Post
Frame-counting a run's video to calculate the exact duration, because the runner's timer is never quite right.
Retiming is the process of determining a run's exact time by analyzing the video evidence frame by frame rather than relying on the runner's on-screen timer. Moderators identify the exact frame the run starts (usually the first frame of gameplay after a menu selection) and the exact frame it ends (usually the last input or a specific trigger like credits appearing). The difference, calculated from the video's framerate, gives a more accurate time than any in-game timer or split tool. Retiming is especially important for competitive leaderboards where records are separated by fractions of seconds, and it ensures consistency across different capture setups and streaming configurations.
Example
In Super Mario Bros., the difference between the first and second place world records has sometimes been a single frame, just 1/60th of a second. At this level, retiming from video is essential because Livesplit timers can drift by several frames over the course of a run due to input lag, stream delay, or inconsistent frame capture.
Why it matters
Retiming ensures that leaderboard positions reflect actual run duration rather than timing-tool artifacts. It's a thankless but essential moderation task that maintains competitive fairness, especially at the top of leaderboards where runs are separated by milliseconds.
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