An inexpensive but perhaps adequate alternative might be ScenalyzerLive. It can run through a 60 minute tape in about 5 minutes, and can print the results in the form of a collection of filmstrips.

Hmmm. I think what I'm looking for doesn't exist. (at least at the hobbyist price point).
Here's my wish: A database program that stores thumbnails of the different clips/scenes from video tapes that are currently offline (maybe you'd have to actually capture the tape to the harddrive once, but after that you could remove all the avi files from the drive and still have the reference thumbnails in the database). The thumbnails would be linked to user-assigned categories, so that the user could search for, say, all clips of the Christmas holiday where Aunt Minnie was present. The search results would tell the user such clips are on tapes 10 and 13 at such and such timecode.

I want an electronic database, not something that I have to print out.

Thanks for the help anyway,

Dan

What you describe is exactly what Smartpix manager does for images. Very good database features. Maybe you should check what what it can do for video?

http://www.xequte.com/smartpix/index.html

The closest thing to what you are describing would be the cataloging features of Scenalyzer.

CatDV does what you want. But CatDV is based on Quicktime architecture. It even works with AVIs but with lots of restrictions. Only Quicktime DV does really make sense to work with CatDV. But if you maybe have a Quicktime based application for capturing CatDV is really perfect for a very cheap price. I used CatDV together with CineStream for years. CineStream is a Quicktime based editing software. And organizing DV with CatDV was really professional.

Marco

I currently use "Pipeline Digital's Autolog" for cataloging 250,000 Videoclips. It works in conjunction with Filemaker Pro Database Software. I have also used "Imagine's Tepex". Both are a little pricey, but they work as advertized.

Jay Mitchell

From what you are describing DVLogger Pro is exactly what you want, but maybe you didn't go to the website and read about it....or maybe I am dense and am not getting what you are saying -

>>>A database program that stores thumbnails of the different clips/scenes from video tapes that are currently offline<<<

It does that.

>>>The thumbnails would be linked to user-assigned categories, so that the user could search for, say, all clips of the Christmas holiday where Aunt Minnie was present.<<<

I can't be 100% sure about the database options but you are allowed to enter descriptions - thusly if "Aunt Minnie" was in the description you would get all the clips with "Aunt Minnie" if that is what you were looking for.

>>>The search results would tell the user such clips are on tapes 10 and 13 at such and such timecode.<<<

It does that as well.

This program was designed for loging feature film material. It has been around for years, pre-DV. So what it can do now it light years beyond what it could do then, but the idea is the same. It will log all the scenes with take number info and tc info plus store a thumbnail. What you want to do is pretty much the exact same idea from what I can tell.

Just some info from the description overview:

Personalize text fields for notes, descriptions and other information you need. Organize the wealth of video-logging data into storyboards, reports or tables. With a variety of printing options, you can output the information you need to move your editing project forward.


Searching
Find text within a log
Search to Select or Mark clips within a log
Field-specific Boolean searching
(and, or, not, =, >, <, etc.)
Multi-log file Searching within folders (Silver Edition)--creates new log of results

filmy,

I did check out the website for DVLogger Pro. The problem is that it costs $399. Not the price point I was looking for (I'm not a pro, after all.)

The photo cataloguing database I use (iMatch) is $50.00. I was hoping I could find a similarly functioning/priced product for video.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

Dan

Dan,

Here is a link for Pipeline Digital's Auto Log. It runs $299

http://commerce.secureinput.com/dpipe/product.asp?pf_id=8

Jay Mitchell

Try Catvids. It uses the Microsoft Access Datebase engine, is highly customizable and dirt cheap. You can have over 100 different fields, all already made, all searchable, sortable, have thumnails, custom reports or use premade ones. I've used it for some time now and would be lost without it.

http://www.fnprg.com/catvids/catvids.html