Timecode
Every frame of professional footage carries a timecode stamp in the form 01:23:45:12, meaning one hour, twenty-three minutes, forty-five seconds, and twelve frames. This address lets an editor point to an exact frame across cameras, audio recorders, and applications. When several cameras share a master clock, their timecode lines up, which is what makes multicam sync and conform reliable.
There are two recording styles. Record-run timecode advances only while the camera rolls, while free-run timecode tracks the time of day continuously. Drop-frame timecode skips a few frame numbers each minute to stay aligned with the 29.97 fps broadcast standard, so the displayed time matches a real clock over a long programme.
Examples
- •Three cameras jam-synced to one master clock share identical timecode
- •An audio recorder stamps free-run timecode to match the picture later
- •A 29.97 fps broadcast edit uses drop-frame timecode to match real time
In Sanbila
Sanbila preserves the source timecode through proxy generation, so multicam sync and conform behave in your NLE exactly as they would on local media, with each frame addressable at full resolution after Smart Relink.
Frequently asked questions
How is Sanbila different from the proxy generator built into my NLE?+
Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro and Avid all generate proxies locally, but they keep the original full-resolution files on the same SSD — so the disk fills up twice. Sanbila stores the originals in the cloud (Cloudflare R2) and keeps only the lightweight proxies on your machine. At export, Smart Relink streams the originals back via a local WebDAV mount, so you finish at full quality without ever downloading the source files.
Does Sanbila work offline?+
Yes for editing — once a proxy is cached on your SSD, you can cut, trim, color and arrange your timeline without an internet connection. You only need network access for the initial import (uploading originals to the cloud) and for the final export (streaming originals back via WebDAV).
How much cloud storage does the free plan include?+
The free plan includes 5 GB of cloud storage and one project, with no credit card required. Paid plans start at $49 per month for 2 TB and 50 projects, going up to 25 TB on the Enterprise plan with overage billing for teams that need more.
What upload speed do I need to use Sanbila?+
Any broadband connection works for the initial upload — Sanbila chunks files into 50 MB parts and uploads in parallel, so a typical 100 Mbps fiber line uploads 1 hour of 4K H.264 footage in about 6 minutes. After upload, day-to-day editing happens on local proxies, so your connection speed only matters again at export time when originals are streamed.
Which video formats does Sanbila support?+
Sanbila handles 22+ formats out of the box: MP4, MOV, MXF, R3D (RED RAW), BRAW (Blackmagic RAW), ARRI proxies, ProRes, DNxHR, DNxHD, H.264, H.265, plus WAV and AAC for audio. Both 4K and 8K sources are supported up to 200 GB per single file (URL imports have no size limit).
Related terms
Sources
- Timecode in Premiere Pro · Adobe
- SMPTE timecode standard · SMPTE