Pinnacle Systems MediaLog - 11.5 User’s Guide

Avid® MediaLog

User’s Guide

™

Product specifications are subject to change without notice and do not represent a commitment on the part of Avid Technology, Inc. The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement. You can obtain a copy of that license by visiting Avid's Web site at www.avid.com. The terms of that license are also available in the product in the same directory as the software. The software may not be reverse assembled and may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the license agreement. It is against the law to copy the software on any medium except as specifically allowed in the license agreement. Avid products or portions thereof are protected by one or more of the following United States patents: 4,746,994; 4,970,663; 5,045,940; 5,063,448; 5,077,604; 5,245,432; 5,267,351; 5,309,528; 5,325,200; 5,355,450; 5,396,594; 5,440,348; 5,452,378; 5,467,288; 5,513,375; 5,528,310; 5,557,423; 5,568,275; 5,577,190; 5,583,496; 5,584,006; 5,627,765; 5,634,020; 5,640,601; 5,644,364; 5,654,737; 5,701,404; 5,715,018; 5,719,570; 5,724,605; 5,726,717; 5,729,673; 5,731,819; 5,745,637; 5,752,029; 5,754,180; 5,754,851; 5,781,188; 5,799,150; 5,812,216; 5,828,678; 5,842,014; 5,852,435; 5,883,670; 5,889,532; 5,892,507; 5,905,841; 5,912,675; 5,929,836; 5,929,942; 5,930,445; 5,930,797; 5,946,445; 5,966,134; 5,977,982; 5,986,584; 5,987,501; 5,995,079; 5,995,115; 5,999,190; 5,999,406; 6,009,507; 6,011,562; 6,014,150; 6,016,152; 6,016,380; 6,018,337; 6,023,531; 6,023,703; 6,031,529; 6,035,367; 6,038,573; 6,052,508; 6,058,236; 6,061,758; 6,072,796; 6,084,569; 6,091,422; 6,091,778; 6,105,083; 6,118,444; 6,128,001; 6,128,681; 6,130,676; 6,134,379; 6,134,607; 6,137,919; 6,141,007; 6,141,691; 6,154,221; 6,157,929; 6,160,548; 6,161,115; 6,167,404; 6,174,206; 6,192,388; 6,198,477; 6,208,357; 6,211,869; 6,212,197; 6,215,485; 6,223,211; 6,226,005; 6,226,038; 6,229,576; 6,239,815; 6,249,280; 6,269,195; 6,271,829; 6,301,105; 6,310,621; 6,314,403; 6,317,142; 6,317,153; 6,317,515; D352,278; D372,478; D373,778; D392,267; D392,268; D392,269; D395,291; D396,853; D398,912. Additional U.S. and foreign patents pending. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the express written permission of Avid Technology, Inc.

The following disclaimer is required by Apple Computer, Inc.

APPLE COMPUTER, INC. MAKES NO WARRANTIES WHATSOEVER, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THIS PRODUCT, INCLUDING WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO ITS MERCHANTABILITY OR ITS FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES IS NOT PERMITTED BY SOME STATES. THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY PROVIDES YOU WITH SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS. THERE MAY BE OTHER RIGHTS THAT YOU MAY HAVE WHICH VARY FROM STATE TO STATE.

The following disclaimer is required by Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics, Inc. for the use of their TIFF library:

Permission to use, copy, modify, distribute, and sell this software [i.e., the TIFF library] and its documentation for any purpose is hereby granted without fee, provided that (i) the above copyright notices and this permission notice appear in all copies of the software and related documentation, and (ii) the names of Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics may not be used in any advertising or publicity relating to the software without the specific, prior written permission of Sam Leffler and Silicon Graphics.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS-IS” AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

IN NO EVENT SHALL SAM LEFFLER OR SILICON GRAPHICS BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER OR NOT ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE, AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

The following disclaimer is required by the Independent JPEG Group:

Portions of this software are based on work of the Independent JPEG Group.

The following disclaimer is required by Paradigm Matrix:

Portions of this software licensed from Paradigm Matrix.

The following disclaimer is required by Ray Sauers Associates, Inc.:

“Install-It” is licensed from Ray Sauers Associates, Inc. End-User is prohibited from taking any action to derive a source code equivalent of “Install-It,” including by reverse assembly or reverse compilation, Ray Sauers Associates, Inc. shall in no event be liable for any damages resulting from reseller’s failure to perform reseller’s obligation; or any damages arising from use or operation of reseller’s products or the software; or any other damages, including but not limited to, incidental, direct, indirect, special or consequential Damages including lost profits, or damages resulting from loss of use or inability to use reseller’s products or the software for any reason including copyright or patent infringement, or lost data, even if Ray Sauers Associates has been advised, knew or should have known of the possibility of such damages.

The following disclaimer is required by Videomedia, Inc.:

“Videomedia, Inc. makes no warranties whatsoever, either express or implied, regarding this product, including warranties with respect to its merchantability or its fitness for any particular purpose.”

“This software contains V-LAN ver. 3.0 Command Protocols which communicate with V-LAN ver. 3.0 products developed by Videomedia, Inc. and V-LAN ver. 3.0 compatible products developed by third parties under license from Videomedia, Inc. Use of this software will allow “frame accurate” editing control of applicable videotape recorder decks, videodisc recorders/players and the like.”

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The following notice is required by Ultimatte Corporation:

Certain real-time compositing capabilities are provided under a license of such technology from Ultimatte Corporation and are subject to copyright protection.

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Trademarks

AirPlay, AudioVision, Avid, Avid Xpress, CamCutter, Digidesign, FieldPak, Film Composer, HIIP, Image Independence, Marquee, Media Composer, Media Recorder, NewsCutter, OMF, OMF Interchange, Open Media Framework, Pro Tools, and Softimage are registered trademarks and 888 I/O, AirSPACE, AirSPACE HD, AniMatte, AudioSuite, AutoSync, AVIDdrive, AVIDdrive Towers, AvidNet, Avid Production Network, AvidProNet, AvidProNet.com, AVIDstripe, Avid Unity, AVX, DAE, D-Fi, D-fx, Digidesign Audio Engine, DINR, D-Verb, ExpertRender, FilmScribe, HyperSPACE, HyperSPACE HDCAM, Intraframe, iS9, iS18, iS23, iS36, Lo-Fi, Magic Mask, make manage move | media, Matador, Maxim, MCXpress, MEDIArray, MediaDock, MediaDock Shuttle, Media Fusion, Media Illusion, MediaLog, Media Reader, MediaShare, Meridien, NaturalMatch, NetReview, OMM, Open Media Management, ProEncode, QuietDrive, R&A, Recti-Fi, Review & Approval, rS9, rS18, Sci-Fi, Sound Designer II, SPACE, SPACEShift, Symphony, Trilligent, UnityRAID, Vari-Fi, Video Slave Driver, and VideoSPACE are trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc.

iNEWS and Media Browse are trademarks of iNews, LLC.

