Avid® MediaLog™ User’s Guide
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Contents Using This Guide Who Should Use This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 About This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Symbols and Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 If You Need Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Related Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Selecting an Existing User . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Selecting a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Creating a New Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Setting Film Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Selecting an Existing Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Nesting Projects in Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using the Settings Scroll List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Understanding Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Defining Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Reviewing Basic Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Film Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Bin Settings . .
Accessing and Setting Up the Logging Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Accessing the Logging Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Setting Up the Logging Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96 Guidelines for Naming Tapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Inserting Source Tapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Selecting Active Tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bin Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Customizing Bin Views in Text View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Saving a Custom Bin View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Bin Fast Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Basic Bin Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Selecting Clips . . . . . . . . . .
Copying Information from Another Cell in a Custom Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Sorting Clips in Text View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 Sorting Clips in Ascending Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Sorting Clips in Descending Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Multilevel Sorting with Columns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156 Sorting Clips by Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting the Pulldown Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Logging Film Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196 Displaying Film Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 Entering Pulldown Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Determining the Pulldown Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Modifying the Pulldown Phase Before Digitizing . . . . . .
Tables Table 3-1 Settings Scroll List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Table 3-2 Bin Settings Dialog Box Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 Table 3-3 Settings Display Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Table 3-4 Changing Font and Point Sizes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Table 4-1 Deck Settings Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Table 4-2 Deck Preferences Options . . . . . . . . . . .
Using This Guide This guide provides information about the configuration and operation of Avid® MediaLog™. n The documentation describes the features and hardware of all models. Therefore, your system might not contain certain features and hardware that are covered in the documentation. Who Should Use This Guide This guide is for video and film editors who wish to log clips before bringing them to an Avid editing system for batch digitizing and editing.
About This Guide This guide is designed to keep pace with current advances in the Avid system’s logging capabilities by consolidating in one comprehensive resource all the information you will need to take advantage of the many MediaLog options available to you. This guide includes basic logging information and has the following overall structure: Using This Guide • Chapter 1, “Understanding MediaLog,” provides an overview of MediaLog.
Symbols and Conventions Unless noted otherwise, the material in this document applies to the Windows 2000 and Macintosh operating systems. When the text applies to a specific operating system, it is marked as follows: • (Windows) or (Windows only) means the information applies to the Windows 2000 operating system. • (Macintosh) or (Macintosh only) means the information applies to the Macintosh operating system.
Courier Bold font identifies text that you type. Look here in the margin for tips. In the margin, you will find tips that help you perform tasks more easily and efficiently. n A note provides important related information, reminders, recommendations, and strong suggestions. c A caution means that a specific action you take could cause harm to your computer or cause you to lose data. If You Need Help If you are having trouble using MediaLog, you should: 1.
Related Information This guide frequently refers to other Avid manuals for additional information. The following table shows the references and the related manuals.
If You Have Documentation Comments Avid Technology continuously seeks to improve its documentation. We value your comments about this guide, the Help, the Online Publications CD-ROM, and other Avid-supplied documentation. Simply e-mail your documentation comments to Avid Technology at TechPubs@avid.com Please include the title of the document, its part number, revision, and the specific section you are commenting on in all correspondence.
CHAPTER 1 Understanding MediaLog MediaLog is a tool that helps you select and log footage before your edit session. Although you can log footage with Avid editing system products, using MediaLog can free up your Avid editing system for editing rather than for logging footage. After logging shots (for example, on a laptop), you can use your Avid editing system to digitize and edit the footage.
What Is MediaLog? MediaLog is portable; you can install it on a laptop and on most desktop computers that are running the Windows NT®, Macintosh®, Windows® 98, Windows 2000, or Windows Me operating system. To log shots from a source tape, your computer must be connected to a deck that uses Sony® serial deck protocol. MediaLog allows you to control the deck while viewing your source tapes and selecting the shots for your log. You can also log without a deck and enter the logging information by hand.
How Does MediaLog Work? The MediaLog system uses clips, bins, and projects to organize your work. MediaLog clips and bins are a lot like their film counterparts. Just as film editors pull clips from their raw footage and store the clips in bins for the editing session, MediaLog lets you select shots from your tapes and store information about the shots in electronic bins. A clip corresponds to a shot you select from a tape.
Deck controls Log controls If you have a log sheet, you can log clips without using a deck. You type the start and end timecodes for each clip, and then add them to the bin. MediaLog uses a project file to organize all the work you do on a single job. You must always create a new project or open an existing project before you can open a bin and log your shots. As you work on a project, MediaLog remembers the name of each bin you open and displays a list of bin names in the Project window.
What Are the Basic Logging Steps? To perform a logging session: 1. Start your computer and the MediaLog program. 2. Create a new project, or open an existing project. 3. Create a new bin, or open an existing bin. 4. Prepare to log: a. Select a video format. b. Enter Logging mode. c. Select a source name. 5. Select the tracks you want to log from the tape. 6. Log the clips. 7. Save and organize the bin. 8. Quit the MediaLog application, and (optionally) shut down the computer.
Understanding MediaLog
CHAPTER 2 Getting Started This chapter describes how to set up the hardware and run MediaLog sessions.
Setting Up the Hardware (Windows) Make sure your computer meets the following requirements: • The computer must be running the Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows 2000, or Windows Me operating system. • The computer includes at least 32 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM). MediaLog can control a deck that uses Sony serial deck protocol and a timecode reader. You can control a single deck by connecting an RS-232 to RS-422 serial adapter kit to the serial port of your computer.
Serial adapter RS-422 connection RS-232 connection To your deck To your computer 4. Attach one end of the second 9-pin cable to the end of the serial adapter labeled RS-422. 5. Attach the other end of the second 9-pin cable to the remote serial port of the deck. n Set the deck to Remote mode before you attempt to control the deck using the software. For more information about connecting decks, see the setup guide for your Avid editing system.
n c If you need to connect and control more than one video deck, see the setup guide for your Avid editing system. The computer and the deck must be off when you are connecting the serial cable. To connect a single deck to your system: 1. Locate a serial cable. 2. Do one of the following: t Attach the round 8-pin DIN connector to a serial port connector on the serial board. t Attach the USB-to-serial adapter to the USB hub. (See the following figure.
Supported Decks For a list of supported decks, search for “Supported Decks” in the Avid Customer Support Knowledge Center on www.avid.com. See the Avid editing application release notes for instructions on how to access the Knowledge Center. Turning On the Hardware To be sure that the computer detects all the attached hardware and to avoid damage to any component, turn on the hardware in the following order: 1. If your computer has media drives, turn on each drive.
Installing MediaLog (Windows) MediaLog software is shipped on the MediaLog CD-ROM and the Avid editing application CD-ROM. n For information on installing MediaLog from the Avid editing application CD-ROM, see the release notes for your Avid editing system. To install MediaLog software on Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows 2000, or Windows Me systems: 1. Quit all Windows applications. 2. Insert the MediaLog CD-ROM into your computer’s CD-ROM drive.
c c Do not install the MediaLog application on disks where you store media. If you install MediaLog on an Avid editing system, make sure the MediaLog application is in a folder separate from the Avid editing application. Each application has its own preferences. 8. Click Next to accept the default location or Browse to find a different location. The Application Data Location window opens. 9. Click Next to accept the default location or Browse to find a different location. The installation begins.
A splash screen introduces the Installer. 5. Click Continue. The MediaLog Installer window opens. Install pop-up menu Install Location pop-up menu The Install pop-up menu contains the following choices: - Easy Install - Uninstall 6. Choose Easy Install. 7. Accept the default installation location from the Install Location pop-up menu or choose another location. If you want to change the installation location: Getting Started a. Click the Install Location pop-up menu. b.
The new installation location appears in the Install window. c c Do not install the MediaLog application on disks where you store media. If you install MediaLog on an Avid editing system, make sure the MediaLog application is in a folder separate from the Avid editing application. Each application has its own preferences. 8. Click Install. The Country Selection for License Agreement window opens. 9. Select the country in which you purchased this product, and then click OK. 10.
4. Do one of the following: t (Windows) Click the Start button, point to Programs, point to Avid, and then select MediaLog. t (Macintosh) Double-click the MediaLog folder to open it, and then double-click the MediaLog application icon to start MediaLog. The Select User and Project dialog box appears. User folders MediaLog project folders are stored in the Avid Projects folder. Project folder 5.
Setting Up Project Files and Folders Each time you start the MediaLog application or close your current project, the Select User and Project dialog box appears. The first thing you do in the dialog box is select an existing user and project or create new ones.
