The TIMECODE CALCULATOR by Netmedia Software has GREATLY improved. So much that I now can recommend it to many people. Mainly because finally it will properly convert a 23.98 NDF timeline timing into drop frame. Before this, I had to rely on the method I laid out in this blog post. And while I have had this little application for a while, but it never did a proper conversion..until now.

The calculator includes a conversion for 23.98 DF. Now, while that format doesn’t really exist (no tapes can record 23.98 DF), what that setting does is convert the NDF timing to a proper DF timing. I have done lots of tests and every time it came up right. If you make the mistake, like I did, of going from 23.98 NDF to 29.97 DF, then the timing will be WAY off. Because the calculator does a frame-for-frame conversion. 45 seconds at 23.98 came up 35 seconds 29.97. Odd. BUT, they make up for that by having a format that doesn’t exist, except for timing…23.98 DF.

Wondering if these timecode calculators for the iPhone can offer the same thing…