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About Timecode and Keycode

Timecode and keycode are essential tools for working with EDLs, or for conform and recapture. They are the identification markers by which your media is referenced in an EDL. Timecode and keycode can be imported with the media, assigned, changed, burned-in, or removed.

Timecode is a form of media metadata that labels individual frames of video or film. Timecode contains binary-coded-decimal hour, minute, second, and frame identification. Timecode is used in film, video, or audio material to provide a time reference for editing, synchronisation, and identification. The invention of timecode made modern videotape editing possible, and led to the creation of non-linear editing systems. Timecode is defined in the SMPTE 12M specification.

Keycode (also known as edge code) tracks frames of film from source reels through the post-production pipeline using code. Keycode is a variation of timecode designed to uniquely identify frames in filmstock. Keycode is a valuable tool for any project that originates on film, evolves through digital post production, and eventually references the original film material for final image capture. Keycode is printed on film in both a human-readable and machine-readable form. It indicates the manufacturer and film emulsion, a unique identification for each reel, as well as the footage and frame number.

Keycode appears in a varying number of increments along the film strip depending on the film gauge. For example, on 35 mm film, keycode appears every foot, which translates to every 16 frames of film.

#### Topics in this section

- Ways that Timecode and Keycode is Preserved or Destroyed