Identifying a User To identify a user for the project, you can either create and identify a new user or select one from a list of existing users. This user name represents the user profile, which includes the settings associated with that user. New users begin with default user settings. When you customize the user settings in MediaLog, these customized settings are associated with the user name. The Avid Users folder is the default location for user profile files.
Selecting an Existing User To select from the list of existing users: t Click the user name to select it in the Users scroll list on the left side of the Select User and Project dialog box. The selected user profile appears when you open a project. Directory pop-up menu User names Folder Folders containing a collection of users appear in the Users scroll list with an asterisk (Windows) or a dot (Macintosh) preceding them.
To search for another user profile folder: 1. In the Select User and Project dialog box, click the Directory pop-up menu to display a list of other locations on the system. Directory pop-up menu 2. Choose a drive from the Volumes submenu, if necessary, and locate the folder. 3. Double-click a selected folder to open it. Continue to open any additional folders until the Users scroll list includes the appropriate user name. 4. Click the user name to select it. You are now ready to select a project.
Selecting a Project You can either create and open a new project or open an existing project. Creating a New Project To create a new project: 1. Click New Project in the Select User and Project dialog box. The New Project dialog box appears. 2. Type a name for your new project in the text box, and click OK. n If you plan to move bins and projects from one platform to another, do not use the characters / \ : * ? “ < > | when naming projects, bins, and users.
3. Choose a project type from the Format pop-up menu, based on your source footage (NTSC or PAL) and your Avid editing system model. n For information on creating a film project, see “Creating a Film Project” on page 188. n For additional information on creating a project, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system. 4. (Option) Click Matchback. The Matchback item appears only if your Avid editing system includes the Matchback option.
Selecting an Existing Project Existing projects appear in the Projects scroll list in the Select User and Project dialog box. For information about the location for the project files, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system. Projects scroll list Directory pop-up menu To select an existing project, do one of the following: t Click an existing project name to highlight it. t Press the first letter of the project name on the keyboard to highlight it.
To open a project nested in a folder: 1. Double-click the folder name to open it and display the contents in the Projects scroll list. 2. Click the project name to select it. If the project you want is stored on your system outside the Avid Projects folder (in another folder or on a network, for example), you can locate it using the Directory pop-up menu in the Select User and Project dialog box. To locate a project in another folder: 1.
2. Type a name for the folder in the text box, and click OK. The folder name appears in the Projects scroll list with an asterisk (Windows) or a dot (Macintosh) preceding it. 3. Double-click the folder name to open the folder. Any new projects you create are displayed and stored in this folder. You can also nest projects using the desktop to move existing projects into folders that appear in the Select User and Project dialog box.
Project name User name Closing a Project To close the current project and return to the Select User and Project dialog box, do one of the following: t Click the Close button (Windows) or the close box (Macintosh) in the Project window. t With the Project window active, choose Close from the File menu. The Project window and all open bins close, and the Select User and Project dialog box appears.
Backing Up Your Project Information Although MediaLog automatically saves your bins, projects, and settings, you should back up these items frequently to avoid losing any of your work in case your drive fails.
The project closes and the application quits. t If you are between projects, from the Select User and Project dialog box: a. Click the Quit button. A message box appears, asking if you want to leave the application. b. Click Leave to quit the application. Click Cancel to return to the Select User and Project dialog box, and select another project.
Turning Off Your Equipment (Macintosh) When you finish using your system and want to turn it off completely, follow these steps to avoid damaging your system or media storage drives. Quit the Avid application before turning off your equipment. To turn off your equipment: 1. Choose Shut Down from the Special menu. This turns off your Macintosh system. The screens on the Bin and Edit monitors become dimmed. 2. Turn off your speakers and monitors. 3.
Getting Started
CHAPTER 3 Working with the Project Window The Project window provides controls for structuring and viewing important information about your current project.
n (Windows only) This chapter refers to the installation default directory path for the various Avid folders. If you selected a different directory path during the installation, you must substitute that path when using this chapter. Exploring the Project Window The Project window provides controls (Bins, Info, and Usage) for structuring and viewing information about your current project.
Opening and Closing the Project Window The Project window opens automatically when you select a project in the Select User and Project dialog box. To close the Project window and return to the Select User and Project dialog box, do one of the following: t Click the Close button (Windows) or the close box (Macintosh) in the Project window. t With the Project window active, choose Close from the File menu.
To locate and redisplay the Project window, do one of the following: t Choose Project from the Tools menu. t Click in an unobstructed area of the Project window to bring it forward. Using the Bins Display Bins contain the master clips that are created when you log source material. From the Project window, you can view a list of bins associated with the project, and open, close, and create bins. You can also open bins created for another project.
Displaying Folders of Bins in the Bins List You can add folders to the Bins list in the Project window to help organize your project. You can click bins and drag them into folders, or click folders and drag them into other folders. See “Managing Folders and Bins” on page 61. Fast Menu button New folders Trash icon To display the folder’s contents in the Bins list of the Project window: t Click the triangular opener next to a folder icon. To close the display, click the triangular opener again.
Creating a Folder in a Project To create a folder in a project: 1. Click the Bins tab in the Project window. 2. Choose New Folder from the Fast menu. A new untitled folder appears. 3. Click the untitled folder name in the Bins list and rename it. Creating a New Bin To create a new bin from the Project window, do one of the following: t Choose New Bin from the File menu. t Click the New Bin button in the Project window.
Renaming a Bin Each new bin you create takes the name of the project that appears in the title bar of the Project window, and is numbered incrementally. To change the name of a bin: 1. Click the bin name in the Bins list of the Project window. 2. Type a new name. Project name Default bin name Opening and Closing a Bin To open a bin: 1. Click the Bins tab in the Project window. 2. Double-click the Bin icon next to the bin name. The bin opens in a separate window.
Opening Selected Bins To open several bins at once from the Project window: 1. Click a Bin icon in the Bins list. 2. Ctrl+click (Windows) or Shift+click (Macintosh) each additional bin you want to open. 3. Choose Open Selected Bins from the File menu. Opening Bins from Other Projects To open a bin from another project: 1. Choose Open Bin from the File menu. The Open dialog box appears. 2. Find and select the bin you want. (Windows only) Bins have the file name extension .avb.
Closing a Bin To close a bin, do one of the following: t Click the Close button (Windows) or the close box (Macintosh). t Choose Close Bin from the File menu. Deleting a Bin or Folder You can delete bins and folders along with their contents from the Bins list in the Project window. Deleted bins and folders are moved to a Trash folder in the Bins list until you empty the Trash. If you need a deleted bin or folder, you can retrieve it from the Trash.
To view items in the Trash: 1. Click the triangular opener next to the Trash icon in the Bins list to list the contents of the Trash. 2. Click the bins or folders you want to keep (or view) and drag them from the Trash to the Bins list in the Project window. 3. Double-click the bin or folder to view it. Emptying the Trash in the Bins List You can empty the contents of the Trash that is located in the Bins list. c n Emptying the Trash permanently removes the bins or folders from the drive.
Managing Folders and Bins You can use the Project window to create hierarchies of folders and bins that reflect the specific workflow of the current project. This structure provides both simplicity and backup security. Creating a hierarchy allows you to have one set of bins available in the Project window during the digitizing and organizing phase, and another set of bins available during editing to reduce clutter.
To adjust the frequency of automatic saves: 1. Click the Settings tab in the Project window. The Settings scroll list appears. 2. Double-click Bin in the Settings scroll list. The Bin Settings dialog box appears. 3. Type a number in the minutes text box for the Auto-save interval option. 4. Click OK. You can manually save bins for added security — for example, immediately after an important edit.
Using the Settings Scroll List From the Settings scroll list in the Project window, you can view, select, open, and alter various User, Project, and Site settings. To view the Settings scroll list: t Click the Settings tab in the Project window.
Understanding Settings The three types of settings appear in the Settings scroll list as User, Project, and Site. n For information about the location of the settings files, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system. The function of these settings is as follows: • User settings are specific to a particular editor. User settings reflect individual preferences for adjusting the user interface in the MediaLog application. Individual User settings are stored in each user folder.
Table 3-1 Settings Scroll List For More Information Setting Name Description Audio Project Sets the rate for audio input. See the input and output guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system. Bin Sets the auto-save interval; double-click preferences for bins and other bin-related parameters. See “Bin Settings” on page 67. Deck Configuration Configures channels and decks into the system. See “Configuring Decks” on page 82.
Defining Settings You can use the Settings scroll list to establish a hierarchy of settings that address the specific needs of each production phase.
