Digital Video and HD, 2nd Edition

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Timecode

This chapter gives technical details concerning timecode, as used in video, film, audio recording, editing, and sequencing equipment.

Introduction

Timecode systems assign a number to each frame of video to allow each frame to be uniquely identified. Time data is coded in binary-coded decimal (BCD) digits in the form HH:MM:SS:FF, in the range 00:00:00:00 to 23:59:59:29. There are timecode variants for 24, 25, 29.97, and 30 frames per second. Time-code data is digitally recorded with the associated image. Burnt-in timecode (BITC) refers to a recording with timecode numbers keyed over the picture content (that is, embedded in the image data).

In addition to approximately 32 bits required for eight-digit time data, timecode systems accommodate ...