Choose timecode display format

Last updated on Jun 23, 2025

Learn how to choose the timecode display format in Adobe Premiere Pro to match your project's frame rate and editing needs.

By default, Premiere Pro displays the timecode for any clip originally written to the source medium. 

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 30fps and 30fps timecode. Premiere Pro shows that clip’s original 30fps 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 + 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.

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

  2. In the Timecode menu, choose 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.
    The Timecode dropdown is highlighted in the Media Preferences dialog box.
    Select Use Media Source for Timecode to display the timecode as it is in the original media source.

  3. In the Frame Count menu, choose 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.
    The Frame Count dropdown is highlighted in the Media Preferences dialog box.
    Set numbering frames starting with 0 according to the preferences for your project.

  4. Select OK.