Naming markers – is there a better way?

JL wrote on 11/9/2003, 3:59 PM
When logging scenes from the timeline, I hit ‘m’ at the scene change while the playback continues. After enough of the scene has played through, I stop play and rename the marker with some appropriate scene descriptors. I resume playback from the stop point, repeating the process for each scene in the clip.

For clips with lots of scenes this is awkward because of having to go back and forth from keyboard to mouse. I use spacebar to stop play>hover the mouse pointer over the marker> right click> pulldown>left click>type in new marker name>hit enter>hit spacebar to resume playback. (note: a double click to the right of the marker opens the rename box in one shot without having to wait for the pointer to obtain focus on the marker, but it also moves the cursor back in time – so that’s no good).

I’ve also tried renaming within the Edit Details window (which I’ll have opened anyway) but this still requires going back and forth between mouse and keyboard.

Anyone know of a better method to streamline this process? I don’t have Shuttle Pro so don’t know if it could be programmed for this. Maybe a script? Thanks for any suggestions.
JL

Comments

epirb wrote on 11/9/2003, 7:22 PM
this isnt a whole lot faster I wish there was a script too. but what I do is hit pause at each spot,then hit M(it allows you to enter the name imeadiately )then enter and resume play till the next one etc..Like I said its not much faster but alot less click,type oops retype, click blah blah blah.
Script would be nice like even one for naming multiple markers ie: type JL's marker, the rest would be JL's marker 1,2,3......
johnmeyer wrote on 11/9/2003, 8:08 PM
I wrote a script that sort of does what you want, although it requires that the video be spit into events. You could press "S" instead of "M" whereever you want to eventually insert a marker, and then later run my script and insert your names.

The script I wrote creates regions, rather than markers. This has some advantages, which are described in the link I provide below. The script lets you create region names from a combination of "tags" that are stored in two listboxes, plus text you enter into a text box. The text box works just like the "normal" way of entering a marker or region name; the tags, however, let you simply click on a name in a list (or you press the first letter of a name in the list and then press tab to go to the next list box, which is what I do). Obviously, you can edit the script to enter your own names into the list boxes.

Here's a link to the script:

Region Naming Script
burchis wrote on 11/9/2003, 9:13 PM
Here's another option to try.

As you previewing your project place your marker, via the 'M' key where needed. As you insert the marker dictate the description into a handy voice recorder or quickly write the description down on paper. Once you have completed inserting all your markers open the 'Edit Details' window found on the View Tab or press Alt-4 and then enter the corresponding description for each marker.
JL wrote on 11/9/2003, 9:30 PM
Eric, yes, this does eliminate the awkward step of having to go back and hover the mouse pointer precisely over the marker until I obtain focus before right clicking, as clicking prematurely brings up the wrong pulldown menu.

Hmmm... (thinking here)...since I am just grabbing the marker info from the Edit Details window to paste into a spreadsheet, I suppose that naming the markers based on the "previous' scene... yes, this could work; I could then slip all the marker names as a group within the spreadsheet up by one row and they would become time-accurate again.

John, your script looks very interesting and I will definitely give it a try. It seems like it is designed for a slightly different purpose from what I was asking about (as you have indicated) but it could open up a new way for me to work efficiently. Thank you.

Chris, another great idea. I used to have a microcassette recorder that would be perfect for this. Unfortunately I lent it out and it never came back :(. Not sure if this would actually streamline the logging process but I could certainly get very descriptive with the marker names - something I'm sure could benefit me later in the editing process.

JL

PeterWright wrote on 11/9/2003, 9:31 PM
JL
I notice you said you are logging from the timeline - have you tried using the Trimmer? It's very easy to create Regions, give them a name useful to you and save them, then they are available as virtual sub-clips in Explorer's Region View, sorted according to the names you have given.

As soon as you create a Region, the text field for a name is automatically open and waiting for your input, so no extra steps are necessary.
JL wrote on 11/9/2003, 9:52 PM
Peter,
Can the Regions information then be exported to a spreadsheet? It seems I spent a lot of time once placing and naming markers in the Trimmer only to find out that I could not access the info in the same way as for markers set on the timeline, i.e., via the Edit Details window. JL
PeterWright wrote on 11/9/2003, 10:21 PM
I don't think the Regions list can be exported, and the Regions view doesn't work quite the same as Edit Details.
The information that is available is Name of Region, Start and End timecode and Duration.

As I said the careful naming of regions can sort them into any order you want, and contain information enough to identify the clip. (e.g. A01 Car turns corner WS). They can also be sorted, ascending or descending, by Start or End t/c or region duration.

Each Region can be lifted directly to the timeline, or opened in the trimmer for reviewing or further adjustment.

So I guess the usefulness of this method for you depends on how you need to use the information to assemble your programme.
JL wrote on 11/9/2003, 11:45 PM
Peter,
Thanks for clarifying. I have been naming the scenes exactly like you say to do for Regions only using Markers. I like to export to a spreadsheet because it’s easy to list, sort and compile the all the scenes along with any still images and music for the entire project. Then I develop virtual program segments inside the spreadsheet by sorting and arranging scenes, music, etc. I can then quickly assemble the program segments on the timeline, knowing what goes where and where to find it. I will have to try your method of working with Regions in the Trimmer as it sounds like it may have some advantages.
JL

PeterWright wrote on 11/10/2003, 12:18 AM
Yes, it's definitely worth a try, and hopefully next version will have the ability to save these regions as sub-clips in bins in the Media Pool.

I use the A01 XXXXXX naming method from script onwards, for Regions and any other Files, so any pieces of music, voice over, stills etc that have a definite destination in a particular part of the programme will all have the corresponding names in Explorer, so it's always easy to know what's what, and where it goes.

I should add of course that Regions are most useful for when capturing a tape in one clip. With some jobs, I know beforehand what I want so I may capture as separate clips which would already have the necessary name for ID.
johnmeyer wrote on 11/10/2003, 12:53 PM
I like to export to a spreadsheet because it’s easy to list, sort and compile the all the scenes along with any still images and music for the entire project.

If you use region names, you can open the Edit Details (in the View menu) dialog. Put the cursor at the top of a column. Hold the Shift key, and then press End. Let go of the shift key. Press and hold the Ctrl key and press C. Release the Ctrl key. Switch to Excel and paste the column you just copied. Repeat for the other columns you wish to import into a spreadsheet.

This is a little kludgy, but you probably only need a few of the columns from the Edit Details information.
JL wrote on 11/10/2003, 3:03 PM
John – that’s just the way I do it – copy from Edit Details and paste into spreadsheet. I like to open a project spreadsheet at the beginning of a (large) project, before I even capture anything, to organize source materials. Then I just keep adding to it, building separate sub-worksheets as I go. The spreadsheet allows me lots of flexibility to list and sort scenes by several categories at once. As an example: sorting first by event, then by date, then by location would give me a listing of say all ‘skiing’ scenes listed ‘chronologically’ and grouped by ‘ski area’. Additional information for each scene is also shown in additional column(s) such as: Carol, MS from behind, slow turns as camera follows, good.

Granted, this level of detail isn’t really necessary on smaller projects. My current project came in six 7-inch reels plus five 3-inch reels of 8mm and super8, along with 180 photographs. I ended up with just under 4 hours of DV for which I logged 365 scenes that spanned a period of about 12 years. I scanned the labels and liner notes from the cans and pasted the images right into the spreadsheet to assist in identifying the dates/locations for the scenes. I logged the photos with similar descriptors as I scanned them. The spreadsheet was invaluable for getting a handle on this project as I had no idea how I was even going to start until I was able to begin listing and sorting everything.
JL