Timecode Video Editing Explained: A Simple Guide To Timecode
Introduction to Timecode
Timecode is a crucial aspect of digital cinematography, serving as a unique identifier for each frame shot during a video project. Timecode video editing plays an essential role in labeling and identifying individual video frames, synchronizing video and audio for editing, and referencing specific frames in a sequence. By providing a precise digital address for each frame, timecode ensures that editors can efficiently locate and work with footage during the editing.
The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) defines timecode in a two-part document known as SMPTE 12M. This document outlines the standards for timecode formats, ensuring consistency and compatibility across different recording devices and editing software.
How does timecode video editing help?
Timecode serves as a unique identifier for each frame, ensuring that the editing process is efficient and precise. By embedding timecode in your footage, you create a reference tool that helps editors quickly locate specific shots or audio segments, ultimately streamlining the post-production process which helps to save time and budget.
This capability is crucial when working with timecode generators and recording devices that rely on timecode signals to maintain synchronization across all media files. Whether you’re shooting a motion picture, a corporate video, or a multi-camera event, having timecode embedded in your recorded media enhances the final edit’s accuracy and quality.
Clients near and far hire us as their local Chicago camera crew. Clients out of town or out of the country use us to record corporate presentations, client testimonials, marketing videos, and shoot trade show video. For clients out of town we ftp or send them a hard drive of the video files so they can begin their edit. Using reliable timecode sources is essential to avoid drift, ensuring that synchronization remains intact throughout the editing. Timecode video editing make the whole process easier.
"How can I view the video that we just shot? " It's a question we often get from our clients.
Most of the time raw clips are shot in a professional format that clients cannot easily manipulate. Either it's in a CODEC (Code-Decode) that their computer has a problem playing or it's in a proprietary format such as Panasonic's P2. Clients simply cannot get their computers to play the footage. However, there is one option we can provide to help clients view the video footage we just shot, we can provide you with "window dubs".
SMPTE Timecode & window dubs?
A professional video camera has the ability to generate “SMPTE timecode”.
Timecode is an invisible digital address that is recorded along with the audio and video. Timecode is embedded in the audio and video files. When processing the media, a production company has the ability to superimpose the timecode onto the multimedia making it visible for the viewer. This is what’s known as a “window dub”.
The black number in the bar in the image below, that’s the timecode. Regardless of the frame rate or format of the video footage it will display a series of numbers. Anywhere throughout the world anyone with the ability to read timecode will come up with the exact frame of video for the recording in their video editing software. For example:
This video is a sample of professional timecode superimposed over the video image. By providing a “window dub” we allow producers to see the footage and take meaningful notes based on the recorded timecode. Then when in the post-production suite reviewing the footage and audio files, the timecode numbers they marked down can be used as a digital reference when editing. The first frame in the timecode serves as a reference point for counting frames in a video clip, which is crucial for accurate timecode video editing workflows.
Click the image above to see timecode in action.
Timecode is displayed as [Hours : Minutes : Seconds : Frames]. For instance, in the sample above the timecode begins at 14:34:05:04 (14 hours, 34 minutes, 05 seconds, 04 frames). If a producer gave us this timecode we could jump directly to the individual frames they were referring to.
Pro Tip: When taking notes skip the frames, since they are 1/24th, 1/30th or 1/60ths, of a second - way too fast to be accurate at this point.
Why is timecode video editing significant?
Timecode allows producers to take meaningful notes. Additionally, timecode serves as a valuable reference tool by enabling precise documentation of footage. For instance, a producer can pinpoint specific timecode markers to choose shots for the final edit accurately.
Since timecode is a digital address the numbers are “fixed” to the footage whether from old video tape or more modern file based codec’s. It’s not an arbitrary time, it’s an exact time! Each device uses its own internal clock to generate these timecode values, which can lead to slight variations if not synchronized properly.
The clip above runs from: 14:34:00:02 - 14:34:23:02, meaning it’s a 23 second clip. If you took the raw camera footage to any post-production facility worldwide to edit and asked the editor to cue up to 14:34:00:02 they would go immediately to the frame at the beginning of the clip. Timecode is an exact address that allows the editing process to move more quickly and smoothly. Using timecode makes the refining process much easier. To enter timecode values in editing software, simply type the hours, minutes, seconds, and frames into the designated timecode field, which helps in setting In and Out points for clips and navigating the timeline in Adobe Premiere Pro, DiVinci Resolve or Avid.
Timecode = efficiency designed for the editing suite
2 styles, 1 purpose for the edit
When setting timecode in the camera your videographer has 2 options when recording. “Record run” or time of day (“Free run”) timecode.
Record Run is a mode set to count up when the record button on the camera is started and stopped. With this mode, your starting timecode can also be reset to whatever number you want. Years ago, when recording on videotape with a thirty minute duration we’d record the first tape with a timecode of 01:00:00:00 (hour 1) and the second tape with a timecode of 02:00:00:00 (hour 2) and so on. This would help us keep track of the footage and to sync up items in our video editing system. Now with electronic files it’s not as important.