Film Settings Film settings determine essential parameters for accurately capturing, tracking, and editing source material for 24p and 25p projects. See “Film Settings” on page 190 for a description of film settings. Bin Settings The Bin Settings dialog box controls the MediaLog’s automatic save features, including the number of backups saved in the Attic folder. Table 3-2 describes the Automatic Save and Backup options, and the results of double-clicking an object in a bin.
Table 3-2 Bin Settings Dialog Box Options (Continued) Option Description Maximum files in attic Specifies the total number of files stored in the Attic folder. When a bin is saved, the Avid system copies the previous version of the bin to a special folder called the Attic. The default is 30 files. Keep more files if there are many users working on the system. This ensures that all the bins are backed up.
Displaying Project Settings You can display the Settings scroll list of the Project window in different groups, depending on what you need to view. Table 3-3 describes the different settings display groups. Table 3-3 Settings Display Groups Option Description Active Settings Displays currently active settings in your Avid system. All Settings Displays all settings available in the Avid system. Base Settings Displays Project, User, and Site settings only; no views are displayed.
Working with Settings You can view and modify most of your current settings by double-clicking them in the Settings scroll list of the Project window and by selecting new options. You can duplicate, rename, copy, and move settings among files or systems. Selecting Another User Because User settings are not project or site specific, you can display another set of User settings in the Project window. To select another user: 1. Click the Settings tab in the Project window.
Modifying Settings You can alter the default options for various settings to reflect the specific needs of a project or to customize the system based on personal preferences. For details, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system. Restoring Default Settings To restore settings to their default values: 1. Click the Settings tab in the Project window. The Settings scroll list appears. 2. Click a setting to select it.
To load settings into the Site_Settings file: 1. Open a project with the settings you want to establish as Site settings. If a project does not already exist with the settings you want, create a project and make adjustments to the default settings as needed. 2. Choose Site Settings from the Special menu. The Site_Settings window opens. 3.
Using the Info and Usage Displays The following types of information are also available on the Project window: • The Info display allows you to view basic project information, such as the video format (NTSC, for example). The displayed information lists the options you selected in the New Project dialog box when you created the project. You can also view system memory information from the Info display. • The Usage display shows information on system usage.
Table 3-4 Changing Font and Point Sizes Window Location of Changes Project Changes the font and point size of the text in the Bins and Settings tabs; saved as a Project setting. Bin Changes the font and point size of the text in the Bin window; saved as a Bin setting (not the Bin View setting). To change the font displayed in the Project or Bin window: 1. Click the Project or Bin window to make it active. 2. Choose Set Font from the Edit menu. The Set Font dialog box appears. 3.
Customizing Your Workspace A workspace is the arrangement and size of tool windows displayed on your Avid system. If you are accustomed to working with a particular group of windows arranged and sized in a particular setup, you can assign them to a workspace setting that you can then recall with a Workspace button. For example, during logging you might want to display the Logging tool and bins in specific locations. While in a workspace, you can move tool windows or open and close tool windows.
The Keyboard settings window opens and displays command buttons that are mapped to the keyboard. To view the name of a command button, let the mouse pointer rest on the button for a second or two. Using the Avid Calculator The Avid Calculator helps you calculate video and film durations, and convert timecode and film key numbers to different formats. For example, you can: • Convert drop-frame to non-drop-frame timecode values. • Convert timecode durations between 30-fps and 25-fps projects.
Format pop-up menu 2. Choose a format from the Format pop-up menu. 3. Make calculations in one of the following ways: t Click numbers and functions in the Avid Calculator. t Enter numbers and functions using the numeric keypad. t Enter numbers and functions using the top row of numbers on the keyboard. You do not need to enter leading zeros, colons, or semicolons for timecode. 4.
Using the Serial Ports Tool The Serial (COM) Ports tool (Windows) or Serial Ports tool (Macintosh) allows you to view the current configuration of the serial interface at any time during editing. You can also use it to reconfigure the ports without quitting MediaLog or shutting down the computer. To access the Serial (COM) Ports or Serial Ports tool: 1. Double-click Serial (COM) Ports (Windows) or Serial Ports (Macintosh) in the Settings scroll list of the Project window.
Using the Console The Console window provides a number of features, including: c • Current system information, including your system ID number • A log of error messages Do not use the programming features of the Console without guidance from Avid professionals. Contact your local Avid Reseller (in North America, you can contact Avid Customer Support). To display current system information: 1. Choose Console from the Tools menu to open the Console window. 2.
Working with the Project Window
CHAPTER 4 Logging Source Material You use MediaLog to log your clips in preparation for digitizing later when using Avid editing applications.
Understanding Logging MediaLog requires that you name the clips that you log, the tapes they came from, and their start and end timecodes. Many editors prefer to log all their clips (shots) first and then batch digitize their material later in the Avid editing application.
If MediaLog does not automatically sense your attached deck, you must manually configure the deck. n MediaLog will not override the configurations that were manually specified. Automatic Deck Configuration Use the automatic configuration feature before manually trying to configure any attached deck. If the automatic feature does not sense your attached deck, see “Manual Deck Configuration” on page 83. To automatically sense the attached deck: t Choose Autoconfigure All Ports from the Special menu.
Deck settings Deck Configuration settings allow you to establish deck control parameters for a single deck or for multiple decks. As with all settings, you can create multiple versions, allowing you to select among them for frequent changes in hardware configurations. Deck Configuration settings and global deck control preferences appear as separate items in the Settings scroll list of the Project window. For information on setting Deck Preferences, see “Setting Deck Preferences” on page 92.
2. If you are configuring your system for the first time, click the Add Channel button to add a new channel box on the left side of the Deck Configuration dialog box and to automatically open a Channel dialog box. n Channel refers to the signal path for deck control, whether directly through a serial port or through a V-LAN VLXi system connected to a serial port. Direct serial port connection allows one deck for each channel, while a V-LAN VLXi system provides multiple decks.
3. Choose one of the following from the Channel Type pop-up menu, depending upon your system configuration. For more information on V-LAN equipment, contact your Avid sales representative. t Direct if you are controlling a deck through an RS-422 connection to the serial port. t VLAN VLX if you are controlling a deck through a V-LAN/VLXi connection. 4.
Decks appear on the right side. Channel boxes appear on the left side. n You can reopen the Channel dialog box to change the options at any time by double-clicking the channel box in the Deck Configuration dialog box. 7. If you did not autoconfigure the deck, click the channel box to select it. 8. Click the Add Deck button to open the Deck Settings dialog box.
9. Select settings based on your deck. For information on Deck settings, see “Deck Settings Options” on page 89. 10. Click OK to close the Deck Settings dialog box and return to the Deck Configuration dialog box. n You can reopen the Deck Settings dialog box to change the options at any time by double-clicking the deck box in the Deck Configuration dialog box. 11. Repeat steps 2 to 10 for each additional channel or deck you want to configure. 12.
13. Type a name in the Configuration name text box to name the deck configuration. The new deck configuration appears in the Settings scroll list of the Project window. 14. Click Apply to complete the configurations and close the Deck Configuration dialog box. 15. If necessary, double-click Deck Preferences in the Settings scroll list of the Project window to adjust global deck control options. For more information, see “Setting Deck Preferences” on page 92.
Table 4-1 describes the Deck Settings options. Table 4-1 Option Suboption Deck Settings Options Description Name Type your custom name for the tape deck. The default name matches the deck type. Description Enter notes about the deck.
Table 4-1 Option Suboption Deck Settings Options (Continued) Description Notes Displays configuration information, supplied by Avid, about the deck you have selected. Not all decks include this information. Device Choose your manufacturer and model from the menus. These decks have been qualified to work with your Avid system. Address For V-LAN VLXi use only (see your V-LAN VLXi documentation). If you are using direct serial port deck control, this option is unavailable.
Deleting Deck Configuration Elements You can delete deck configuration elements to remove or replace them. To delete deck configuration elements in the Avid system: 1. Double-click Deck Configuration in the Settings scroll list of the Project window. The Deck Configuration dialog box appears. 2. Click a channel box, a deck box, or the entire configuration to select it. 3. Click the Delete button. 4. Click Apply to complete the changes and close the dialog box.
Table 4-2 describes the Deck Preferences options. Table 4-2 Option Deck Preferences Options Description When the deck contains no You select the timecode format (Drop Frame or Non-drop Frame) for tape, Log As logging clips when no tape is in the deck. When a tape is in the deck, the system automatically uses the existing timecode format on the tape. See “Understanding Drop-Frame Timecode and Non-Drop-Frame Timecode” on page 94).
