The Need? Real-time logging of video productions
The advent of digital non-linear editing systems introduced a major change in the workflow of video and film producers. In order to edit on a computer, the original videotape or film first must be digitized and stored on the computer's hard disk drive. This process is time consuming, and requires vast amounts of disk space.
Before the digitizing process can begin, a log must be created identifying the start and stop of every "take" that was shot. Only takes usable by the editor are digitized to save time and space. Additionally, notes taken by production assistants during the shoot are added to assist the editing process.
The Goals? Eliminate paper, save time.
Michael Savino, a co-founder of Production Magic, realized that the optimal way to log takes was in the field, electronically. The catch was that to log accurately, it was necessary to have access to timecode information from the camera.
The Solution?
A digital radio link was engineered to bring timecode from the camera to a handheld PDA, wirelessly, and in real-time.
The Shot Logger application software on the PDA provides a richly featured logging tool for production assistants to capture and annotate take information as the footage is being shot.
Back at the studio, the PDA uploads the data to the editing system, which can automatically digitize only the takes marked for use, saving hours of off-line logging time, and eliminating digitizing of unusable takes.