Aaton is a registered trademark of Aaton S.A. Arri is a registered trademark of the Arri Group. Claris is a registered trademark of Claris Corporation, registered in the U.S.and other countries. FileMaker is a registered trademark of FileMaker, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. FLEx is a registered trademark of GLOBEtrotter Software, Inc. Keykode is a trademark of Eastman Kodak Company. Log Producer is a trademark of Image Logic. Macintosh is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U. S. and other countries. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Sony is a registered trademark of Sony. V-LAN and VLXi are registered trademarks of Videomedia, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

Avid MediaLog User’s Guide • May 2002

Using This Guide

Who Should Use This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

About This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Symbols and Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

If You Need Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Related Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

If You Have Documentation Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

How to Order Documentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Chapter 1 Understanding MediaLog

What Is MediaLog? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

How Does MediaLog Work? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

What Are the Basic Logging Steps? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Chapter 2 Getting Started

Setting Up the Hardware (Windows). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Setting Up the Hardware (Macintosh) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Supported Decks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Turning On the Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Installing MediaLog (Windows) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Installing MediaLog (Macintosh) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Starting MediaLog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Setting Up Project Files and Folders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Identifying a User. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Creating a New User. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Opening a Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Closing a Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Backing Up Your Project Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Ending a Work Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Quitting the MediaLog Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Turning Off Your Equipment (Windows) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Turning Off Your Equipment (Macintosh) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Using Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

Exploring the Project Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Opening and Closing the Project Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Using the Bins Display. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Displaying Folders of Bins in the Bins List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Creating a Folder in a Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Creating a New Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Renaming a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Opening and Closing a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Opening Selected Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Opening Bins from Other Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Closing a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Deleting a Bin or Folder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Viewing Contents in the Trash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Emptying the Trash in the Bins List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Managing Folders and Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Saving Bins Automatically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Saving Bins Manually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Using the Settings Scroll List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Understanding Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Defining Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Reviewing Basic Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Film Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Bin Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Logging Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Displaying Project Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Changing the Settings Scroll List Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Working with Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Selecting Another User. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Modifying Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Restoring Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Using Site Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Using the Info and Usage Displays. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Changing Font and Point Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Customizing Your Workspace. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Viewing Keyboard Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Using the Avid Calculator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

Using the Serial Ports Tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Using the Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

Understanding Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Configuring Decks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Automatic Deck Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Manual Deck Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Deck Settings Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Deleting Deck Configuration Elements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Setting Deck Preferences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Understanding Drop-Frame Timecode and Non-Drop-Frame

Timecode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Preparing to Log Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Selecting the Target Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Selecting the Source Deck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Identifying the Source Tape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Setting the Audio Sample Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Logging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Logging from a Source Tape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Marking and Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Adding a Memory Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Logging On-the-Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Pausing a Deck While Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Logging with the Deck Offline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Logging Film Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Modifying Clip Information After Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Creating Avid Logs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Importing Logs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Importing Standard Log Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Compatible Logs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Importing Log Files into MediaLog Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Transferring Bins from Another MediaLog System. . . . . . . . . . 117

Chapter 5 Organizing with Bins

Preparing to Work with Bins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Film Scene Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Setting the Bin Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Understanding Bin Display Views. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Brief View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Text View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Duplicating Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Moving Clips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Copying Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Deleting Clips and Subclips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Assigning Colors to Bin Objects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Adding a Color Column to a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Assigning a Source Color. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Assigning a Custom Source Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

Limiting Color Choices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

Sifting Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

Sifting Timecodes or Keycode Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Sifting Within a Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Locking and Unlocking Items in a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

Using Text View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Arranging Bin Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Moving and Rearranging Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

Aligning Bin Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

Showing and Hiding Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

Deleting a Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Duplicating a Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Adding Customized Columns to a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

Changing a Custom Column Heading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

Managing Clip Information in Text View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Moving Within Column Cells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Modifying Clip Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Copying Information Between Columns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Displaying Timecodes in a 24p or 25p Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Frame Counting for Timecodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Adding Timecode Columns to a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Adding Timecode Values to the Timecode Columns . . . . . 159

Bin Column Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

Chapter 6 Creating MediaLog Output

Printing Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

Exporting Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167

Transferring Bins to an Avid Editing System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Transferring Projects and Bins Using AFE Files. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

Appendix A Avid Log Specifications

Supported Avid Log Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

Understanding Avid Log Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

Describing an Avid Log File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

Global Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

Column Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178

Data Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

Sample Avid Logs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184

Appendix B Working with a Film Project

Creating a Film Project. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

Film Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

Setting the Format and Display of Ink Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Transfer Settings for Film Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

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 . . . . . . . . 202

Entering Frames-per-Second Rates for PAL Transfers . . . . . . . . 203

Entering Key Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204

Entering Additional Timecodes (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205

Entering the Ink Number (Optional). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

Entering Additional Film Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

Index

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Table 4-3 Import Settings Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Table 5-1 Object Icon Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Table 5-2 Range Menu Items for Explicit Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Table 5-3 Range Menu Items for Implicit Ranges. . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Table 5-4 Modifiable Bin Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

Table 5-5 Modify Command Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Table 5-6 Timecode Columns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Table 5-7 Timecode Frame Counts for Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Table 5-8 Bin Column Selection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

Table A-1 Compatible Log Formats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

Table A-2 Avid Log Global Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

Table A-3 Avid Log Column Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178

Table A-4 Avid Log Data Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

Table B-1 Project Types for Systems That Support 24p and

25p Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Table B-2 Film Setting Dialog Box Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Using This Guide

This guide provides information about the configuration and operation of Avid

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.

MediaLog™.

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:

• Chapter 1, “Understanding MediaLog,” provides an overview of MediaLog.

• Chapter 2, “Getting Started,” describes how to set up the hardware and run MediaLog sessions.

• Chapter 3, “Working with the Project Window,” describes how to structure and view important information in a project.

• Chapter 4, “Logging Source Material,” describes how to use MediaLog to log your clips in preparation for digitizing later when using Avid editing system products.

Using This Guide

• Chapter 5, “Organizing with Bins,” describes how, after creating clips, you can rename, subcatalog, sort, sift, select, duplicate, and delete them. This chapter also describes how you can analyze the clips in a Bin view.

• Chapter 6, “Creating MediaLog Output,” provides information on how 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.

• The appendixes provide reference information such as specifications for creating an Avid log file and how to log film information.

• Finally, a detailed Index helps you quickly locate specific topics.

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.

The majority of screen shots in this document were captured on a Windows 2000 system, but the information applies to both Windows 2000 and Macintosh systems. Where differences exist, both Windows 2000 and Macintosh screen shots are shown.