Understanding Drop-Frame Timecode and Non-Drop-Frame Timecode Timecode is an electronic indexing method that denotes hours, minutes, seconds, and frames that have elapsed on a videotape. For example, a timecode of 01:03:30:10 denotes a frame that is marked at 1 hour, 3 minutes, 30 seconds, and 10 frames. NTSC video (the video format used mainly in the United States) uses one of two formats: drop-frame timecode and non-drop-frame timecode.
Non-drop-frame timecode 01:00:59:28 01:00:59:29 01:01:00:00 01:01:00:01 01:01:00:02 01;00;59;28 01;00;59;29 01;01;00;02 01;01;00;03 01;01;00;04 Drop-frame timecode PAL video (the video format used in many countries other than the United States) uses a scan rate of 25 fps. Timecode is indicated by colons. There is no need for drop-frame timecode in PAL video. You set the default timecode format for logging clips in the Deck Preferences dialog box (see “Setting Deck Preferences” on page 92).
• - Comment section - Message area The Audio Project settings, which enables you to set the audio rate Accessing and Setting Up the Logging Tool Once you have opened or created a bin, use the Logging tool to enter the name of the tape you are logging and to access deck and logging controls. Use the Logging tool to plan a naming scheme; to work with source tapes; and to select tracks, bins, and sources.
Mark IN button Enable timecode button Channel Selection area Triangular opener Deck controller Guidelines for Naming Tapes Consider the following naming guidelines when you provide a name for your tape: n • Devise a naming scheme. Although tapes of similar names are easy to sort and view together in a bin, distinguishing among them might be difficult when you try to quickly locate a specific tape. Name the tapes based on the amount and complexity of your source material. • Use unique names.
• Select a case convention and maintain it throughout a project. A single tape can be listed as several different tapes if you alter the case of the letters. For example, if you type a single name as SUNSET, Sunset, and sunset on three different occasions, all three names appear. This can cause problems when keeping track of clips during the logging process. • Be cautious when changing a tape’s name.
Selecting Active Tracks The Logging tool captures information about the active tracks. MediaLog automatically activates the tracks that were active in the previous session. To change these settings: t Click tracks in the Channel Selection area of the Logging tool to activate or deactivate them. Selecting the Target Bin You select a target bin in which you want to organize your logged material. To select a target bin: t Click the Bin pop-up menu in the Logging tool and make a selection.
To select the deck where the source material is found: 1. Click the Deck Name pop-up menu to display the available online decks. 2. Choose the name of your source deck from the pop-up menu. Identifying the Source Tape To select a source tape: 1. Insert a tape into the deck. The Select Tape dialog box appears. n For information about deck preferences, see “Setting Deck Preferences” on page 92.
n For information on tape naming conventions, see “Guidelines for Naming Tapes” on page 97. Drop-frame timecode appears in the Timecode indicator with semicolons between hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. Non-drop-frame timecode appears with colons. For more information, see “Understanding Drop-Frame Timecode and Non-Drop-Frame Timecode” on page 94. 3.
If you select Batch Digitize in your Avid editing system, and then select the “Use the audio compression rate logged for each clip” option, you must digitize at the same rate as the audio rate at which you logged the clips.
Mark IN button Channel Selection area Logging Messages bar Clip name and Comment heading Go To IN button Bin name Clear IN button Go To OUT button Clear OUT button Timecode entry text boxes Source tape display button Mark IN button Clear Memory button Mark Memory button Duration Mark button Mark OUT button Go To Memory button Marking and Logging The basic logging procedure involves marking IN and OUT points. You mark IN and OUT points using the Mark buttons or by typing IN and OUT timecodes.
2. Set either an IN point or an OUT point for the clip you want to log, using one of the following methods: Mark IN t Use the deck controls in the Logging tool to cue your source tape to the start or end point, and click the Mark IN or the Mark OUT button. t Click the Mark IN button in the upper left corner of the Logging tool or press the F4 key.
t Type a timecode for the clip’s IN point, OUT point, or duration in the timecode text boxes next to the corresponding icon and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh) . The system automatically calculates the appropriate timecode for the remaining IN point, OUT point, or duration, and enters the clip into the bin. The clip name, which is automatically numbered by the system, is highlighted and ready to be changed.
To mark the location: t Click the Mark Memory button. To move through the tape to the marked location: t Click the Go To Memory button. To clear the memory mark: t Click the Clear Memory button. You can add one mark per tape. The memory mark is not stored on the tape. When you remove the tape from the deck and insert another tape into the decks, the mark is cleared. Logging On-the-Fly You can log clips while the tape is playing. This is called logging on-the-fly.
5. Play the tape. 6. Mark an IN point by pressing the E key or I key. The timecode appears and the Logging Messages bar displays the following message: “Mark OUT and Log.” 7. Mark the OUT point by pressing the R key or O key. 8. Log the clip by pressing the F4 key. The clip is logged into the bin. The clip name, which the system selects and numbers, is highlighted in the bin and is ready to be changed. The default clip name is the bin name plus a number. 9.
5. When you reach the point where you want to end the clip, click the Mark OUT button (or press the F4 key again). The Mark OUT button changes to the Log Clip button, and the deck pauses. 6. (Option) Enter a clip name and comment. 7. Click the Log Clip button (or press the F4 key again). The system logs the clip in a bin, and the deck starts playing again. Logging with the Deck Offline You can also log material without controlling a source tape deck.
3. For NTSC projects, choose either Non-drop Frame or Drop Frame from the pop-up menu. This selects the timecode format for logging. 4. Click OK to close the Deck Preferences dialog box. 5. Make sure a bin is selected. 6. Choose Go To Logging Mode from the Bin menu. The Logging tool opens. 7. Click the Source Tape Display button. A message box appears, asking if you want to associate a tape with the deck. 8. Click Yes to open the Select Tape dialog box.
9. Do one of the following: t Double-click the name of the tape. t Click the New button, type the name of the tape you want to log, and then click OK. t Select the name from the list, and then click OK. 10. In the Channel Selection area in the Logging tool, click the tracks you want to log. For example, click V, A1, and A2. 11. Choose the destination bin from the Bin pop-up menu. 12.
Modifying Clip Information After Logging You can change or modify the information logged into the bin. This is especially useful if you find that some of the data is incorrect, or if you need to update the information based on technical needs such as varying timecode formats or film specifications. There are two ways to modify clip information prior to digitizing: • You can modify the information directly by clicking in a column and by entering the new information one field at a time.
Make a separate log for each videotape, or log clips from several different videotapes into one log. After you manually create an Avid log, you can import it into MediaLog as described in “Importing Log Files into MediaLog Bins” on page 113. Importing Logs Many logging programs and film-to-tape transfer systems create logs you can import into your MediaLog project. You can open some logs directly in MediaLog bins; others must be converted to Avid format first.
n • Avid logs you create yourself, using a text editor (see “Creating Avid Logs” on page 111) • Logs converted into Avid format using Avid Log Exchange (file names that have the .ale file name extension) Avid recommends that you convert any files not created on an Avid system into Avid format using Avid Log Exchange. Use the Avid Log Exchange utility to convert these logs to Avid format before importing into a MediaLog bin: • Log Producer™ • AatonBase (file names that have the .
3. Navigate to the drive and then to the folder that contains the log file you want to import. If the log is on a floppy disk, insert the floppy disk into the floppy drive. 4. (Option) If you want to adjust import parameters for the shot log, click the Options button. The Import Settings dialog box appears. 5. Select one of the options from Table 4-3 and click OK.
Table 4-3 Import Settings Options Option Description Maintain events as logged. Select this option to maintain all events as originally logged. Combine events based on scene and automatically Select this option to combine all the events for a create subclips. scene into a single master clip, and then link the master clip to subclips that represent the original events for that scene. To use this option, you must have scene numbers logged into a scene column in the bin.
6. Select files or deselect files from the source file list by doing one of the following: t To add a single file, Ctrl+click the file to import from the source file list (Windows) or select a file name in the source file list and click Add, or double-click the file name (Macintosh). t (Macintosh only) To add all files in the source file list, click Add All. t (Windows only) To add a group of files, click the first file in a group, and then Shift+click the last file in a group.
Transferring Bins from Another MediaLog System MediaLog bins are interchangeable with those of other releases. In general, later releases of the MediaLog application accept bins from earlier releases. To transfer a bin from one MediaLog system to another MediaLog system: 1. Save MediaLog project bins from the first MediaLog system on a floppy disk. 2. Go to your second MediaLog system, and quit or minimize the MediaLog application. 3.
