• Apple Final Cut Pro Legacy

  when to use drop-frame vs non-drop frame

  Posted by Ace Cruz on July 3, 2007 at 8:25 am

  I recently shot a feature film on the HVX-200. I used the P2 card to capture my footage. I have imported everything to FCP and organized the bins. I want to start cutting the footage, but I am a little confused in how to set up my sequence preferences. Do I set the sequence timeline to a default setting to “non-drop frame” or “drop frame”. My video image I am told in 23.976 and my audio is at 29.98. So what do I set my sequence timeline? Drop or Non-drop frame? I’m still a little confused on how that works. Can someone explain it to me please. I don’t want to start cutting and have the wrong frame rate on my sequence timeline.

  Shane Ross replied 19 years ago 5 Members · 4 Replies
• 4 Replies

• 

  Bouncing Account needs new email address

  July 3, 2007 at 10:27 am

  [editcrib] ” I don’t want to start cutting and have the wrong frame rate on my sequence timeline.”

  DF and NDF are not frame rates and do not affect your footage in any way.

  They are simply an frame numbering and locating system and either will work just fine.

  Drop Frame is designed to match a running clock for real-world timing purposes.
  But it does not drop FRAMES, it drops frame NUMBERS.

  You can use both DF and NDF footage on a timeline that is set for either.

  https://www.csif.org/html/dropframe.html
• 

  Walter Biscardi

  July 3, 2007 at 10:36 am

  [Matte] “You can use both DF and NDF footage on a timeline that is set for either.”

  Correct and you can even turn On / Off Drop-Frame in a sequence as you’re editing.

  Walter Biscardi, Jr.
  https://www.biscardicreative.com
  HD Editorial & Animation for Broadcast and independent productions.

  All Things Apple Podcast! https://cowcast.creativecow.net/all_things_apple/index.html

  Read my blog! https://blogs.creativecow.net/WalterBiscardi
• 

  Earle Nichol

  July 12, 2007 at 4:01 pm

  Hey Walter,

  Timecode question…In our 1080i or 720p 59.94 timelines we cannot set the timeline to dropframe….what basic of timecode am I missing?
  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

  thanks

  pearl
• 

  Shane Ross

  July 12, 2007 at 4:30 pm

  [Pearl] “In our 1080i or 720p 59.94 timelines we cannot set the timeline to dropframe….what basic of timecode am I missing?”

  That FCP doesn’t do HD drop frame timelines. I find that odd as the HD decks I lay off to are capable of DF timecode at 720p and 1080p. But I also hear that people are mastering to HD formats as NDF…that it is common practice. I have to because I am forced to, but I find all of this really odd because you still need to time a show to REAL time and not just count frames, and HD formats are still slightly slower than full 60fps and 24fps….59.94 and 23.98. So DF timecode is still needed.

  Odd odd odd. BUT, What I do is figure out what the timing will be for my NDF timeline to work out to the DF time requirements.

  Shane
  
  Littlefrog Post
  http://www.lfhd.net

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