Avid MediaLog ® ™ User’s Guide Release 8.
© 1994-1996, 1998-1999 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in USA. Avid MediaLog User’s Guide • Part 0130-04038-01 Rev.
Contents Chapter 1 Understanding MediaLog What Is MediaLog? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 How Does MediaLog Work? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 What Are the Basic Logging Steps? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Chapter 2 Getting Started Setting Up the Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Turning On the Hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Removing Bin Names from the Current Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Opening Bins from Other Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Retrieving Bin Files from the Attic Folder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Saving Your Work. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Saving a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Saving All Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Logging While Marking OUT or Marking IN . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Using Go To Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Logging On-the-Fly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Logging with the Deck Offline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Creating Avid Logs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Importing Logs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reversing the Sort Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Sorting on Multiple Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Sifting Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Using Sift Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Showing Sifted and Unsifted Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 Moving or Copying Clips to Other Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tables Table 2-1 Project Files and Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Table 2-2 Project Settings Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Table 2-3 Project Info Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Table 3-1 Deck Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Table 3-2 Deck Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Table 4-1 Bin Column Headings . . . . . .
CHAPTER 1 Understanding MediaLog This chapter explains the MediaLog application and covers the following topics: • What Is MediaLog? • How Does MediaLog Work? • What Are the Basic Logging Steps? 8
What Is 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, you can use your Avid editing system to digitize and edit the footage.
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.
A bin is open while you log clips to it. Sample bin 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.
What Are the Basic Logging Steps? In each logging session, you should: 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 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 from the MediaLog application and shut down the computer.
CHAPTER 2 Getting Started This chapter describes how to set up the hardware and run MediaLog sessions. This chapter covers the following topics: n • Setting Up the Hardware • Turning On the Hardware • Installing MediaLog Software • Starting the System • About Project Files and Folders • Working with Bins • Saving Your Work • Shutting Down For information on installing the MediaLog software, see the current MediaLog release notes.
Setting Up the Hardware This section assumes that your computer is already set up and that it meets the following requirements: n • Macintosh computer with a monitor and running System 7.0 (or later) version of the operating system • At least 4 megabytes (MB) of random access memory (RAM) must be available to run the application (8 MB or more is preferred when working with large bins) Most Macintosh laptop computers contain significantly less built-in RAM than Macintosh desktop computers.
3. Plug end B of the direct deck control cable into the deck’s serial remote connector; then tighten the connector screws. Macintosh computer Deck End B to serial remote connector Direct deck control cable End A to modem or serial port connector Turning On the Hardware Begin your logging session by turning on the hardware. To avoid damage and so that all the attached hardware is detected, turn on the hardware in the following order: 1.
Installing MediaLog Software To install the software: 1. Insert the MediaLog CD-ROM into your computer’s CD-ROM drive. The MediaLog Installer CD-ROM window opens. 2. Double-click the MediaLog Installer icon. A splash screen introduces the installer. 3. Select “Click here to continue” or press Return to exit the splash screen. The MediaLog Install window opens. c When you install the MediaLog application on an Avid editing system, you must install the application on the Avid disk.
Starting the System After you install the MediaLog software according to the instructions in the MediaLog release notes, you are ready to start the MediaLog application. To start MediaLog: 1. Turn on the video deck. 2. Set the deck’s REMOTE/LOCAL switch to REMOTE. 3. Turn on the computer. c Do not start any other Avid editing application on the computer at the same time as the MediaLog application. The two applications will conflict with each other. 4. Double-click the MediaLog folder to open it. 5.
About Project Files and Folders Each time you start the MediaLog application or close your current project, the Open Project dialog box appears. The first thing you do in the dialog box is select an existing user and project or create new ones. When you start a new project, the system creates a folder for the project on the Avid disk. The system stores this project folder inside the main Avid Projects folder. Your project folder holds the bins that contain all the material you use in the project.
Open project folder on desktop Project file Project Settings file Project bin Statistics folder Trash folder Table 2-1 describes the files and folders in the project. Table 2-1 Project Files and Folders File or Folder Description Project file Stores the information used by the MediaLog application that makes up the project. Project Settings file Stores the settings for the project, including any custom views you create.
Creating a New User To create a new user: 1. From the pop-up menu, select the folder where you want the new user folder to be created. The default folder is Avid Users. Current user folder (pop-up menu) 2. Click New User in the Open Project dialog box. The New User dialog box appears. 3. Enter your name in the Name text box. 4. Click OK. The Open Project dialog box reappears with the new user name.
Creating a New Project To create a new project: 1. From the pop-up menu, select the folder where you want the new project folder to be created. The default is Avid Projects. Current project folder (pop-up menu) 2. Click New Project in the Open Project dialog box. The New Project dialog box appears.