The Avid MediaLog documentation uses the following special symbols and conventions:

1. Numbered lists, when the order of the items is important.

a. Alphabetical lists, when the order of secondary items is

important.

• Bulleted lists, when the order of the items is unimportant.

- Indented dashed lists, when the order of secondary items is unimportant.

t One arrow indicates a single-step procedure. Multiple arrows in a

list indicate that you perform one of the actions listed.

The k symbol refers to the Apple or Command key. Press and hold the Command key and another key to perform a keyboard shortcut.

In this document, Avid drive refers to the Macintosh system’s internal hard drive. Apple Computer, Inc. names the internal hard drive Macintosh HD. Depending on your system’s setup, the internal hard drive might have a different name.

Symbols and Conventions

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.

A note provides important related information, reminders, recommendations, and strong suggestions.

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. Retry the action, carefully following the instructions given for that task in this guide.

2. Check the documentation that came with your hardware for maintenance or hardware-related issues.

3. Check the release notes supplied with your Avid editing system for information on accessing the Avid Web site and the Avid Knowledge Center.

Using This Guide

4. For support services, call Avid Customer Support:

- Broadcast products — call 800-NEWS-DNG (639-7364).

- Postproduction products — call 800-800-AVID (2843).

Related Information

This guide frequently refers to other Avid manuals for additional information. The following table shows the references and the related manuals.

Avid Editing System References Related Manual

Avid Symphony™ editing guide

input and output guide

Avid Media Composer® and Avid Film Composer

Avid Xpress

Avid Ne w sCutter

editing guide

input and output guide

user’s guide

Avid Xpress and Avid NewsCutter systems do not have input and output guides. All relevant information is included in the user’s guide for these products.

In this guide, the term Avid system is a generic term that refers to any Avid application, including MediaLog. The term Avid editing system refers to one of the Avid video editing applications such as Avid Symphony, Avid Media Composer, Avid Film Composer, Avid Xpress, or Avid NewsCutter.

Avid Symphony Editing Guide

Avid Symphony Input and Output Guide

Avid Media Composer and Film Composer Editing Guide

Avid Media Composer and Film Composer Input and Output Guide

Avid Xpress User’s Guide

Avid NewsCutter User’s Guide

Related Information

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.

How to Order Documentation

To order additional copies of this documentation from within the United States, call Avid Telesales at 800-949-AVID (2843). If you are placing an order from outside the United States, contact your local Avid representative.

Using This Guide

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. In addition, you can transfer film to National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) or Phase Alternating Line (PAL) video, use MediaLog to log the material, and then transfer the logged shots (also known as clips) to an Avid editing system for digitizing and editing.

This chapter answers the following questions:

• What Is MediaLog?

• How Does MediaLog Work?

• What Are the Basic Logging Steps?

What Is MediaLog?

MediaLog is portable; you can install it on a laptop and on most desktop computers that are running the Windows NT Windows

98, Windows 2000, or Windows Me operating system. To

, Macintosh®,

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.

For each shot that you log, MediaLog saves the start and end timecodes, duration, tracks selected, and tape name.

MediaLog also lets you add new categories of information to your log, so you can record the scene, take, location, or any other comments that can help you to identify the footage.

Once you have created a log, the MediaLog Sort command orders your shots according to criteria you specify. The Sift command uses your criteria to pick out specific footage, such as all the product shots or all shots from a certain location.

Understanding MediaLog

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. Clips contain information about your footage such as the start and end timecodes and the number of video and audio tracks. Clips are stored in electronic bins, which have built-in database capabilities to help you easily find a specific shot.

Each time you log clips, you open a bin and use Logging Tool controls to play your tapes, mark the shots, and add the clips to the open bin.

Sample bin

A bin is open while you log clips to it.

Deck and log controls are in the Logging tool.

How Does MediaLog Work?

Deck controls

Bin names

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. The list is useful for helping you to quickly access bins.

Sample Project window

Understanding MediaLog

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.

What Are the Basic Logging Steps?

Understanding MediaLog

CHAPTER 2

Getting Started

This chapter describes how to set up the hardware and run MediaLog sessions.

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Setting Up the Hardware (Windows)

• Setting Up the Hardware (Macintosh)

• Supported Decks

• Turning On the Hardware

• Installing MediaLog (Windows)

• Installing MediaLog (Macintosh)

• Starting MediaLog

• Setting Up Project Files and Folders

• Backing Up Your Project Information

• Ending a Work Session

• Using Help

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. MediaLog can also control a deck through V-LAN connections.

VLXi®

If you need to connect and control more than one video deck, see the setup guide for your Avid editing system.

A direct serial video deck connection requires a serial adapter kit that contains these items (see the following figure):

• An RS-232 to RS-422 serial adapter

• Two serial cables; male 9-pin connectors at both ends

The computer and the deck must be off when you are connecting the serial cable.

To connect a single deck to your PC:

1. Turn off the computer and the deck.

2. Attach one end of the first 9-pin cable to the end of the serial adapter labeled RS-232.

3. Attach the other end of the first 9-pin cable to the serial port of your computer.

When you attach the cable to the serial port on the computer, note if it is port 1 or port 2. You will have to select the port in the Avid software.

Getting Started

Serial adapter

To your deck

RS-422 connection

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.

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.

RS-232 connection

Setting Up the Hardware (Macintosh)

To your computer

Make sure your computer meets the following requirements:

• The computer must be running the Macintosh operating system Version 9.1 (or later).

• At least 12 MB of RAM must be available to run MediaLog (20 MB or more is preferred when working with large bins).

MediaLog can control a deck that uses Sony serial deck protocol and a timecode reader. You can connect a single deck to your system using the serial board located in the G4 system or using a USB-to-serial adapter connected directly to the USB hub, and then connecting a direct serial cable with a round 8-pin DIN connector at one end and a 9-pin D connector at the other end.

Setting Up the Hardware (Macintosh)

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.)

1 2

USB hub

Getting Started

Serial port

USB-to-serial adapter

3. Attach the 9-pin D connector to the remote serial connector on the back of the deck.

You might have to place the video deck in Remote mode by turning a switch before attempting to control the video deck using the software.

For more information about connecting decks, see the setup guide for your Avid editing system.

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.

Wait 15 to 30 seconds for the drives to spin up before you turn on the computer system; otherwise, the computer will not communicate with the storage devices successfully.

2. If you will be logging clips using a deck, turn on the deck.

Set the REMOTE/LOCAL switch on the deck to REMOTE.

3. Turn on the computer.

Do not disconnect or turn off individual drives while the computer is on.

You can now install the MediaLog software.

Supported Decks

Installing MediaLog (Windows)

MediaLog software is shipped on the MediaLog CD-ROM and the Avid editing application CD-ROM.

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.

