Pinnacle Systems MediaLog - 4.0 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; 5,905,841; 5,929,836; 5,930,445; 5,946,445; 5,987,501; 6,016,152; 6,018,337; 6,023,531; 6,058,236; 6,061,758; 6,091,778; 6,105,083; 6,118,444; 6,128,001; 6,134,607; 6,137,919; 6,141,691; 6,198,477; 6,201,531; 6,223,211; 6,249,280; 6,269,195; 6,317,158; 6,317,515; 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; 6,477,271; 6,489,969; 6,512,522; 6,532,043; 6,546,190; 6,552,731; 6,553,142; 6,570,624; 6,571,255; 6,583,824; 6,618,547; 6,636,869; 6,665,450; 6,678,461; D392,269; D396,853; D398,912. Other patents are 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.

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, Adrenaline, AirPlay, AirSPACE, AirSPACE HD, AniMatte, AudioSuite, AudioVision, AutoSync, Avid, Avid DNA, AVIDdrive, AVIDdrive Towers, Avid Mojo, 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, Digital Nonlinear Accelerator, DigiTranslator, 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, Nearchive, NetReview, NewsCutter, Nitris, OMF, OMF Interchange, OMM, Open Media Framework, Open Media Management, ProEncode, Pro Tools, QuietDrive, Recti-Fi, RetroLoop, rS9, rS18, Sci-Fi, Softimage, Sound Designer II, SPACE, SPACEShift, Symphony, the Avid|DS logo, 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. Final Cut Pro, 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, Carol Amore, Executive Producer. Windhorse — Courtesy of Paul Wagner Productions.

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 • 0130-07990-01 • June 2008

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

Symbols and Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

If You Need Help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

How to Order Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Avid Educational Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Chapter 1 Understanding MediaLog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

What Is MediaLog? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

How Does MediaLog Work? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

What Are the Basic Logging Steps? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Chapter 2 Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Setting Up the Hardware (Windows). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

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

Supported Decks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Turning On the Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Installing MediaLog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Installing MediaLog on a Windows System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Installing MediaLog on a Mac OS X System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Starting MediaLog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Changing Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Selecting a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Creating a New Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Selecting a Private Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Selecting a Shared Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Selecting an External Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Browsing for a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Using User Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Creating a User Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Importing a User Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Changing User Profiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Exporting a User Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Closing a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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

Saving Your Project Information on a Drive or Floppy Disk . . . . . . . . . 39

Restoring from a Backup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Ending a Work Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

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

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

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

Using Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

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

Exploring the Project Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

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

Changing Font and Point Size. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Working with Bins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Viewing a List of Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Displaying Folders of Bins in the Bins List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Creating a Folder in a Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

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

Describing Project Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

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

Defining Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

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

Film Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Bin Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Logging Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Displaying Project Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Working with Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Selecting Another User . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Modifying Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Restoring Default Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Using Site Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Viewing Keyboard Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Customizing Your Workspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Using the Format, Info and Usage Displays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

Using Other Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

About the Avid Calculator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Using the Communications (Serial) Ports Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Using the Console Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67

Understanding Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Configuring Decks and Setting Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Configuring Decks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Automatic Deck Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Manual Deck Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Deck Settings Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Deleting Deck Configuration Elements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Setting Deck Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Understanding Timecode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Preparing to Log Material. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Accessing and Setting Up the Logging Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Accessing the Logging Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Setting Up the Logging Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Guidelines for Naming Tapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Inserting Source Tapes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Selecting Active Tracks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Selecting the Target Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Selecting the Source Deck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Identifying the Source Tape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Setting the Audio Sample Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Logging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Logging from a Source Tape. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Marking and Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Adding a Memory Mark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Logging On-the-Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Pausing a Deck While Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Logging with the Deck Offline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Adding Clip Names and Comments On-the-Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Controlling Decks from the Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

Logging Film Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Modifying Clip Information After Logging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Creating Avid Logs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Importing Logs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Importing Standard Log Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Compatible Logs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Importing Log Files into MediaLog Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Transferring Bins from Another MediaLog System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Chapter 5 Organizing with Bins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Preparing to Work with Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Film Scene Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Setting the Bin Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Understanding Bin Display Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Brief View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Text View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Bin View Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Customizing Bin Views in Text View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

Saving a Custom Bin View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Bin Fast Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105

Basic Bin Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Selecting Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Duplicating Clips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Moving Clips. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Copying Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Deleting Clips and Subclips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Assigning Colors to Bin Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Adding a Color Column to a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Assigning a Source Color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Assigning a Custom Source Color. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Limiting Color Choices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Sifting Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Sifting Timecodes or Keycode Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112

Sifting Within a Range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Locking and Unlocking Items in a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Using Text View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Arranging Bin Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Moving and Rearranging Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Aligning Bin Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Showing and Hiding Columns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Deleting a Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

Duplicating a Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119

Adding Customized Columns to a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Changing a Custom Column Heading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Managing Clip Information in Text View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Moving Within Column Cells. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Copying Information Between Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Sorting Clips in Text View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Sorting Clips in Ascending Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Sorting Clips in Descending Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Multilevel Sorting with Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Sorting Clips by Color. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Displaying Timecodes in a 23.976p, 24p or 25p Project . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Frame Counting for Timecodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Adding Timecode Columns to a Bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Adding Timecode Values to the Timecode Columns . . . . . . . . . . 129

Bin Column Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Chapter 6 Creating MediaLog Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Printing Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Exporting Bins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

Transferring Bins to an Avid Editing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Transferring Projects and Bins Using AFE Files . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Appendix A Avid Log Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

Understanding Avid Log Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

Avid Log Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Global Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

Column Headings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

Data Entries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

Sample Avid Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

Appendix B Working with a Film Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155

Film and 24P Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

Setting the Film and Edge Type Ink Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

Transfer Settings for Film Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158

Setting the Pulldown Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Logging Film Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

Displaying Film Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

Entering Pulldown Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

Determining the Pulldown Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Modifying the Pulldown Phase Before Logging. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

Entering Frames-per-Second Rates for PAL Transfers . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

Entering Key Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

Tracking 3-Perf Counts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Entering Additional Timecodes (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Entering the Ink Number (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

Entering Additional Film Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Using This Guide

This guide provides information about the configuration and operation of

MediaLog™.