Logging Source Material
CHAPTER 5 Organizing with Bins The Avid system provides powerful database tools for organizing and managing your digitized material. You can view bins in two different display views. You can rename, print, sort, sift, duplicate, and delete clips.
Preparing to Work with Bins There are several procedures you might want to perform before organizing your project because they affect the display of information in bins or the way the clips play back during screening: n • When working with film projects, organize digitized clips according to scene. This practice keeps crowded bins to a minimum. See “Film Scene Workflow” on page 120. • If you want to customize the types of objects displayed in a bin, see “Setting the Bin Display” on page 121.
t Duplicate the clips and then move the duplicates into the appropriate scene bin, using procedures described in “Duplicating Clips” on page 129. 3. Proceed to sort, sift, and organize the clips within each scene bin, according to the editor’s preferences. It is good practice to copy or duplicate clips as you reorganize them in bins. As a result, the original source clips will remain in the appropriate dailies bin if you ever need to redigitize according to source tape.
Table 5-1 describes the object icons listed in the Set Bin Display dialog box. 3. Select the object types that you want to see: usually master clips and subclips. 4. The option “Show clips created by user” is selected by default. Deselect this option only if you want to hide all objects except those created by the system. 5. Select the option “Show reference clips” to automatically display objects that are referenced by sequences in the bin, whether those clips were previously in the bin or not. 6.
Table 5-1 shows the available options.
Understanding Bin Display Views There are two display views for viewing and working with clips in a bin: Brief view and Text view. This section briefly describes each view. n You can resize each display view by clicking and dragging the lower right corner of the Bin window. The size of the display view is saved as a user setting for that bin. The bin view retains its set size every time you open that view of that bin, even in separate editing sessions. Each bin view can have a different size.
Text View For information on Text view features, see “Using Text View” on page 141. In Text view, clips are displayed in a database text format, using columns and rows, with icons representing the various objects. You can save various arrangements of columns, text, and objects as customized views. See “Customizing Bin Views in Text View” on page 126. To enter Text view: t Click the Text tab in the bin.
• Film view: Has film-related column headings, including key number, ink number, pullin, and so on. If you are working on a non-film-related project and select the Film view, a dialog box informs you that only the non-film-related columns will be displayed. • Statistics view: Uses the standard statistical column headings derived from information established during capture, such as start and end timecodes, duration, resolution, and so on.
When you create a new bin view, the system saves the settings for this view so that you can later access and alter, copy, or delete these settings. New bin view settings appear in the Settings scroll list of the Project window. Saving a Custom Bin View Any time you add, hide, or delete a column, the bin view name changes to an italicized name with the file name extension .n to indicate that it no longer matches the original view.
Bin Fast Menu All Bin menu commands are also available in the Bin Fast menu located in the lower left corner of every bin. The Bin Fast menu is especially convenient when you are working with several open bins and need to access Bin menu commands quickly. To open the Bin Fast menu: t Click the Fast Menu button in either bin display view. Basic Bin Procedures There are some basic procedures that you can use in either bin display view for manipulating clips in the bin.
Selecting Clips To select a clip in a bin: t Click the clip icon. To select multiple clips in a bin, do one of the following: t (Windows) Ctrl+click additional items. t (Windows) Shift+click the first and last items. t (Macintosh) Shift+click additional items. t Lasso several clips. To reverse your selection: t Choose Reverse Selection from the Bin menu. The items that you previously selected are deselected, and those items that were previously deselected are selected.
Moving Clips You can move clips to other bins in order to group and organize various types of material based on project needs. To move clips from one bin into another: 1. Create or open another bin. Give the bin a name that represents its purpose or contents. 2. Position or resize the bins so you can see both of them at the same time. 3. Select the clip that you want to move, or select multiple clips. 4. Click the clips and drag them to the new bin.
To copy clips from one bin to another bin: 1. Position or resize the bins so that you can see both of them at the same time. 2. In the original bin, click the clip that you want to copy, or select multiple clips. 3. While pressing the Alt key (Windows) or Option key (Macintosh), drag the clips to the destination bin, and release the mouse button. The copies appear in the destination bin and the originals remain in the source bin.
Assigning Colors to Bin Objects You can assign colors to clips and subclips to help you manage and organize the bin objects. Colors assigned to bin objects are referred to as source colors. Adding a Color Column to a Bin To add a Color column to a bin: 1. With a bin in Text view, choose Headings from the Bin menu. The Bin Column Selection dialog box appears. 2. Ctrl+click (Windows) or click (Macintosh) Color from the scroll list to select it. 3. Click OK. The Color column appears in the bin.
Assigning a Custom Source Color To assign a custom color to a clip or subclip in a bin: 1. With a bin in Text view, select the bin objects that you want to assign a color to. 2. Choose Set Clip Color from the Edit menu, and choose Pick from the submenu. The Windows Color dialog box or the Macintosh Color Picker appears. 3. Select a color from the Windows Color dialog box or the Macintosh Color Picker, and click OK. The custom color appears in the Color column and on the clip icon.
Sifting Clips When you sift clips, the bin displays only those clips that meet a specific set of criteria. For example, you can do a custom sift to display only those clips containing the word “close-up” in the heading column. The Custom Sift dialog box provides six levels of criteria. To sift clips: 1. Choose Custom Sift from the Bin menu. The Custom Sift dialog box appears.
2. Click the Criterion pop-up menu and choose one of the sifting options. 3. Click the first Text to Find text box, and type the text that you want to use as a sift criterion. When sifting by color, type the exact name of the color (using uppercase and lowercase letters) in the text box. 4. Click the Column or Range to Search pop-up menu, and choose a column heading to which you want to apply the criterion. 5. Type additional sift criteria, and make additional column selections as necessary. 6.
Before custom sift Type 01:08:32:00 in the Text to Find text box in the Custom Sift dialog box, and choose Start to End Range from the Column or Range to Search pop-up menu. After custom sift The clips that encompass the timecode number 01:08:32:00 Some column pairs explicitly define a range; for example, Start and End or Mark IN and Mark OUT. Other columns define the beginning of a range, and the end of the range is determined by the Duration column.
If you display any column in the bin that is associated with ranges, either explicit or implicit, the corresponding range menu item appears in the Column or Range to Search pop-up menu of the Custom Sift dialog box. For example, if you choose to display the Start column and the Auxiliary TC1 column in the bin, the Start to End Range and Auxiliary TC1 Range menu choices will appear in the Column or Range to Search pop-up menu.
Table 5-3 lists all columns associated with implicit ranges and their corresponding menu choices.
Sifting Within a Range To sift for a timecode or keycode number within a specific range: 1. Choose Custom Sift from the Bin menu. The Custom Sift dialog box appears. Criterion pop-up menu Column or Range to Search pop-up menu 2. Type the timecode (or keycode) number for which you want to sift in a range. 3. Choose a range from the Column or Range to Search pop-up menu; for example, Start to End Range or Mark In to Out Range. The criterion “contain” is displayed in the Criterion pop-up menu.
4. Click OK. The bin will display those clips that encompass the timecode (or keycode) number that you entered. Locking and Unlocking Items in a Bin You can lock items in a bin to prevent deletion. When you lock clips in a bin, you lock their associated media files on your desktop as well. To lock items: 1. Click a clip or subclip to select it. Ctrl+click (Windows) or Shift+click (Macintosh) additional clips, if necessary.
To unlock previously locked items: 1. Select the items in the bin. 2. Perform one of the following tasks: t (Windows) Press and hold the right mouse button and choose Unlock Bin Selection from the Shortcut menu. t (Macintosh) Press and hold Ctrl+Shift, click the mouse button, and choose Unlock Bin Selection from the Shortcut menu. Using Text View Text view provides the most complete view of clip information. It uses database columns you can rearrange and customize to suit your needs.
Moving and Rearranging Columns To move a text column in a bin: 1. Click the heading of the column you want to move. The entire column is selected. 2. Click the column and drag it to the position you want, and release the mouse button. The column appears in the new position, and columns to the right are moved to make room. Aligning Bin Columns When you align bin columns, the system maintains the same order of columns from left to right, but spaces them according to the length of contents.
2. Select the headings you want to add to the bin: t Click the name of a heading to select it. t Click a selected heading to deselect it. t Click All/None to select or deselect all the headings. 3. Click OK. Only the headings selected in the Bin Column Selection dialog box appear in the bin or bin view.
