BACKGROUND

Timecodes, sequential numerical codes generally generated at regular intervals by a timing system, are sometimes used for synchronization in various digital technologies. For example, in video production and filmmaking, a particular type of timecode, SMPTE timecodes are used for logging and identifying material in recorded media, as non-exhaustive example uses. Other example timecodes include DTS timecodes, for example.

Frame rate (sometimes expressed in frames per second or FPS), the frequency (rate) at which consecutive images (e.g., frames) appear on a display is a term that applies equally to film and video cameras, computer graphics, and motion capture systems, etc. Frame rate may also be called the frame frequency, and be expressed in hertz, in some instances.

Variable frame rate (or VFR) is a term in video compression for a feature supported by some container formats which allows for the frame rate to change actively during video playback (e.g., decrease or increase), or to drop the idea of frame rate completely and set individual timestamps or durations for each frame, for example.

