Frame Rates and Drop-Frame Timecode

Frame rate matters. If the wrong frame rate is selected, decoded timecode may appear plausible but still place clips incorrectly.

LTC Magic supports 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97 NDF, 29.97 DF and 30. For 50/60 fps picture, enable Double LTC. Always confirm the expected rate before processing.

Drop-frame timecode is a counting method used mainly with 29.97 fps workflows. It does not drop actual video frames; it skips certain timecode numbers so clock time and timecode stay aligned over long durations.

If you are not sure whether a project uses drop-frame or non-drop-frame timecode, ask before exporting final deliverables. Guessing can create timeline errors that are difficult to spot until later in post.