Deleting a Column Deleting a statistical column is the same as hiding the column; you can restore the column at any time using the Bin Column Selection dialog box, as described in “Showing and Hiding Columns” on page 142. When you delete a custom column, however, you must re-create the column. To delete a column: 1. Click the column heading in a bin. 2. Choose Delete from the Edit menu or press the Delete key. The column disappears from the view, and surrounding columns fill the empty space.
The Select dialog box appears. In the example, “Copy ‘Start’ column to:” appears at the top of the dialog box because the user selected the Start column for duplication. 3. Select a column name from the list. The column must contain the same type of data for the copy to occur. For example, you can copy start timecodes to the Auxiliary TC column, but you cannot copy timecodes to the Pullin column. 4. Click OK. The column of information appears in the column you designated.
Adding Customized Columns to a Bin In addition to the standard statistical or film column headings, you can add your own column headings to describe information about clips. For example, you might want to add a column heading to describe what kind of shot (close-up, wide shot, master shot, extreme close-up, and so on) is used in a clip. To add a new custom column: 1. Click an empty area to the right of the current headings in the headings box. 2.
Managing Clip Information in Text View For additional bin shortcuts, see the quick reference guide for your Avid editing system. There are several ways to manage clip information in bin columns. These methods include copying information between cells, moving information between whole columns, sorting clip information, and modifying clip data, as described in this section.
• (Macintosh) Shift+Return: Move the pointer up to the cell in the previous row. You can continue to press the Shift+Return keys until the cell in the top row is highlighted. The next time you press the Shift+Return keys, the cell in the last row is highlighted. Modifying Clip Information You can change or modify the information in certain columns for your master clips, subclips, tapes, and other objects stored in the bin.
Modifying Data Directly When you modify information in a bin directly, you click a cell and type the new information. For example, you can type a new name for a clip, or correct the start and end timecodes. You can directly modify any data in the bin while logging and prior to digitizing. After the footage is digitized, however, you can directly modify information only in selected headings, with restrictions, as shown in Table 5-4.
Table 5-4 Modifiable Bin Headings (Continued) Heading Restrictions Pullin Only for 24p projects and matchback projects. Pullin data imported from a telecine-generated list can be altered directly only before digitizing or after unlinking. See “Setting the Pulldown Phase” on page 193 (NTSC only). Pullout Automatically calculated. This field cannot be modified. c Modifying tape names and timecodes will affect any key numbers entered for the selected clips.
Modifying Data Using the Modify Command The Modify command gives you specialized control over groups of clip information. For example, you can use the Modify command to change the name of source tapes, or to increment or decrement the start and end timecodes by a specified length of time for one or several clips at once. For a complete description of the Modify dialog box options, see the input and output guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.
Table 5-5 Modify Command Options (Continued) Type of Modification Options Description Decrement Timecode Start or End Changes either the start or end timecode. Decrementing the start timecode automatically modifies the end timecode by the same amount. Only start timecode can be decremented after digitizing. Timecode text box Allows you to enter new decremental timecode. Set Key Number Generic (Prefix) Key Number text box Allows you to enter a custom generic key number.
Modify Options pop-up menu 4. Choose an option, such as Set Timecode By Field, from the Modify Options pop-up menu. 5. Select an option or type information into the text boxes (timecode values, for example) when they appear. 6. Click OK. The modification takes effect.
Copying Information Between Columns The following procedure describes how to copy all the information in one column to another column. The procedure uses an example of copying timecode information in one column to a new column. To copy column information to another column: 1. Select the timecode column you want to copy. 2. Choose Duplicate from the Edit menu. The Select dialog box appears, prompting you to target a timecode column for the data. 3. Select the target column for the data, and click OK.
Sorting Clips in Ascending Order To sort clips in ascending order: 1. With a bin in Text view, click the heading of the column you want to use as the criterion. The column is highlighted. 2. Choose Sort from the Bin menu. The objects in the bin are sorted in ascending order. n If the Sort command appears dimmed in the menu, you have not selected a column. To reapply the last sort: t Choose Sort Again from the Bin menu with no column selected.
Multilevel Sorting with Columns You can select multiple columns in a bin and perform a multilevel sort using the information in the columns. To perform a multilevel sort using the information in the bins: 1. With a bin in Text view, arrange the columns in the bin to establish the primary column. The column that appears farthest to the left in Text view becomes the primary criterion for the sorting operation. 2. Select the columns you want to sort. The columns are highlighted. 3.
Displaying Timecodes in a 24p or 25p Project When you are working with 24p and 25p projects, you can add timecode columns to bins to enter and display starting timecodes in several timecode formats for master clips and subclips. After you add a timecode column (TC 24, TC 25, TC 25P, or TC 30) to a bin, you can use the Duplicate command to convert the values for master clips and subclips to the appropriate timecode for that column.
Frame Counting for Timecodes Table 5-7 shows the frame count for each of the timecodes. The timecodes are listed as 24 for 24 fps, 25 for 25 fps, 25P for 25 (PAL with pulldown), and 30 for 30 fps (the count skips 6 frames to fit 30 frames into 24 fps).
Adding Timecode Values to the Timecode Columns To add timecode values to the timecode columns: 1. Open a bin. 2. Add the Start column and the timecode column with the format you want to use. 3. Select the Start column. 4. Choose Duplicate from the Edit menu. The Select dialog box appears. 5. Select the timecode heading from the list.
6. Click OK. The values for master clips and subclips in the Start column are converted to the appropriate timecode format and entered into the column you selected. Bin Column Headings You can select individual or multiple headings to be displayed or hidden in a bin. Table 5-8 describes the Bin Column Selection headings. For a procedure on how to select column headings, see “Showing and Hiding Columns” on page 142.
Table 5-8 Bin Column Selection (Continued) Heading Description Camroll The camera roll containing this clip. Used for 24p projects, 25p projects, and matchback projects only. Color The color of the bin objects for organizing the objects. Color Framing The color framing for the tape. For NTSC, the choice is Even or Odd. For PAL, the choices are A Standard, A Non-Standard, B Standard, or B Non-Standard.
Table 5-8 Bin Column Selection (Continued) Heading Description KN IN-OUT The Mark IN and Mark OUT key number for the clip. Used for 24p projects, 25p projects, and matchback projects only. KN Mark IN The key number for the IN point, if you set one for the clip. Used for 24p projects, 25p projects, and matchback projects only. KN Mark OUT The key number for the OUT point, if you set one for the clip. Used for 24p projects, 25p projects, and matchback projects only.
Table 5-8 Bin Column Selection (Continued) Heading Description Scene The scene number of the clip. Shoot date The date the footage was shot. Slip The number and direction of perfs for subclips (audio clips only). Used for 24p and 25p projects only. Sound TC The timecode for audio. Soundroll The sound roll this clip came from. Used for 24p projects, 25p projects, and matchback projects only. Start The timecode of the clip’s head frame. TC 24 The 24-fps timecode.
Organizing with Bins
CHAPTER 6 Creating MediaLog Output Once you have finished logging your tapes, you can print the bins to create a paper record of your log, export the bin files for use in a different application, or transfer the bins to an Avid editing system for digitizing and editing the footage.
Printing Bins Before you print MediaLog bins, make sure a printer driver has been installed and your computer recognizes the driver. If the driver is installed properly, simply restarting your computer will cause the system to recognize the driver. n Directions for installing the printer driver and selecting the printer should be included in the documentation for your printer and for your computer system. The Avid application allows you to print entire bins or individual frames in hardcopy form.
Exporting Bins You can save the bin information in a text file for use with other applications. The information is saved in an ASCII file (TAB Delimited) and is organized in the following way: • Line 1 is a list of the headings in the current Bin view. This line is optional. • Each remaining line is data for an individual clip, with tabs delimiting each category of information. These lines are separated by carriage returns.
4. Select the format you want to use for the exported bin. The Export As dialog box appears. Windows Macintosh 5. Navigate to the disk and folder where you want to save the exported file. 6. Click Save to accept the default file name, or type a new file name and then click Save.
Transferring Bins to an Avid Editing System Bins you have created on a MediaLog system can be transferred to an Avid editing system and then opened directly from within an Avid editing project. The clips logged in the transferred bins are ready for batch digitizing; no additional preparation is required. It is best to transfer only bins, without projects, to the Avid editing system. Then if you want, you can digitize the bins using a different video resolution.
