Using your NLE system to log your footage is a huge waste of
resources-why tie up your edit system just to sort through your
footage? Imagine Products, Inc. has stepped up to the plate with a
series of video logging products for both the Macintosh (HD Log) and
Windows (TEPX) platforms. These products combine the best elements of a
database with the ability to capture time code and even picture
information. While not without a few glitches, I found the Imagine
Products logging software programs to be great post-production tools.

Imagine Products has two main versions (Bronze and Silver) on the PC
and Mac. The bronze version of the software gives you all the main
features, including the ability to log in video files from HD, DV or
analog (such as Betacam) video sources. Deck control-either via
FireWire or RS422 serial control-is also included. You’ll be able to
sort, search and print your video logs in a variety of NLE logs
formats, text and HTML files. The Silver editions of both TEPX and HD
Log adds multiple file searching, logging from media files, and
document spell-checking.

Both programs are an interesting hybrid of a database, a word processor
and video capture program. TEPX and HD Log don’t actually capture
video, but grab time code and JPEG stills to go with each log entry you
make. Using a controller window, you can start and stop your tape,
marking the exact points you want to log, and then add entries into a
database-like interface. These entries can range from automatically
repeated fields-date, production and reel-to more detailed info. When
your log is complete, you can review and sort your entries to include
only the footage that you need for your production. Then with the
sorted (or unsorted) versions, you can export your log to a format that
can be read by just about any NLE system on the market. While it took a
bit of time to understand how to prep log files for export, I was able
to export logs to Final Cut Pro HD, Avid Xpress Pro and Sony’s Vegas
program without a glitch. Once imported into the program the log files
show up in bins as offline media, complete with your comments, in/out
time codes and any other data you exported.

Problems include the inability to change the size or typeface of the
screen fonts (bad for big-screen work). Also, neither the HD Log nor
TEPX software was happy in complex FireWire or USB setups. The only way
that TEPX could see my DV deck was when I connected the deck directly
to the computer’s FireWire port. If it was connected in a FireWire
daisy chain, TEPX and HD Log couldn’t see it. These are small glitches,
though. If you need to free your main editing system from logging
chores, check these tools out.