A professional Linear Time Code (LTC) generator with a modern web-based user interface. This application generates SMPTE-compliant LTC audio files for broadcast and post-production use.

Download the ready-to-use executable from the Releases page - no installation required!

For Windows users, simply download LTC_Timecode_Generator.exe and run it directly.

• Professional SMPTE Compliance: Generates industry-standard LTC audio signals
• Multiple Frame Rates: Support for all standard broadcast frame rates including drop-frame
• High-Quality Audio: 16/24-bit depth at various sample rates (44.1kHz to 192kHz)
• Modern Web UI: Clean, responsive interface built with HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript
• Real-time Preview: Live filename preview based on your settings
• Pre-roll Support: Optional 10-second pre-roll before main timecode
• Cross-Platform: Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux

• 23.976 fps (Non-Drop Frame)
• 24 fps (Non-Drop Frame)
• 25 fps (PAL - Non-Drop Frame)
• 29.97 fps (Non-Drop Frame & Drop Frame)
• 30 fps (Non-Drop Frame)
• 50 fps (Non-Drop Frame)
• 59.94 fps (Non-Drop Frame & Drop Frame)
• 60 fps (Non-Drop Frame)

• Sample Rates: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz, 192 kHz
• Bit Depths: 16-bit, 24-bit
• Format: Mono WAV files
• Encoding: Bi-phase mark encoding (Manchester encoding)

1. Go to the Releases page
2. Download LTC_Timecode_Generator.exe for Windows
3. Run the executable directly - no installation needed!

1. Clone this repository:

   git clone https://github.com/sithulaka/LTC-Timecode-Generator.git
   cd LTC-Timecode-Generator

2. Install Python 3.7 or higher
3. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

1. Start the application:

   python app.py

2. The application will open in your default web browser

3. Configure your LTC parameters:

   • Start Time: Set hours, minutes, seconds, and frames (hh:mm:ss:ff)
   • Duration: Specify length in minutes (0.1 to 120 minutes)
   • Frame Rate: Choose from available SMPTE frame rates
   • Audio Format: Select bit depth and sample rate
   • Pre-roll: Optionally add 10 seconds before start time

4. Generate the file: Click "Generate & Download LTC" and the WAV file will be created

LTC_Timecode_Generator/
├── app.py                      # Eel backend application
├── ltc_generator.py           # Core LTC generation logic
├── requirements.txt           # Python dependencies
├── web/                      # Frontend assets
│   ├── index.html           # Main UI
│   ├── styles.css           # Styling
│   └── script.js            # Frontend logic
└── README.md                # This file

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/sithulaka/LTC-Timecode-Generator.git
   cd LTC-Timecode-Generator

2. Create a virtual environment:

   python -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate

3. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

4. Run the application:

   python app.py

Generated files follow this naming pattern:

LTC_[start-time]_[duration]_[frame-rate]_[bit-depth]_[sample-rate][_preroll].wav

Example: LTC_01-00-00-00_10m00s_30fpsndf_16bit_48khz.wav

• 80 bits per frame containing:
  • Timecode data (hours, minutes, seconds, frames)
  • User bits (available for custom data)
  • Control flags (drop frame, color frame)
  • Sync word (0x3FFD)

• Signal Type: Square wave alternating between positive and negative levels
• Encoding: Bi-phase mark (Manchester) encoding
• Frequency Range: Varies with frame rate (typically 960-4800 Hz)
• Amplitude: Full-scale audio signal

• SMPTE 12M: Time and Control Code standard
• IEC 60461: Timecode for audio systems
• ITU-R BR.780: Timecode systems for broadcasting

Generated LTC files are compatible with:

• Avid Pro Tools
• Adobe Premiere Pro/After Effects
• DaVinci Resolve
• Professional hardware sync generators

For 29.97 fps and 59.94 fps drop frame formats:

• Frames 00 and 01 are skipped at the start of each minute
• Exception: Every 10th minute (00, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50) - no frames are skipped
• This compensates for the difference between nominal and actual frame rates

1. Application won't start:

   • Ensure Python 3.7+ is installed
   • Install all dependencies: pip install -r requirements.txt
   • Check if port 8000 is available

2. Browser doesn't open automatically:

   • Manually navigate to http://localhost:8000
   • Try a different browser

3. File generation fails:

   • Check disk space
   • Ensure write permissions to output directory
   • Verify input parameters are within valid ranges

4. Audio playback issues:

   • LTC is not meant for standard audio playback
   • Use professional audio software or timecode readers
   • Signal appears as digital noise in consumer players

• Large duration files (>60 minutes) may take time to generate
• Higher sample rates increase file size and generation time
• 24-bit files are roughly 50% larger than 16-bit files

For technical issues or questions about LTC implementation, please refer to:

• SMPTE standards documentation
• Professional audio engineering resources
• Broadcast engineering communities

A professional-grade Linear Time Code (LTC) generator compliant with SMPTE standards for broadcast and post-production applications. This tool produces industry-standard LTC audio signals compatible with professional audio/video equipment and software.

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request. For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you would like to change.

1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch (git checkout -b feature/AmazingFeature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some AmazingFeature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/AmazingFeature)
5. Open a Pull Request

This project is licensed under the MIT License and this project is provided as-is for educational and professional use. Please ensure compliance with local broadcast standards and regulations when using generated timecode in professional environments. - see the LICENSE file for details.