Avid

This guide is for video and film editors who wish to log clips before bringing them to an Avid editing system for batch capture and editing.

Unless noted otherwise, the material in this document applies to the Windows XP and Mac OS X operating systems.The majority of screen shots in this document were captured on a Windows XP system, but the information applies to both Windows XP and Mac OS X systems. Where differences exist, both Windows XP and Mac OS X screen shots are shown.

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.

Symbols and Conventions

Avid documentation uses the following symbols and conventions:

Symbol or Convention Meaning or Action

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.

Using This Guide

Symbol or Convention Meaning or Action

> This symbol indicates menu commands (and

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

k This symbol represents the Apple or Command key.

Margin tips

(Windows), (Windows only), (Macintosh), or (Macintosh only)

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

Courier Bold font

Ctrl+key or mouse action k+key or mouse action

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.

In the margin, you will find tips that help you perform tasks more easily and efficiently.

This text indicates that the information applies only to the specified operating system, either Windows XP or Macintosh OS X.

indicate variables.

Courier Bold font identifies text that you type.

Press and hold the first key while you press the last key or perform the mouse action. For example,

k+Option+C or Ctrl+drag.

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.

If You Need Help

If you are having trouble using Avid MediaLog:

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 for the latest information that might have become available after the documentation was published in one of two locations:

- If release notes are available, they ship with your application.

- If ReadMe files are available, they are supplied in your Avid

If You Need Help

application folder. ReadMe files are also available from Help.

The most up-to-date ReadMe files are available on the Avid Knowledge Base.

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

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

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).

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.

Using This Guide

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 Avid MediaLog

Avid MediaLog is a tool to select and log footage before your edit session. Although you can log footage with Avid editing system products, using Avid MediaLog frees up your Avid editing system for editing rather than for logging footage. After logging shots (for example, on a laptop), use your Avid editing system to capture and edit the footage. In addition, you can transfer film to National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) or Phase Alternating Line (PAL) video. Use Avid MediaLog to log the material and then transfer the logged shots (also known as clips) to an Avid editing system for capturing and editing.

This chapter answers the following questions:

• How to Use Avid MediaLog?

• How Does MediaLog Work?

• What Are the Basic Logging Steps?

How to Use Avid MediaLog?

Avid MediaLog is portable; you can install it on a laptop or on desktop computers running the Windows

X operating system. To log shots from a source tape, connect your

OS computer to a deck that uses Sony MediaLog, you control the deck while viewing your source tapes and selecting the shots for your log. You can also log without a deck and manually enter logging information.

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

2000, Windows XP Professional, or Mac

serial deck protocol. With Avid

Chapter 1 Understanding Avid MediaLog

Avid 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 identify the footage.

Once you have created a log, the Avid 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.

You can also use Avid MediaLog to output an AFE file. AFE files are designed to transfer project information between Avid editing systems.

How Does Avid MediaLog Work?

The Avid MediaLog system uses clips, bins, and projects to organize your work.

Avid 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, Avid 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 that have built-in database capabilities to help you easily find a specific shot.

Sample Bin

How Does Avid MediaLog Work?

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.

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.

Avid 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.

Chapter 1 Understanding Avid MediaLog

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

Sample Project window

Bin names

What Are the Basic Logging Steps?

To perform a logging session:

1. Start your computer and the Avid MediaLog program.

2. Create a new or open an existing project.

3. Create a new or open an existing bin.

4. Prepare to log: a. Select a video format. b. Enter Logging mode. c. Select a source name.

5. Select the tracks you want to log from the tape.

6. Log the clips.

7. Save and organize the bin.

8. Quit the Avid MediaLog application, and (optionally) shut down the computer.

Chapter 2

Getting Started

This chapter describes how to set up the hardware and run Avid MediaLog sessions. It includes the following topics:

• Setting Up the Hardware (Windows)

• Setting Up the Hardware (Macintosh)

• Supported Decks

• Turning On the Hardware

• Installing Avid MediaLog

• Starting Avid MediaLog

• 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 2000 or Windows XP operating system.

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

Avid MediaLog can control a deck that uses Sony serial deck protocol and a timecode reader. Manually control a single deck by connecting an RS-232 to RS-422 serial adapter kit to the serial port of your computer. Avid MediaLog can also control a deck through V-LAN

VLXi® connections.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

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

Turn off the computer and the deck when you are connecting the serial cable.

To connect a single deck to your PC:

1. Shut down 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 have to select the port in the Avid software.

Serial adapter

RS-422 connection

To your deck

4. Attach one end of the second 9-pin cable to the end of the serial adapter labeled RS-422.

5. Attach the other end of the second 9-pin cable to the remote serial port of the deck.

Set the deck to Remote mode before you attempt to control the deck using the software.

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

RS-232 connection

To your computer

Setting Up the Hardware (Macintosh)

Make sure your computer meets the following requirements:

• The computer is running the Mac OS X operating system. See the release notes for the supported version.

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

Avid MediaLog can control a deck that uses Sony serial deck protocol and a timecode reader.

Turn off the computer and the deck 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-serial 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.)

USB hub

USB-to-serial adapter

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

Chapter 2 Getting Started

Adjust the switch on the video deck to Remote mode before using 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 assure 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 are logging clips using a deck, turn on the deck. Set the REMOTE/LOCAL switch on the deck to REMOTE.

3. Start the computer.

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

You can now install the Avid MediaLog software.

Installing Avid MediaLog

This section describes how to install the Avid MediaLog software.

Installing Avid MediaLog

Do not install the Avid MediaLog application on disks where you store media.

If you install Avid MediaLog on an Avid editing system, make sure the Avid MediaLog application is in a folder separate from the Avid editing application. Each application has its own preferences.

