Pinnacle Systems MediaLog - 11.7 User’s Guide

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Avid® MediaLog

User’s Guide

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Avid

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; 5,267,351; 5,309,528; 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; 5,584,006; 5,640,601; 5,644,364; 5,654,737; 5,715,018; 5,724,605; 5,726,717; 5,729,673; 5,745,637; 5,752,029; 5,754,851; 5,799,150; 5,812,216; 5,852,435; 5,883,670; 5,905,841; 5,929,836; 5,929,942; 5,930,445; 5,946,445; 5,987,501; 5,995,115; 6,016,152; 6,018,337; 6,023,531; 6,035,367; 6,038,573; 6,058,236; 6,061,758; 6,091,778; 6,105,083; 6,118,444; 6,128,001; 6,130,676; 6,134,607; 6,137,919; 6,141,007; 6,141,691; 6,157,929; 6,198,477; 6,201,531; 6,211,869; 6,223,211; 6,239,815; 6,249,280; 6,269,195; 6,301,105; 6,317,158; 6,317,515; 6,327,253; 6,330,369; 6,351,557; 6,353,862; 6,357,047; 6,392,710; 6,404,435; 6,407,775; 6,417,891; 6,426,778; 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.”

The following disclaimer is required by Altura Software, Inc. for the use of its Mac2Win software and Sample Source Code:

The following disclaimer 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.

The following disclaimer is required by 3Prong.com Inc.:

Certain waveform and vector monitoring capabilities are provided under a license from 3Prong.com Inc.

Attn. Government User(s). Restricted Rights Legend

U.S. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTED RIGHTS. This Software and its documentation are “commercial computer software” or “commercial computer software documentation.” In the event that such Software or documentation is acquired by or on behalf of a unit or agency of the U.S. Government, all rights with respect to this Software and documentation are subject to the terms of the License Agreement, pursuant to FAR §12.212(a) and/or DFARS §227.7202-1(a), as applicable.

Trademarks

888 I/O, AirPlay, AirSPACE, AirSPACE HD, AniMatte, AudioSuite, AudioVision, AutoSync, Avid, AVIDdrive, AVIDdrive Towers, AvidNet, AvidNetwork, AVIDstripe, Avid Unity, Avid Xpress, AVoption, AVX, CamCutter, ChromaCurve, ChromaWheel, DAE, D-Fi, D-fx, Digidesign, Digidesign Audio Engine, Digidesign Intelligent Noise Reduction, DigiDrive, DINR, D-Verb, Equinox, ExpertRender, FieldPak, Film Composer, FilmScribe, FluidMotion, HIIP, HyperSPACE, HyperSPACE HDCAM, IllusionFX, Image Independence, Intraframe, iS9, iS18, iS23, iS36, Lo-Fi, Magic Mask, make manage move | media, Marquee, Matador, Maxim, MCXpress, Media Composer, MediaDock, MediaDock Shuttle, Media Fusion, Media Illusion, MediaLog, Media Reader, Media Recorder, MEDIArray, MediaShare, Meridien, MetaSync, NaturalMatch, NetReview, NewsCutter, OMF, OMF Interchange, OMM, Open Media Framework, Open Media Management, ProEncode, Pro Tools, QuietDrive, Recti-Fi, rS9, rS18, Sci-Fi, Softimage, Sound Designer II, SPACE, SPACEShift, Symphony, Trilligent, UnityRAID, Vari-Fi, Video Slave Driver, VideoSPACE, and Xdeck are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

iNEWS, iNEWS ControlAir, and Media Browse are trademarks of iNews, LLC.

Aaton is a registered trademark of Aaton S.A. Arri is a registered trademark of Arri Group. Claris is a trademark of Claris Corporation, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FileMaker is a trademark of FileMaker, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. FLEx is a trademark of Pioneer-Standard Electronics, Inc. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. KeyKode is a trademark of Eastman Kodak Company. Macintosh and Mac OS are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, and Windows XP are either registered trademarks or 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.

Footage

Arri — Courtesy of Arri™/Fauer — John Fauer, Inc. Bell South “Anticipation” — Courtesy of Two Headed Monster — Tucker/Wayne Atlanta/GMS. Canyonlands — Courtesy of the National Park Service/Department of the Interior. Eco Challenge British Columbia — Courtesy of Eco Challenge Lifestyles, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Eco Challenge Morocco — Courtesy of Discovery Communications, Inc. It’s Shuttletime — Courtesy of BCP & Canadian Airlines. Nestlé Coffee Crisp — Courtesy of MacLaren McCann Canada. Saturn “Calvin Egg” — Courtesy of Cossette Communications. “Tigers: Tracking a Legend” — Courtesy of www.wildlifeworlds.com. Windhorse — Courtesy of Paul Wagner Productions.

Arizona Images — KNX-TV Production — Courtesy of Granite Broadcasting, Inc., Editor/Producer Bryan Foote. Canyonlands — Courtesy of the National Park Service/Department of the Interior. WCAU Fire Story — Courtesy of NBC-10, Philadelphia, PA. Paragliding — Courtesy of Legendary Entertainment, Inc.

GOT FOOTAGE?

Editors — Filmmakers — Special Effects Artists — Game Developers — Animators — Educators — Broadcasters — Content creators of every genre — Just finished an incredible project and want to share it with the world?

