nondropframe

Nondropframe, or non-drop-frame timecode, is a form of SMPTE timecode used in video production that does not drop any frame numbers. It contrasts with drop-frame timecode, which omits specific frame numbers in regular intervals to keep the timecode aligned with real elapsed time in certain video formats.

In nondropframe timecode, the timecode value advances through frames using the material’s nominal frame rate—commonly associated with NTSC usage—without omitting frames. Because this approach does not adjust for the slight difference between nominal frame rates and actual playback rates, the timecode can gradually drift relative to wall-clock time over longer periods.

The primary advantage of nondropframe timecode is a straightforward, uninterrupted mapping between timecode timestamps and frame counts, which can simplify editing, logging, and archival metadata. The drawback is that the displayed time does not exactly reflect real elapsed time, so it may be less suitable for purposes that require precise synchronization with real-world clocks, such as live broadcasting schedules.

In practice, nondropframe is one option among timecode modes in professional cameras, ingest systems, and editing software. It is typically chosen to preserve a simple frame-count progression when exact time-of-day alignment is not critical or when existing workflows rely on a non-dropping representation of time. Notation in documentation usually labels it as “non-drop-frame timecode” or “NDF timecode,” distinguishing it from “drop-frame” timecode (DF).