Creating Shot Logs and Edit Lists Using

You may have received a tape from UNH Video with pictures that look something like this. What's with the block of numbers on the screen?

The numbers show the "timecode," information from the original tapes we created for your project. Timecode is a set of unique numbers for every frame of the original tape. This information is used to create a "shot log," which can then be used to create edited tapes.

The first line of numbers is what you are most interested in: the actual timecode. We will sometimes include the second line of information that can help further identify the original tapes (often it's similar to Day/Date information).

Timecode Format
HH:MM:SS:FF
Hours:Minutes:Seconds:Frames

Here are a few tips for creating a shot log:

• At the beginning of a new shot or soundbite, make a note of the time code information and as much detail as you need to remember what the shot was about.
  
  
• When logging dialogue, word-for-word transcriptions are better than rough notes. It takes more time to transcribe a tape verbatim, but knowing exactly what the person on the tape is saying makes it easier to decide what to use in the edit, especially if the person is saying "…ummm…" and "…ahhh…" a lot.
  
  
• If you think you will want to use a shot or soundbite, note the timecode at the end of the shot, too. This way you can tell how long the shot, or soundbite, is–right down to the frame.
  
  
• When noting timecode numbers, use the whole number, i.e. 12:34:56:21. Our system parses this information left-to-right, so if you only include six numbers, we will assume you are truncating the frame numbers, leaving HH:MM:SS
  
  
• Be sure to label your shot log the same as the label on the tape. Use a separate page for each tape's log. It is very possible, in fact, quite probable, that two tapes from the same project will have similar timecode information.

When you have gone through all of the footage and know what you want to use, you can prepare an edit list by transferring information from your shot logs into a table like this:

Tape	In/Start	Out/End	Description
BOB 1	01:10:30:23	01:10:45:14	(BOB Interview) "Hello, my name is Bob and this videotape will show, ahhh, the...ummmm...viewer how to work with a partner on the same keyboard."
BOB 2	01:25:30:10	01:25:45:17	wide shot (WS) of Bob working with Alice
BOB 2	01:22:34:19	01:23:05:18	closeup (CU) Alice’s hands on keyboard

This list will be used to digitize material from the original source tapes into the editing system and create the finished sequence.

If you have any additional questions, give us a call.