Installing Avid MediaLog on a Windows System

You can install Avid MediaLog on the following Windows operating systems:

• Windows 2000

• Windows XP Professional

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

For information on installing Avid MediaLog from the Avid editing application CD-ROM, see the release notes for your Avid editing system.

To install Avid MediaLog software on a Windows system:

1. Quit all Windows applications.

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

If the installer does not 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 Avid MediaLog Installer CD-ROM window opens.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

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 Avid MediaLog application).

Installing Avid MediaLog on a Mac OS X System

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

The Macintosh version of Avid MediaLog v11.7 and later runs only on the Mac OS X operating system. See the Avid MediaLog ReadMe file for more information.

To install Avid 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 Avid MediaLog CD-ROM into your computer’s CD-ROM drive.

4. Double-click the Avid MediaLog Installer icon. Follow the online instructions to install the software.

Starting Avid MediaLog

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

To start Avid MediaLog:

1. Turn on the video deck.

2. If you are using a deck, set the REMOTE/LOCAL switch on the deck to REMOTE.

3. Turn on the computer.

Starting Avid MediaLog

Do not run any other Avid editing application on the computer at the same time as the Avid MediaLog application. The two applications 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 Avid MediaLog folder to open it and

then double-click the Avid MediaLog application icon to start Avid MediaLog.

The Select Project dialog box appears.

Changing Users

Your login name is selected as the user. You can change users by logging in through a different name. You can also establish user profiles.

To change users:

1. Quit the Avid application.

2. Do one of the following:

t (Windows) Select Start > Log Off, and then log in as a different user. t (Macintosh) Select Apple P menu > Log Out, click Log Out, and

then click a new user.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

(Macintosh only) You have to create a new user before you can change to that user. See your Macintosh documentation or the Macintosh Help.

Selecting a Project

You can select a project from a private folder, a shared folder, or a folder anywhere on your system. You can also create a project in any of these folders. The path of the folder appears in the Folder text box in the Select Project dialog box.

3. Start the Avid application. Your current login name appears as the User in the Select Project dialog

box.

Folder path

Folder options

The following table lists the default folder locations for each folder option:

Folder Option Folder Path

Private (Windows) C:\Program Files\Avid\Avid MediaLog\Avid

Shared (Windows) C:\Program Files\Avid\Avid MediaLog\Avid Projects

External Last folder opened through Browse button.

Creating a New Project

To create a new project:

Starting Avid MediaLog

Projects\login name (Macintosh) Macintosh HD/Users/Shared/MediaLog/Avid

Projects/login name

(Macintosh) Macintosh HD/Users/Shared/MediaLog/Avid Projects

1. In the Select Project dialog box, select the folder in which you want to create the project: private, shared, or external.

2. Click New Project. The New Project dialog box opens.

3. Type the name of your new project 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 compatible File Names 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. If you are using your Avid application as a standalone editor (and do not plan to move your bins or projects to another platform), you have the option of extending bin and project names to 31 characters using the Allow filenames to exceed 27 characters option in the General Settings dialog box.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

4. Click the Format pop-up menu and select a project type based on your source footage.

The following table lists the available format options.

References to 24p projects include 23.976p projects unless otherwise noted.

Project Type Source Footage Transfer

23.976p NTSC For film-originated or video-originated footage that has been shot at 23.976 fps or film-originated footage transferred on digital videotape (such as Digital Betacam

24p NTSC For film-originated or other 24-fps footage

transferred to NTSC videotape

30i NTSC For NTSC video-originated or other 30-fps footage

transferred to NTSC videotape

24p PAL For film-originated or other 24-fps footage

transferred to PAL videotape at 25 fps

25p PAL For 25-fps film footage transferred to PAL videotape

25i PAL For PAL video-originated footage (25 fps)

720p/59.94 HD broadcast. For video-originated footage

transferred to this format

1080p/23.976 HD online. For film-originated footage transferred to

this format

)

1080p/25 HD online. For film-originated footage transferred to

this format

1080i/50 HD broadcast. For video-originated footage

transferred to this format

1080i/59.94 HD broadcast. For video-originated footage

transferred to this format

Starting Avid MediaLog

5. Select the following additional options:

- For 23.976p, 24p, 25p, and 1080p film projects, click the Film button and select a film gauge tracking format from the Film Type pop-up menu.

- For 24p PAL projects, select an audio transfer rate. For information on audio transfer rates, see “Transfer Settings for Film Projects” on

page 158.

- For 25i PAL, 30i NTSC, and 1080i Matchback projects, select Matchback, click the Film Type pop-up menu, and select a film format.

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.

6. Click OK. The system creates the new project files and folder, and then returns to the

Select Project dialog box. The project name is highlighted in the Projects scroll list.

7. Select a user profile. (See “Using User Profiles” on page 36.)

8. Do one of the following:

t Select a project and click OK. t Double-click a project name.

The Project window, the Composer monitor, and the Timeline open with the selected User settings loaded.

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 a project. These settings provide the system with important information about the type of film and audio transfer you used for your job. For more information, see “Working

with a Film Project” on page 155.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

Selecting a Private Project

The default location for the private projects folder is

• (Windows) C:\Program Files\Avid\Avid MediaLog\Avid Projects\login

name

• (Macintosh) Macintosh HD/Users/Shared/MediaLog/Avid Projects/login

name

Creating or storing a project in a private folder does not prevent other users from navigating to or opening the folder.

To select a private project:

1. Start the Avid application. The Select Project dialog box opens.

Private folder location

Private option selected

2. Click Private in the Select a Project area. Your private projects appear.

You cannot type into the User or Folder text boxes.

3. Do one of the following:

t Select a project and click OK. t Double-click a project name.

The Project window, the Composer monitor, and the Timeline open with the selected User settings loaded.

