Timecode
Also known as: SMPTE timecode, TC
A time label for each frame in hours, minutes, seconds and frames, used to sync cameras and audio recorders and to reference exact moments in an edit.
Updated
What it means
Timecode stamps every frame with a position written as HH:MM:SS:FF, where the last pair counts frames within the second. Professional cameras and audio recorders, including external microphone setups, can share a common timecode, so a frame recorded on one device lines up exactly with the matching moment on another.
It comes from film and broadcast, where several cameras and a separate sound recorder must be synced quickly. Editors also use timecode to reference exact moments, for example when listing shots or sending notes to a colorist.
Consumer action cameras usually do not record proper timecode, though some support syncing features that serve a similar purpose.
How it works in practice
On a professional multi-camera shoot, a timecode generator or wireless sync box feeds the same clock to every device. In the edit, clips line up automatically by timecode, which saves a huge amount of time in multicam editing.
Without timecode, editors sync by sound, matching the waveforms of the camera audio tracks, or by a visual cue such as a clap. For action camera footage, audio sync is the usual method, and it works well when every camera recorded sound.
Some apps also use the camera clock as a rough sync, which only works if every clock was set carefully.
What to watch out for
Timecode drifts if devices are not locked together continuously. Two cameras jammed once in the morning can be a few frames apart by the afternoon. Resync regularly on long shoots, ideally at every battery change or break.
Frame rate matters. Timecode at 25 fps and 30 fps counts frames differently, and drop-frame timecode for some broadcast rates adds another layer of confusion. Keep all devices on the same frame rate and timecode mode.
Do not confuse timecode with the recording date in metadata. The date tells you when a file was created, while timecode tells you which frame is which. The date can also be wrong if a camera clock reset, which makes metadata a poor substitute for real sync.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip does not need timecode. Upload clips from every camera in one order, and the AI picks the best moments across all of them for your highlight, without any manual syncing.