Send us your reels and we may use your footage in our show reel or demo!*

For a copy of our release and Avid’s mailing address, go to www.avid.com/footage.

*Note: Avid cannot guarantee the use of materials submitted.

Avid MediaLog User’s Guide • Part 0130-05439-01 • February 2003

Using This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Who Should Use This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

About This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Symbols and Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

If You Need Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Related Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

If You Have Documentation Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

How to Order Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Avid Educational Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Chapter 1 Understanding MediaLog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

What Is MediaLog?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

How Does MediaLog Work?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

What Are the Basic Logging Steps?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Chapter 2 Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Setting Up the Hardware (Windows) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Setting Up the Hardware (Macintosh) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Supported Decks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Turning On the Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Installing MediaLog. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Installing MediaLog on a Windows System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Installing MediaLog on a Mac OS X System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Starting MediaLog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Setting Up Project Files and Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Identifying a User . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Creating a New User . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Selecting an Existing User . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Selecting a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Creating a New Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Setting Film Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Selecting an Existing Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Nesting Projects in Folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Opening a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Closing a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Backing Up Your Project Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Ending a Work Session. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Quitting the MediaLog Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Turning Off Your Equipment (Windows). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Turning Off Your Equipment (Macintosh) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Using Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Exploring the Project Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Opening and Closing the Project Window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Using the Bins Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Displaying Folders of Bins in the Bins List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Creating a Folder in a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Creating a New Bin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Renaming a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Opening and Closing a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Opening Selected Bins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Opening Bins from Other Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Closing a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Deleting a Bin or Folder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Viewing Contents in the Trash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Emptying the Trash in the Bins List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Managing Folders and Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Saving Bins Automatically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Saving Bins Manually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Using the Settings Scroll List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Understanding Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Defining Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Reviewing Basic Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Film Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Bin Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Logging Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Displaying Project Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Changing the Settings Scroll List Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Working with Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Selecting Another User . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Modifying Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Restoring Default Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Using Site Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Using the Info and Usage Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Changing Font and Point Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Customizing Your Workspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Viewing Keyboard Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Using the Avid Calculator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Using the Communications (Serial) Ports Tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Using the Console Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Understanding Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Configuring Decks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Automatic Deck Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Manual Deck Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Deck Settings Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Deleting Deck Configuration Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Setting Deck Preferences. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Understanding Drop-Frame Timecode and

Non-Drop-Frame Timecode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Preparing to Log Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Accessing and Setting Up the Logging Tool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Accessing the Logging Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Setting Up the Logging Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Guidelines for Naming Tapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Inserting Source Tapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Selecting Active Tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Selecting the Target Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Selecting the Source Deck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Identifying the Source Tape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Setting the Audio Sample Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Logging from a Source Tape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Marking and Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Adding a Memory Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Logging On-the-Fly. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Pausing a Deck While Logging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Logging with the Deck Offline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Logging Film Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Modifying Clip Information After Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Creating Avid Logs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Importing Logs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Importing Standard Log Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Compatible Logs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Importing Log Files into MediaLog Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Transferring Bins from Another MediaLog System. . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Chapter 5 Organizing with Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Preparing to Work with Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Film Scene Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Setting the Bin Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Understanding Bin Display Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Brief View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Text View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Bin Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Customizing Bin Views in Text View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Saving a Custom Bin View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Bin Fast Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Basic Bin Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Selecting Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Duplicating Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Moving Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Copying Clips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Deleting Clips and Subclips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Assigning Colors to Bin Objects. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Adding a Color Column to a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Assigning a Source Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Assigning a Custom Source Color. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Limiting Color Choices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Sifting Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Sifting Timecodes or Keycode Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

Sifting Within a Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Locking and Unlocking Items in a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123

Using Text View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Arranging Bin Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Moving and Rearranging Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Aligning Bin Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Showing and Hiding Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Deleting a Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Duplicating a Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Adding Customized Columns to a Bin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Changing a Custom Column Heading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Managing Clip Information in Text View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Moving Within Column Cells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Modifying Clip Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Copying Information Between Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Sorting Clips in Text View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

Sorting Clips in Ascending Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

Sorting Clips in Descending Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Multilevel Sorting with Columns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Sorting Clips by Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Displaying Timecodes in a 23p, 24p or 25p Project. . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Frame Counting for Timecodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Adding Timecode Columns to a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Adding Timecode Values to the Timecode Columns. . . . . . . . 140

Bin Column Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Chapter 6 Creating MediaLog Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Printing Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Exporting Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

Transferring Bins to an Avid Editing System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

Transferring Projects and Bins Using AFE Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

Appendix A Avid Log Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

Understanding Avid Log Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

Avid Log Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

Global Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

Column Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Data Entries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Sample Avid Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

Appendix B Working with a Film Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Creating a Film Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Film Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167

Setting the Format and Display of Ink Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Transfer Settings for Film Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Setting the Pulldown Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Logging Film Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

Displaying Film Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

Entering Pulldown Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

Determining the Pulldown Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

Modifying the Pulldown Phase Before Digitizing . . . . . . . . . . . 178

Entering Frames-per-Second Rates for PAL Transfers . . . . . . . . . 180

Entering Key Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180

Entering Additional Timecodes (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

Entering the Ink Number (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

Entering Additional Film Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

Tables

Table 1 Settings Scroll List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Table 2 Bin Settings Dialog Box Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58

Table 3 Settings Display Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60

Table 4 Window Changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

Table 5 Deck Settings Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79

Table 6 Deck Preferences Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .82

Table 7 Compatible Log Formats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100

Table 8 Import Settings Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102

Table 9 Object Icon Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108

Table 10 Range Menu Items for Explicit Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121

Table 11 Range Menu Items for Implicit Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121

Table 12 Modifiable Bin Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .131

Table 13 Modify Command Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133

Table 14 Timecode Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .138

Table 15 Timecode Frame Counts for Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139

Table 16 Bin Column Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141

Table 17 Avid Log Global Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

Table 18 Avid Log Column Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Table 19 Avid Log Data Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .159

Table 20 Project Types for Systems That Support 23p, 24p and

25p Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .166

Table 21 Film Setting Dialog Box Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .169

Using This Guide

This guide provides information about the configuration and operation of

MediaLog™.