Selecting a Shared Project

The default path for the shared projects folder is

• (Windows) C:\Program Files\Avid\Avid MediaLog\Avid Projects

• (Macintosh) Macintosh HD/Users/Shared/MediaLog/Avid Projects

To select a shared project:

1. Start the Avid application. The Select Project dialog box opens.

Starting Avid MediaLog

Shared folder Location

Shared option selected

2. Click Shared in the Select a Project area.

You cannot type into the User or Folder text boxes.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

3. Do one of the following:

t Select a project and click OK. t Double-click a project name.

The Project window, the Composer monitor, and the Timeline open with the selected User settings loaded.

Selecting an External Project

You can select a project that is located outside of the Avid Projects folder.

To select an external project:

1. Start the Avid application. The Select Project dialog box opens.

Browse button

2. In the Select Project dialog box, click External. The projects displayed are those you most recently navigated to by using

the browse button.

Browsing for a Project

Starting Avid MediaLog

3. Do one of the following:

t Select a project and click OK. t Double-click a project name.

The Project window, the Composer monitor, and the Timeline open with the selected User settings loaded.

To browse for a project in a location other than the default folders:

1. Start the Avid application. The Select Project dialog box opens.

2. Click the Browse button.

Browse button

3. The Browse for Folder (Windows) or Project Directory (Macintosh) dialog box opens.

4. Navigate to the folder that contains the project you want.

5. Click OK (Windows) or Choose (Macintosh).

6. Do one of the following:

t Select a project and click OK. t Double-click a project name.

The Project window, the Composer monitor, and the Timeline open with the selected User settings loaded.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

Using User Profiles

You can establish different profiles for a single user without having to log out of your system and log back in under a different name (see “Changing Users”

on page 27). Separate editing functions to have separate settings. User

“Editor,” for example, can have separate profiles for “Audio editor,” “Film editor,” or for “Assistant 1,” “Assistant 2,” and so on. These profiles have separate folders and settings that are kept in the following folders:

• (Windows) C:\Program Files\Avid\Avid MediaLog\Avid Users\login

• (Macintosh) Macintosh HD/Users/Shared/MediaLog/Avid Users/login

You can also import a user or user profile from another location.

Creating a User Profile

To create a user profile:

1. Click the Settings tab in the Project window.

name

2. Click the User Profile Selection pop-up menu, and select Create User Profile.

User Profile Selection pop-up menu

3. Type a name in the Profile Name text box and then click OK.

Importing a User Profile

To import user settings from another user or user profile:

1. Click the Settings tab in the Project window.

2. Click the User Profile Selection pop-up menu and select Import User or

3. Navigate to the user or user profile you want to import.

Starting Avid MediaLog

The Create User Profile dialog box opens.

The new user profile appears selected in the pop-up menu and the user profile name appears in the Project window title bar.

User Profile.

Changing User Profiles

To change user profiles:

To return to the original user profile:

When you select the original user profile, your login name appears in the Project window title bar. When you select another user profile, the user profile name appears in the Project window title bar.

1. Click the Settings tab in the Project window.

2. Click the User Profile Selection pop-up menu and select another user profile.

1. Click the Settings tab in the Project window.

2. Click the User Profile Selection pop-up menu and select the original user profile.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

Exporting a User Profile

If you are using a user profile other than the default and you change to another project, the default user settings are loaded, even though the Project window still displays your non-default user profile name. You must reselect the user profile you want to have active.

You can create a user profile on one system, export it to a server and then import the same user profile from another system to the new system. Export the user profile as a Personal profile or a Group profile.

When you choose Personal, the user profile performs an autoload and auto save every time you open a project. Every time you update the user profile, it saves the new profile information. For example, you can create the user profile Jennie on one system, export it to another location (server) and then import it to a different system. Every time you make any changes to the Jennie user profile, it updates to the server and when you open the Jennie user profile on either system, it uses the most recent Jennie user profile.

When you choose Group, the user profile autoloads but does not auto save. Changes made to the user profile only affects the system the changes were made on, the changes do not update to the server.

To export user settings to another user or user profile:

1. Click the Settings tab in the Project window.

2. Click the User Profile Selection pop-up menu and select Export User or User Profile.

3. Choose Personal or Group.

4. Navigate to the location where you want to place the user or user profile.

Closing a Project

When you close the current project, you return to the Select Project dialog box.

To close the current project, do one of the following:

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

Backing Up Your Project Information

Although Avid MediaLog automatically saves your bins, projects, and settings, you should back up these items frequently to avoid losing any of your work if your hard drive fails. Because the storage requirements are minimal, you can back up these files to a variety of storage devices, such as:

• Floppy disk or equivalent drive

• Removable storage device

• Network storage device (such as a file server)

To back up the larger media files created when you capture footage, use a high-capacity storage device. For information on backing up media files, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

Saving Your Project Information on a Drive or Floppy Disk

To save your work on a floppy disk or equivalent device:

1. Close Avid MediaLog.

2. Mount the drive or insert a floppy disk as appropriate.

3. (Windows only) From the Windows desktop, double-click the My Computer icon.

4. Double-click the icon for the destination storage drive or floppy drive to open it. Double-click any additional folders to target the appropriate storage location.

5. Double-click the internal hard drive to open it.

6. Navigate to the project folder and drag the folder to the targeted storage location. For the default locations of project folders, see “Selecting a

Project” on page 28.

7. When the system finishes copying the files, unmount the drive or eject the floppy disk and store it where appropriate.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

Restoring from a Backup

To restore a project, user profile, or settings from a backup storage device:

1. Make sure Avid MediaLog is closed.

2. Mount the drive or insert a floppy disk as appropriate that contains the backup copies you want to restore.

3. From the desktop, double-click the drive or floppy disk and the internal hard drive.

4. Drag the project folders from the storage device to the appropriate folder on the internal hard drive. For the default locations of project folders, see

“Selecting a Project” on page 28.

When you start Avid MediaLog, the restored project is displayed in the Select Project dialog box.

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 Avid MediaLog Application

• Turning Off Your Equipment (Windows)

• Turning Off Your Equipment (Macintosh)

Quitting the Avid MediaLog Application

There are two ways to quit the Avid 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 Avid 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 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 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.

