Which timecode uses skipped frame numbers to fix timing errors?

• A. Timecode Burn
• B. Sync Timecode
• C. Drop Frame Timecode
• D. Non-Drop Timecode

Answer: (C)

When working with NTSC 29.97 fps material, the displayed timecode can drift from real elapsed time if you count every frame without adjustment. Drop Frame Timecode fixes this by skipping certain frame numbers in the count, so the timecode stays aligned with wall-clock time. Specifically, it omits a small number of frame counts at regular intervals (typically at the start of each minute except every 10th minute), ensuring the timecode reading corresponds to actual elapsed time over long durations. This makes scheduling, logging, and syncing across devices reliable in broadcast environments. The other options don’t use skipped frame numbers for timing accuracy: one is a burn-in of timecode onto the video, and the other counts frames without skipping, which can lead to drift.