If the installer doesn't run automatically after you insert the application CD-ROM, do the following:

a. Double-click the My Computer icon.

b. Double-click the CD-ROM icon.

c. Double-click Launch.exe to run the installer.

The MediaLog Installer CD-ROM window opens.

3. Click Installers.

4. Click Install Avid MediaLog.

The MediaLog Welcome window opens.

5. Click Next.

Getting Started

The Country Selection for License Agreement window opens.

6. Select the country in which you purchased this product, and then click Next.

7. In the License Agreement window, read the agreement, and then click Yes to accept the terms of the agreement.

The Choose Destination Location window opens.

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.

When the installation is complete, a message asks if you want to restart the system.

10. Restart the computer now or later (before you start the MediaLog application).

Installing MediaLog (Macintosh)

MediaLog software is shipped on the MediaLog CD-ROM and the Avid editing application CD-ROM.

If you are installing MediaLog Release 11.1, refer to the readme file on the CD-ROM for additional installation instructions.

To install MediaLog software on Macintosh systems:

1. Restart your Macintosh system.

2. Quit any applications that run automatically at startup.

3. Insert the MediaLog CD-ROM into your computer’s CD-ROM drive.

4. Double-click the MediaLog Installer icon.

Installing MediaLog (Macintosh)

Install pop-up menu

Install Location pop-up menu

A splash screen introduces the Installer.

5. Click Continue.

The MediaLog Installer window opens.

Getting Started

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:

a. Click the Install Location pop-up menu.

b. Choose a different disk or “Select Folder.”

c. If you choose “Select Folder,” navigate to the folder and click

Select.

The new installation location appears in the Install window.

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. In the License Agreement window, read the agreement, and then click Yes to accept the terms of the agreement.

When the installation is complete, a message asks if you want to quit the installer.

11. Click Quit.

Starting MediaLog

After you install MediaLog, you are ready to start the application.

To start MediaLog:

1. Turn on the video deck.

2. Set the REMOTE/LOCAL switch on the deck to REMOTE.

3. Turn on the computer.

Do not run any other Avid editing application on the computer at the same time as the MediaLog application. The two applications will conflict with each other.

Starting MediaLog

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. Select an existing user and project, or create new ones, as described in “Setting Up Project Files and Folders” on page 37.

Getting Started

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.

Users scroll list

To establish your identity as a user, open a new or existing project, and close a project, use the following procedures:

• Identifying a User

• Selecting a Project

• Opening a Project

• Closing a Project

You can also create additional folders to store projects, or you can quit the application from the Select User and Project dialog box.

Projects scroll list

Setting Up Project Files and Folders

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. For information about the Avid folders, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

Creating a New User

To create a new user profile:

1. Click New User in the Select User and Project dialog box.

The New User dialog box appears.

Getting Started

2. Type a name for the new user in the text box.

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. Click OK.

The Select User and Project dialog box reappears with your user name highlighted in the Users scroll list.

Do not share user settings between MediaLog and your Avid editing system.

You are now ready to select a project. See “Selecting a Project” on

page 41.

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 change the location of user profiles outside the Avid Users folder, you must use the Windows operating system or Macintosh desktop.

For information about the location of the user profile files, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

To select a user name within a folder:

1. Double-click the folder to open it and display the user names.

2. Click the user name to select it.

If the user profile you want is stored on your system outside the Avid Users 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.

Setting Up Project Files and Folders

Directory pop-up menu

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.

2. Choose a drive from the Volumes submenu, if necessary, and locate the folder.

Getting Started

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. See “Selecting a Project” on

page 41.

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.

If you plan to move bins and projects from one platform to another, do not use the characters / \ : * ? “ < > | when naming projects, bins, and users.

Setting Up Project Files and Folders

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.

For information on creating a film project, see “Creating a Film Project” on

page 188.

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

5. Click OK.

Setting Film Preferences

If you are logging 24p or 25p footage for a film project, set film preferences in the Film Settings dialog box immediately after you create the project. This will provide the system with important information about the type of film and audio transfer you used for your job. For more information, see Appendix B.

your Avid editing system includes the Matchback option.

For more information about matchback, see “Using the Matchback Option” in the input and output guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

The system creates the new project files and folders, and then returns you to the Select User and Project dialog box. The project name is highlighted in the Projects scroll list. You are now ready to open the project. See “Opening a Project” on page 45.

Getting Started

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. (If there are multiple projects that begin with the same letter, the first project in the list that begins with that letter will be highlighted.)

Setting Up Project Files and Folders

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. In the Select User and Project dialog box, click the Directory pop-up menu and choose a drive from the Volumes submenu.

The Select User and Project dialog box displays all the stored folders.

2. Double-click a folder name to open it. Continue to open any additional folders until the Projects scroll list includes the project folder you want.

3. Click the project name to select it.

You are now ready to open the project. See “Opening a Project” on

page 45.

Nesting Projects in Folders

You can create folders in the Select User and Project dialog box for storing related projects.

To create a folder:

1. Click New Folder in the Select User and Project dialog box.

The New Folder dialog box appears.

Getting Started

2. Type a name for the folder in the text box, and click OK.

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. For more information about moving existing projects, see “Transferring Projects, User Profiles, and Site Settings” in the input and output guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

Opening a Project

After you select the appropriate user and project names in the scroll lists of the Select User and Project dialog box, you can open the project with the selected user settings.

The folder name appears in the Projects scroll list with an asterisk (Windows) or a dot (Macintosh) preceding it.

For more information about the Project window, see Chapter 3.

To open the project, do one of the following:

t Click OK in the Select User and Project dialog box.

t Double-click the highlighted project name in the Projects scroll list.

t Double-click the highlighted user name in the Users scroll list.

If you press and hold the Alt key (Windows) or the Option key (Macintosh) while opening a project, the project opens with all bins closed.

The Project window opens with the selected user settings loaded.

The title bar of the Project window contains the project name and user name you selected in the Select User and Project dialog box.

Setting Up Project Files and Folders

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

t With the Project window active, choose Close from the File menu.

Project name

the Project window.

User name

Getting Started

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. Because the storage requirements are minimal, you can back up these files to a variety of storage devices, such as:

• Floppy disk or equivalent drive

• Removable storage device

• Network storage device (such as a file server)

For information on backing up a project and restoring information from a backup, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

Ending a Work Session

To end the work session, first you must quit the application, and then turn off your equipment in the order described in these sections:

• Quitting the MediaLog Application

• Turning Off Your Equipment (Windows)

• Turning Off Your Equipment (Macintosh)

Quitting the MediaLog Application

There are two ways to quit the MediaLog application, depending upon whether you have a project open or you are between projects:

t If you are working on an open project and want to quit MediaLog

quickly, choose Exit (Windows) or Quit (Macintosh) from the File menu.

