If there are no account details, the My Account area of Preferences will automatically open. Enter a Logger username and password for this account. This username and password may be different from the Post Production users - see Manage Users . Click the 'Save to Keychain' button to save your account details to your keychain. You only need to enter the account details once unless the account (or password) changes. They can be changed at any time in noteLogger's Preferences or the Keychain Access application. Note : The computer running noteLogger or backLogger must have an active Internet connection.

Once you have a clip selected in the player for backLogger you can control it using the keyboard, or by dragging the scrubber bar. The spacebar plays and pauses playback. The right and left arrow keys step frame-by-frame through the video. JKL Navigation: The J key rewinds. You can press it multiple times to cycle through rewind speeds. The K key stops playback. The L key fast-forwards. You can press it multiple times to cycle through fast-forward speeds.

Live Logging Help

Live Logging with iOS Logger and noteLogger, Footage Logging with backLogger

The primary Live Logging app is iOS Logger, which allows members to log Keyword Ranges during a shoot anywhere in the world, then upload to the Web App when the Internet is available. iOS Logger is available for download from the App Store.

An alternative way to Live Log is with noteLogger, a macOS app optimized for making Notes against Keyword Ranges. It is most commonly used for logging incoming feeds.

If you want the efficiency of logging with Lumberjack, but the footage has already been shot (or comes from a Library or Archive) then backLogger is the solution. backLogger is the fastest way to log already shot footage. It is multiple times faster than logging in your NLE. (Yes, way faster than FCP X.)

You can use as many, or as few, of Lumberjack's Logging tools as you want. Unlimited use of all apps is included in your Membership.

Live Logging with iOS Logger

Log anywhere in the world with the iOS Logger for all iOS devices.

Download the Lumberjack iOS Logger from the App Store.

At the heart of Lumberjack System is Universal Time, i.e. that's Time of Day with Time Zone included. That's why immediately below this section, you'll find a few tips on Getting Accurate Time.

iOS Logger users will require a Logger (or Manager) User ID. See Membership and User Management.

Before starting in iOS Logger, Create an Event and Add Keywords.

Once you sign in to iOS Logger, all Events under that Membership will be downloaded to the device.

Before Logging - While Connected to the Internet

While connected to the Internet, sign in to your account. Once your library of Events has been downloaded, Internet Access is no longer required for logging or switching between Events.

Logging in iOS Logger

Optionally: shoot the logger interface clock with one of the cameras - if there is a camera offset, this will help the editor. See Get Accurate Time below for more details.

Tap any of the Keyword to start logging. The clock heading will change from white to red while logging is active. The Keyword will be highlighted with a blue square to its left.

Tap any active Keyword to turn it off and finish the Keyword Range, or tap the ‘Stop’ button to finish logging the Event, by turning off all active Keywords.

You can turn off all active Keywords in a column with the X button for that column.

While the option is there to log Location, Person, Activity and Other (Content) Keywords, you can log as many, or as few as will be useful for your projects.

When the Lumberyard desktop app merges XML from your NLE with the logged Lumberjack Event:

For Final Cut Pro X, Keyword Ranges are created to match the time between button ‘on’ and button ‘off’ for each Keyword. Keyword ranges will appear within a clip, or spanning multiple clips from multiple cameras when displayed in Final Cut Pro X.

For Premiere Pro, Marker Ranges are created to match the time between Keyword 'on' to Keyword 'off' for each Keyword and can be reviewed in the Markers Window.

Lumberjack is not limited to applying keywords to full clips. Unlike other products Lumberjack logs exactly the keyword range that the operator enters in the app.

Adding Keywords During Logging

You can add Keywords while logging. This accommodates changes in the shoot that were not anticipated: Activities or People that were not anticipated, or other Keywords that were not predictable.

Use the + next to each keyword heading to add a new keyword for this Event.

Keywords added in the iOS logger, and logged at least once, will be added to the online database when the Keyword logs are uploaded (after logging).