3. Enter a name for the project in the Project Name text box. If you plan to transfer your work to an Avid Composer system, assign the same name to MediaLog projects and Avid Composer projects. c Make sure you do not already have a project by that name on your Avid Composer system, or the MediaLog project will overwrite the one on the Avid Composer system. If you transfer your MediaLog bins to a project with a different name, the name of the source project is included in the tape names.
Pop-up menu 2. Select the film tracking format to be used in the matchback process. 3. Click OK. The system creates the new project files and folder and returns you to the Open Project dialog box, where the project name is highlighted in the Avid Projects list.
Selecting an Existing Project To open an existing project when you start MediaLog: 1. In the Open Project dialog box, select an Avid user and project you want to open. 2. Double-click the project folder name. Project folders Default folder for MediaLog projects Using the Project Window When you select a project, the Project window opens on the monitor. The Bins button displays a list of bins that are in the project.
Displaying Project Bins Folders in the Project window help to organize the projects. You can create folders in the Project window by using the Fast Menu button at the bottom of the window. Bins in the project can then be dragged into your custom folder.
When you open bins from other projects, the Project window creates an Other Bins folder. Use the Other Bins folder for quick access links to other bins you have opened outside the current project. Bins in the Other Bins folder appear in italics and cannot be moved out of the Other Bins folder. The Trash icon in the Project window holds your deleted bins and folders in case you change your mind. These bins stay in the folder until you choose Empty Trash from the Fast menu.
2. Choose a settings display from the Settings menu, or click the Fast Menu button. Table 2-2 describes the Project Settings options. Table 2-2 Project Settings Options Option Description All Settings Displays all settings available in the Avid Composer system. Base Settings Displays Project settings only; no views are displayed. Bin Views Displays all the Bin View settings you created. Timeline Views Displays all the Timeline View settings you created.
Displaying Project Information The Project window includes an Info button that opens the Info window. Click the Fast Menu button at the bottom of the Info window to display the menu items: Profile, Usage, and Memory. To change a Project Info display: 1. Click the Info button in the Project window. The Info window opens. 2. Choose Profile, Usage, or Memory from the Fast menu. Fast Menu button Table 2-3 describes the Project Info options.
Closing a Project To close a project: 1. Click the Project window to activate it. 2. Do one of the following steps to close the Project window: close box • Choose Close from the File menu, or press k+W. • Click the close box in the upper left corner of the window. The application automatically saves and closes the project. The Open Project dialog box appears. 3. Create a new project or select an existing project, or click Quit to quit the MediaLog application.
close box Bins button New Bin button. Bin icon. Double-click to open. Bin name. Double-click to rename. Fast menu button Avid bins function most efficiently when they contain no more than 100 clips. If you work with a lot of source material, you can create a number of bins, each named according to the type of shots it will contain. Then you can log an optimal number of clips into each bin.
A new bin appears and uses the same name as that of the Avid Project folder but appends a number to it. This name also appears in the list of bins in the Project window 4. To change the default name of the bin, select the name in the Project window and type the new name. 5. Press the Return key. Closing a Bin To close a bin, do one of the following: close box • Click the close box to save and close the bin.
To reopen several bins: 1. Click the icon of one of the bins. 2. Shift+click each additional bin you want to reopen. 3. Do one of the following steps to open the bins: • Choose Open Selected Bins from the File menu, or press k+O. • Choose Open Selected Bins from the Fast menu. • Double-click the icon beside the name of any selected bins.
Opening Bins from Other Projects You can open bins created for other projects. To open a bin from a different project in your current project: 1. Do one of the following steps to activate the Project window: • Click the Project window. • Choose Project from the Tools menu, or press k+9. 2. Click the Bins button. 3. Do one of the following steps to open a bin: • Choose Open Bin from the File menu, or press k+O. • Choose Open Bin from the Fast menu. The Select a Bin dialog box appears.
The bin name is added to an Other Bins folder in the Project window. c Never open a bin that is stored on a disk. Always copy the bin to your Avid disk before you open it. If you open a bin while it is on a disk, the system might not be able to save your work.
8. Choose Open Bin from the File menu or press k+O. Select one of the backup bins on the desktop and click Open. When you open the backup bin, a link to that backup bin is created in the Other Bins folder. n The MediaLog application does not allow a bin and copy of a bin to be opened at the same time. You must keep all other bins closed and open the backup bins one at a time. The creation date might need to be changed to avoid conflicts. 9. Create a new bin from the Project window. 10.
Saving a Bin To save a single bin: 1. Click the bin to open it. 2. Choose Save Bin from the File menu, or press k+S. The Save Bin command dims if the current bin has already been saved. Saving All Bins To save all bins: 1. Click the Project window to activate it. 2. Choose Save All from the File menu, or press k+S. The system saves all the bins that are currently open. At the same time, it saves your Project settings. Saving a Copy of a Bin To save a copy of a bin: 1. Click the bin to activate it. 2.
