Why does my transcript timecode not match the editor timeline?

The source almost certainly has a non-zero start timecode. Ask for the start value and offset the transcript, or agree to work in elapsed time throughout.

Can I convert timecode to subtitle cue times?

Yes, but only if you know the frame rate, because the frames field has to be converted into a decimal fraction of a second.

Is timecode the same as a timestamp?

No. A timestamp marks a position in a transcript for navigation. Timecode is a frame-accurate label used for synchronising media in production.

What does a non-zero start timecode mean?

It usually means the material came from a camera or deck that stamped time of day, or from an edit whose timeline begins at one hour. It is normal in professional footage and has to be accounted for when aligning transcripts.

Definition

What Is Timecode?

VideoText editorial team. Updated September 13, 2026.

Direct definition

Timecode is a numeric label for a position in media, usually hours:minutes:seconds plus frames or milliseconds. Transcripts and subtitle files both use timecode, but they may use different precision.

The sections below explain how timecode is used in transcription and subtitle work, what people often mix up, and which VideoText workflow applies when the next step is a file or review pass.

Key takeaways

SRT uses HH:MM:SS,mmm. WebVTT typically uses HH:MM:SS.mmm.
Broadcast tools often use HH:MM:SS:FF with a stated frame rate.
Never mix drop-frame and non-drop-frame labels on the same project without converting.

How timecode is used in transcripts

A timestamped transcript might mark every speaker change or every 30 seconds. That is a navigation aid, not a broadcast caption track.

Timecode against elapsed time

Elapsed time counts from zero at the start of the file. Timecode is a label attached to each frame, and in professional footage it often starts at 01:00:00:00 or at the time of day the camera was rolling. Two files of the same scene can therefore carry completely different timecode while being identical media.

This matters the moment a transcript crosses into an edit suite. A note at 00:04:12 means nothing to an editor whose sequence starts at 10:00:00:00, so the brief has to state which clock the transcript uses.

Frames, not fractions

Timecode counts hours, minutes, seconds and frames, written HH:MM:SS:FF. The frame field runs from zero to one less than the frame rate, so at 25 fps the highest valid frame is 24. Subtitle formats by contrast use decimal fractions of a second, which is why conversion between the two needs the frame rate to be known.

A timecode with a frame value at or above the frame rate is invalid and usually indicates the wrong rate was assumed during conversion.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my transcript timecode not match the editor timeline?: The source almost certainly has a non-zero start timecode. Ask for the start value and offset the transcript, or agree to work in elapsed time throughout.
Can I convert timecode to subtitle cue times?: Yes, but only if you know the frame rate, because the frames field has to be converted into a decimal fraction of a second.
Is timecode the same as a timestamp?: No. A timestamp marks a position in a transcript for navigation. Timecode is a frame-accurate label used for synchronising media in production.
What does a non-zero start timecode mean?: It usually means the material came from a camera or deck that stamped time of day, or from an edit whose timeline begins at one hour. It is normal in professional footage and has to be accounted for when aligning transcripts.

Related terms

Sources

Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers: SMPTE ST 12-1 timecode family (overview via SMPTE)