What is drop-frame timecode?

At 29.97 fps the timecode drifts from real time because the rate isn't exactly 30. Drop-frame skips 2 frame numbers every minute (except every tenth minute) so the timecode matches real time. No frames are deleted, only labels are skipped.

What is 2:3 pulldown?

It is the method for taking 23.976 fps footage to 29.97 fps by spreading every 4 frames across 5, alternating 2 and 3 fields. It increases the frame count by 25% while keeping the real duration.

Framerate & timecode converter (frames, duration, pulldown)

Timecode notes

Timecode counts labelled frames, not clock time. At 23.976 and 29.97 fps non-drop timecode runs ahead of the wall clock; drop-frame corrects that drift by skipping frame labels, not frames.

When should I use drop-frame?

In NTSC broadcast environments (29.97 / 59.94 fps) where the timecode must match real broadcast duration. For cinema and most digital workflows, non-drop is used.

Does converting frame rate change the speed?

It depends. “Same duration” recomputes the frames to keep real time (the usual case when transcoding). “Same frames” keeps the frame count and changes the duration (interpreting footage at another cadence, like a 24→25 with a 4% speed-up).

Framerate & timecode

Input

Timecode notes