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.

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.

Using This Guide

• 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.

• 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, Windows® XP and Mac OS® X 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 operating system.

• (Macintosh) or (Macintosh only) means the information applies to the Mac OS X 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 Mac OS X systems. Where differences exist, both Windows 2000 and Mac OS X screen shots are shown.

Symbols and Conventions

Avid documentation uses the following symbols and conventions:

Symbol or Convention Meaning or Action

> This symbol indicates menu commands (and

k This symbol represents the Apple or Command key.

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.

A warning describes an action that could cause you physical harm. Follow the guidelines in this document or on the unit itself when handling electrical equipment.

subcommands) in the order you select them. For example, File > Import means to open the File menu and then select the Import command.

This symbol indicates a single-step procedure. Multiple arrows in a list indicate that you perform one of the actions listed.

Press and hold the Command key and another key to perform a keyboard shortcut.

Margin tips In the margin, you will find tips that help you

perform tasks more easily and efficiently.

Italic font Italic font is used to emphasize certain words and to

indicate variables.

Courier Bold font

Click Quickly press and release the left mouse button

Double-click Click the left mouse button (Windows) or the mouse

Courier Bold font identifies text that you type.

(Windows) or the mouse button (Macintosh).

button (Macintosh) twice rapidly.

Using This Guide

Symbol or Convention Meaning or Action

Right-click Quickly press and release the right mouse button

(Windows only).

Drag Press and hold the left mouse button (Windows) or

the mouse button (Macintosh) while you move the mouse.

Ctrl+key

k+key

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. It is especially important to check each step of your workflow.

2. Check the release notes supplied with your Avid application for the latest information that might have become available after the hardcopy documentation was printed.

3. Check the documentation that came with your Avid application or your hardware for maintenance or hardware-related issues.

4. Visit the online Knowledge Center at www.avid.com/support. Online services are available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Search this online Knowledge Center to find answers, to view error messages, to access troubleshooting tips, to download updates, and to read/join online message-board discussions.

Press and hold the first key while you press the second key.

5. For Technical Support, please call 800-800-AVID (800-800-2843).

For Broadcast On-Air Sites and Call Letter Stations, call 800-NEWSDNG (800-639-7364).

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 Avid Symphony Editing Guide

Related Information

Avid Media Composer and Avid Film Composer

Avid Xpr ess

Avid NewsCutter

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.

input and output guide

editing guide Avid Media Composer and Film Composer Editing

input and output guide

user’s guide Avid Xpress User’s Guide

user’s guide Avid NewsCutter User’s Guide

Avid Symphony Input and Output Guide

Guide

Avid Media Composer and Film Composer Input and Output Guide

Using This Guide

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, 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 Sales at 800-949-AVID (800-949-2843). If you are placing an order from outside the United States, contact your local Avid representative.

Avid Educational Services

For information on courses/schedules, training centers, certifications, courseware, and books, please visit www.avid.com/training or call Avid Sales at 800-949-AVID (800-949-2843).

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 shots from a source tape, your computer must be connected to a deck that uses Sony 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.

, Mac OS® X, Windows 98,

98,Windows 2000, or Windows XP operating system. To log

serial deck protocol. MediaLog allows you to control the deck

Chapter 1 Understanding MediaLog

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.

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.

A bin is open while you log clips to it.

Sample Bin

How Does MediaLog Work?

Deck and log controls are in the Logging tool.

Deck controls

Log controls

If you have a log sheet, you can log clips without using a deck. You type the start and end timecodes for each clip, and then add them to the bin.

MediaLog uses a project file to organize all the work you do on a single job. You must always create a new project or open an existing project before you can open a bin and log your shots.

As you work on a project, MediaLog remembers the name of each bin you open and displays a list of bin names in the Project window. The list is useful for helping you to quickly access bins.

Chapter 1 Understanding MediaLog

Bin names

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.

Sample Project window

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.

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

• 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 XP operating system.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

• The computer includes at least 32 megabytes (MB) of random-access

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

memory (RAM).

VLXi® connections.

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.

To your deck

RS-422 connection

Serial adapter

RS-232 connection

To your computer

Setting Up the Hardware (Macintosh)

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.

Setting Up the Hardware (Macintosh)

Make sure your computer meets the following requirements:

• The computer must be running the Mac OS X operating system.

• 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.

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. Attach the round 8-pin DIN connector to a USB-to-serial adapter.

3. Connect the USB-to-seral adapter to one of the following:

t A USB connector on the rear of your Macintosh G4 system

t A USB hub (See the following figure.)

Chapter 2 Getting Started

USB hub

USB-to-serial adapter

4. 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 use the software to control the video deck.