Backing Up Your Project Information

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 (Windows)

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.

Getting Started

To turn off your equipment:

1. Choose Shut Down from the Start menu.

The Shut Down Windows dialog box appears.

2. Choose Shut down from the pop-up menu, and click OK.

3. When a message states that you can safely turn off your computer, press the computer’s Power button.

4. Turn off your speakers and monitors.

5. Turn off each external drive in the chassis, and then turn off the chassis itself.

6. Turn off all other hardware.

Never remove media drives from your Avid system when it is turned on. Shut down the computer and then remove the drives.

Turning Off Your Equipment (Macintosh)

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. Turn off each external drive in the chassis, and then turn off the chassis itself.

4. Turn off all other hardware.

Using Help

Never remove media drives from your Avid system when it is turned on. Shut down the computer and then remove the drives.

You can get help and background information for tasks, windows, dialog boxes, and screen objects through your Avid Help system. The Help system is HTML based and operates in the Microsoft Explorer Web browser. Avid recommends using Internet Explorer Versi o n 5 or later.

To open Help from within the MediaLog application:

t Choose MediaLog Help from the Help menu.

Help opens in Microsoft Internet Explorer.

To learn how to use Help:

t Click the Using Help button in the Help system.

Internet

Using Help

Getting Started

CHAPTER 3

Working with the Project Window

The Project window provides controls for structuring and viewing important information about your current project.

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Exploring the Project Window

• Opening and Closing the Project Window

• Using the Bins Display

• Using the Settings Scroll List

• Using the Info and Usage Displays

• Changing Font and Point Size

• Customizing Your Workspace

• Viewing Keyboard Settings

• Using the Avid Calculator

• Using the Serial Ports Tool

• Using the Console

(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. The Project window also provides access to the Settings scroll list for altering various User, Project, and Site settings.

You can use the Project window to:

• Create and open bins.

• View and modify settings.

• View information about the format of the project and system memory usage.

• View information about the work session usage.

• Add folders to organize project components.

Working with the Project Window

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.

The Project window remains open the entire time you are working in a project; however, it might be hidden from view by several open bins or tools.

Opening and Closing the Project Window

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.

Bins tab

Fast Menu button

Bin icon

MediaLog will not open a bin that contains an effect.

To view a list of bins associated with the project:

t Click the Bins tab in the Project window.

Bins list

From the Bins list you can examine the number, names, sizes, and location of the bins.

Working with the Project Window

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.

To view a list of only the folder contents and not the folders:

t Choose Flat View from the Fast menu.

The Trash icon and its contents disappear until Flat View is deselected.

The Trash icon doesn’t appear until you select and delete a bin.

Using the Bins Display

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.

A new (empty) bin opens and is given the name of the project as displayed in the title bar of the Project window. The new bin appears in the Bins list of the Project window with the default name highlighted. A corresponding file is placed in the project folder in the Avid Projects folder, and a backup copy is placed in the Attic folder.

You can keep the default name of the bin or rename the bin immediately. For more information, see “Renaming a Bin” on page 57.

Working with the Project Window

Renaming a Bin

Default bin name

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

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. The Bin icon in the Project window becomes dimmed, indicating the bin is open.

Using the Bins Display

Opening Selected Bins

To open sever a l bin s 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.

Working with the Project Window

Never open a bin that is stored on a floppy disk or equivalent device; otherwise, the system cannot save your work. Always copy the bin to a project folder on the system drive before you open it. For more information, see the input and output guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

3. Click Open.

The bin appears in the Bins list of the Project window in a folder called Other Bins. The name Other Bins appears in italic. You can rename this folder. This option is useful when you want to open a bin not currently displayed in the Project window.

The Other Bins folder disappears from the Bins list when you delete all the bins in the Other Bins folder. Deleting bins from the Other Bins folder does not remove the bins from the drive; only the pointers to the bins are removed.

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. For more information, see “Viewing Contents in the Trash” on page 59.

Only bins and folders appear in the Trash. If you select an item in a bin and press Delete, the item is permanently deleted and does not appear in the Trash.

To delete a bin or folder from the Project window:

1. Select the bin or folder you want to delete in the Bins list.

2. Press the Delete key.

A Trash icon appears in the Bins list in the Project window. The Trash contains the deleted item (bin or folder). The deleted item (bin or folder) is stored in the Trash until you empty it.

Viewing Contents in the Trash

If you need to view the contents in the Trash or decide you do not want to delete those items in the Trash, you must first move the bins or folders from the Trash.

Using the Bins Display

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.

Emptying the Trash permanently removes the bins or folders from the drive.

If you change the name of the Trash icon, you cannot empty the Trash.

To empty the Trash in the Bins list:

1. Choose Empty Trash from the Fast menu.

A message box appears.

2. Click Empty Trash to delete the bins or folders from the Trash and from your system drive.

Working with the Project Window

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. For more information, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system,

Saving Bins Automatically

MediaLog automatically saves changes to your work on a regular basis during each session. You can modify the frequency of the automatic backups using the Bin settings in the Settings scroll list in the Project window.

When you are working with bins, an asterisk (Windows) or a diamond (Macintosh) appears before the bin name in the bin’s title bar. The asterisk (Windows) or diamond (Macintosh) indicates that the changes to the bin have not been saved. Once you save the bin, the asterisk (Windows) or diamond (Macintosh) is removed.

When auto-save occurs:

• Any open bins are updated with changes made since the last

auto-save.

• Copies of these bins are placed in the following folders as backup:

drive:\Program Files\Avid\MediaLog\Attic folder

The system automatically places copies of all bins into the Attic folder at regular intervals for backup. The procedure for recovering bin files from the Attic folder is described in the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

Using the Bins Display

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. When your work is lost, or when you want to recover an earlier version of a bin, you can retrieve files from the Attic folder.

Saving Bins Manually

You can manually save a specific bin, selected bins, or all bins.

To save a specific bin:

1. Click the bin to activate it.

2. Choose Save Bin from the File menu.

Working with the Project Window

The Save Bin command appears dimmed if there have been no changes since the last time the active bin was saved.

To save all the bins:

1. Click the Project window to activate it but do not select any bins in

2. Choose Save All from the File menu.

the Bins list.

The system saves all the bins for the project.

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.

Settings tab

Settings scroll list

Settings type

Using the Settings Scroll List

Understanding Settings

The three types of settings appear in the Settings scroll list as User, Project, and Site.

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.

• Project settings are directly related to individual projects. When you change a Project setting, it affects all editors working on the project. Specific Project settings are stored in each project folder.

• Site settings establish default parameters for all new users and projects on a particular system. They can apply to particular configurations of equipment installed at the site (for example, specification and node settings for an external switcher). They can also include other User or Project settings that you copy into the Site Settings window. Site settings are stored in a separate Settings folder.

