Time tracking software? at DVinfo.net

Denny Lajeunesse · June 15th, 2010, 04:56 PM

Wondering what people are using for keeping track of their time?

For example I have a number of editing projects coming up for clients that I did not shoot for.

Need to track my time. Not necessarily for them but so I can see how much time these projects are taking me, divided into things like, Capturing time, previewing time, editing time etc.

Shaun Roemich · June 15th, 2010, 05:53 PM

Low tech but a piece of paper divided into Time and Task sections is how I used to keep track when I was editing in my client's edit bay. Built a template in Excel and...

Steve House · June 16th, 2010, 03:35 AM

I have a time and billing program called "Timeslips" that is designed for professional practices like lawyers and consultants. Would probably work well but perhaps overkill.

Chris Davis · June 16th, 2010, 07:59 AM

I used to use Timeslips many years ago - nice program, but "overkill" is probably right.

Now I use QuickBooks Pro which comes with the QuickBooks Timer. It's a small app that my employees and I have running constantly. I can select a client and an activity, enter a short description and click "Start". At the end of the month, I import the timer files and QuickBooks generates invoices based on the exact time spent on each project.

I've been using that system since about 2000 and it works great. It makes sure I get paid for all of the time we spend on a project.

Nigel Barker · June 16th, 2010, 08:12 AM

Billings is a nice application for the Mac that produces fancy invoices but also allows you to track time & expenses on your Mac or iPhone. You can bill your time down to 6 minute increments just like a lawyer:-)

Kevin McRoberts · June 16th, 2010, 02:13 PM

I'm using MacFreelance, but honestly can't recommend it. More than once, it's just given an obtuse "cannot save due to error" upon closing and wipes out all the changes made since it was last opened. This is less than ideal.

Other than that glaring problem, it works just peachy.

Paul Mailath · June 16th, 2010, 09:01 PM

for windows there's a gadget called activity tracker - works pretty well

Denny Lajeunesse · June 17th, 2010, 03:27 PM

I'm trying "Easy Time Tracking" by logic software. Anyone familiar with it?

Denny Lajeunesse · June 17th, 2010, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Mailath

for windows there's a gadget called activity tracker - works pretty well

I'll have to check that out. Though, I usually have gadgets turned of on my editing machines.

Perrone Ford · June 17th, 2010, 03:47 PM

What are you editing in? Avid tracks your time in a project automatically.

Denny Lajeunesse · June 18th, 2010, 01:19 PM

Lately, been editing in Edius. I just installed MC5 though. WHere is the time tracking in AVID? I don't recall it back when I used to use AVID (few ver ago).

Perrone Ford · June 18th, 2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Denny Lajeunesse

Lately, been editing in Edius. I just installed MC5 though. WHere is the time tracking in AVID? I don't recall it back when I used to use AVID (few ver ago).

I'll have to check. I remember seeing it in MC4. Haven't looked for it in MC5 yet.

June 15th, 2010, 04:56 PM	#1
Denny Lajeunesse Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kelowna, BC [Canada, Eh!] Posts: 257	Time tracking software? Wondering what people are using for keeping track of their time? For example I have a number of editing projects coming up for clients that I did not shoot for. Need to track my time. Not necessarily for them but so I can see how much time these projects are taking me, divided into things like, Capturing time, previewing time, editing time etc.

June 15th, 2010, 05:53 PM	#2
Shaun Roemich Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia (formerly Winnipeg, Manitoba) Canada Posts: 4,088	Low tech but a piece of paper divided into Time and Task sections is how I used to keep track when I was editing in my client's edit bay. Built a template in Excel and... __________________ Shaun C. Roemich Road Dog Media - Vancouver, BC - Videographer - Webcaster www.roaddogmedia.ca Blog: http://roaddogmedia.wordpress.com/

June 16th, 2010, 03:35 AM	#3
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	I have a time and billing program called "Timeslips" that is designed for professional practices like lawyers and consultants. Would probably work well but perhaps overkill. __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

June 16th, 2010, 09:01 PM	#7
Paul Mailath Trustee Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Coast - NSW, Australia Posts: 1,606	for windows there's a gadget called activity tracker - works pretty well __________________ Cheers - Paul M. www.perbenyik.com

June 17th, 2010, 03:47 PM	#10
Perrone Ford Inner Circle Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 4,100	What are you editing in? Avid tracks your time in a project automatically. __________________ DVX100, PMW-EX1, Canon 550D, FigRig, Dell Octocore, Avid MC4/5, MB Looks, RedCineX, Matrox MX02 mini, GTech RAID, Edirol R-4, Senn. G2 Evo, Countryman, Moles and Lowels.

June 16th, 2010, 07:59 AM	#4
Chris Davis Trustee Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Willmar, MN Posts: 1,400	I used to use Timeslips many years ago - nice program, but "overkill" is probably right. Now I use QuickBooks Pro which comes with the QuickBooks Timer. It's a small app that my employees and I have running constantly. I can select a client and an activity, enter a short description and click "Start". At the end of the month, I import the timer files and QuickBooks generates invoices based on the exact time spent on each project. I've been using that system since about 2000 and it works great. It makes sure I get paid for all of the time we spend on a project.

June 16th, 2010, 08:12 AM	#5
Nigel Barker Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK Posts: 3,531	Billings is a nice application for the Mac that produces fancy invoices but also allows you to track time & expenses on your Mac or iPhone. You can bill your time down to 6 minute increments just like a lawyer:-)

June 16th, 2010, 02:13 PM	#6
Kevin McRoberts Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 700	I'm using MacFreelance, but honestly can't recommend it. More than once, it's just given an obtuse "cannot save due to error" upon closing and wipes out all the changes made since it was last opened. This is less than ideal. Other than that glaring problem, it works just peachy.

June 17th, 2010, 03:27 PM	#8
Denny Lajeunesse Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kelowna, BC [Canada, Eh!] Posts: 257	I'm trying "Easy Time Tracking" by logic software. Anyone familiar with it?

June 18th, 2010, 01:19 PM	#11
Denny Lajeunesse Major Player Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kelowna, BC [Canada, Eh!] Posts: 257	Lately, been editing in Edius. I just installed MC5 though. WHere is the time tracking in AVID? I don't recall it back when I used to use AVID (few ver ago).