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. For instructions on how to access the Knowledge Center, see the Avid editing application release notes.

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.

Turning On the Hardware

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

You can now install the MediaLog software.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

Installing MediaLog

This section describes how to install the MediaLog software.

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.

Installing MediaLog on a Windows System

You can install MediaLog on the following Windows operating systems:

•Windows NT

• Windows 98

• Windows 2000

•Windows XP

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 a Windows system:

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 Install Avid MediaLog.

Follow the online instructions to install the software.

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

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

Installing MediaLog on a Mac OS X System

For Macintosh systems, MediaLog software is shipped only on the MediaLog CD-ROM.

Starting MediaLog

The Macintosh version of MediaLog v11.7 and later runs only on the Mac OS X operating system.

To install MediaLog software on a Mac OS X system:

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.

Follow the online instructions to install the software.

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.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

User folders

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.

4. Do one of the following:

t (Windows) Click the Start button, and select Programs > Avid >

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 opens.

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 31.

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 opens. The first thing you do in the dialog box is select an existing user and project or create new ones.

Setting Up Project Files and Folders

Users scroll list

Projects 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.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

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 opens.

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 / \ : * ? “ < > | or leading spaces, trailing spaces, or trailing periods, when naming projects, bins, and users. Bin and project names are limited to 27 characters, not including the period and 3-character extension that the system automatically adds to a file name.

(Macintosh only) You can set the Use Windows option in the Avid application’s General Settings dialog box to prevent the system from accepting these restricted characters in a bin, project, or user name.

3. Click OK.

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

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

compatible File Names

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

page 34.

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 opens when you open a project.

Directory pop-up menu

User names

Folder

Folders containing a collection of users open in the Users scroll list with an asterisk (Windows) or a dot (Macintosh) preceding them.

Setting Up Project Files and Folders

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.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

To search for another user profile folder:

Directory pop-up menu

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

3. Double-click a selected folder to open it. Continue to open any additional folders until the Users scroll list includes the appropriate user name.

4. Click the user name to select it.

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

page 34.

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 opens.

Setting Up Project Files and Folders

2. Type a name for your new project in the text box, and click OK.

3. Select 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 165. Reference to 24p projects include 23.976p projects unless

otherwise noted.

For additional information on creating a project, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

4. (Option) Click Matchback. The Matchback item appears only if your Avid editing system includes the Matchback option.

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.

5. Click OK.

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 38.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

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.

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

To select an existing project, do one of the following:

Directory pop-up menu

t Click an existing project name to highlight it.

t Place the cursor in the Avid Projects scroll list and 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 select 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 38.

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 opens.

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

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

3. Double-click the folder name to open the folder.

Any new projects you create are displayed and stored in this folder.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

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 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.

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.

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

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.

Project name

User name

Close button

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 in the Project window.

t With the Project window active, select File > Close.

The Project window and all open bins close, and the Select User and Project dialog box opens.

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:

Backing Up Your Project Information

• 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)

Chapter 2 Getting Started

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, select File > Exit (Windows) or File > Quit MediaLog (Macintosh).

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 opens, 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.

To turn off your equipment:

1. Select Start > Shut Down.

The Shut Down Windows dialog box opens.

2. Select 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.

Using Help

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. Select Apple P menu > Shut Down.

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.

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

Using Help

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 Web browser. Avid recommends using Internet Explorer Version 5 or later.

To open the Help system:

t Select Help > Media Log Help.

The Help system appears in a browser window.

Internet Explorer

Chapter 2 Getting Started

To close the Help system, do one of the following:

t Click the Close button in the browser.

t (Windows) Select File > Close.

t (Macintosh) In Internet Explorer, select Explorer > Quit. In Netscape

t Navigate to another Web site.

Navigator, select Netscape > Quit.

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 Communications (Serial) Ports Tool

• Using the Console Window

(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.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

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.

Opening and Closing the Project Window

The Project window opens automatically when you select a project in the Select User and Project dialog box.

Opening and Closing the Project Window

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 in the Project window.

t With the Project window active, select File > Close Project.

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.

To locate and redisplay the Project window, do one of the following:

t Select Tools > Project.

t Click in an unobstructed area of the Project window to bring it

forward.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

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.

To view a list of bins associated with the project:

t Click the Bins tab in the Project window.

Bins tab

Fast Menu button

Bin icon

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

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 52.

Bins list

Fast Menu button

New folders

Trash icon

Using the Bins Display

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:

t Click the triangular opener again.

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

t Select Fast > Flat View.

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.

Creating a Folder in a Project

To create a folder in a project:

1. Click the Bins tab in the Project window.

2. Select Fast > New Folder.

A new untitled folder opens.

3. Click the untitled folder name in the Bins list and rename it.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

Creating a New Bin

To create a new bin from the Project window, do one of the following:

t Select File > New Bin.

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 opens 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 Avid 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 48.

Renaming a Bin

Each new bin you create takes the name of the project that appears in the title bar of the Project window, and is numbered incrementally.

To change the name of a bin:

1. Click the bin name in the Bins list of the Project window.

2. Type a new name.

Project name

Default bin name

Opening and Closing a Bin

To open a bin:

1. Click the Bins tab in the Project window.

2. Double-click the Bin icon next to the bin name.

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

Opening Selected Bins

To open several bins at once from the Project window:

1. Click a Bin icon in the Bins list.

2. Ctrl+click (Windows) or Shift+click (Macintosh) each additional bin you want to open.

3. Select File > Open Selected Bins.

Opening Bins from Other Projects

Using the Bins Display

To open a bin from another project:

1. Select File > Open Bin.

(Make sure that no bins are selected in your current project view.)

