# SMPTE Timecode Parser

> SMPTE Timecode Parser is a paid API for AI agents from timecode.openverbs.com, paid per call via x402, $0.002/call, status unknown (last checked 2026-09-13).

Parses an SMPTE timecode string at a given frame rate into its components, total frame count, and real-time seconds, with automatic drop-frame detection.

## Facts

- Endpoint: POST https://timecode.openverbs.com/v1/parse
- Price: $0.002/call
- Payment: x402
- Status: unknown
- Last checked: 2026-09-13
- Activations on Zero: 0
- Tags: x402
- Canonical page: https://www.zero.xyz/c/smpte-timecode-parser-dbd0479e
- Structured record (JSON): https://api.zero.xyz/v1/capabilities/cap_U27Xf4bjXCa2r6ZPjG1qw

Status and success rate cover calls made through Zero and Zero's own probes. Third-party monitors may report differently.

## How to call it through Zero

Zero handles the 402 payment challenge and records the run. With the Zero CLI installed (`npm i -g @zeroxyz/cli`):

```sh
zero fetch --capability smpte-timecode-parser-dbd0479e -d '<json body>'
```

Example prompt: Parse the timecode 01:23:45;12 at 29.97 fps — it's drop-frame — and tell me the total frame count and how many real-time seconds that is.

## When to prefer this

Use this endpoint when you need to decompose a raw SMPTE timecode string into its numeric parts, get the absolute frame count, or convert a timecode to real-time seconds. It is the right choice when drop-frame auto-detection (via the ';' separator) or explicit drop-frame mode is needed, and when input validation with clean error responses matters. Prefer the sibling arithmetic endpoint for adding/subtracting timecodes, or the rebase endpoint for frame-rate conversion.

## Known failure modes

- 400 if timecode components are out of range (e.g. frames exceed frame rate)
- 400 if a drop-frame timecode refers to a non-existent frame (e.g. dropped frames at minute boundaries)
- 400 if frame rate is not one of the supported enum values
- 400 if timecode string is malformed or exceeds length limits
- 400 if dropFrame=true is set for a non-drop-frame-compatible frame rate (e.g. 24fps)

## How this service works

Parse an SMPTE timecode (HH:MM:SS:FF, or HH:MM:SS;FF for drop-frame) at a given frame rate into its components, total frame count and real-time seconds. Drop-frame is auto-detected from a ';' separator unless dropFrame is set. Out-of-range or non-existent drop-frame values are a clean 400.

## Output

Returns the parsed components of the timecode (hours, minutes, seconds, frames), the total frame count from 00:00:00:00, and the equivalent real-time duration in seconds. Returns a 400 error for out-of-range values or invalid drop-frame timecodes.

## Request schema (JSON Schema)

```json
{
 "type": "object",
 "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema",
 "required": [
  "input"
 ],
 "properties": {
  "input": {
   "type": "object",
   "required": [
    "type",
    "method",
    "bodyType",
    "body"
   ],
   "properties": {
    "body": {
     "type": "object",
     "required": [
      "timecode",
      "frameRate"
     ],
     "properties": {
      "timecode": {
       "type": "string",
       "maxLength": 20,
       "minLength": 1,
       "description": "Timecode, e.g. 01:00:00:00 or 00:01:00;02."
      },
      "dropFrame": {
       "type": "boolean",
       "description": "Force drop-frame counting (29.97/59.94 only). Default: auto-detect from separator."
      },
      "frameRate": {
       "enum": [
        24,
        25,
        30,
        48,
        50,
        60,
        23.976,
        29.97,
        47.952,
        59.94
       ],
       "type": "number",
       "description": "Frame rate, e.g. 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 59.94, 60."
      }
     },
     "additionalProperties": false
    },
    "type": {
     "type": "string",
     "const": "http"
    },
    "method": {
     "enum": [
      "POST"
     ],
     "type": "string"
    },
    "bodyType": {
     "enum": [
      "json",
      "form-data",
      "text"
     ],
     "type": "string"
    }
   },
   "additionalProperties": false
  }
 }
}
```

## More

- Live health (JSON, refreshed every minute): https://www.zero.xyz/c/smpte-timecode-parser-dbd0479e/health.json
- [Zero catalog index](https://www.zero.xyz/llms.txt)
- [Other services from timecode.openverbs.com](https://www.zero.xyz/host/timecode.openverbs.com/llms.txt)