What Is Logging Videos?
Logging is essential for documentaries and interview-heavy projects, where the story is often found in the material rather than planned shot by shot. Our guide to cinematic storytelling explains how editors shape that material.
Step 1: Ingest and Organise
Back up immediately
Copy cards to at least two drives and verify.
Consistent folders
Project > Date > Camera > Card.
Clear naming
Include date, camera, and scene or subject.
Sync audio
Merge separate audio before logging.
Create proxies
Lightweight files for faster review.
Note card reports
Record anything unusual from set.
Multi-camera shoots need careful labelling; see our 2 camera setup guide.
Step 2: What to Record in a Log
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Clip name and timecode | A002_C014, 00:03:12–00:04:05 |
| Description | Founder walks through workshop, wide |
| People | Interviewee name, role |
| Key quote or moment | "We started with one machine..." |
| Shot type | Wide, medium, close-up, b-roll, insert |
| Quality notes | Soft focus at start, audio clean |
| Rating | Selects marked as A, B, or reject |
| Keywords | Factory, product, team, emotion |
Tools for Logging Videos
- Editing software: markers, keywords, bins, and metadata fields in your NLE.
- Transcription: automated transcripts make interviews searchable by word.
- Spreadsheets: simple, shareable logs for producers and clients.
- Media asset management: searchable libraries for large teams and archives.
Automated transcripts save time, but always check names and key quotes against the audio.
Step 3: Build Selects and Stringouts
After logging, pull the best moments into selects bins or sequences. For interviews, create stringouts of strong soundbites by theme. For b-roll, group by location or subject. These become the raw material for a paper edit or first assembly.
- Selects bin for each interview
- Thematic soundbite stringouts
- B-roll organised by subject
- Reject bin kept, not deleted
- Notes shared with producer
- Version-controlled logs
Logging for Archives and Reuse
Good logs make footage valuable long after a project ends. Brands can reuse b-roll, interviews, and events in future campaigns if footage is searchable. Store logs with the media and keep naming consistent across projects. Reused footage can also power YouTube content creation and cut-downs for short video platforms.
Outsourcing Logging and Post-Production
For large projects, dedicated assistant editors or loggers save senior editors time. A post-production team in India with assistant editors can log, transcribe, and organise footage, and a Bangalore editing studio can build selects ready for the edit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does logging footage mean?
It means reviewing footage and recording descriptions, timecodes, people, key moments, and quality notes so clips are easy to find.
Why is logging videos important?
It speeds up editing, helps editors find the best moments, and makes footage reusable in future projects.
What is the difference between logging and tagging?
Logging is the full process of reviewing and describing footage; tagging is adding keywords as part of that process.
Can transcription replace logging?
Transcripts help search dialogue, but logs still capture visuals, quality notes, and selects.
Who logs footage on a production?
Assistant editors, loggers, producers, or editors, depending on project size.
Organise Today, Edit Faster Tomorrow
Logging videos is unglamorous but powerful. Organise your footage carefully and every edit, revision, and reuse becomes faster.
Editatease works as an editing and media management studio, a documentary and brand film team across India, and a post partner for interview-heavy projects. Drowning in footage? Let our editors help.
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Talk to our teamEditorial note: Tools, platform features, and production practices change over time. Verify project-specific requirements before you plan or publish.