Choose timecode display format

Last updated on Dec 14, 2023

Learn how to choose a timecode display format while working with Premiere Pro.

By default, Premiere Pro displays the timecode for any clip originally written to the source medium. If a frame has the timecode 00:00:10:00 on tape, the timecode displayed for it after it’s been captured is 00:00:10:00. Source timecode often makes logging clips easy.

Source timecode is shown for a clip regardless of the timebase of the sequences in which it's used. When the clip's timebase differs from the sequence's timebase, source timecode can make logging footage easier. For example, a clip shot in 24p has a timebase of 30 fps and 30 fps timecode. Premiere Pro shows that clip's original 30 fps timecode, even though it's used in a sequence with a timebase of 23.976. However, you can change this default to show the timecode for every clip starting at 00:00:00:00 instead.

Also, you can determine how Premiere Pro displays the frame count when a Frames or Feet and Frames display is chosen for a panel. You can make the frame count for every clip start at 0 or at 1, or you can have it converted from the source timecode. If a frame in a 30-fps clip has a source timecode of 00:00:10:00 the Timecode Conversion option gives this frame number 300. Premiere Pro converts 10 seconds at the 30-fps frame rate to 300 frames.

Select Edit > Preferences > Media (Windows) or Premiere Pro > Preferences > Media (macOS).

Select Use Media Source for Timecode to show the timecode from the media source.

In the Timecode menu, select one of the following:
- Use Media Source: Shows the timecode recorded to the source.
- Start at 00:00:00:00: Starts timecode shown for every clip at 00:00:00:00.

Select Start at 0 for Frame Count to start numbering frames from 0.

In the Frame Count menu, select one of the following:
- Start at 0: Numbers every frame sequentially, with the first frame numbered 0.
- Start at 1: Numbers every frame sequentially, with the first frame numbered 1.
- Timecode Conversion: Generates frame number equivalents of the source timecode numbers.
Select OK.