The Open dialog box opens.

2. Find and select the bin you want.

(Windows only) Bins have the file name extension .avb.

Never open a bin that is stored on a floppy disk or equivalent device, since 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.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

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.

Closing a Bin

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.

To close a bin, do one of the following:

t Click the Close button.

t Select File > Close Bin.

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 51.

Only bins and folders appear in the Trash. If you select any other item within 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 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.

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.

Using the Bins Display

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. Select Fast > Empty Trash.

A message box opens.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

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

Managing Folders and Bins

You can use the Project window to create hierarchies of folders and bins that reflect the specific workflow of the current project. This structure provides both simplicity and backup security.

Creating a hierarchy allows you to have one set of bins available in the Project window during the digitizing and organizing phase, and another set of bins available during editing to reduce clutter. 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:

(Windows) drive:\Program Files\Avid\MediaLog\Avid Attic folder

(Macintosh) Macintosh HD:\Users\Shared\Avid Attic folder

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

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 opens.

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 Avid Attic folder.

Saving Bins Manually

Using the Bins Display

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

To save a specific bin:

1. Click the bin window to activate it.

2. Select File > Save Bin.

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 the Bins list.

2. Select File > Save All.

The system saves all the bins for the project.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

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

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.

Using the Settings Scroll List

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 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.

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

Table 1 Settings Scroll List

For More

Setting Name Description

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

Bin Sets the auto-save interval; double-

click preferences for bins and other bin-related parameters.

Bin View Selects and formats the information

displayed in bins.

Information

output guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

See “Bin Settings” on

page 58.

See “Bin Views” on

page 110.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

Table 1 Settings Scroll List (Continued)

Setting Name Description

For More Information

Communication (Serial) Ports

Configures the serial ports on your system for deck control.

See “Using the

Communications (Serial) Ports Tool” on page 68.

Deck Configuration Configures channels and decks into

the system.

Deck Preferences Sets preferences that affect all decks

configured into the system.

See “Configuring

Decks” on page 72.

See “Setting Deck

Preferences” on page 81.

Film Sets parameters for edit play rate, ink

number format, and transfer rate.

See “Film Settings” on

page 167.

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

on page 99.

Keyboard Maps commands from the Command

palette to the keyboard.

See “Viewing

Keyboard Settings” on page 66.

Logging Allows you to enable the Pause Deck

While Logging feature.

See “Pausing a Deck

While Logging” on page 95.

Workspace Enables you to associate settings and

windows with a workspace.

See “Customizing

Your Workspace” on page 65.

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, digitizing,

• Project settings — Reflect the specific needs of the project

• Bin View settings — Display useful columns of information for each

Using the Settings Scroll List

and organizing projects

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.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

Film Settings

Film settings determine essential parameters for accurately capturing, tracking, and editing source material for 23p, 24p and 25p projects. For a description of film settings, see “Film Settings” on page 167.

Bin Settings

The Bin Settings dialog box controls the MediaLog’s automatic save features, including the number of backups saved in the Avid Attic folder.

Table 2 describes the Automatic Save and Backup options, and the results

of double-clicking an object in a bin.

Table 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 2 Bin Settings Dialog Box Options (Continued)

Option Description

Maximum files in a project’s attic Specifies the total number of files stored in the Avid Attic folder.

When a bin is saved, the Avid system copies the previous version of the bin to a special folder called the Avid 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 a file in the attic Specifies the total number of single-bin copies stored in the Avid

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

Logging Settings

The logging settings define whether the deck will pause during a logging operation. See “Pausing a Deck While Logging” on page 95.

Displaying Project Settings

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

To view the possible display groups:

t Click the Fast Menu button and select a settings display group from the

Settings menu.

Table 3 describes the different settings display groups.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

Table 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.

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 select 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.

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.

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

User pop-up menu

Using the Settings Scroll List

The Settings scroll list appears.

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

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

3. Select Special > Restore to Default.

A message box opens and asks whether you want to save the 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.

Using Site Settings

When the system opens a new project, it searches the Site_Settings file:

•(Windows) drive:\Program Files\Avid\MediaLog\Settings folder

• (Macintosh) Macintosh HD:\users\Shared\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.

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. Select Special > Site Settings.

The Site_Settings window opens.

Using the Settings Scroll List

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

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.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project 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. For more information, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

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 4 describes the windows you can change, and where these changes

are saved.

Customizing Your Workspace

Table 4 Window Changes

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. Select Edit > Set Font.

The Set Font dialog box opens.

3. Select a font from the Font pop-up menu.

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.

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

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

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

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.

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 1 or 2 seconds.

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:

Using the Avid Calculator

• 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 and frames for measuring 35mm film.

To use the Avid Calculator:

1. Select Tools > Calculator.

The Avid Calculator opens.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

Format pop-up menu

2. Select 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, select a different frame code or key number format from the Format pop-up menu.

Using the Communications (Serial) Ports Tool

The Communications (Serial) Ports tool 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.