Setting Auto-Save Bin Preferences Remember to save your project and bins while you work. For added safety, MediaLog automatically saves a backup copy of your files every few minutes. It also saves a backup copy each time you explicitly save a file yourself and when you close a bin or a project. Backup files are labeled with the name of the bin and a .bak file name extension. They are stored in the Attic folder. An Attic folder is automatically created for each project and stored in the project folder.
2. Double-click the Bin setting. The Bin Settings dialog box appears. 3. Enter the auto-save values you want. 4. Click OK. Shutting Down At the end of a logging session, you can either close the project and open another, or you can quit the MediaLog application and shut down the system. When you quit MediaLog, the application automatically saves the current project folder, project file, and bin inside the Avid Projects folder on the Avid disk.
Quitting the MediaLog Application To close a project before shutting down the computer: • If a project is open, choose Quit from the File menu, or press k+Q. • If no project is open, click the Quit button in the Open Project dialog box. The application saves your project and bins before it quits. Backing Up Files To back up your files: 1. Insert a backup floppy disk into the floppy drive. Format the floppy disk if necessary. 2.
To shut down the hardware at the end of each session: 1. Quit the MediaLog application. 2. Choose Shut Down from the Finder Special menu to turn off the Macintosh. Older Macintosh computers are powered off with a switch on the back of the computer. 3. Turn off the external drives and all other hardware connected to the system (for example, decks and monitors).
CHAPTER 3 Logging Source Material You use MediaLog to log your clips in preparation for digitizing later in Avid Composer products.
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 Composer 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 43. To automatically sense the attached deck, choose Autoconfigure All Ports from the Special menu.
Deck settings Deck Configuration Settings Deck Configuration settings allow you to establish deck control parameters for a single deck or for multiple decks. You can create multiple versions, allowing you to select them for frequent changes in hardware configurations. c You must manually configure the appropriate hardware connections before Deck Configuration settings can take effect. For more information, see the Avid Media Composer Products Setup Guide.
To configure a deck or multiple decks: 1. Double-click Deck Configuration in the Settings scroll list of the Project window. The Deck Configuration dialog box appears. 2. Click the Add Channel button to add a new channel box and automatically open a Channel dialog box. n Channel refers to the signal path for deck control, whether through a serial port or a V-LAN VLXi system. The Macintosh provides two direct serial port connections (modem port and printer port).
5. Click OK to close the Channel dialog box. A new channel appears in the display area of the Deck Configuration dialog box. Channel boxes appear on the left. n You can reopen the Channel dialog box to change the options at any time by double-clicking the channel box. 6. Click the channel box to select it. 7. Click the Add Deck button to add a new deck box on the left side of the Deck Configuration dialog box and to automatically open a Deck Settings dialog box. 8.
n If you already have a deck connected to the system, you can also click the Auto-configure button to bypass the Deck Settings dialog box and automatically configure a deck with the default settings. Table 3-1 Deck Settings Option Description Name Includes a text box for typing your own custom name for the video deck. The default name matches the deck type. Description Includes a text box for entering notes about the deck. Deck Type Provides a list of supported decks.
Table 3-1 Deck Settings (Continued) Option Description Fast Cue (Continued) Switch to ff/rew This option instructs the system to switch to fast forward or rewind if the target timecode is farther than the specified number of seconds from your current location on the tape. By default, the deck switches to fast forward or rewind to reach a target timecode that is more than 60 seconds away.
n You can reopen the Deck Settings dialog box to change the options at any time by double-clicking the box that displays the selected deck. 10. Repeat steps 2 to 9 for each additional channel or deck you want to configure. 11. Click the Apply button to complete the configurations and close the Deck Configuration dialog box. n See “Deck Preferences” on page 49 to adjust global deck control options for default timecode format, assemble editing, stop key, and shuttle operation.
Table 3-2 lists the Deck Preferences window options. Table 3-2 Deck Preferences Option Description When no tape in deck log as Displays a pop-up menu that lets you choose the default timecode format (Drop Frame or Non-drop Frame) to use when logging clips without a tape in the deck. If a tape is in the deck, the MediaLog application automatically uses the existing timecode format on the tape.
Preparing to Log Material MediaLog provides two special tools for logging source material: • The Logging tool, which provides information about: - The source deck - The active video and audio tracks - The bin name - Clip duration and the clip’s IN and OUT points 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. • The Compression tool, which provides information about the audio rate.
