Overview of timecode

Last updated on Jun 23, 2025

Explore tips to use unbroken timecode for efficient video production and editing in Adobe Premiere Pro.

Timecode is a system for labelling and tracking individual frames or moments in a video sequence. Timecode is expressed in hours, minutes, seconds, and frames and is used to precisely locate and synchronize different elements within a video project.

Explore timecode and its best practices of using unbroken timecode for efficient video production and editing.

Importance of timecode

Timecode is essential for multiple reasons:

  • It helps you to log and track specific moments in media content, making it easier to search, catalog, and retrieve specific scenes or clips for future reference.
  • Manage multiple video and audio tracks, making it possible to align or synchronize them and edit them precisely. 
  • Timecode is critical when multiple teams or individuals work on the same project. It provides a common reference point for everyone involved, ensuring they work with the same timebase.
Note:

For best results, timecode should run continuously from the beginning to the end of the recording. It shouldn’t restart from zero anywhere in the middle.

Tips to shoot with unbroken timecode

To ensure unbroken timecode:

  • Use professional cameras and audio recorders that have built-in timecode generators.
  • Monitor the timecode on your cameras and audio recorders. Check that it’s running continuously without any timecode breaks.
  • Record at least five seconds of extra video past the end of the action in any shot.