Logging a Tape
Logging is a way of creating a list of what is on the Reel, allowing you to batch digitize only those clips you really want or to digitize a tape at a later date. You can perform either of these logging processes without having to sit there while the computer does the actually digitization; but of course, you must first create a logged list.It works like this: You preview a tape, probably not in real time, fast forwarding to events that interest you and that you want to digitize. By marking these files with mark-in and mark-out points and then by clicking the Log Clip button

DV TimecodeAll DV cameras create a type of timecode on the tape, although this is more of a recording of the tape's position than what is regarded as timecode by the video industry. The differences are important.Image the timecode on a DV tape as being similar to the counter on an old tape playerthe type that counts up to 999 as the tape is played back and has a small button that resets the counter to zero.Now here's the problem:
Why is this a problem?
To avoid this problem, you can do two things:
If you do have a gap in your timecode, you will have to manually capture it by positioning the tape after the timecode break and then pressing the Digitize button ![]() |
To log a tape
1. | Click the Logging Tool button ![]() Figure 2.34. Entering a Reel name.[View full size image] ![]() |
2. | Enter a unique name for the tape with which you are working.This is important when it comes to redigitizing clips because then the Logging Tool can prompt you for the correct tape. |
3. | Click the check mark to display the entire Logging Tool (Figure 2.35 ).Figure 2.35. The Logging Tool ready for business.[View full size image] ![]() |
4. | Select which Rack you would like to eventually use by clicking the Sequences box and making a choice from the selection available. If you make no choice, the Logging Tool will default to the Sequences Rack or the last Rack you used. |
5. | Start the tape playing and when you see the rough point where you want your media clips to begin, press the spacebar to pause the tape; then use the left and right arrow keys to fine-tune this position. |
6. | Once you are happy with this position, press the I key or click the Mark-In Point button ![]() |
7. | Start the tape again by pressing the spacebar and look for your end pointthe optimum point where the media clip should end. |
8. | Press the spacebar again to pause the playback and use the arrow keys to fine-tune this position. |
9. | Once you are happy with this position, press the O key or click the Mark-Out Point button ![]() |
10. | Now that you have a mark-in and mark-out point defined for this particular media clip, you can log it by clicking the Log Clip button ![]()
Figure 2.36. A logged clip shown here in Detail view.![]() |
11. | Repeat Steps 4 to 7 until you have finished logging the entire tape, or at least until you have finished the part you are interested in.You should now have a Rack that looks something like Figure 2.37 .Figure 2.37. The Rack full of logged clips. Note the small butterfly in the top-left corner of the icons.![]() |
- Use the keyboard shortcuts I and O to define mark-in and mark-out points, then use B to log the clip.
- If you aren't too bothered about fine-tuning the mark-in and mark-out points of your batch list, you can use the I, O, and B keyboard combination without pausing the tape or even stopping it.