Ending a Work Session

6. Turn off all other hardware.

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

Turning Off Your Equipment (Macintosh)

To turn off your equipment:

1. 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.

Chapter 2 Getting Started

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

4. Turn off all other hardware.

Using Help

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

You can get help and background information for tasks, windows, dialog boxes, and screen objects through your Avid Help system. The Help system is HTML based and operates in the Microsoft 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.

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

Navigator, select Netscape > Quit.

t Navigate to another Web site.

Internet Explorer Web browser.

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

• Working with Bins

• Describing Project Settings

• Using the Format, Info and Usage Displays

• Using Other Tools

This chapter refers to the installation default directory path for the various Avid folders. If you selected a different directory path during the installation, you must substitute that path when using this chapter.

Exploring the Project Window

The Project window provides controls (Bins, Settings, Format, 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.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

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 Project dialog box.

To close the Project window and return to the Select 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.

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.

The following table describes the windows you can change and where these changes are saved.

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).

Exploring the Project Window

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.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

Working with Bins

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.

Viewing a List of Bins

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

Bins list

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.

Fast Menu button

New folders

Trash icon

Working with Bins

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 does not appear until you select and delete a bin.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

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.

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.

Renaming a Bin

You can keep the default name of the bin or rename the bin immediately. For more information, see “Renaming a Bin” on page 48.

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.

Working with Bins

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

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.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

2. Find and select the bin you want. (Windows only) Bins have the file name extension .avb.

Closing a Bin

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.

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

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

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

Working with Bins

You can empty the contents of the Trash that is located in the Bins list.

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

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

To empty the Trash in the Bins list:

1. Select Fast > Empty Trash. A message box is displayed.

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

Avid 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\Avid MediaLog\Avid Attic folder (Macintosh) Macintosh HD:/Users/Shared/MediaLog/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.

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.

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.

Saving Bins Manually

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.

Working with Bins

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

Describing Project Settings

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.

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 Avid 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.

Describing Project Settings

• 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.

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

The following table 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.

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 binrelated parameters.

Bin View Selects and formats the information

displayed in bins.

Communication (Serial) Ports

Configures the serial ports on your system for deck control.

Information

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

See “Bin Settings” on

page 57.

See “Bin View Menu”

on page 104.

See “Using the

Communications (Serial) Ports Tool” on page 65.

Deck Configuration

Deck Preferences Sets preferences that affect all decks

Configures channels and decks into the system.

configured into the system.

See “Configuring

Decks and Setting Preferences” on page 68.

See “Setting Deck

Preferences” on page 75.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

Settings Scroll List (Continued)

Setting Name Description

For More Information

Defining Settings

Film Sets parameters for edit play rate, ink

number format, and transfer rate.

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

Keyboard Maps commands from the Command

palette to the keyboard.

Logging Allows you to enable the Pause Deck

While Logging feature, map function keys, and specify a preset duration for subclips.

Workspace Enables you to associate settings and

windows with a workspace.

See “Film and 24P

Settings” on page 156.

on page 93.

See “Viewing

Keyboard Settings” on page 62.

See “Pausing a Deck

While Logging” on page 88.

See “Working with

Bins” on page 46.

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,

and organizing projects

• Project settings — Reflect the specific needs of the project

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

Never use a User settings file that was opened in an Avid editing application such as Avid Symphony, Media Composer, Film Composer, Avid Xpres s , or Avid New sCutter.

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 SettingsBin Settings

• Logging Settings

To view the settings:

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

Film Settings

Film settings determine essential parameters for accurately capturing, tracking, and editing source material for 23.976p, 24p, 25p, and 1080p projects. For a description of film settings, see “Film and 24P Settings” on

page 156.

Bin Settings

The Bin Settings dialog box controls the Avid MediaLog’s automatic save features, including the number of backups saved in the Avid Attic folder. The following table describes the Automatic Save and Backup options, and the results of double-clicking an object in a bin.

Describing Project Settings

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 autosave 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.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

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 let you define whether the deck will pause during a logging operation. See “Pausing a Deck While Logging” on page 88.

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 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.

The following table describes the different settings display groups.

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.

Working with Settings

Describing Project Settings

You can view and modify most of your current settings by double-clicking them in the Settings scroll list of the Project window and by selecting new options. You can duplicate, rename, copy, and move settings among files or systems.

Selecting Another User

Because User settings are not project or site specific, you can display another set of User settings in the Project window.

To select another user:

1. Click the Settings tab in the Project window. The Settings scroll list appears.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

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

User pop-up menu

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

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, open a settings window and press F1 (Windows) or the Help key (Macintosh).

Restoring Default Settings

To restore settings to their default values:

1. Click the Settings tab in the Project window. The Settings scroll list appears.

2. Click a setting to select it. Ctrl+click (Windows) or Shift+click (Macintosh) each additional setting you want to select.

3. 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

Describing Project Settings

When the system opens a new project, it searches for the Site_Settings file in the following path:

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

• (Macintosh) Macintosh HD:/Applications/MediaLog/ML Settings

The system loads Site settings and any settings placed in the file and 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.

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 Project dialog box use these settings as the default settings.

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

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 Avid MediaLog.

To view keyboard settings:

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

Customizing Your Workspace

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 matches that keyboard.

Your workspace defines how you arrange and size the windows on the desktop of the Avid editing application. If you like to work with a particular group of windows arranged and sized in a particular setup, you can assign them to a workspace setting that you can then recall with a Workspace button. For example, during logging you might want to display the Logging tool and bins in specific locations.

While in a workspace, you can move tool windows or open and close tool windows. The next time you select that workspace, the tool windows appear with either:

• The arrangement from the last time you left the workspace

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

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

Using the Format, Info and Usage Displays

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 Format, Info and Usage Displays

The following types of information are also available on the Project window:

•The Format display allows you to view the video format selected in the

New Project dialog box.