The Logging Tool window opens. Logging button Enable timecode button Track panel Open/Close triangle Deck name Tape name Naming Your Tapes Consider the following naming guidelines when you enter tape names in the Logging tool: • Devise a naming scheme for your tapes. For example, tapes with similar names can be easily sorted and viewed together in a bin. However, distinguishing among numerous tapes with similar names might be difficult when you try to locate a specific tape quickly.
• The system cannot distinguish between two tapes with the same name, or between two bins or clips with the same name. For example, if you name a tape 001, and then later you name another tape 001, you will have problems correctly associating their clips with the correct physical tapes. • After you provide a name for tape source, any change to the tape’s name automatically changes that tape name everywhere it occurs.
Selecting Active Tracks The Logging tool captures information about the active tracks. MediaLog automatically activates the tracks that were active in the previous session. Change these settings by clicking tracks in the Track Panel Selection area of the Logging Tool window to activate or deactivate them. Selecting the Target Bin To select the target bin in which you want to organize your logged material: 1. Click the Bins pop-up menu in the Logging Tool window. The pop-up menu lists all open bins. 2.
Identifying the Source Tape To specify the source tape’s name: 1. Insert a tape in the deck. The Select Tape dialog box appears. 2. Double-click the name of a tape listed in the dialog box. 3. If the name of the tape is not shown in the list, click the New button. A new tape name line appears at the bottom of the dialog box. 4. Type the tape name and press the Return key. Tape names must be all alphanumeric characters (A–Z, 0–9), with no spaces before the name.
To access the Compression tool, choose Compression from the Tools menu, or press k+5. The Compression Tool dialog box appears. Audio settings Video compression settings Make sure the correct audio sample rate is indicated under Audio Rate. The audio sample rate is not adjustable within the Compression tool. To change the audio rate, choose either 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz from the Sample Rate pop-up menu on the Audio Settings dialog box.
Logging from a Source Tape One method of logging is to use MediaLog tools to control a source deck, to select shots or clips from your source tapes, and to record clip data directly to a bin. Make sure you have set up all the required information for logging, as described earlier in this chapter. After you establish your settings and specify your bin, deck, and tape, the Logging tool is the only tool you need to log from a tape to a bin.
The icon in the Logging button changes according to the stage of logging you are in. When the Logging button appears as a pencil, MediaLog is ready to log the clip. To log clips directly from a source tape to a bin: 1. Load your tape in the deck. The Logging Messages bar displays the message “Mark IN,” indicating the system is waiting for you to mark an IN point. The Logging button displays a Mark IN button. 2.
• Move to the new IN or OUT point and click the Mark IN or Mark OUT button. • Highlight the IN or OUT timecode and enter the new one, or click the Clear IN or Clear OUT button and enter the new timecode. 5. Log the clip by clicking the Logging button. The clip is logged to the bin. The clip name, which the system chooses and numbers, is highlighted in the bin and is ready to be changed. The default clip name is the bin name plus a number. 6.
Using Go To Buttons You can use the Go To buttons to the right of the timecode entry text boxes to cue the tape to that point. To use the Go To buttons: 1. Type in the approximate timecode of the IN or OUT point for the clip. 2. Click the Go To IN or Go To OUT button to the right of the timecode entry text box. The Logging tool automatically cues the tape to that point. 3. Use the deck controls to move to the point where you want to mark IN or mark OUT. 4. Click the Logging button.
To log on-the-fly: 1. Load your tape into the deck. 2. Open the bin where you want to store the clips, or create a new bin. 3. Choose Go To Logging Mode from the Bin menu, or press k+B. 4. Select the audio and video tracks you want to digitize and their tape name. 5. Step (jog), shuttle, or play the tape to the point where you want to begin logging material; then follow the steps in “Marking and Logging” on page 57.
3. Make sure a bin is selected and choose Go To Logging Mode from the Bin menu, or press k+B. 4. Click the tape name display. A dialog box appears. 5. Click Yes to open the tape name dialog box. The Select Tape dialog box appears. 6. Double-click the name of the tape in the dialog box, or click the New button and type the name of the tape to log. 7. Click OK. 8. In the Track Selection area in the Logging Tool window, click the tracks you want to log. For example click V, A1, and A2. 9.
11. Click the Pencil icon in the Logging button. The clip is logged to the bin. 12. Rename the clip. Creating Avid Logs You can use a text editor to log your source footage manually. An Avid log lists video clips you want to capture for editing. You can create the logs in Avid format, entering data about your source tapes and clips according to Avid specifications. You can also modify an incompatible log to make it conform to Avid specifications.
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. Importing Standard Log Files If you are transferring film to video for logging in MediaLog, you should ask the transfer house to log the source footage during the filmto-tape transfer. You can import some standard film-to-tape logs directly into MediaLog bins.
n Avid recommends that you convert any files not created on an Avid system into Avid format by using Avid Log Exchange. Use the Avid Log Exchange utility to convert these logs to Avid format before importing to a MediaLog bin: • Log Producer • AatonBase (file names that have the .flx file name extension) • FLEx (file names that have the .
