drop-frame), and it is broadcast at 29.97áfps, it will last 94 frames too long (approximately 3 seconds). The final credits could be cut off.

PAL video (the video format used in many countries other than the United States) uses a scan rate of 25 fps. Timecode is indicated by colons. There is no need for drop-frame timecode in PAL video.

You set the default timecode format for logging clips in the Deck Preferences dialog box (see Setting Deck Preferences). You set the default starting timecode in the General Settings dialog box (see General Settings). In both cases, you can select drop-frame or non-drop-frame timecode.

You can change the starting timecode of a sequence or, for NTSC projects, the type of timecode. See Changing the Start Timecode for Sequences.