Using the Console Window

To access the Communications (Serial) Ports tool:

1. Double-click Communications (Serial) Ports in the Settings scroll list of the Project window.

The Communications (Serial) Ports 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.

You configure the deck and port in the Deck Configuration dialog box (see “Configuring Decks” on page 72). You can change the port in the Communications (Serial) Ports tool, but whenever MediaLog starts it will use the port selected in the Deck Configuration dialog box.

Using the Console Window

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 window 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. Select Tools > Console 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.

Chapter 3 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.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

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.

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 73.

To automatically sense the attached deck:

t Select Special > Autoconfigure All Ports.

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.

Configuring Decks

Deck settings

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

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

Deck Configuration settings allow you to establish deck control parameters for a single deck or for multiple decks. As with all settings, you can create multiple versions, allowing you to select among them for frequent changes in hardware configurations.

Deck Configuration settings and global deck control preferences appear as separate items in the Settings scroll list of the Project window.

For information on setting Deck Preferences, see “Setting Deck

Preferences” on page 81.

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 opens.

Configuring Decks

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.

For more information on V-LAN equipment, contact your Avid sales representative.

Channel refers to the signal path for deck control, whether directly through a serial port or through a V-LAN VLXi system connected to a serial port. Direct serial port connection allows one deck for each channel, while a V-LAN VLXi system provides multiple decks.

3. Select one of the following from the Channel Type pop-up menu, depending upon your system configuration.

t Direct if you are controlling a deck through an RS-422 connection

to the serial port.

t VLAN VLX if you are controlling a deck through a V-LAN/VLXi

connection.

4. Select 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 opens and asks if you want to automatically configure the channel now.

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

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

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

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 Autoconfigure 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 78.

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.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

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 81.

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 Select Deck Selection > Adjust Deck in the deck controller section of

the Digitize tool.

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

Configuring Decks

Table 5 describes the Deck Settings options.

Table 5 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.

Notes Displays configuration information, supplied by Avid, about

the deck you have selected. Not all decks include this information.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

Table 5 Deck Settings Options (Continued)

Option Suboption Description

Device Select 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.

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 opens.

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

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.

Setting Deck Preferences

Table 6 describes the Deck Preferences options.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

Table 6 Deck Preferences Options

Option Description

When the deck contains no tape, Log As

Allow assemble edit for digital cut

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 82).

Not Applicable.

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. (Select Tools > New Deck Controller 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.

Poll deck during digital cut Not Applicable.

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.

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

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.

For example, a typical 1-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-dropframe timecode

Drop-frame timecode

01:00:59:28 01:00:59:29 01:01:00:00 01:01:00:01 01:01:00:02

01:00:59:28 01:00:59:29 01:01:00:02 01;01;00;0401:01:00:03

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

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

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

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

- 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 select Bin > Go To

Logging Mode.

t Select Tools > Logging.

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. Select Bin > Go To Logging Mode.

The Logging tool opens.

Mark IN button

Channel Selection area

Triangular opener

Accessing and Setting Up the Logging Tool

Enable timecode button

Deck controller

Guidelines for Naming Tapes

Consider the following naming guidelines when you provide a name for your tape:

• 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.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

• 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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

3. Select Bin > Go To Logging Mode.

Fast Forward button

Rewind button

Stop button

Pause button

Deck Name pop-up menu

The Deck Controller tool opens 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 selection.

Accessing and Setting Up the Logging Tool

activate or deactivate them.

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

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

To open a bin, do one of the following:

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, select File > Open Bin, and then

locate and open the bin in the Open dialog box (Windows) or Open 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.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

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. Select 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 opens.

For information about deck preferences, see

“Setting Deck Preferences” on page 81.

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-dropframe). 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.

Accessing and Setting Up the Logging Tool

Drop-frame timecode appears in the Timecode indicator with semicolons between hours, minutes, seconds, and frames. Non-drop-frame timecode appears with colons. For more information, see “Understanding Drop-

Frame Timecode and Non-Drop-Frame Timecode” on page 82.

For information on tape naming conventions, see “Guidelines for

Naming Tapes” on page 85.

3. Provide the system with a tape name in one of the following ways:

t Select the name of the tape from the list in the Select Tape dialog

box and click OK.

t Click the New button in the Select Tape dialog box if the tape is

not in the list. A new tape name line appears in the dialog box. Type the new name and click OK.

Setting the Audio Sample Rate

Before you begin logging, you must select an audio sample rate.

To set the audio sample rate:

1. Double-click Audio Project in the Settings scroll list of the Project window.

The Audio Project Settings dialog box opens.

2. Click the Sample Rate pop-up menu, and select either 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz.

3. Close the dialog box.

If you select Batch Digitize in your Avid editing system, and then select the “Use the audio compression rate logged for each clip” option, you must digitize at the same rate as the audio rate at which you logged the clips.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

Logging

The following methods are available for logging:

• Logging from a Source Tape

• Logging On-the-Fly

• Logging with the Deck Offline

Logging from a Source Tape

One method of logging is to use MediaLog tools to control a source deck, to select shots from your source tapes, and to record clip data directly to a bin.

Make sure you have set up all the required information for logging, as described in “Configuring Decks” on page 72 and “Preparing to Log

Material” on page 84. After you establish your settings and specify your

bin, deck, and tape, the Logging tool is the only tool you need to log from a tape to a bin.