Table 3- 1 briefly describes each item in the Settings scroll list. The table

also lists where you can find additional information on a particular item, and indicates whether the item has an associated dialog box (or window) that you can access from the Settings scroll list.

Working with the Project Window

For information about navigating in the settings dialog boxes, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

Table 3- 1 Settings Scroll List

For More

Setting Name Description

Audio Project Sets the rate for audio input. See the input and

Information

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.

Deck Configuration Configures channels and decks into

the system.

Deck Preferences Sets preferences that affect all decks

configured into the system.

Film Sets parameters for edit play rate, ink

number format, and transfer rate.

Import Sets parameters for file import. See “Importing Logs”

Keyboard Maps commands from the Command

palette to the keyboard.

Logging Allows you to enable the Pause Deck

While Logging feature.

Serial (COM) Ports Configures the serial ports on your

system for deck control.

See “Bin Settings” on

page 67.

See “Configuring

Decks” on page 82.

See “Setting Deck

Preferences” on page 92.

See “Film Settings” on

page 190.

on page 112.

See “Viewing

Keyboard Settings” on page 75.

See “Pausing a Deck

While Logging” on page 107.

See “Using the Serial

Ports Tool” on page 78.

Workspace Enables you to associate settings and

windows with a workspace.

See “Customizing

Your Workspace” on page 75.

Using the Settings Scroll List

Defining Settings

You can use the Settings scroll list to establish a hierarchy of settings that address the specific needs of each production phase.

For example, you can establish:

• User settings for the assistant editor — Facilitate logging,

• Project settings — Reflect the specific needs of the project

• Bin View settings — Display useful columns of information for

digitizing, and organizing projects

each bin

Never use a User settings file that was opened in an Avid editing application such as Avid Symphony, Avid Media Composer, Avid Film Composer, Avid Xpress, or Avid NewsCutter.

By establishing these settings once, and selecting the appropriate setting or bin view in context, you can save time and effort that would be spent searching for information or adjusting bin headings on-the-fly. You can also save these settings along with your template for use on similar projects.

Reviewing Basic Settings

The following are basic system settings to review at the start of your project:

• Film Settings

• Bin Settings

• Logging Settings

To view the settings:

t Double-click each setting in the Settings scroll list of the Project

window.

Working with the Project Window

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

Option Description

Auto-save interval Specifies the length of time between attempts to auto-save project

files. The default is 15 minutes. To avoid interrupting a logging operation, the Avid system waits

until the system is inactive before auto-saving. Use the “Force auto-save at” option to specify an interval at which the system

will interrupt an operation to auto-save.

Inactivity period Specifies the length of time the Avid system waits while the

system is inactive before automatically saving the project files. The default is 0 seconds.

Force auto-save at Specifies the maximum length of time between auto-saves. When

the system reaches this time, it will auto-save the project files even if it must interrupt an operation to do so. The default is 15 minutes.

Using the Settings Scroll List

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.

When there are multiple users working on one system, store Bin settings as Site or Project settings. This will ensure that another user does not override your settings and delete your backups.

Max versions of any one bin Specifies the total number of single-bin copies stored in the Attic

folder. This setting prevents filling the Attic with too many copies of one bin, at the risk of losing the others. The default is 5 copies.

Logging Settings

These settings define whether the deck will pause during a logging operation. See “Pausing a Deck While Logging” on page 107.

Working with the Project Window

Displaying Project Settings

You can display the Settings scroll list of the Project window in different groups, depending on what you need to view. Ta bl e 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.

Bin Views Displays all the Bin View settings you created.

Export Settings Displays all the Export settings.

Import Settings Displays all the Import settings.

Workspaces Displays all the Workspace settings you created.

Workspace Linked Displays only the linked workspaces.

Changing the Settings Scroll List Display

To change the Settings scroll list display of the Project window:

1. Click the Settings tab in the Project window.

The Settings scroll list appears.

2. Click the Fast Menu button and choose a settings display group from the Settings menu.

The Settings menu displays the selected settings group and the Settings scroll list displays only the settings in that group.

Using the Settings Scroll List

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.

The Settings scroll list appears.

2. Choose another name from the User pop-up menu.

User pop-up menu

The previous user’s settings are saved, and the new user’s settings are loaded into the Avid system and the Project window.

Working with 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. Ctrl+click (Windows) or Shift+click (Macintosh) each additional setting you want to select.

3. Choose Restore to Default from the Special menu.

A message box appears, asking whether you want to save the settings.

Using Site Settings

4. Click the Copy & Restore button to copy the current settings before restoring the default settings, or click the Restore button to discard the current settings.

The system restores the default values for the selected settings.

When the system opens a new project, it searches the Site_Settings file (located in drive:\Program Files\Avid\MediaLog\Settings folder) and loads Site settings and any settings placed in the file. The system then loads any Project and User settings not included in the Site_Settings file.

Adding settings to the Site_Settings files is useful if you need to establish global settings for all new users and projects, such as deck settings, a specific start timecode for all clips, or various customized features of the interface.

Using the Settings Scroll List

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. Click a Project or User setting in the Settings scroll list of the

4. Close the Site_Settings window.

All new users and projects opened from the Select User and Project dialog box use these settings as the default settings.

Working with the Project Window

Project window, or Ctrl+click (Windows) or Shift+click (Macintosh) multiple settings and drag them into the Site_Settings window.

Copies appear in the Site_Settings window.

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. You can

use this information to support business functions such as resource management. See the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system for more information.

To open the Info or Usage display:

t Click the Info or Usage tab in the Project window.

The items listed in this view are for information only and cannot be changed.

Changing Font and Point Size

You can change the default font and point sizes of the Project and Bin windows. You can vary the fonts and point sizes across these windows. For example, you can set the Project window to Helvetica, 13 pt, set one Bin window to Times Roman, 11 pt, and set another Bin window to Arial, 12 pt.

Table 3- 4 describes the windows you can change, and where these

changes are saved.

Using the Info and Usage Displays

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. Choose a font from the Font pop-up menu.

Working with the Project Window

Any font installed on the Avid system appears in the list. For information on adding fonts to your system, see your Windows or Macintosh documentation.

4. Type another point size for the font in the Size text box.

5. Click OK.

When you close the window, the last font and point size applied is saved with the window.

The new font and point size appear in the active window.

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 next time you select that workspace, the tool windows appear with either:

• The arrangement from the last time you left the workspace

• The arrangement you set for the workspace, regardless of any

changes you made

For information on setting up workspaces, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

Viewing Keyboard Settings

Common editing commands are mapped to the MediaLog keyboard. Use the Keyboard settings to view the commands mapped to your keyboard. You cannot change the mappings in MediaLog.

