I have a problem with a purchase
Fastspring is the exclusive reseller of our products. For assistance with purchase issues, please visit their support page or submit a support ticket via Fast Spring Support. If you were charged more than the listed price, the difference is usually VAT or sales tax for your country, which FastSpring adds at checkout, or a currency conversion fee from your card issuer.
I want to cancel a subscription
- Open your receipt or subscription activation email and click the “Manage Your Orders” link.
- Follow the prompts to access your Account Management page.
- Once there, click the Subscriptions tab to update your payment method or cancel your subscription.
How do I move my license to a new computer?
On the old computer, click Release on the Help menu in Fast Video Cataloger, then activate on the new computer with Help → Activate. If the old computer is broken or gone, release it from the license portal instead. See How to move your license to a new computer for the steps. You do not need a maintenance package to move your license.
Can I use my license on a second computer?
A license runs on one computer at a time. To use it on another computer, release it from the first one with Release on the Help menu, or in the license portal, and then activate it on the new computer with Help → Activate.
I have a license for an older version. Can I still use it, and how do I get the latest version?
A perpetual license includes one year of maintenance from the purchase date. While your maintenance package is active, updates are free: use Help → Update in the program, or download the latest version from the customer download page. Without an active maintenance package, you can keep using the version you originally downloaded. Learn more about our maintenance packages.
I have maintenance, so why does Update ask me to buy or start a trial?
Help → Update asks our license server which versions your license covers, so the program needs to be activated with your license. Open Help → Activate and enter your license key or the email address you bought with, then run Update again. If it still asks you to buy, contact support.
Where do I download Fast Video Cataloger again, for a reinstall or a new computer?
The customer download page always has the current version. Install it, then open Help → Activate and enter your license key or the email address you bought with. Activation needs an Internet connection.
I lost my license key. Where do I find it?
Log in to the license portal with the email address from your order; no password is needed. There you can see your licenses and have your key sent to you again. You can also activate with that email address instead of the key.
Can I switch from the trial or a monthly plan to a license I own, and keep my catalog?
Yes. Buy the license and activate it with Help → Activate. Your catalogs, keywords and settings stay as they are.
I found a bug / have an idea for a feature
Join our Discord community to connect directly with our developers and share your feedback. Prefer email? Feel free to send us a support message. Your input helps us improve Fast Video Cataloger!
What operating systems does Fast Video Cataloger support?
Fast Video Cataloger runs on 64-bit Windows 10 or later. We recommend storing your catalog (.vcat) file on an SSD; it makes a big difference in speed, especially with large catalogs.
Do you have a Mac version?
Currently, we do not offer a Mac version and have no plans to develop one. However, you can run Fast Video Cataloger on Intel-based Macs using Boot Camp to install Windows. Newer Macs with ARM processors can run Windows for ARM. Since we do not test on Mac, we recommend trying the trial version first to make sure it works well with your setup.
Can I share my created catalog with my clients?
Yes! You can share your catalog like any other file via email, Dropbox, or USB drives. The catalog will open on your client’s computer even if the video files are not present. To share videos along with the catalog, keep the catalog (.vcat) file in the root folder and the videos in subfolders. This setup uses relative paths, making it easy to move or copy the entire folder without breaking links. To give clients or colleagues live access instead, use the built-in server. It shares the catalog over your local network or the internet, and people can connect from Fast Video Cataloger or open the catalog in a web browser with the HTML client, where they can browse, search and play videos without installing anything. Each person gets a Viewer, Editor or Admin role that controls what they can change. See Share a catalog using the server and Use the HTML client.
Why do I need a maintenance package?
It depends on your needs. Learn more about our maintenance packages here. In short, an active maintenance package lets you update your software anytime. A perpetual license includes one year of maintenance from the purchase date. You do not need it to move your license to a new computer.
Which video formats do you support?
Fast Video Cataloger includes built-in codecs supporting these formats:
avi, wmv, asf, mp4, m4p, mp41, m4v, mpeg, mpg, mpeg2, vob, qt, mov, divx, rm, ram, rmvb, 3gp, flv, f4v, mkv, webm, mxf, ogm, ogv, ogg, swf, mts, m2ts, m2t, ts, tp, trp, lxf, gxf, vdh, dv, braw
The built-in decoders handle almost all common formats, including AV1, so you normally do not need to install any codecs. For a rare format they cannot read, you can switch to the codecs installed in Windows with Use windows filters on the Video Indexer tab in Preferences.
Can I store videos on secondary external HDDs or a NAS?
Yes. We recommend keeping your catalog on a fast local drive (preferably SSD), and storing videos on slower, less expensive USB drives or NAS devices. If you use a NAS for the catalog, disable auto-backup features on the catalog folder to prevent slowdowns and excessive backups.