3. Select the disk and folder that contain the log to be imported. If the log is on a floppy disk, insert the disk into the floppy drive. 4. (Optional) Click the Options button if you want to combine events on the import list. A dialog box appears. • Combine events based on scene and automatically create subclips. Combines all events for a scene into a single master clip and then links the master clip to subclips that represent the original events for that scene.
single master clip and then links the master clip to subclips that represent the original events for that camera roll. To use this option, you must have camera roll numbers logged in a camera roll column in the bin for a film project. • Merge events with known sources and automatically create subclips. Automatically creates subclips for those events that are merged or relinked to their source clips upon import.
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. Use the following procedure 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 hide the MediaLog application. 3.
CHAPTER 4 Working with Clips and Bins This chapter provides information on how to organize your clips and bins. After creating clips, you can rename them, subcatalog them, sort or sift them, select, duplicate, and delete them. You can also analyze the clips in a Bin view.
Organizing Clips and Sequences MediaLog provides powerful database tools for organizing and managing source material. You can use these tools as much, or as little, as you need to do the following: • Rename each clip, using a descriptive phrase or a line from the script. • Add information about each clip in bin columns you create and define. For example, you can label the clip to indicate the type of shot or location. • Subcatalog long clips by breaking them up into shorter subclips.
Sample bin List of clips Fast Menu button Text View button Anytime you modify a bin’s Text view, the view’s name changes to italics with .1 appended to it because it no longer matches the original Text view. You can then choose the Save As item in the Bin View popup menu to permanently save this new Bin view under a unique view name. If you try to select a new Bin View setting while the current setting is Untitled, an alert box appears and queries if you want to discard the current setting.
Table 4-1 Bin Column Headings Heading Description Name This heading does not appear in the Headings list, but it always appears in the clip. This heading contains the name of the clip or sequence (you can rename a clip or sequence after it has been digitized). Audio The audio resolution (sample rate). Auxiliary Ink Auxiliary ink format settings allow you to display two types of ink numbers at the same time. This lets you track additional types of film information for different film gauges.
Table 4-1 Bin Column Headings (Continued) Heading Description Frame The same frame that is displayed when you select Frame view for the bin. You can perform the same operations on the frame that you can perform in Frame view, as described in the user’s guide for your Avid editing system. screen takes longer to display frames than text; using frames can slow the n The work you do with bins. IN-OUT The length of the marked segment, if any. Ink Number The ink number for the clip (film projects only).
Table 4-1 Bin Column Headings (Continued) Heading Description Pullin The telecine pulldown of the first frame of the clip. Pullin can have the values A, B, C, or D. Pullout The telecine pulldown of the last frame of the clip. Pullout can have the values A, B, C, or D. Reel # Reel number (usually in a sequence) assigned by an assistant editor; used for creating a change list (film projects only). Scene The scene number of the clip. Shoot Date The date the footage was shot.
Customizing Bin Views The following methods are available for customizing bin views: • Alter the arrangement of existing columns in the standard Statistics view or Film view to suit your needs, without adding or hiding columns. These arrangements are recalled each time you choose Statistics view or Film view. • Add or hide columns of information to create customized Statistics or Film views. These are saved as additional view settings in numerical order (for example, Statistics.1, Statistics.
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 width of the contents. This is especially useful for removing spaces that remain after moving or rearranging columns. To align bin columns, choose Align To Grid from the Bin menu. Showing and Hiding Columns You can select individual or multiple bin headings to display or hide. n Neither the Name column nor the Icon column can be hidden.
You can also display a frame for each clip along with statistical information in Text view by displaying the Frame column. 2. Select the headings you want to add to the bin as follows: • Click the name of a heading to select it. • Click a highlighted heading to deselect it. • Click Select All to highlight all the headings in the bin. • Click Deselect All to deselect all the headings in the bin. 3. Click OK. Only the headings highlighted in the Headings dialog box appear in the bin.
2. Choose Duplicate from the Edit menu, or press k+D. A dialog box appears. In the example, the user has selected the Duration column to duplicate; thus “Copy Duration to” appears at the top of the dialog box. Select a column name from the list. The column must be of the same type of data for the copy to occur. For example, you can copy start timecodes to the Auxiliary TC1 column, but you cannot copy timecodes to the Pullin column. The column of information appears in the column you designated.
3. Type your column heading name. Column headings must contain fewer than 30 characters, including spaces. 4. Press the Return key. This puts the cursor in the data box, beside the first clip in the bin. You can click in any row to customize the information for your column. 5. Use the Align to Grid command after you have entered the new column heading. 6. Type the information and press the Return key to move to the next line.