To view keyboard settings:

t Double-click Keyboard in the Settings scroll list of the Project

window.

The Keyboard palette varies, depending on the type of keyboard attached to your Avid system. If an Avid-supported European keyboard is attached to your Avid system, then the Keyboard palette will match that keyboard.

Customizing Your Workspace

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.

• Convert a duration in video to the corresponding length in footage

To use the Avid Calculator:

1. Choose Calculator from the Tools menu.

Working with the Project Window

and frames for measuring 35mm film.

The Avid Calculator opens.

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. To convert your totals at any time to another format, choose a different frame code or key number format from the Format pop-up menu.

Using the Avid Calculator

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.

The Serial (COM) Ports (Windows) or Serial Ports (Macintosh) tool opens.

If you have not yet configured a deck, the window might be empty.

2. View or change the port for one or more decks.

Working with the Project Window

You configure the deck and port in the Deck Configuration dialog box (see “Configuring Decks” on page 82). You can change the port in the Serial (COM) Ports (Windows) or Serial Ports (Macintosh) tool, but whenever MediaLog starts it will use the port selected in the Deck Configuration dialog box.

Using the Console

The Console window provides a number of features, including:

• 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. Scroll to the top of the Console window to view your system information and ID. This feature is especially useful for finding the system ID before you contact your Avid Reseller or Avid Customer Support.

Using the Console

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.

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Understanding Logging

• Configuring Decks

• Setting Deck Preferences

• Understanding Drop-Frame Timecode and Non-Drop-Frame

Timecode

• Preparing to Log Material

• Logging

• Logging Film Information

• Modifying Clip Information After Logging

• Creating Avid Logs

• Importing Logs

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.

The three basic methods for producing a bin or log that can be used later for batch digitizing are:

• Logging directly to a bin

• Importing standard log files to a bin

• Creating Avid logs

The MediaLog tools automate the process of recording each clip’s start and end timecodes, track selection, and other important data. You do not need to enter information manually. However, if a source deck is unavailable, or if you have already logged the data on paper, you can manually record clip data in a bin.

The logging tools provided in MediaLog are also available in the Avid editing system products. Bins that you create with MediaLog are completely compatible with your Avid editing system product — you can copy MediaLog bins to the Avid editing system to begin working with the logged footage.

Configuring Decks

The MediaLog application provides a feature that will automatically configure your attached deck. Each time you quit the MediaLog application, the deck configuration settings are saved. If you reconnect the deck to a different port, or attach a new deck, you must run the automatic deck configuration feature again.

Logging Source Material

If MediaLog does not automatically sense your attached deck, you must manually configure the deck.

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.

MediaLog searches the system ports and configures the attached decks.

Manual Deck Configuration

MediaLog offers an alternative method of configuring your deck if it cannot be automatically configured. You can manually configure single or multiple decks even if the decks are not currently attached to the system. Stored deck configurations can also be deleted.

The Deck Configuration and Deck Preferences settings appear as separate items in the Settings scroll list of the Project window.

Configuring Decks

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.

Logging Source Material

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.

You must manually configure the appropriate hardware connections before Deck Configuration settings can take effect. For more information, see the setup guide for your Avid editing system.

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. 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.

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.

Configuring 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-LA N/VLX i connection.

4. Choose the port to which you are connecting the deck from the Port pop-up menu

If you are not sure which port to choose, check the 9-pin serial port connectors on the back of the system. If the ports are not labeled, see the hardware documentation supplied with your system.

5. Click OK to close the Channel dialog box.

A message box appears, asking if you want to automatically configure the channel now.

6. Click Yes if you want to automatically configure the channel.

A new channel appears in the display area of the Deck Configuration dialog box, along with the autoconfigured deck.

Logging Source Material

Channel boxes appear on the left side.

Decks appear on the right side.

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.

With a deck already connected to the system, you can click the Auto-configure button to bypass the Deck Settings dialog box and automatically configure a deck with the default settings.

Configuring Decks

9. Select settings based on your deck. For information on Deck settings, see “Deck Settings Options” on page 89.

Logging Source Material

10. Click OK to close the Deck Settings dialog box and return to the Deck Configuration dialog box.

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. (Option) Select the “Verify configuration against actual decks” option (at the bottom of the Deck Configuration dialog box) if you want the system to check the deck configuration against the decks physically connected to the system.

The system checks the deck configuration after you click Apply in the Deck Configuration dialog box and when you start MediaLog. A message box warns you if the configuration does not match the deck.

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.

Deck Settings Options

To access the Deck Settings dialog box, do one of the following:

t Click the Add Deck button in the Deck Configuration dialog box.

t Choose Adjust Deck from the Deck Selection pop-up menu in the

deck controller section of the Digitize tool.

t Double-click the deck name in the Deck Settings dialog box.

Configuring Decks

Table 4- 1 describes the Deck Settings options.

Table 4-1 Deck Settings Options

Option Suboption Description

Name Type your custom name for the tape deck. The default name

matches the deck type.

Description Enter notes about the deck.

Logging Source Material

Table 4-1 Deck Settings Options (Continued)

Option Suboption 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.

Preroll Specifies how many seconds the tape rolls before a digitize or

digital cut starts. The default is based on the type of deck.

The Preroll option has no effect in MediaLog.

FAST CUE Speeds up long searches; if your decks can read timecode in

Fast Forward or Rewind mode. Otherwise, this option is not useful.

Switch to ff/rew (seconds)

Switch to Search (seconds)

When this option is selected, the system switches to fast forward or rewind if the target timecode is beyond 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.

If your deck shuttles very quickly, you can increase this number so the system uses fast cue only for long searches.

When this option is selected, the system switches out of fast forward or rewind when it is within the specified number of seconds of the target timecode. By default, the system switches to Search mode when it is 25 seconds from the target timecode.

Configuring Decks

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.

Setting Deck Preferences

Logging Source Material

Deck preferences are global settings for basic deck control. These settings apply to all decks connected to your system, regardless of your deck configuration. You can open the Deck Preferences dialog box from the Settings scroll list of the Project window.

Table 4- 2 describes the Deck Preferences options.

Table 4- 2 Deck Preferences Options

Option Description

When the deck contains no tape, Log As

Stop key pauses deck This option defines the function of the Stop key (space bar) on the

Shuttle holds speed The Shuttle button continues shuttling at a constant speed instead of

Stop any paused decks when quitting

You select the timecode format (Drop Frame or Non-drop Frame) for 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).

keyboard. Select this option to map the space bar to the Pause button on the deck. Deselect this option to map the space bar to the Stop button.

If the videotape heads are down in “Stop key pauses deck” mode, pressing the space bar brings up the heads and pauses the deck.

The Stop button in the Digitize tool and Deck Controller tool always stops the decks. (Choose New Deck Controller from the Tools menu to access the Deck Controller tool.)

stopping when you release it.