The Logging tool provides flexibility in the way you mark your clips for logging, as the following illustration shows.

Mark IN button

Clip name and Comment heading

Bin name

Source tape display button

Mark IN button

Marking and Logging

Mark OUT button

Mark Memory button

Duration Mark button

Logging

Channel Selection area

Logging Messages bar

Go To IN button

Clear IN button

Go To OUT button

Clear OUT button

Timecode entry text boxes

Clear Memory button

Go To Memory button

The basic logging procedure involves marking IN and OUT points. You mark IN and OUT points using the Mark buttons or by typing IN and OUT timecodes.

The button in the top left corner of the Logging tool changes according to the stage of logging you are in. When the button appears as a pencil, MediaLog is ready to log the clip.

To log clips directly from a source tape to a bin:

1. Insert your tape into the deck.

The Logging Messages bar displays the message “Mark IN,” indicating the system is waiting for you to mark an IN point. The Mark IN button is displayed in the top left corner of the Logging tool.

2. Set either an IN point or an OUT point for the clip you want to log, using one of the following methods:

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

Mark IN

Mark OUT

Mark IN

Go To IN

Go To OUT

Mark OUT and Log

Mark IN and Log

t Use the deck controls in the Logging tool to cue your source tape

to the start or end point, and click the Mark IN or the Mark OUT button.

t Click the Mark IN button in the upper left corner of the Logging

tool or press the F4 key.

t If the footage starts at a known IN point or ends at a known OUT

point, type the timecode in the text box next to the Mark IN or the Mark OUT button, press the Go To IN or the Go To OUT button to scan the tape forward to the mark, or press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh) to enter the mark.

After you set the mark, the Mark IN button changes to the Mark OUT and Log button or the Mark IN and Log button.

The Mark OUT and Log and Mark IN and Log buttons only appear when the Pause Deck While Logging feature is not in effect. If you want to pause the deck while you enter a clip name and comments, see “Pausing a Deck

While Logging” on page 95.

For an NTSC film-to-tape transfer or footage downconverted from 1080p/24, you must log the correct pulldown phase. See “Setting the

Pulldown Phase” on page 171 and “Entering Pulldown Information” on page 175.

3. To finish logging the clip, do one of the following:

t Set the remaining IN or OUT point on-the-fly using the Mark IN

or Mark OUT buttons or by pressing the F4 key.

t Click the Mark OUT and Log or Mark IN and Log button.

t Type a timecode for the clip’s IN point, OUT point, or duration in

the timecode text boxes next to the corresponding icon and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh).

The system automatically calculates the appropriate timecode for the remaining IN point, OUT point, or duration, and enters the clip into the bin. The clip name, which is automatically numbered by the system, is highlighted and ready to be changed.

Logging

Adding a Memory Mark

You must enter two of the three timecode marks (IN point, OUT point, or duration) to complete the log entry.

4. Name the clip by typing a new name before clicking any of the buttons

Consider changing the clip name immediately, because it is easy to forget the contents of each clip if you are logging many clips. You can, if necessary, accept the clip name and proceed with the logging process and change the clip names in the bin at a later time.

5. Repeat these steps until you have logged all your clips.

While viewing the footage, you can continuously update your marks onthe-fly by clicking the Mark IN or the Mark OUT button repeatedly before entering the second mark. See “Logging On-the-Fly” on page 94.

You can add a memory mark to a particular location on a tape.

in the Digitize tool.

Mark Memory button

To mark the location:

t Click the Mark Memory button.

To move through the tape to the marked location:

t Click the Go To Memory button.

To clear the memory mark:

t Click the Clear Memory button.

Go To Memory button

Clear Memory button

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

You can add one mark per tape. The memory mark is not stored on the tape. When you remove the tape from the deck and insert another tape into the decks, the mark is cleared.

Logging On-the-Fly

You can log clips while the tape is playing. This is called logging on-thefly. Logging on-the-fly requires the preparation described in the following sections:

• “Selecting the Source Deck” on page 87

• “Identifying the Source Tape” on page 88

• “Setting the Audio Sample Rate” on page 89

You can log on-the-fly whether or not you already know where you want to mark the IN and OUT points in your clips.

To log on-the-fly:

1. Insert your tape into the deck.

2. Open the bin where you want to store the clips, or create a new bin.

3. Select Bin > Go To Capture Mode.

4. Select the audio and video tracks you want to log and their tape name.

5. Play the tape.

6. Mark an IN point by pressing the E key or I key.

The timecode appears and the Logging Messages bar displays the following message: “Mark OUT and Log.”

7. Mark the OUT point by pressing the R key or O key.

8. Log the clip by pressing the F4 key.

The clip is logged into the bin.

The clip name, which the system selects and numbers, is highlighted in the bin and is ready to be changed. The default clip name is the bin name plus a number.

9. (Option) Type a new name for the logged clip in the bin, and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh).

10. Repeat these steps until you have logged all your clips.

Pausing a Deck While Logging

If the deck is playing while you log clips, you can direct MediaLog to automatically pause the deck after you select an IN point and an OUT point. While the deck is paused, you can enter the name and comment for the clip you want to log.

To pause the deck while logging:

1. Click the Settings tab in the Project window.

The Settings scroll list appears.