Saving a Custom View Anytime you add, hide, or delete a column, the Bin View name changes to an italicized name to indicate that it no longer matches the original view. If you try to select a new Bin View setting while the current setting is Untitled or italicized, an alert box appears and queries if you want to discard the current setting. To save a Bin view: 1. Add or hide columns according to preference. The Bin View name becomes italicized. 2. Choose Save As from the Bin View pop-up menu.
Setting the Bin Font When you are in Text view, you can change the bin font, as follows: 1. Choose Set Font from the Edit menu. A dialog box appears. 2. Choose a font from the Font pop-up menu. Any Macintosh font loaded in the System folder can be used in the bin. 3. If you want to use a larger or smaller point size, click the highlighted number next to the word Size, and type the size you want to use. 4. Click OK.
Selecting Clips To select clips in a bin, do one of the following steps: • Click the Clip icon. • Select multiple clips by pressing the Shift key and clicking additional icons. • Move your mouse pointer inside the bin window. Click and hold the mouse button while dragging the selection rectangle around the clips. When you release the mouse button, the clips are highlighted. To reverse your selection: With one or more clips selected, choose Reverse Selection from the Bin menu.
To protect you from accidentally deleting important information, the master clips, by default, are not marked for deletion. 3. To mark a master clip for deletion, select the check box next to the item. To exempt the master clip from deletion, select the check box again. 4. Click OK; a dialog box appears. 5. Click Delete to confirm. Duplicating Clips To duplicate clips: 1. Select the clip you want to duplicate by clicking its icon. 2. Choose Duplicate from the Edit menu, or press k+D.
Copying Timecode Information You can copy timecode data to an auxiliary timecode column. To copy timecode information: 1. Select the timecode column you want to copy by clicking the column heading. For example, click the Mark IN column heading. 2. Choose Duplicate from the Edit menu, or press k+D. A dialog box appears. 3. Select the column to which you want to copy the data. 4. Click OK. The timecode is copied to the column you selected.
Displaying Specific Clip Types You can decide to display only certain types of media objects in a bin. To specify what kinds of media objects to display in a bin: 1. Choose Set Bin Display from the Bin menu. n Effect type clips cannot be displayed in the bins. The Display Bin Selector dialog box appears. 2. Select the check boxes next to the object types you want to see — master clips, subclips, sequences, and so on.
For example, the bin displays only the sequence if you do one of the following: • Store a sequence in the bin. • Set the bin display to show either just the clips created by the user or all the object types listed in the top of the dialog box. If you also set the bin display to “Show reference clips,” the bin displays all the objects related to that sequence. These related objects might include master clips, motion effects, sources, and so on. 3. Click OK.
Sorting a Column To sort clips in a column: 1. Click the heading of the column you want to sort. The column is highlighted. 2. Choose Sort from the Bin menu, or press k+E. MediaLog alphabetically sorts the objects in the bin. n If the Sort command is dimmed in the Bin menu, you have not selected a column. To reapply the last sort, choose Sort Again from the Bin menu. The same column will be resorted. This is especially useful after new clips are added to the bin.
Reversing the Sort Order To reverse the order of the clips: 1. Click the heading of the column you want to sort. The column is highlighted. 2. Press and hold the Option key while you choose Sort Reversed from the Bin menu, or while you press k+E. MediaLog sorts objects in the reverse order. n If the Sort command is dimmed in the Bin menu, you have not selected a column. To reapply the last sort, choose Sort Again from the Bin menu. The same column will be resorted in descending order.
Sifting Clips Sifting clips allows you to list only those clips that meet certain criteria. For example, you might want to list only the clips that contain the word “water” in one or more of their heading columns. Using Sift Criteria To sift clips: 1. Choose Custom Sift from the Bin menu. The Sift dialog box appears. Enter the text to sift in this text box. Choose a column heading from the pop-up menu. Choose a method for matching from the pop-up menu. 2.
6. Click OK. The clips that meet your criteria appear in the bin, with the word Partial added to the bin name. You can use the sift function to show only clips that meet up to six different sets of criteria. Each sifting set can have up to three criteria.
Showing Sifted and Unsifted Views After sifting the clips, you can display the bin in a sifted or unsifted state. n • To view the entire bin, choose Show Unsifted from the Bin menu. • To view the sifted bin, choose Show Sifted from the Bin menu. The check mark in the submenu indicates the current state of the bin. Unsifted and sifted are dimmed in the submenu if sifting was not set up. Moving or Copying Clips to Other Bins To move or copy clips from one bin to another bin: 1.