Any paused decks are stopped when you quit the Avid application. Selecting this option saves wear on the deck heads.

Setting Deck Preferences

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. Drop-frame (DF) timecode is designed to match the NTSC scan rate of

29.97 frames per second (fps). Two frames of timecode are dropped every minute except for the tenth minute. No video frames are actually dropped. Drop-frame timecode is indicated by semicolons between the digits; for example, 01;00;00;00.

Non-drop-frame (NDF) timecode tracks NTSC video at a rate of 30 fps and is indicated by colons between the digits; for example, 01:00:00:00. Non-drop-frame timecode can be easier to work with, but does not provide accurate timing for NTSC broadcast.

Logging Source Material

For example, a typical one-hour show uses 52 minutes of video. If your program ends at 01:52:00:00 (non-drop-frame), and it is broadcast at

29.97 fps, it will last 94 frames too long (approximately 3 seconds). The final credits could be cut off.

The following illustration compares the two types of timecode at the 1-minute mark. No frames are actually dropped.

Non-drop-frame timecode

01:00:59:28

Drop-frame timecode

01;00;59;28

01:00:59:29 01:01:00:00 01:01:00:01

01;00;59;29 01;01;00;02

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). You can select Drop Frame or Non-drop Frame.

You can change the starting timecode of a clip or, for NTSC projects, the type of timecode. See the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

Preparing to Log Material

01:01:00:02

01;01;00;03 01;01;00;04

MediaLog provides two special tools for logging source material:

• The Logging tool, which contains:

- Source deck controls

- Marking and logging controls

- Active track controls

- Timecode information

- Deck, bin, and tape name information

Preparing to Log Material

-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.

Accessing the Logging Tool

To access the Logging tool, do one of the following:

t Click in a Bin window to activate it, and then choose Go To

Logging Mode from either the Bin menu or the Fast menu.

t Choose Logging from the Tools menu.

Setting Up the Logging Tool

To select the appropriate source deck, source tape, and active track settings for your logged material:

1. Open or create your project and the bin in which you want to store your master clips. For information about opening projects and bins, see Chapter 2.

2. Choose Go To Logging Mode from the Bin menu.

The Logging tool opens.

Logging Source Material

Mark IN 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:

Enable timecode button

• 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. The system cannot distinguish between two

tapes with the same name and between two bins or clips with the same name. For example, if two tapes are named 001, you might encounter problems correctly associating their clips with the correct physical tapes.

• Use alphanumeric characters (A–Z, 0–9), with no spaces before the

name. Characters can be uppercase and lowercase. The maximum length of a name is 31 characters.

Although the maximum length of a name is 31 characters, most online houses accept tape names of no more than 6 characters.

Preparing to Log Material

• Select a case convention and maintain it throughout a project. A

• Be cautious when changing a tape’s name. After you provide a

Inserting Source Tapes

To insert a source tape in a deck to prepare for logging source material with MediaLog:

1. Set the REMOTE/LOCAL switch on the deck to REMOTE.

2. Insert a tape into the deck.

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.

name for a tape source, any change to the tape’s name automatically changes that tape name everywhere it occurs. If you decide later to change the name of one of the tapes from 001 to 999, every reference to tape 001 changes to a reference to tape 999.

Fast Forward button

Rewind button Stop button

Pause button Deck Name

pop-up menu

Logging Source Material

3. Choose Go To Logging Mode from the Bin menu.

The Deck Controller tool appears as part of the Logging tool.

Source tape timecode

Shuttle button

Valid timecode indicator Single-Frame Backward button Single-Frame Forward button

Eject button Play button

Source tape display button

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

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

activate or deactivate them.

selection. Only opened bins appear in the Bin pop-up menu.

To open a bin, do one of the following:

For more information on working with bins, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

t For a bin created in the current project, double-click the bin in the

Project window.

t For a bin created in a different project, choose Open Bin from the

File menu, and then locate and open the bin in the Open dialog box (Windows) or Select a Bin dialog box (Macintosh).

t Create a new bin by clicking the New Bin button in the Project

window.

Selecting the Source Deck

In some cases, your source material might not reside on a video deck. You can also select other source devices, such as a digital audiotape (DAT). Be sure the source material has readable timecode.

Preparing to Log Material

100

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.

For information about deck preferences, see

“Setting Deck Preferences” on page 92.

If a tape is already inserted into the deck, click the Source Tape Display button in the Digitize tool.

2. In an NTSC project, play the tape for a few seconds so the system can detect the timecode format of the tape (drop-frame or non-drop-frame). Otherwise, the system maintains the timecode format set in the Deck Preferences dialog box, regardless of the format on the tape, and you might receive a message indicating a wrong tape.

Logging Source Material

Pinnacle Systems MediaLog - 11.5 User’s Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Contents

Tables

Using This Guide

Who Should Use This Guide

About This Guide

Symbols and Conventions

If You Need Help

Related Information

If You Have Documentation Comments

How to Order Documentation

Understanding MediaLog

What Is MediaLog?

How Does MediaLog Work?

What Are the Basic Logging Steps?

Getting Started

Setting Up the Hardware (Windows)

Setting Up the Hardware (Macintosh)

Supported Decks

Turning On the Hardware

Installing MediaLog (Windows)

Installing MediaLog (Macintosh)

Starting MediaLog

Setting Up Project Files and Folders

Identifying a User

Creating a New User

Selecting an Existing User

Selecting a Project

Creating a New Project

Setting Film Preferences

Selecting an Existing Project

Nesting Projects in Folders

Opening a Project

Closing a Project

Backing Up Your Project Information

Ending a Work Session

Quitting the MediaLog Application

Turning Off Your Equipment (Windows)

Turning Off Your Equipment (Macintosh)

Using Help

Working with the Project Window

Exploring the Project Window

Opening and Closing the Project Window

Using the Bins Display

Displaying Folders of Bins in the Bins List

Creating a Folder in a Project

Creating a New Bin

Renaming a Bin

Opening and Closing a Bin

Opening Selected Bins

Opening Bins from Other Projects

Closing a Bin

Deleting a Bin or Folder

Viewing Contents in the Trash

Emptying the Trash in the Bins List

Managing Folders and Bins

Saving Bins Automatically

Saving Bins Manually

Using the Settings Scroll List

Understanding Settings

Defining Settings

Reviewing Basic Settings

Film Settings

Bin Settings

Logging Settings

Displaying Project Settings

Changing the Settings Scroll List Display

Working with Settings

Selecting Another User

Modifying Settings

Restoring Default Settings

Using Site Settings

Using the Info and Usage Displays

Changing Font and Point Size

Customizing Your Workspace

Viewing Keyboard Settings

Using the Avid Calculator