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The Six "Flavors" of SMPTE Timecode
The Six "Flavors" of SMPTE Timecode --By Michael Stern
The SMPTE Time Code signal is the motion picture industry standard method utilized for synchronization of audio and visual elements. SMPTE, pronounced "Simp -tee", is an acronym for the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. SMPTE Engineers needed to be able to identify film and video frames in relation to time, so a total of six frame rates were devised with resolution varying from a range of 24 to 30 frames per second (fps). It is important to realize that all these formats are dictated by the technical specifications of the visual media. Frame Rates NDF29.97 fps American color video (NTSC). (aka "non-drop" in the US) This is the most common rate for American film post-production, as film is usually transferred to video for editing and audio "post."
Very often, U-Matic composer dubs labeled 30fps are actually 29.97fps. DF29.97 fps American color video (NTSC). (aka "drop frame" in the US) Most American television programming is done at the rate. The Drop Frame numbering system compensates for slight inaccuracy in non-drop timecode, which does not exactly correspond to real time. This is accomplished by "dropping" two frames at the start of each minute except for every tenth minute. NDF30 fps American black and white video. Very commonly used for audio production not involving picture. DF30 fps Drop frame rate based on American black and white video. Not widely used. 24 fps American standard motion picture film rate. Not generally used for music production. 25 fps European motion picture film and video, also known as SMPTE EBU (PAL, SECAM). Used in America for some foreign productions.
Key to abbreviations NDF=non drop frame / DF=drop frame / fps=frames per second The media being used is "striped", or recorded with a continuous SMPTE Time Code signal for the duration of the program. Every location on that tape is then represented by an eight digit number in the format of Hours, Minutes, Seconds and Frames appearing as such HHMMSSFF The possible values are derived from the twenty-four hour clock, ranging from 00:00:00:00 to 23:59:59:29, before repeating again from "0".
Most programming is striped with an appropriate pre-roll of anywhere from ten seconds to two minutes with the content stating at 01:00:00:00. This minimizes the possibility of a sychronizer becoming confused by "rolling over midnight", meaning that if content starts at 00:00:00:00, the pre-roll would be in the 23:59:00:00 range and the sychronizer would try to rewind to zero instead of rolling forward.
Mike Stern
Article Added: Jan 25, 2006
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