Convert a cue position between any two of 10 frame rates, and see how far the count has drifted from the clock on the wall.
Runs entirely in your browser. Conversion goes through real elapsed seconds rather than frame counts, which is the only method that survives the 1.001 rates.
Converts to
Real elapsed time
1h 0m 0.00s
Frames @ 25
90,000
Frames @ 30
107,892
Drift at 25
none
25 fps (PAL / EBU) — The European broadcast and theatre standard. Timecode equals wall clock exactly.
29.97 fps drop-frame — Skips two frame numbers at the top of every minute except every tenth, which keeps it on the wall clock.
Timecode questions, answered
What is the difference between drop-frame and non-drop timecode?
Drop-frame skips two frame numbers at the top of every minute except every tenth minute, which keeps the count aligned with real time to within about 3.6 milliseconds an hour. Non-drop counts every number, so at 29.97 fps it falls behind the wall clock by 3.6 seconds every hour. No video frames are discarded either way — drop-frame skips numbers, not pictures.
Why does 29.97 fps timecode drift from real time?
Because 29.97 is really 30000/1001 frames per second, but the timecode's frame field still counts to 30. An hour of non-drop 29.97 timecode contains 108,000 frames, which take 3603.6 real seconds to play. The timecode reads 01:00:00:00 while 3603.6 seconds have actually elapsed.
How do I convert timecode between frame rates?
Convert the source timecode to a real elapsed time in seconds, then express that time at the target rate. Matching frame counts directly gives the wrong answer, because a frame at 25 fps and a frame at 29.97 fps are different durations. This calculator converts through real seconds for that reason.
Which frame rate should a show run at?
Whichever rate the department that owns the master clock is already running. In European theatre and live events that is usually 25 fps, which has the advantage that timecode and wall clock are identical. Mixed-rate rigs are workable but every conversion is a place for an error to enter, so it is worth settling the question before programming rather than during it.
Does CueSync generate or chase timecode?
Both, in the Theatre and Production editions: CueSync chases incoming LTC, MTC, Art-Net Timecode and TCNet to fire cues at frame-accurate positions, and can generate timecode for other devices to follow. The DJ Edition drives cues from live audio and PRO DJ LINK instead and does not include the timecode stack.
Where timecode should come from
Converting between rates is the easy half. The harder question is which device owns the clock, and it is worth settling before programming rather than during a load-in.