2. Double-click the Logging setting and select the Pause Deck While Logging option in the Logging Settings dialog box.

3. Start the deck playing.

4. When you reach the point where you want to start the clip, click the Mark IN button (or press the F4 key). The Mark IN button changes to the Mark OUT button, and the deck continues to play.

Logging

5. When you reach the point where you want to end the clip, click the Mark OUT button (or press the F4 key again). The Mark OUT button changes to the Log Clip button, and the deck pauses.

6. (Option) Enter a clip name and comment.

7. Click the Log Clip button (or press the F4 key again).

The system logs the clip in a bin, and the deck starts playing again.

Logging with the Deck Offline

You can also log material without controlling a source tape deck. If the deck is not connected or not working, or if the tape is not available, you can still log material as long as you know the timecodes.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

To log without a deck or tape:

1. Click the Settings tab in the Project window.

The Settings scroll list appears.

2. Double-click Deck Preferences.

The Deck Preferences dialog box opens.

3. For NTSC projects, select either Non-drop Frame or Drop Frame from the pop-up menu. This selects the timecode format for logging.

4. Click OK to close the Deck Preferences dialog box.

5. Make sure a bin is selected.

6. Select Bin > Go To Logging Mode.

The Logging tool opens.

7. Click the Source Tape Display button.

A message box opens and asks if you want to associate a tape with the deck.

List of tapes

Logging

8. Click Yes to open the Select Tape dialog box.

9. Do one of the following:

t Double-click the name of the tape.

t Click the New button, type the name of the tape you want to log,

and then click OK.

t Select the name from the list, and then click OK.

10. In the Channel Selection area in the Logging tool, click the tracks you want to log. For example, click V, A1, and A2.

11. Select the destination bin from the Bin pop-up menu.

12. Type the start timecode in the timecode entry text box for mark IN, and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh).

13. Type the end timecode in the timecode entry text box for mark OUT, and press Enter (Windows) or Return (Macintosh).

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

14. Click the Log Clip button.

15. (Option) Rename the clip that appears in the destination bin.

Logging Film Information

Once you have entered or imported the basic log information into a bin, you might want to add film-related log information before digitizing. For information, see Appendix B.

Modifying Clip Information After Logging

You can change or modify the information logged into the bin. This is especially useful if you find that some of the data is incorrect, or if you need to update the information based on technical needs such as varying timecode formats or film specifications.

There are two ways to modify clip information prior to digitizing:

• You can modify the information directly by clicking in a column and by entering the new information one field at a time.

• You can use the Modify command to change selected groups of clips all at once.

For information on modifying the pulldown phase, see “Setting the

Pulldown Phase” on page 171.

Modifying tape names and timecodes will affect any key numbers entered for the selected clips.

Creating Avid Logs

You can use a text editor to log your source footage manually. An Avid log lists video clips you want to capture for editing. You can create the logs in Avid format, entering data about your source tapes and clips according to Avid specifications.

You can also modify an incompatible log to make it conform to Avid specifications. To prepare an Avid log on any type of computer, use any text editor. After you create logs, you can import them directly into MediaLog bins.

Appendix A describes the format specifications for an Avid log and

includes a sample Avid log.

Make a separate log for each videotape, or log clips from several different videotapes into one log. After you manually create an Avid log, you can import it into MediaLog as described in “Importing Log Files into

MediaLog Bins” on page 101.

Importing Logs

Many logging programs and film-to-tape transfer systems create logs you can import into your MediaLog project. You can open some logs directly in MediaLog bins; others must be converted to Avid format first.

Importing Logs

Importing Standard Log Files

If you are transferring film to video for logging in MediaLog, ask the transfer house to log the source footage during the film-to-tape transfer. You can import some standard film-to-tape logs directly into MediaLog bins. Many other film-to-tape logs can be converted to Avid format using Avid Log Exchange and then imported into MediaLog. A number of video logging systems also produce files you can import into a MediaLog bin.

Compatible Logs

Use the File > Import command to import these files to a MediaLog bin:

• Avid Log Exchange (ALE)

• Log Right (file names that have the .ale file name extension)

• Excalibur (file names that have the .ale file name extension)

• Shotlister

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

• Avid logs you create yourself, using a text editor (see “Creating Avid

Logs” on page 98)

• Logs converted into Avid format using Avid Log Exchange (file names that have the .ale file name extension)

Avid recommends that you convert any files not created on an Avid system into Avid format using Avid Log Exchange. Avid Log Exchange is included with most Avid video editing applications.

Table 7 lists the log formats that can be imported directly or converted for

import using Avid Log Exchange (ALE).

Table 7 Compatible Log Formats

Log Format Requirements File Name Extension

AatonBase Conversion required .atn or .atl

Avid Log Import directly .ale

CMX EDL Conversion required .cmx

Evertz Conversion required .ftl

Excalibur Conversion required .ale or .flx

FLEx Conversion required .flx

Keyscope Conversion required .ksl

100

Log Producer Conversion required .llp

Log right Import directly .ale

OSC/R (Macintosh only)

OLE (Windows only) Conversion required .odb

Conversion required .asc

For information about using Avid Log Exchange, see the input and output guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

Pinnacle Systems MediaLog - 11.7 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

Avid Educational Services

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

Installing MediaLog on a Windows System

Installing MediaLog on a Mac OS X System

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)

Using Help

Turning Off Your Equipment (Macintosh)

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