•The Info display allows you to view basic project information. 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 Format, Info, or Usage display:

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

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

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

Using Other Tools

The Avid MediaLog application provides access to the following tools for use while logging clips:

• Avid Calculator

• Communications (Serial) Ports tool

•Console window

About the Avid Calculator

The Avid Calculator helps you calculate video and film durations, and convert timecode and film key numbers to different formats.

For example, you can:

• Convert drop-frame to non-drop-frame timecode values.

• Convert timecode durations between 30-fps and 25-fps projects.

• Convert a duration in video to the corresponding length in footage and frames for measuring 35mm film.

To use the Avid Calculator:

1. Select Tools > Calculator. The Avid Calculator opens.

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 Avid MediaLog or shutting down the computer.

Using Other Tools

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 is 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 and Setting Preferences” on page 68). You can change the port in the Communications (Serial) Ports tool, but whenever Avid MediaLog starts it uses 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

Chapter 3 Working with the Project Window

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 4

Logging Source Material

You use Avid MediaLog to log your clips in preparation for capturing later when using Avid editing applications.

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Understanding Logging

• Configuring Decks and Setting Preferences

• Understanding Timecode

• Preparing to Log Material

• Logging

• Logging Film Information

• Modifying Clip Information After Logging

• Creating Avid Logs

• Importing Logs

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

Understanding Logging

Avid 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 capture their material later in the Avid editing application.

There are three basic methods for producing a bin or log that you can use later for batch capturing:

• Logging directly to a bin

• Importing standard log files to a bin

• Creating Avid logs

The Avid 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 already logged the data on paper, you can manually record clip data in a bin.

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

Configuring Decks and Setting Preferences

Attach and configure your deck, and then set deck preferences within the Avid MediaLog application.

See the next section to configure a deck and then go to “Setting Deck

Preferences” on page 75.

Configuring Decks

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

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

Configuring Decks and Setting Preferences

Automatic Deck Configuration

Manual Deck Configuration

Avid MediaLog does not override the manually specified configurations.

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 69.

To automatically sense the attached deck:

t Select Special > Autoconfigure All Ports.

Avid MediaLog searches the system ports and configures the attached decks.

Avid 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. You can also delete stored deck configurations.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

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

Deck settings

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

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

For information on setting Deck Preferences, see “Setting Deck Preferences”

on page 75.

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.

Configuring Decks and Setting Preferences

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.

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.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

Channel boxes appear on the left side.

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. A new channel appears in the display area of the Deck Configuration

dialog box, along with the autoconfigured deck.

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.

Configuring Decks and Setting Preferences

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

9. Select settings based on your deck. For information on Deck settings, see

“Deck Settings Options” on page 73.

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 Avid 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 75.

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

capture tool.

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

Configuring Decks and Setting Preferences

The following table describes the Deck Settings options.

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.

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 capture or

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

The Preroll option has no effect in Avid 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.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

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.

The following table describes the Deck Preferences options.

Deck Preferences Options

Option Description

Configuring Decks and Setting Preferences

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 keyboard.

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

Stop any paused decks when quitting

Poll deck during digital cut

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 Timecode” on page 77).

Not Applicable.

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 capture tool and Deck Controller tool always stops the decks. (Select Tools > New Deck Controller to access the Deck Controller tool.)

when you release it.

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

Not Applicable.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

Understanding Timecode

Timecode is an electronic indexing method that denotes hours, minutes, seconds, and frames that have elapsed on a videotape. For example, a timecode of 01:03:30:10 denotes a frame that is marked at 1 hour, 3 minutes, 30 seconds, and 10 frames.

NTSC video (the video format used mainly in the United States) uses one of two formats: drop-frame timecode and non-drop-frame timecode. Drop-frame (DF) timecode is designed to match the NTSC scan rate of 29.97 frames per second (fps). Two frames of timecode are dropped every minute except for the tenth minute. No video frames are 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-dropframe 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

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

Drop-frame timecode

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

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

Preparing to Log Material

Avid MediaLog provides two special tools for logging source material:

• The Logging tool, which contains:

- Source deck controls

- Marking and logging controls

Preparing to Log Material

- 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.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

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

“Getting Started” on page 21.

2. Select Bin > Go To Logging Mode. The Logging tool opens.

Mark IN button

Channel Selection area

Enable timecode button

Triangular opener

Deck controller

Guidelines for Naming Tapes

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

• Devise a naming scheme. You may prefer tapes of similar names because they are easy to sort and view together in a bin but distinguishing among them is difficult when you try to quickly locate a specific tape. Name the tapes based on the amount and complexity of your source material.

Preparing to Log Material

• Use unique names. The system cannot distinguish between two tapes with the same name and between two bins or clips with the same name. For example, if two tapes are named 001, you might encounter problems correctly associating their clips with the correct physical tapes.

• Use alphanumeric characters (A–Z, 0–9), with no spaces before the name. Characters can be uppercase and lowercase. The maximum length of a name is 31 characters.

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

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

• Be cautious when changing the tape name. After you provide a name for a

Inserting Source Tapes

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

tape is 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.

tape source, any change to the 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.

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

2. Insert a tape into the deck.

3. Select Bin > Go To Logging Mode. The Deck Controller tool opens as part of the Logging tool.

Fast Forward button Rewind button

Stop button

Pause button

Deck Name pop-up menu

Source tape timecode Shuttle button

Valid timecode indicator

Single-Frame Backward button

Single-Frame Forward button

Eject button

Play button

Source Tape Display button

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

Selecting Active Tracks

The Logging tool captures information about the active tracks. Avid MediaLog automatically activates the tracks that were active in the previous session.

To change these settings:

t Click tracks in the Channel Selection area of the Logging tool to activate

or deactivate them.

Selecting the Target Bin

You select a target bin in which you want to organize your logged material.

To select a target bin:

t Click the Bin pop-up menu in the Logging tool and make a selection.

For more information on working with bins, see “Organizing with

Bins” on page 99.

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.

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.