5. Do one of the following: • To move the clips, drag the clips to the destination bin. The clips are now listed in the destination bin. • To copy the clips, press and hold the Option key while you drag them to the destination bin. Be sure to continue holding the Option key as you release the mouse button to drop the clips in the destination bin. The clips appear in the new bin.
• Modify command Alternatively, you can use the Modify command to change some types of data for a number of objects at the same time. For example, you can increment the start and end timecodes for several master clips. MediaLog automatically updates related objects to reflect any new information you enter. For example, if you change the timecodes and names for a group of clips, the updated timecodes and names appear in sequences created from the clips. Some data can be modified anytime.
Using the Modify Command To modify data in bins by using the Modify command: 1. Open a bin and click the icon for a clip, sequence, or other object you want to modify. Shift+click each additional object you want to modify. Select any object in the bin: master clips, subclips, sequences, tapes, audiotapes, film reels, and so on. 2. Choose Modify from the Special menu. The Modify dialog box appears. Modification pop-up menu 3. Click the current modification.
Table 4-4 Modify Command Options Modification Options Allows you to... Set Timecode Drop/ Nondrop Drop, Nondrop buttons Change the timecode format between dropframe and non-drop-frame. Set Timecode By Field Start or End buttons Change either the Start or End timecode. Fields for Hour, Minutes, Second, Frame Enter custom timecode. Start or End buttons Change either the Start or End timecode. Timecode text box Enter custom incremental timecode.
Modifying Data Directly To directly modify data in bins: 1. Click the data you want to modify. The selected data is highlighted. Select only one item at a time. For example, select a clip’s Auxiliary TC1 timecode. For a list of the data you can modify directly, see Table 4-3. Selected data for modification 2. Modify the data by doing one of the following: • To replace the selected data with new information, type the new data and press the Return key.
CHAPTER 5 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 in the System folder on the Avid disk, and that your Macintosh computer recognizes the driver. If the driver is installed properly, then simply restarting your Macintosh computer will cause the system to recognize the driver. Directions for installing the printer driver and selecting the printer are included in your printer’s documentation and in the Macintosh system documentation. To print a bin: 1.
• Each remaining line is data for an individual clip, with tabs delimiting each category of information. These lines are separated by carriage returns. The file can be opened in any word processing or text editing package, or it can be imported into a database file created by applications like Microsoft® Excel™ and Claris® FileMaker®. The information can also be saved as a shot log in Avid format for importing to a Media Composer product bin.
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 Composer 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.
APPENDIX A Avid Log Specifications This appendix explains how to format an Avid log. A sample log is shown at the end of this appendix. When you create an Avid log, start the file with global headings. Tables in this appendix use the following conventions: • Headings must be entered exactly as they are shown. • • • [Tab and Return keys are written in standard brackets.
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. Do not use more than 64 headings in the file, counting both the global and column headings. Table A-1 presents information about data in global headings. Table A-1 Global Headings Required/ Optional Explanation Heading Name Key Entry Key Heading — — [Return] Required Marks the start of the global headings.
Column Headings When you create an Avid log, enter the column headings after the global headings. Column headings are case-sensitive and must be spelled exactly as shown. Include all required headings; every statistical column heading that is available in an Avid bin can be included. Other headings are optional but might be necessary for your job. Do not use more than 64 headings in the file, counting both the global and column headings. Table A-2 presents information about data in column headings.
Table A-2 Column Headings (Continued) Column Name Key Required/ Optional Explanation Auxiliary TC5 [Tab] Optional Heading for auxiliary timecode. CFPS [Tab] Optional Heading for video capture rate for digitizing individual clip. If omitted, the global entry applies. Color Framing [Tab] Optional — Creation Date [Tab] Optional Heading for date of clip creation. Disk [Tab] Optional Heading for target disk ID.
Table A-2 Column Headings (Continued) Column Name Key Required/ Optional Sound TC [Tab] Optional Heading for Nagra timecode, Aaton code, ARRI code, and so on, at the sync point. Syncs with the Start timecode. Required if tracking the sync sound. Capture rate can be 25 or 30 fps. Soundroll [Tab] Optional Heading for sound roll ID for clip. Scene [Tab] Optional Heading for scene ID for clip. Take [Tab] Optional Heading for take ID for clip.
Clip Data Enter a line of data for each clip you log. The word “Data” marks the start of the data for each clip. Enter the information under the appropriate column headings. Enter a Tab instead of data if you want to leave an optional category of information blank for a particular clip. Enter a Return at the end of each line. Include all the required data. Other data is optional. MediaLog supports up to four audio tracks in imported and exported logs.
Table A-3 Clip Data (Continued) Clip Name Key Required/ Optional <24> [Tab] Optional Under FPS heading. Video capture rate for this clip only. If omitted, global entry applies. Use 25 fps for PAL video, 29.97 fps for NTSC video, or 24 fps for Film.
