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.

Common frame rates include 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, 29.97 drop frame, 30, 50, and 59.94. 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, ask before exporting final deliverables. Guessing can create timeline errors that are difficult to spot until later in post.