Preparing to Log Material

For information about deck preferences, see

“Setting Deck Preferences” on page 75.

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

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

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 Timecode”

on page 77.

For information on tape naming conventions, see “Guidelines for

Naming Tapes” on page 79.

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.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

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

Logging

The following methods are available for logging:

• Logging from a Source Tape

• Logging On-the-Fly

• Pausing a Deck While Logging

• Logging with the Deck Offline

• Adding Clip Names and Comments On-the-Fly

• Controlling Decks from the Keyboard

Logging from a Source Tape

One method of logging is to use Avid 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 and Setting Preferences” on page 68 and

“Preparing to Log Material” on page 78. 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.

Logging

Mark IN button

Clip name and Comment heading

Bin name

Mark IN button

Mark OUT button

Source tape display button

Marking and 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

Mark Memory buttonDuration Mark button

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, Avid MediaLog is ready to log the clip.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

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 appears in the top left corner of the Logging tool.

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

Mark IN

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

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

Mark OUT

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

or press the F4 key.

Go To IN

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

Go To OUT

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.

Mark OUT and Log

Mark IN and Log

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 88.

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 159 and “Entering Pulldown Information” on page 163.

3. To finish logging the clip, do one of the following: t Set the remaining IN or OUT points 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 IN point, OUT point, or duration in the

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

Logging

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 change.

Adding a Memory Mark

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

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 accept the clip name and proceed with the logging process and change the clip names in the bin at a later time.

While viewing the footage, you can continuously update your marks on-the-fly by clicking the Mark IN or the Mark OUT button repeatedly before entering the second mark. See “Logging On-the-Fly” on page 87.

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

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.

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

5. Repeat these steps until all your clips are logged.

To mark the location:

t Click the Mark Memory button.

Clear Memory button

Go To Memory buttonMark Memory button

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

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.

Logging On-the-Fly

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

• “Selecting the Source Deck” on page 81

• “Identifying the Source Tape” on page 82

• “Setting the Audio Sample Rate” on page 83

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 ready to change. 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 Avid 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.

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.

Logging

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.

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.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

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).

14. Click the Log Clip button.

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

Adding Clip Names and Comments On-the-Fly

The Avid system’s Annotate feature allows you to type clip names and comments during logging. This information is saved in the clip Name and Comments columns in the bin. You can add comments about such things as color correction or directions for editing.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

To carry your comments over to the sequence so that they will appear in the Timeline, in cut lists, or in EDLs, you must add the comments again when creating the sequence by using the Add Comments command in the Clip Name menu.

To add clip names and comments on-the-fly:

1. Start typing the clip name at any time during logging of a clip. The Annotate window opens on screen, allowing you to see the text as you

type.

2. After typing the clip name, press the Tab key and begin typing comments. You cannot edit the text until after the capture is complete, but you can backspace to retype the comments.

Controlling Decks from the Keyboard

You can use the J-K-L keys to control a deck while logging.

J-K-L Functions for Deck Control

Press To

K Stop the deck.

L Shuttle the deck at 1x, 2x, 3x, 5x, 8x, 16x, or 24x normal speed.

J Shuttle the deck at –1x, –2x, –3x, –5x, –8x, –16x, or –24x normal

speed.

K+L Shuttle the deck at 0.25x normal speed.

J+K Shuttle the deck at –0.25x normal speed.

The following restrictions apply:

• The Logging tool window must be selected for keys to be active.

• Single-field stepping is not supported.

Logging Film Information

After entering or importing the basic log information into a bin, you can then add film-related log information before capturing. For information, see

“Working with a Film Project” on page 155.

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 capturing:

• 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 159.

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 Avid MediaLog bins.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

“Avid Log Specifications” on page 143 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 Avid MediaLog as described in “Importing Log Files into

MediaLog Bins” on page 94.

Importing Logs

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

Importing Standard Log Files

If you are transferring film to video for logging in Avid 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 Avid MediaLog bins or use Avid Log Exchange to convert other film-to-tape logs to Avid format and then import them into Avid MediaLog. A number of video logging systems also produce files you can import into a Avid MediaLog bin.

Compatible Logs

Use the File > Import command to import these files to a Avid 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

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

Logs” on page 92)

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

Importing Logs

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.

The following table lists the log formats that can be imported directly or converted for import using Avid Log Exchange (ALE).

Compatible Log Formats

Log Format Requirements File Name Extension

AatonBase Conversion required .atn or .atl

Avid Log Import directly .ale

Cinema Tools Conversion required .txt

CMX EDL Conversion required .cmx

Evertz Conversion required .ftl

Excalibur Conversion required .ale or .flx

Final Cut Pro

FLEx Conversion required .flx

™

Conversion required .txt

Keyscope Conversion required .ksl

Log Producer Conversion required .llp

Log right Import directly .ale

OSC/R (Macintosh only) Conversion required .asc

OLE (Windows only) Conversion required .odb

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

Importing Log Files into Avid MediaLog Bins

To import log files into a Avid MediaLog bin:

1. Open a bin and click its window to select it.

2. Select File > Import.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

The Select files to Import dialog box opens. For Windows, select Files of type > Shot Log Files (*.ale). For Macintosh, Shot Log Documents is already selected as the file type.

3. Navigate to the drive and then to the folder that contains the log file you want to import.

If the log is on a floppy disk, insert the floppy disk into the floppy drive.

4. (Option) If you want to adjust import parameters for the shot log, click the Options button.

The Import Settings dialog box opens.

5. Select one of the options from the following table and click OK.

Import Settings Options

Option Description

Maintain events as logged. Select this option to maintain events as originally logged.

Combine events based on scene and automatically create subclips.

Combine events based on camera roll and automatically create subclips.

Select this option to combine all the events for a scene into a single master clip. Then, link the master clip to subclips that represent the original events for that scene. To use this option, you must have scene numbers logged into a scene column in the bin.