Table A-3 Clip Data (Continued) Clip Name Key Required/ Optional Explanation [Tab] Optional Under DESCRIPT heading. Write about the clip. [Tab] Optional Under COMMENTS heading. Comment on the clip. [Tab] Optional Press the Tab key between each heading. Do not press the Tab key after the last heading. Under the headings you created yourself, enter the appropriate information.
Sample Avid Log This is an example of an Avid log for an NTSC video project. Heading FIELD_DELIM TABS VIDEO_FORMAT NTSC AUDIO_FORMAT 44khz FPS 29.97 Column Name Duration Tracks Start End Auxiliary TC1 Audio CFPS Data WILDLIFE 29;01 kHz 30.00 VA1A2 WATERFALL 20;09 kHz 30.00 WATER EDGE kHz 30.00 VA1A2 24;25 SUN IN ROOTS 1;15;26 kHz 30.
APPENDIX B Regulatory and Safety Notices FCC Notice This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 1. This device may not cause harmful interference 2. This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Canadian ICES-003 This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference Causing Equipment Regulations. Cet appareil numérique de la classe A respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada. European Union Notice Declaration of Conformity (According to ISO/IEC Guide 22 and EN 45014) Application of Council 73/23/EEC, 89/336/EEC.
Product Name: Media Composer for the Windows NT and Macintosh Operating Systems, Film Composer, Symphony, Avid Xpress for the Macintosh Operating System, Avid Xpress with Plus Bundle for the Macintosh Operating System, Avid Xpress with Deluxe Bundle for the Windows NT and Macintosh Operating Systems, Avid Xpress with Elite Bundle for the Windows NT and Macintosh Operating Systems Base Model Numbers: All for the Windows NT Operating System; Avid Xpress, 1000, 1000 XL, 9000, MC Offline, MC Offline XL, and
Index ABCDEFGHILMNOPQRSTUV A Avid Log Exchange See ALE Avid Projects folder 18 AatonBase, importing 65 Accessing Compression tool 56 Adding bin columns 78 ALE (Avid Log Exchange) converting logs with 65 logs compatible with 64 Align columns in a bin Align To Grid command (Bin menu) 76 Archiving files 39 Attic folder 34 Audio settings Compression tool 56 Autoconfigure All Ports (Special menu) 43 Automatic deck configuration 43 saving 37 Auxiliary timecode column, copying timecode information to 84 Avid di
headings 71 lists, viewing 29 opening from other projects 33 removing from project 32 reopening 31 retrieve 34 saving manually 36 sifting clips in 89 target, selecting for logging 54 Text view custom 71 film 71 statistics 71 unsifted view 91 using 70 transferring 100 transferring from a MediaLog system 68 working with 29 Closing a project 29 bins 31 Columns See Bins Commands Align To Grid (Bin menu) 76 Autoconfigure All Ports (Special menu) 43 Clear (Edit menu) 77, 82 Custom Sift (Bin menu) 89 Duplicate (E
D F Data, modifying in bins 92 Deck automatic configuration 43 configuration settings 44 connecting 14 deleting configuration elements 49 manual configuration 43 not connected, logging with 61 offline 61 preferences, table of 49 settings, table of 46 Deleting bin columns 77 clips from bins 82 deck configurations 49 sequences from bins 82 Displaying memory 28 profile 28 set bin 85 sifted views in bins 91 specific object types in bins 85 unsifted views in bins 91 usage 28 Duplicate command (Edit menu) 78, 8
N Log files, importing from film-to-tape transfer systems 96 Log Producer, importing 65 Log Right, importing 64 Log, Avid clip data, specifications 106 column headings, specifications 103 global headings, specifications 102 sample, created with text editor 109 Logging basic steps 12 defined 42 directly to bin from source tape 57 information from active tracks 54 on-the-fly 60 preparing for 51 source tape, identifying 55 target bin for 54 without a tape 61 without deck connected 61 Logging tool 51 Logs impo
Sifted views in bins 91 Sifted views, displaying in bins 91 Sifting clips in bins 86 clips in bins, custom 89 sequences in bins 86 Sort Again command (Bin menu) 87 Sort command (Bin menu) 87 Sort Reversed command (Bin menu) 88 Sorting 87 in bins 86 in reverse order 88 multilevel 88 Specifications clip data 106 column headings 103 global headings 102 Starting MediaLog 17 Statistics column headings 72 Text views in bins 71 viewing 28 Subclips in bins, modifying 92 Q Quitting MediaLog 38 R Removing clips fro
Trash, emptying 26 Turning on the hardware 15 U Unique tape names 52 Unsifted views, displaying in bins 91 Usage, displaying 28 User, creating new 20 Using bins from other projects 33 V VTRs See Deck 118