Can I browse, search, and tag videos when the HDD with the video is disconnected?
Absolutely! These features are essential for effective video management and are fully supported even when the video drive is disconnected.
Can I access my video library from another computer?
Yes. On the computer with the catalog, click Server on the Start menu and use Setup to share the catalog. On the other computer, click Connect on the Start menu and enter the server address. You can also open the catalog in a web browser with the HTML client. See Share a catalog using the server and Connect to a server.
What is your recommended setup for working with Fast Video Cataloger?
Fast Video Cataloger works on many setups, but if building a PC specifically for it, we recommend:
- A computer capable of running Windows 10 or later
- An SSD with at least 10 GB free to store your video catalog
- One or more USB 3.0 hard drives for video storage
- A graphics card that supports multiple monitors
- 2-3 flat screen monitors for ample workspace
Does it also handle picture files?
Yes. Videos can have associated images like front/back covers, and actors can have companion images or folders.
How does the software handle if I delete or move files outside of the program?
Fast Video Cataloger includes a repair tool to locate and fix missing or moved video files. File operations done inside the integrated organizer automatically update the catalog. If you move your videos to a new drive or NAS, point the repair tool at the new location: it finds the files by name, including in subfolders, and updates the paths without re-indexing. See How to use the repair tool.
Does Fast Video Cataloger use AI? Are my videos uploaded anywhere?
Yes, Fast Video Cataloger has built-in AI: speech-to-text transcription, face recognition, object detection, image tagging, Trained Tags that you teach yourself, and visual search where you describe a scene in words. It all runs locally on your computer. Your videos and thumbnails are never uploaded; the AI models are downloaded once. Read more about AI video search.
Is Fast Video Cataloger available in other languages?
Yes. The program is available in English, Swedish, German and Spanish. Choose the language in Preferences → General. The documentation is in English.
How does Fast Video Cataloger differ from Adobe Bridge?
Fast Video Cataloger is designed specifically for video, providing faster and more focused management for your completed projects and reference materials. Adobe Bridge handles a wide range of media types for ongoing projects in Adobe Creative Suite, including PDFs and images.
When I tag my assets with keywords in FVC, will those keywords be visible to other programs?
By default, all metadata is stored only in the catalog file without modifying the video files themselves. You can enable writing metadata directly to video files in Preferences (Metadata tab). Note that not all video formats support embedded metadata, and the file must be accessible and writable for tags to be saved.
Do you offer volume discounts and invoices?
Yes! Orders of 5 or more licenses receive a significant discount, and orders over 10 licenses pay less than half the normal price per license. Contact us for details and invoicing options. We do not offer student, non-profit or education discounts.
Can I have more than one catalog in Fast Video Cataloger?
Yes, you can create and manage unlimited catalogs. Each catalog is stored in a single .vcat file, which can be moved, shared, or archived. Performance remains strong even with catalogs holding over 20,000 videos.
Why did my video clip file fail to be indexed?
Check that the video plays in another player and that the drive it is on is connected. Fast Video Cataloger uses its built-in decoders by default; if a video still fails, change Use windows filters on the Video Indexer tab in Preferences and index it again. See A video fails to index or does not play.
Some of my videos do not play correctly or fail to be indexed?
The default settings work for nearly all formats. If a video does not play or index correctly, see A video fails to index or does not play in the Troubleshooting guide.
Video Cataloger stopped indexing my videos
If the program stops or crashes on the same video every time, that video is the cause. See Fast Video Cataloger crashes while indexing for how to skip it.
If you cannot add any videos at all, antivirus software may have removed a program file. See I cannot open my catalogs or create a new one.
Fast Video Cataloger is lagging and I can’t play videos inside the program
If Use windows filters is checked in Preferences, a broken codec installed in Windows can cause this, so uncheck it. Otherwise run the installer again to repair the installation. See the Troubleshooting guide.
Can I use the trial on multiple PCs since I travel and need to test on the go?
The free trial can be used once per email address and once per computer, so test it on the computer you plan to use Fast Video Cataloger on. Download the trial from https://videocataloger.com/download. No adware or spyware — safe to install and uninstall.
How do I download the fully functional Fast Video Cataloger program?
Click here to download the free 30-day trial version. You can order, buy, and register your license anytime without losing any of your work. We offer monthly subscription licenses, or you can buy a license to own.
How large catalogs do you support?
There is no explicit limit on catalog sizes. We do regular tests with catalogs with 20,000+ videos and millions of companion images. There is no limit on the length of a video either.
How should I handle backups
We highly recommend that you take regular backups of the video catalog file. There is a backup option that makes a copy of the catalog but also make sure to include the vcat file in your backup routine.
What type of Search options does the software offer?