Select this option to combine all the events from a camera roll into a single master clip. Then, link the master clip to subclips that represent the original events for that camera roll. To use this option, you must have camera roll numbers logged into a camera roll column in the bin for a film project.

Import Settings Options (Continued)

Option Description

Importing Logs

Merge events with known sources and automatically create subclips.

Merge events with known master clips. Select this option to merge information in the shot log onto

Select this option to create subclips for events that are merged or relinked to their source clips upon import. Use this option if you have already entered master clips in a bin for each camera roll or master scene and have subsequently logged all the events related to those clips for import.

You must select the clips that you want to merge

before selecting this option.

selected master clips based on the matching tape name. Use this option if you have already logged (or captured) master clips in a bin for each take.

You must select the clips that you want to merge

before selecting this option.

6. Select files or deselect files from the source file list by doing one of the following:

t (Windows only) To add a group of files, click the first file in a group,

and then Shift+click the last file in a group.

t To deselect a single file from the file browser section (Windows) or

import section, Ctrl+click a highlighted file name (Windows) or select a file name and click Remove (Macintosh).

7. Click Open (Windows) or Done (Macintosh) to import the selected logs to the bin, or click Cancel to cancel the operation.

The bin fills with master clips derived from the information in the imported shot log. Any additional information logged with each clip is also imported.

8. To save the new master clips that came from importing the log, save the bin.

Chapter 4 Logging Source Material

Transferring Bins from Another Avid MediaLog System

Avid MediaLog bins are interchangeable with those of other releases. In general, later releases of the Avid MediaLog application accept bins from earlier releases.

To transfer a bin from one Avid MediaLog system to another Avid MediaLog system:

1. Save Avid MediaLog project bins from the first Avid MediaLog system on a floppy disk.

2. Go to your second Avid MediaLog system and quit the Avid MediaLog application.

3. Locate the project folder where you want to store the Avid MediaLog bins and double-click it to open it.

For information about the default paths for project folders, see “Selecting

a Project” on page 28.

4. Insert the transfer floppy disk into the floppy drive on the second Avid MediaLog system.

5. Navigate to the floppy drive.

6. Position the floppy drive window and your Avid MediaLog project folder window so you can see both.

7. Select (click) the Avid MediaLog bins in the floppy drive window and drag them to your Avid MediaLog project folder.

When you start your Avid MediaLog program, open the imported bins in the same way you open standard Avid MediaLog bins.

Chapter 5

Organizing with Bins

The Avid system provides powerful database tools for organizing and managing your captured material. You can view bins in two different display views. You can rename, print, sort, sift, duplicate, and delete clips.

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Preparing to Work with Bins

• Understanding Bin Display Views

• Basic Bin Procedures

• Using Text View

Preparing to Work with Bins

Before organizing a project, you may want to follow these procedures since it affects the display of information in bins or the way the clips play back during screening:

• When working with film projects, organize captured clips according to the scene. This practice keeps crowded bins to a minimum. See “Film Scene

Workflow” on page 100.

• If you want to customize the types of objects displayed in a bin, see

“Setting the Bin Display” on page 100.

• If you need to group or multigroup material, see the editing guide or user’s guide for your Avid editing system.

Chapter 5 Organizing with Bins

Film Scene Workflow

During the organizing phase, common practice on film productions is to organize the captured clips according to a scene. This helps to simplify the work environment for the editor and keeps crowded bins to a minimum.

Organize scene bins according to the following basic workflow:

1. Create one bin for each scene using the procedures described in “Creating

a New Bin” on page 48.

2. Gather clips according to scene using one of the following optional procedures:

t Copy clips for each scene from the dailies bins into the appropriate

t Duplicate the clips and then move the duplicates into the appropriate

3. Proceed to sort, sift, and organize the clips within each scene bin, according to the editor’s preferences.

scene bin, using procedures described in “Copying Clips” on

page 107.

scene bin, using procedures described in “Duplicating Clips” on

page 107.

It is good practice to copy or duplicate clips as you reorganize them in bins. As a result, the original source clips remain in the appropriate dailies bin if you ever need to recapture according to source tape.

Setting the Bin Display

By default, your bins display all existing media objects except source clips and rendered effects. To reduce crowding in the bin and to display only those objects required to organize your project, you can display selected media objects.

You can use the Set Bin Display option to display clips referenced by a sequence, even if the clips were not previously in the bin. Place a sequence in a new bin and follow this procedure.

To set the bin display:

1. Click the window of the bin that you want to display.

2. Select Bin > Set Bin Display.

100

Pinnacle Systems MediaLog - 4.0 User’s Guide

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

Contents

Using This Guide

Symbols and Conventions

If You Need Help

How to Order Documentation

Avid Educational Services

Understanding Avid MediaLog

How to Use Avid MediaLog?

How Does Avid 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 Avid MediaLog

Installing Avid MediaLog on a Windows System

Installing Avid MediaLog on a Mac OS X System

Starting Avid MediaLog

Changing Users

Selecting a Project

Creating a New Project

Selecting a Private Project

Selecting a Shared Project

Selecting an External Project

Browsing for a Project

Using User Profiles

Creating a User Profile

Importing a User Profile

Changing User Profiles

Exporting a User Profile

Closing a Project

Backing Up Your Project Information

Saving Your Project Information on a Drive or Floppy Disk

Restoring from a Backup

Ending a Work Session

Quitting the Avid MediaLog Application

Turning Off Your Equipment (Windows)

Turning Off Your Equipment (Macintosh)

Using Help

Working with the Project Window

Exploring the Project Window

Opening and Closing the Project Window

Changing Font and Point Size

Working with Bins

Viewing a List of Bins

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

Describing Project Settings

Understanding Settings

Defining Settings

Reviewing Basic Settings

Film Settings

Bin Settings

Logging Settings

Displaying Project Settings

Working with Settings

Selecting Another User

Modifying Settings

Restoring Default Settings

Using Site Settings

Viewing Keyboard Settings

Customizing Your Workspace

Using the Format, Info and Usage Displays