LTC Detective M vs Holly Timecode
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
LTC Detective M
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LTC Detective reads SMPTE linear timecode (SMPTE ST 12-1) from any audio input on your iPhone or iPad and displays the decoded timecode alongside detailed signal quality measurements. Most LTC readers show you the timecode and stop there. LTC Detective also shows you what the signal itself is doing. WHAT IT READS โ SMPTE LTC at 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97 drop-frame, 29.97 non-drop, and 30 fps โ Drop frame flag, color frame flag, BGF0/BGF1/BGF2 user bit flags โ User bits (8 hex characters) โ Forward and reverse playback, with playback speed measured against the audio sample clock WHAT IT MEASURES โ Peak level (dBFS) โ RMS level (dBFS) โ DC offset โ Jitter (RMS, in microseconds) โ Frame error rate โ Edge quality โ Sync word validity โ Bit rate โ Parity check These are the measurements you need to diagnose a marginal LTC feed: a tape head that needs cleaning, a cable run picking up induced noise, a sample-rate mismatch causing drift, an AC-coupled output adding DC offset, a generator drifting against house sync. WHAT IT SHOWS โ Live waveform of the LTC signal (240 ms scrolling window) โ Input level meter with -60 to 0 dBFS scale โ Locked / no-signal / drifting / frozen status โ Capture timestamp, dropout count, uptime โ Time since last valid LTC frame INPUTS โ Built-in iPhone microphone โ Any USB-C or Lightning audio interface that's class-compliant with iOS โ Loopback input for testing with the built-in reference LTC generator The reference LTC generator plays a clean test signal out of the selected output channel so you can verify your input chain is working before you go to set. NO ACCOUNTS, NO TELEMETRY, NO ADS The app does not collect data, does not phone home, and works fully offline. There is no account to create. There is nothing to sign in to. PLATFORM โ Requires iOS 17 or later โ Built with native AVAudioEngine and the Accelerate framework for sub-microsecond timing accuracy โ LTC decoding via libltc (LGPL, dynamically linked; license notice in the About screen) This is version 1.0. Coming in future updates: capture logs, exportable measurement data, and an iPad landscape layout.
Holly Timecode
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Holly Timecode turns your device into a professional SMPTE Linear Timecode (LTC) generator. Feed frame-accurate timecode to cameras, field recorders, and any gear with a timecode or audio input. FRAME RATES - 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97 (drop-frame and non-drop-frame), and 30 fps - Correct drop-frame counting that stays locked to wall-clock time START MODES - Jam to time-of-day, or start from any custom timecode GeoLTC - LOCATION IN THE USER BITS - Optionally embed live GPS, heading, pitch, and roll into the LTC user bits - Or carry the date, a custom value, or nothing at all BUILT FOR THE SET - Large, glanceable timecode display - Live audio level meter and output-level presets (including broadcast -18 dBFS) - Wired-output detection so you know the signal is really going out FREE TO USE - Every feature is free - no paywall, no feature gates. - An optional supporter subscription (where available) helps fund development. It unlocks nothing. PRIVACY - No account, no tracking, no ads. Everything runs on your device. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is device support: Holly Timecode at 3 against LTC Detective M's 1. On price, ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | LTC Detective M | Holly Timecode |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | โ | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, Mac โ better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Karst Lok | Patrick Tudor |
In-app purchases
LTC Detective M
No in-app purchases
Holly Timecode
No in-app purchases