Free Run (time of day) is what you see in the example above. 14:34:00:02 means it was recorded at 2:34pm. Free Run timecode is a continuous counter that goes up and is recorded to the video frames only when you start and stop your recording. This is especially helpful for “day in the life” recordings and documentaries, so you can later match up with events that happened in the recording vs. real life.
An example would be if we were hired to shoot a video of a ribbon cutting. We might shoot b-roll of the event before and after the ribbon cutting too. But if you know the Mayor had a ribbon cutting ceremony around 10am you could skip forward in your editing timeline to 10:00:00:00 to begin looking for the clip you want.
We often get footage from other video production companies who apparently never reset their timecode. Is it make or break? No. But it is a missed opportunity to organize the clips for the editor, producer or client.
On another note, devices that rely on their own internal clock to maintain timecode can experience drift without frequent re-jam-syncing. This highlights the limitations of sync methods like jam-sync where each camera's timekeeping is independently managed. It's often better in a multi-camera setup to jam-sync the cameras to each other or use and audio recorder to act as the timecode generator and provide timecode to each of the cameras. This way 1 device is acting as the "master" timecode generator instead of each camera or audio recorder producing their own timecode.
Deep Dive: Drop Frame Timecode
For a deeper dive- we mentioned there are 2 different types of timecode. It’s all about how your recording device counts video frames. Drop frame and non drop frame. The common logic is that video is either 30 or 24 frames per second in North America. But it’s really not. Video footage is really either 23.976, 29.97 or 59.94 frames per second. The difference between the goal and reality is what this is all about (24-23.976=0.024, 30-29.97=0.03 or 60-59.94=0.06).
Drop frame is a standard for broadcast networks using NTSC (North American Standard) due to this correlation with real time. Think about the timecode math in the paragraph above. After one hour, timecode discrepancies occur because the NTSC frame rate of 29.97fps causes the timecode to be behind by a specific number of seconds. 30-29.97=0.03 adds up after a while. Drop-frame timecode addresses this by dropping frame numbers to keep the timecode in sync with real time.
Non drop frame timecode counts every single video frame and doesn’t re-label any frame to account for the 29.97 fps.
A program using non-drop timecode is approximately four seconds shorter per every hour. As you could imagine for broadcast networks selling ad time, accurate time is very important. Drop frame timecode drops two frame numbers from each minute, except every tenth minute, to maintain synchronization in recordings at framerates like 29.97fps and 59.94fps.
However for most corporate, marketing or training videos of short duration the style of timecode your production crew choose in your recording device is not really significant.
Working with Multiple Cameras
When working with multiple cameras, it’s essential to ensure that the timecode is consistent across all devices. This can be achieved by using a reliable timecode generator, such as a timecode slate or audio recorder, to synchronize your gear and record the timecode at the beginning of each take. This visual and audio reference helps editors synchronize footage from different cameras during the post-production process.
Additionally, using a backup timecode generator can ensure that the timecode remains accurate in case the primary generator fails. Understanding the different timecode formats, such as record run and free run, is also crucial when working with multiple cameras. As a reminder, record run timecode, for example, counts only the frames recorded, while free run timecode runs continuously, regardless of whether the camera is recording or not. By using the correct timecode format and synchronizing the timecode across all devices, editors can ensure that the footage is accurately labeled and easily editable, making the post-production process more efficient.
Camera doesn't offer addressable timecode?
Lower end cameras often don't have an option for timecode, most professional cameras do. You can get similar results with an old fashioned “clap board”, however timecode “jamming” your cameras electronically will offer more accurate edit points.
We've had to edit footage without synced timecode, just using a clap board. Trust me when I say, it is not fun, and takes a lot more time. For instance, the clips are synced at the beginning but if it's a long recording it becomes tricky to work with. Additionally, syncing two devices without timecode, such as cameras and audio recorders, can be challenging due to timecode drift. Even if the clap board clips are aligned over a long recording the clips can become unsynced due to drift.
Trust me when I say, timecode video editing makes the process easier.
Conclusion
By viewing window dubs, a viewer can determine what parts of interviews they like thanks to the included timecode. Using the timecode number they can also choose amongst several "takes" make comments and get a feel for what the footage looks like. Whether noted in a spreadsheet or even just pencil and paper, it's an efficient way to prep the footage for your editing. Additionally, by logging the footage in advance of the edit, clients can get their project produced faster.
Timecode video editing makes the non linear editing process faster and helps the overall project budget, keeping cost down.
Understanding and utilizing timecode is paramount for a streamlined and cost-effective video editing workflow. Ready to experience the efficiency of professional timecode in your next video project? Contact Acclaim Media today to discuss how our expert Chicago camera crews can help you capture and deliver your vision flawlessly.
Acclaim Media is a Chicago-based video production company helping brands nationwide create high-impact content—from marketing and corporate messaging to training and events. With 25+ years of experience and hundreds of successful projects, we make video production simple, strategic, and results-driven.