9. Select the MediaLog bins, and copy them into the appropriate project folder. 10. Start the Avid editing system and open the project. The MediaLog bins appear in the list of bins. Transferring Projects and Bins Using AFE Files AFE (Avid File Exchange) files are an efficient way to transfer project information between Avid applications. For example, you can use AFE files to transfer projects and bins from an offline Media Composer to an Avid|DS finishing system.
5. Do one of the following: • To create a file that includes all bins in a project, select the project window and choose Save Project Copy As from the File menu. The Save Project Copy As dialog box appears. Choose a location, name the file, and click Save. • To create a file that includes the contents of a single bin, open the bin, select the bin, and choose Save Bin Copy As from the File menu. The Save bin name As dialog box appears. Choose Avid File Exchange (*.afe) from the “Save as type” list.
Creating MediaLog Output
APPENDIX A Avid Log Specifications This section explains the Avid log file format. The Avid application can import logs that meet Avid log specifications. These logs must follow the formatting requirements.
Supported Avid Log Formats Table A-1 lists the log formats that can be imported into the Avid application. You can use a text editor to adapt other log formats so they meet Avid log specifications. Table A-1 Avid Log Specifications Compatible Log Formats Log Requirements File Name Extension AatonBase Conversion required .atn or .atl Avid Logs Create with text editor and import directly .ale CMX EDL Conversion required .cmx Evertz Import directly (conversion optional) .
Understanding Avid Log Specifications This section contains tables that show how to enter headings and data to create an Avid log. The tables use the following conventions: • is surrounded by angle brackets. appear underneath, also in angle brackets. You must enter exactly one of these values. For example, <29.97> is one of the supported values for the FPS heading; to specify that value, type 29.97.
3. Type one of the supported values (25 or 29.97). 4. Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh). Describing an Avid Log File An Avid log is composed of three or four sections, in this order: • Global headings • Column headings • Custom column headings (optional) • Data headings The tables in this section adhere to this order. When you create an Avid log, you must follow the order precisely. You can select not to display a defined heading (including a required heading), except for Name.
Table A-2 Avid Log Global Headings GLOBAL HEADINGS: Global headings are case sensitive and must be spelled exactly as shown. Include all required headings. Other headings are optional but might be necessary for your project. The maximum number of combined global, standard, and custom headings in a log file is 64. Heading FIELD_DELIM [Tab] VIDEO_FORMAT [Tab] AUDIO_FORMAT [Tab] [Enter] or [Return] Required This marks the start of the global headings.
Table A-2 FPS [Tab] Avid Log Global Headings (Continued) <25> <29.97> [Enter] or [Return] [Enter] or [Return] Required Capture rate is 25 fps for PAL and 29.97 fps for NTSC video. Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh) a second time after entering the FPS value. This marks the end of the global headings. Column Headings The standard column headings appear after the global headings in the Avid log file. You do not enter the data for a column heading along with the heading.
Table A-3 Avid Log Column Headings (Continued) Name [Tab] Required Heading for clip name. Tracks [Tab] Required Heading for tracks you select for digitizing. Start [Tab] Required Heading for video timecode of sync point — the timecode IN for clip. From address track of video. End [Tab] Required Heading for timecode OUT for clip. From address track of video. AUDIO_FORMAT [Tab] Heading for audio sampling rate for digitizing the individual clip.
Table A-3 Avid Log Column Headings (Continued) IN-OUT [Tab] Heading for duration between clip’s mark IN and mark OUT (if present). Mark IN [Tab] Heading for timecode of clip’s mark IN (if present). Mark OUT [Tab] Heading for timecode of clip’s mark OUT (if present). Offline [Tab] Heading for tracks currently without digitized media files online. Tape [Tab] Heading for source tape ID for the individual clip. If omitted, the global entry applies.
Table A-3 Avid Log Column Headings (Continued) COMMENTS [Tab] Heading for comments about clip. [Tab] Press the Tab key between each heading. Do not press the Tab key after the last heading. Add any category of information you want. Add as many headings as you want, but do not use more than a total of 64 global and column headings in the file. [Enter] or [Return] [Enter] or [Return] Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh) twice (do not press Tab) after the last heading.
Table A-4 Avid Log Data Headings (Continued) DATA FOR EACH CLIP: Enter a line of data for each clip. Enter the data so that it aligns with its column heading. (The data that goes with the ninth column heading must be the ninth data entry.) Be sure to enter data for all the required values. To leave a data position unfilled, press the Tab key instead of typing data. Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh) at the end of each line.
Table A-4 Avid Log Data Headings (Continued) [Tab] Under Tape heading. Enter the source videotape ID for this clip only. <29.97> [Tab] Under FPS heading. Enter the video capture rate for this clip only. If omitted, global entry applies. Use 25 fps for PAL video or 29.97 fps for NTSC video.
Table A-4 Avid Log Data Headings (Continued) [Tab] Under COMMENTS heading. Comment on the clip. [Tab] Press the Tab key between each heading. Do not press the Tab key after last heading. Under the headings you created yourself, type the appropriate information. [Enter] or [Return] Press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh) after the last entry for the clip. Do not press Tab after the last entry for the clip.
Windows Heading [Enter] FIELD_DELIM [Tab] TABS [Enter] VIDEO_FORMAT [Tab] NTSC [Enter] AUDIO_FORMAT [Tab] 44kHz [Enter] TAPE [Tab] 001 [Enter] FPS [Tab] 29.
Avid Log Specifications
APPENDIX B Working with a Film Project This appendix covers the following topics: n n • Creating a Film Project • Film Settings • Logging Film Information The information in this appendix also applies to matchback projects. Matchback is available in Symphony, Media Composer, Film Composer, and Avid Xpress systems. Film projects that use 24p and 25p media are only available in Symphony, Media Composer, and Film Composer systems.
Creating a Film Project To create a new project: 1. Click New Project in the Select User and Project dialog box. The New Project dialog box appears. 2. Type a name for your new project in the text box and click OK. n If you plan to move bins and projects from one platform to another, do not use the characters / \ : * ? “ < > | when naming projects, bins, and users. 3.
Table B-1 Project Types for Systems That Support 24p and 25p Projects Project Type Source Footage Transfer 24p NTSC For film-originated or other 24-fps footage transferred to NTSC videotape 30i NTSC For NTSC video-originated or other 30-fps footage transferred to NTSC videotape 24p PAL For film-originated or other 24-fps footage transferred to PAL videotape at 25 fps 25p PAL For 25-fps film footage transferred to PAL videotape 25i PAL For PAL video-originated footage (25 fps) 4.
Film Settings Set film preferences in the Film Setting dialog box immediately after you create a project to provide the system with important information about the type of film and audio transfer you used for your job. You can access the Film Settings from the Settings scroll list in the Project window. The following illustration shows the dialog box for an NTSC film project. A PAL project replaces the Picture Transfer Rate menu with an Audio Transfer Rate menu.
Film settings determine essential parameters for accurately capturing, tracking, and editing source material for 24p and 25p projects. including: • Audio transfer rate (PAL only) and pulldown parameters for film-to-tape transfers • Format and display of ink numbers Setting the Format and Display of Ink Numbers Table B-2 describes the Film Settings options for setting the format and display of ink numbers.
Transfer Settings for Film Projects The following settings are important for transferring media in a film project. You should set the transfer settings for film projects immediately after you create a new project and before digitizing.
- Video Rate (100%+): Select this option when your 24-fps film footage has been transferred to 25 fps by speeding up the film, and the audio is synchronized to the video picture. This means the audio speed is increased by 4.1 percent (PAL Method 1). For PAL 24p projects, you can mix audio that has been transferred at 4.1 percent speedup (video rate, PAL Method 1) with audio that has not been transferred (film rate, PAL Method 2). However, Avid does not recommend this.
You set this relationship by selecting the pulldown phase (sometimes called the pulldown frame or pullin frame), which is the video frame at which the master clip starts. The pulldown phase is designated A, B, X, C, or D. Film labs and transfer houses typically use the A frame to start the transfer. The following illustration shows the relationship between film frames and video frames.
same sync point, regardless of where you set the IN point. If you use the Digitize tool to log a clip that starts at 01:00:10:01, the Avid system automatically enters B in the Pullin column of the bin. If you digitize with an IN point at 01:00:10:01, the system begins to digitize at the next A frame, in this case, 01:00:10:05. The pulldown-to-timecode relationship might vary from tape to tape, or within the same tape, depending on how the footage was transferred.
Logging Film Information Once you have entered or imported the basic log information into a bin, you might want to add film-related log information before digitizing. This section describes procedures and formats for adding various film headings.