Logging Markers

Most of the time you will want to log Keyword Ranges, but there are times when adding a Marker to a specific moment of time can be useful.

To add a Marker:

Click 'on' the Keyword you want used as the Marker Name.
Quickly (within five seconds) click the Keyword off again.

If a Keyword is not logged for at least five seconds, no Keyword Range is logged, but Lumberyard will interpret the short Keyword as a Marker at the start time.

Tip: Keep the Back-time at 0 seconds otherwise adding a Keyword would always be longer than five seconds. Lumberjack logs a backtimed Keyword to start at the backtime amount, and switch off at the current time, so any Keyword Range logged with backtimer active will be longer than five seconds.

Back-time Logging

Because it takes time to enter a new keyword, or because we sometimes miss the start of actions, iOS Logger has the ability to log “in the past” - up to 90 seconds (1½ minutes) ago. The default back-time is 0 seconds.

Note: The most important function is the ability to back-time the start (checkbox on) of a Keyword. The end (checkbox off) will always be current time.

Back-timing allows time for the action or topic to start, before we have to log it. In the example above, all Keyword ranges will start 15 seconds in the past. All Keyword Ranges finish at the current time.

Tip: If you keep the Back-time at 5 seconds, you'll always have time to assess and respond without panic.

Tap one of the Back-time buttons to select the number of seconds you want to back-time the start of the next keyword’s range.
Tap the keyword you want to back-time log. That keyword’s start time will be adjusted accordingly.

The Out time will automatically change to current time, regardless of the setting in Back-time.

Back-time only affects Keyword start time.

Favorite and Reject

You can Favorite ("circle take") a Range during logging.

You don't know when an answer or action will be useless or excellent, until it's over. Fortunately Favorite and Reject also use the Back-time so you can retroactively mark a recent time range (5-90 seconds) as Favorite (Good) or Reject.

An example would be when an interview got started, was interrupted and started over. The false start could be Rejected so an editor won't waste time.

Alternatively, if there is a particularly good quote in an interview, or some spectacular action, that you want to Favorite, even though the time has past.

Marking these ranges takes advantage of the Back-time function to log a Favorite or Rejected range.

To mark a Range as Favorite or Rejected

Set a Back-time that is not 0
Click the star or cross button and a favorite or reject range is logged from back-time to now.

The Favorite or Reject button will momentarily highlight to indicate that the range has been logged.

Add Notes to Logged Keyword Ranges

With iOS Logger you can add, and edit, notes on Keyword Ranges logged with iOS Logger on iPad or iPhone.

To add a note to a Keyword Range when logging:

End the Keyword Range with a long press - press and hold the Keyword for 1 second
Enter your note in the dialog that opens
Complete the note and return to editing,

Note: You can press the microphone icon on the keyboard to dictate your note if the environment allows.

To add or edit a note to a Keyword Range already logged:

Swipe down using two fingers (two finger swipe) on the column you want to review.
Click Add to add a note to a logged Keyword Range that has no note, or
Click Edit to edit a note on a Logged Keyword Range that has a note.
Return to the main logging screen by swiping down with two fingers.

Upload Logs to the Server

Once you have finished logging, an Internet connection is required to upload the logs to the Lumberjack server.

If there are logs that have not been uploaded, the Cloud button will display red.

Tap the Cloud icon then tap to confirm the Upload to Server.

iOS Logger will send the logs to the Lumberjack server and confirm they are successfully uploaded before the logs are deleted from the device.

Once uploaded the logs can be used by Lumberyard to merge with Clip XML.

If you want to view the logs uploaded to the server:

sign in to the web app,
select the Event you’ve just uploaded to, and
click the View Metadata Logs link.

How to Get Accurate Time

Universal Time (UTC) is at the heart of Lumberjack System. The more accurate the time, the more accurately the logs will be aligned with the media.

Remember that you can correct media times in Lumberyard,using the time offset popup menus.

UTC is available on levels of equipment and doesn't require expensive Timecode hardware. UTC, unlike Timecode, includes date and Time Zone information, which makes aligning logging and media easier.