This is where FVC really shines and you have a lot of options, from simple tag search to much more advanced searches. You do your searches from the search window. You can search on basic information and tags on videos, scenes, cast or a combination of properties. You can also search on metadata like codecs, framerate, duration etc ( you find this in the extended properties). If you transcribe your videos (with the built-in speech-to-text, or by importing SRT subtitle files) you can search on anything said in the videos. Search is also possible through the scripting api where you can do specialized searches or connect Fast video cataloger with other software.
What type of Organization options does the software offer?
You can organize videos by tags, and create collections in bins. There are smart bins that automatically move videos into a bin if they match tags. You can also setup autotagging to give videos a set of tags based on folders and filenames. We have an integrated file manager to manage videos by folder structure and there are tools to find duplicate videos and to repair broken links.
Scripting and Custom Integration
Q: Can I integrate Fast Video Cataloger with other software in my workflow?
A: Yes! Fast Video Cataloger includes full C# scripting support with access to .NET libraries and external libraries. You can create custom integrations with other software, databases, and web services. The software includes complete API documentation, sample scripts, and a Visual Studio solution to help you get started.
Q: How can I automate repetitive tasks in Fast Video Cataloger?
A: You can write C# scripts and assign them to custom buttons or keyboard shortcuts for workflow automation. Scripts can handle tasks like batch processing, metadata extraction, file organization, and integration with external tools. The installer includes sample scripts and full API documentation.
Q: Can I connect Fast Video Cataloger to external databases?
A: Yes, through C# scripting you can integrate with external databases. Sample scripts are available showing how to read and write data from Access databases, and you can adapt these for other database systems.
Export and Sharing
Q: Can I export my catalog data for use in other applications?
A: Yes, you can export catalog data and metadata to CSV files for use in spreadsheets, databases, or other video management systems. You can also generate printable JPEG contact sheets showing video thumbnails for presentations and discussions.
Q: How do I share my video catalog with team members or clients?
A: You can share .vcat catalog files via email, Dropbox, or USB drives. Catalogs will open on other computers even if the video files aren’t present. For team collaboration, use the built-in server functionality to share catalogs over local networks or the internet.
Q: Does Fast Video Cataloger support metadata formats used by other software?
A: Yes, the software can optionally create Kodi-format .nfo sidecar files for metadata compatibility with other applications. It also supports XMP metadata extraction and can write tags directly to video files for Windows Explorer searching.
Playlist and Timeline Integration
Q: Can I create edit lists for use in video editing software?
A: Yes, you can create virtual playlists from segments of different videos and export them in EDL (Edit Decision List) or XML formats for compatibility with editing software. This feature is designed to help create drafts for video editing projects.
Q: Can I extract video segments for editing projects?
A: Yes, using the scripting API you can leverage the playlist feature to cut out video segments and create new video files from the selected segments, streamlining your editing workflow.
Professional Workflow Features
Q: Does Fast Video Cataloger support professional video workflows?
A: Yes. Fast Video Cataloger is built for editors, production companies and archives that need to find the right shot in a large footage library.
- Camera formats: MXF, BRAW, MTS/M2TS, MOV and MP4 index and play with the built-in decoders, so there are no codec packs to install.
- Find the shot: search scene thumbnails, keywords, transcripts and faces, or describe the shot in words with visual search. It works across tens of thousands of clips, including footage on a NAS or on drives that are not connected.
- Hand off to your editor: collect selects in a playlist and export it as an EDL or Final Cut Pro 7 XML timeline for DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro and other editors, or open a clip directly in your editing program.
- Work as a team: share one catalog over your network with the built-in server, from Fast Video Cataloger or from a web browser.
- Automate: script ingest, tagging and exports in C#, or connect an AI assistant to your catalog.
Q: Can I add custom metadata fields for my company’s specific needs?
A: Yes, you can add custom extended properties to videos and store company-specific metadata. These custom fields are also accessible through the scripting interface for automation and integration purposes.
Q: Does it support transcript-based workflows?
A: Yes, Fast Video Cataloger includes built-in speech-to-text that transcribes the audio in your videos, and it can import existing SRT subtitle files. You can search transcripts across your entire collection and jump to specific points in videos based on transcript content.
Storage and Performance
Q: Can I use Fast Video Cataloger with network storage and external drives?
A: Yes, you can store videos on NAS devices or external drives while keeping catalogs on fast local drives for optimal performance. The software works with disconnected drives – you can search, browse, and tag videos even when the drives containing the video files are not connected.
Q: How does Fast Video Cataloger maintain performance with large video collections?
A: The software uses local processing (no cloud dependency) for maximum speed, supports multiple CPU cores and GPU acceleration, and handles catalogs of more than 20,000 videos on ordinary computers. All processing happens locally for optimal performance and privacy.