Displaying Film Columns To display film columns in the bin: 1. Choose Film from the Bin View pop-up menu, which is located at the bottom of the Bin window, to display all the required film column headings. 2. To log data under optional headings (for example; Ink Number, Auxiliary TC1 through Auxiliary TC5, or Film TC), choose Headings from the Bin menu and Ctrl+click (Windows) or click (Macintosh) the specific headings you want to add from the Bin Column Selection dialog box.
3. You can also track custom information for the job by creating a custom heading. To create a new heading, type a name that describes the information in the headings bar at the top of the bin. For more information on customizing bin views, see “Customizing Bin Views in Text View” on page 126. Entering Pulldown Information For information about importing a log file, see “Importing Logs” on page 112.
You specify the pulldown phase in the Pullin column. The following illustration shows a bin with a Pullin column. Start timecode Pullin column (information required for NTSC) If you do not have a transfer log, or if the transfer log is incorrect, you need to add the information manually. If you log clips using the Logging tool, the Avid system uses the A frame as the default pulldown phase. You might need to edit this value. n You can set a default pulldown phase in the Film Setting dialog box.
correspondence between your digital media and the original 24-fps footage (24p projects only). To do this, you must indicate whether the sync point at the start of each film clip transferred to tape is an A, B, C, or D frame, as described in the following section. In most cases, the sync point is the A frame.
- If the timecode changes from the first to the second fields, the fields came from a C frame. The following illustration shows a keypunch on the A frame. Notice where the timecode changes. Four film frames A B C D Five NTSC video frames (10 fields) A1 odd A2 even B1 odd B2 even B3 odd C1 even C2 odd D1 even D2 odd D3 even A Timecode change B Timecode change X Timecode change C Timecode change D 4.
Modifying the Pulldown Phase Before Digitizing After you determine the correct pulldown phase (as described in the previous section) you can modify the pulldown phase before digitizing in one of the following ways. To modify the pulldown phase directly in the Pullin column: 1. Enter Text view. 2. Click the cell you want to modify. 3. Click the cell again. The pointer changes to an I-beam. 4. Type the pulldown phase and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh).
3. Choose the correct pulldown phase for timecodes ending in 0 or 5 from the pop-up menu. 4. Click OK. The pulldown phase for each selected clip is changed, based on the pulldown phase you selected for 00:00:00:00. The Pulldown Phase setting also appears in the Film Setting dialog box (24p projects only). You can override that setting with the Modify Pulldown Phase dialog box. The selection in the Film Setting dialog box remains the same.
Entering Key Numbers To add key numbers: t Highlight the KN Start column, then type the key number for the sync point at the start of the clip using one of the following formats: t Keykode™ Format: Type a 2-character manufacturer and film-type code, a 6-digit prefix for identifying the film roll, a 4-digit footage count, a 2-digit frame offset, and then press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh).
Entering Additional Timecodes (Optional) Consider the following when you enter additional timecodes: • • n In one of the Auxiliary TC columns (that is, Auxiliary TC1 through Auxiliary TC5) type an auxiliary timecode that syncs with the video timecode logged in the Start column. You can enter up to five auxiliary timecodes. Supported timecodes depend on your project: 30-fps for NTSC (drop-frame or non-drop-frame) and 25-fps for PAL.
n You can use the Duplicate command to convert timecodes from one format to another. For more information, see “Duplicating a Column” on page 144. Entering the Ink Number (Optional) To enter ink numbers: 1. Open the Film Setting dialog box by double-clicking Film in the Settings scroll list of the Project window. 2. Make sure the correct options are selected for ink number format and ink number display, and click OK.
Index ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVW Numerics 24p editing projects creating 188 displaying timecodes in 157 25i PAL editing projects creating 189 25p editing projects creating 188 displaying timecode in 157 30i NTSC editing projects creating 189 A AatonBase importing 113 log format 174 Add Channel button (Deck Configuration dialog box) 85 Add Deck button (Deck Configuration dialog box) 87 Adding bin columns 146 memory mark 105 AFE files described 170 transferring projects and bins 170 ALE (Avid Log Exchange) co
Avid Log Exchange See ALE Avid logs audio format heading in 179 clip data in 181 compatible log formats 174 creating 176 custom headings in 178 data headings in 181 formatting guidelines 175 fps (frames per second) heading in 179 global headings in 176 importing 113, 173 log format 174 sample created with text editor 184 specifications 175 standard headings in 178 timecode headings in 179 Avid Symphony application quitting 47 B Backing up media files 47 Backup options (Bin settings) 67 Bin Column Sele
Buttons Add Channel (Deck Configuration dialog box) 85 Add Deck (Deck Configuration dialog box) 87 New Project (Select User and Project dialog box) 41, 188 New User (Select User and Project dialog box) 38 C Calculator tool using 76 Camroll data 206 Changing bin font 74 Changing clip information before digitizing 111 Channel dialog box 85 Channel Selection area 99 Choosing a user 38 bin headings 141 film format options 188 Clip colors assigning source colors 132 viewing in bins 132 Clip data in Avid l
Custom headings in Avid logs 178 Custom Sift command (Bin menu) 134 Custom Sift dialog box 134 Customizing bin views 126 D Data headings in Avid log file 181 Deck automatic configuration 83 connecting 28, 29 manual configuration 83 not connected logging with 108 offline 108 pausing while logging 107 Deck Configuration settings access and brief description of 65 Add Channel options 85 adjusting 84 deleting elements in 92 Deck Preferences settings access and brief description of 65 description 92 Deck s
E Entering additional film data 206 ink numbers 206 key numbers 204 optional timecodes 205 pulldown of the sync point 198 Entering frames-per-second rates for PAL transfers 203 Evertz importing 113 log format 174 Excalibur importing 112 log format 174 Existing projects selecting 43 Existing users selecting 39 Export command (File menu) 167, 171 Exporting bins 167 selecting 188 preferences setting 42, 190 scene workflow 120 timecodes, entering 205 Film Composer application quitting 47 Film settings des
Help system (Contains complete reference information for your Avid system) overview 49 Hiding bin column headings 160 bin columns 142 I Import command (File menu) 113 Import settings access and brief description of 65 Importing logs 112 Info display in the Project window defined 73 Ink numbers entering 206 Installing MediaLog 32, 33 Interface settings changing text font and size 73 J Joining cables 28 K Key numbers entering 204 formats for 204 Keyboard settings 75 access and brief description of 65
Master clips copying 130 duplicating 129 locking 140 moving 130 selecting 129 sifting 134 Matchback options 42, 189 Media Composer application quitting 47 MediaLog importing logs into 113 overview 21 Memory marks adding 105 Menu commands Align to Grid (Bin menu) 142 Custom Sift (Bin menu) 134 Delete (Edit menu) columns using 144 Duplicate (Edit menu) 129 Export (File menu) 167, 171 Headings (Bin menu) 142 Lock Bin Selection (Special menu) 140 New Bin (File menu) 56 Open Bin (File menu) 58 Page Setup (F
Picture Transfer Rate (Film Settings) 192 Preroll option (Deck Settings dialog box) 91 Print Bin command (File menu) 166 Printing bins 166 Project settings defined 64 displaying 69 Project window closing 53 displaying bins 54 settings 64 usage 73 Info display using 73 opening 53 Projects backing up 47 closing 46 creating new 41, 188 nesting in folders 44 opening 45 saving 47 selecting 41, 43 transferring through AFE 170 working with 37 Pulldown finding at the sync point 198 Pulldown phase modifying bef
Setting up hardware Macintosh 29 Windows 28 Settings basic 66 bin 67 deck configuration 84 default restoring 71 defining 66 described 64 film 67, 190 for film preferences 42, 190 keyboard 75 overview of 64 project defined 64 displaying 69 scroll list 64 site defined 64 using 72 tab 63 user defined 64 Settings scroll list Audio Project 65 Bin 65 Deck Configuration 65 Deck Preferences 65 Film 65, 191 Import 65 Keyboard 65 Serial (COM) Ports 65 summary of contents 65 Workspace 65 Shot Lister importing 112
Target bin choosing 99 Telecine importing log file from 126 Text editor creating Avid logs with 176 Text tab (bin) 141 Text view (bin display) defined 125 using 141 to 156 Three-perforation film projects 42 Timecode display options 24p and 25p projects 157 entering 205 headings in Avid logs 179 Transferring bins from another MediaLog system 117 bins to an Avid editing system 169 through AFE 170 Trash emptying 60 moving bins from 59 viewing contents of 59 Turning off equipment Macintosh 49 Windows 48 Tu