SMPTE/EBU Timecode

For those who need it, Lumberjack System support industry standard embedded Timecodes, by setting an optional Preference in Lumberyard.

Tip: You only need one accurate camera in multi-camera setups. Lumberyard uses the time from the first angle and applies it to the multicam clip. Before sending your muticams to Lumberyard, move the most accurate angle (or one where you know the offset) to the first angle.

Set Camera Clocks

It’s important for Lumberjack that all camera clocks should be set as accurately as possible.

Cameras with GPS, like those in iPhones and iPads, will stay accurate, but most cameras will need to be checked before each shoot day.

Set the camera's time zone first (if it has changed), then synchronize the camera clock with the logger: The interface shows the web server's time in the device's localized time.

It is enough to get within one second accuracy.

We recommend shooting the Logging screen or large time display, as the first shot of the shoot. If there is any time offset it will be easier to calculate if you have this reference.

Shoot iOS Logger Screen (or other Time Reference)

We strongly recommend that the first shot of the day be of the Logger's clock. If you prefer a larger display, apps like Atomic Clock are available.

Be very careful to frame the shot first, making sure that the time display is visible, before rolling. The offset is easiest to calculate when you can compare the first frame of the clip (showing the iOS Logger time display) with the time stamp of the media file for the same frame.

We have also had great results with Atomic Clock by CompuLab. The larger display image is easier to shoot. The Atomic Clock display time matches the Logger display time because both depend on the same atomic clock UTC.

By comparing the logger clock time (in this example on the iOS logger interface) with the Content Created time from the camera, we can see that the camera time is 1'07" ahead of UTC. Now that we know the offset we can apply it in Lumberyard.

GoPro as Cheap, Accurate UTC Time Source

Any GoPro with WiFi can be used as a very accurate time source.

The GoPro's date and time are automatically set when you connect your camera to the GoPro App or GoPro software. Since all network connected devices have accurate time, this is a great way of getting accurate time for all shoots by using the GoPro as the first angle in a Multicam Clip.

Even if you don't ever use the GoPro images, it's a very inexpensive way to guarantee accurate time with minimal effort.

This feature makes a GoPro the simplest and most accurate time source for multicam Lumberjack System projects. It is our go-to solution on our own DSLR-based projects.

IMPORTANT: GoPro recorders do NOT support time zones, so you will need to manually enter the time zone offset in Lumberyard.

Another advantage of the GoPro approach is that they tend to start first and finish last on the shoot.

Live Logging with noteLogger

noteLogger is a macOS Live Logging app for logging Keyword or Marker Ranges where having extensive Notes is an advantage.

The Logs created in noteLogger become a named Marker in Premiere Pro where the Notes are displayed in the Marker Comment. In Final Cut Pro the the Logs become Keyword Ranges with Notes.

The columns in noteLogger can be rearranged to change their order.

There is no need to save the logs. They are automatically uploaded if the Internet connection is active. If the connection to the server drops out, noteLogger stores the logs locally, until they can be uploaded to the server.

If there are no account details, the My Account area of Preferences will automatically open.

Enter a Logger username and password for this account. This username and password may be different from the Post Production users - see Manage Users.
Click the 'Save to Keychain' button to save your account details to your keychain.

You only need to enter the account details once unless the account (or password) changes. They can be changed at any time in noteLogger's Preferences or the Keychain Access application.

Note: The computer running noteLogger or backLogger must have an active Internet connection.

Logging with noteLogger

The newest Event is automatically selected, or use the popup menu to choose another Event.

noteLogger's table works like a spreadsheet. To begin logging, click the Start Log button or press the Return key. A new row is added to the spreadsheet and the Mac's current time is added to the Start Time column.

Choose the type of Keyword you plan on logging in the column at the left, from the Log Type Keywords pop-up menu.

Selecting People adds the Keywords and Notes to the People Keyword type;
Selecting Activity logs to the Activity Keyword type; or
Selecting Other logs to the Other Keyword type. This selection affects new logs only.
Selecting Marker adds Markers with Notes
Selecting Favorites logs the Ranges as Favorite (Mark Good)

Type a keyword into the Keyword column . The Keyword entry box will auto-complete existing Keywords, or continue typing to add a new Keyword.

Press the Tab key to move to the Notes column.

Note: You can drag the column headers to order the columns in any order you wish. The first editable field will be active. This means that you can start taking notes, and tab to add the Keyword at the end of note taking.

Type notes into the Notes column.

Note: You can dictate into the Notes field. To start dictating, double click the fn key (at the bottom left of the keyboard).

Click the Stop Log button (or press the Return key) to add the current time to the Stop Time column and send the new row to the Lumberjack server.

The spreadsheet row will become:

a keyword range in FCP X that runs from Start Time to Stop Time. The keyword will be named with the Keyword name and contain notes from the Notes field, or
a Marker Range in Premiere Pro that runs from Start Time to Stop Time. The Marker will be named with the Keyword name and contain a Marker Comment from the Notes field.

Log Shot Footage with backLogger

With backLogger you can log already shot footage, using Lumberjack's more efficient logging tools.

The backLogger interface includes a Web version of iOS Logger, which works the same. See above for iOS Logger Help.

There are special case instructions for multicam clips and for media not supported in AVFoundation.

You will need a Lumberjack Logger user ID, and an Event.

Preparing in backLogger

Note: The computer running backLogger must have an active Internet connection.

Click 'Open Media Folder' and select a folder of compatible media.

The media files will populate the list below the player.

Select a media file and click play.

Log the file by setting Keyword Ranges while the media file is playing.

You can pause, rewind, fast forward or scrub the media file and the Keyword Range will match the logged times.

Controlling Playback

Once you have a clip selected in the player for backLogger you can control it using the keyboard, or by dragging the scrubber bar.

The spacebar plays and pauses playback.
The right and left arrow keys step frame-by-frame through the video.
JKL Navigation:
- The J key rewinds. You can press it multiple times to cycle through rewind speeds.
- The K key stops playback.
- The L key fast-forwards. You can press it multiple times to cycle through fast-forward speeds.

Using backLogger with Multicam Footage

Logging existing Multcam Clip footage requires a slightly different workflow by logging only the first angle in the Multicam.

The Lumberyard application applies logs to Multicam Clip footage using the media time of the first angle in the Multicam Clip.

Locate the media file for the first angle, by opening the file directly in backLogger.

Log this media file as normal in backLogger. Continue to log the first angle from other Multicam Clips before finalizing the process, as below in After Logging.

After Logging

After logging is complete, use the Lumberyard workflow in the normal manner by exporting XML from your NLE for the Lumberyard app.

Using backLogger with R3D, Canon C200/300 and other unsupported formats

backLogger uses an AVFoundation player that does not natively support Red Digital Cinema R3D files or other specialized formats.

Note: backLogger can support more formats if you download Apple's Pro Video Codecs (whether or not you own an Apple app)..

However there is a way to use backLogger with R3D and similar files with Final Cut Pro X:

Import your R3D files either into a Library and ensure the media is in an external storage location. (Do not choose "Leave files in place” in Final Cut Pro X when importing or backLogger won’t be able to find the proxy files)
Inside Final Cut Pro X choose File > Transcode Media… and generate Proxy files
Once transcoding has finished, export .fcpxml for the R3D files
Import the .fcpxml into backLogger, and it will process the XML file to find both the .r3d files and the generated proxy files.  The file list will have (Proxy) after the names of files where matching proxy media was found.

When you select a file for logging the backLogger media player loads the proxy, but uses the creation date timestamp from the R3D files, to create the logged keyword ranges.

There’s actually no information about proxy files in the XML, but if the originals and the proxies are stored in the same library or capture folder then their relative file paths can be determined. This is why “Leave files in place” doesn’t work.

Lumberjack System