diff --git a/docs/gst/gstreamer-sections.txt b/docs/gst/gstreamer-sections.txt
index 99073a746c..692106a076 100644
--- a/docs/gst/gstreamer-sections.txt
+++ b/docs/gst/gstreamer-sections.txt
@@ -995,6 +995,7 @@ GST_CAT_INFO_OBJECT
 GST_CAT_DEBUG_OBJECT
 GST_CAT_LOG_OBJECT
 GST_CAT_FIXME_OBJECT
+GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT
 GST_CAT_MEMDUMP_OBJECT
 GST_CAT_ERROR
 GST_CAT_WARNING
@@ -1002,6 +1003,7 @@ GST_CAT_INFO
 GST_CAT_DEBUG
 GST_CAT_LOG
 GST_CAT_FIXME
+GST_CAT_TRACE
 GST_CAT_MEMDUMP
 GST_ERROR_OBJECT
 GST_WARNING_OBJECT
@@ -1009,6 +1011,7 @@ GST_INFO_OBJECT
 GST_DEBUG_OBJECT
 GST_LOG_OBJECT
 GST_FIXME_OBJECT
+GST_TRACE_OBJECT
 GST_MEMDUMP_OBJECT
 GST_ERROR
 GST_WARNING
@@ -1016,6 +1019,7 @@ GST_INFO
 GST_DEBUG
 GST_LOG
 GST_FIXME
+GST_TRACE
 GST_MEMDUMP
 GST_DEBUG_REGISTER_FUNCPTR
 GST_DEBUG_FUNCPTR
diff --git a/gst/gstcaps.c b/gst/gstcaps.c
index c8dfcdf3dd..f2c4dabe99 100644
--- a/gst/gstcaps.c
+++ b/gst/gstcaps.c
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ gst_caps_ref (GstCaps * caps)
   g_return_val_if_fail (caps != NULL, NULL);
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_REFCOUNT
-  GST_CAT_LOG (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, "%p %d->%d", caps,
+  GST_CAT_TRACE (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, "%p %d->%d", caps,
       GST_CAPS_REFCOUNT_VALUE (caps), GST_CAPS_REFCOUNT_VALUE (caps) + 1);
 #endif
   g_return_val_if_fail (GST_CAPS_REFCOUNT_VALUE (caps) > 0, NULL);
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ gst_caps_unref (GstCaps * caps)
   g_return_if_fail (caps != NULL);
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_REFCOUNT
-  GST_CAT_LOG (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, "%p %d->%d", caps,
+  GST_CAT_TRACE (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, "%p %d->%d", caps,
       GST_CAPS_REFCOUNT_VALUE (caps), GST_CAPS_REFCOUNT_VALUE (caps) - 1);
 #endif
 
@@ -2000,7 +2000,7 @@ gst_caps_replace (GstCaps ** caps, GstCaps * newcaps)
 
   oldcaps = *caps;
 
-  GST_CAT_LOG (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, "%p, %p -> %p", caps, oldcaps, newcaps);
+  GST_CAT_TRACE (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, "%p, %p -> %p", caps, oldcaps, newcaps);
 
   if (newcaps != oldcaps) {
     if (newcaps)
diff --git a/gst/gstinfo.c b/gst/gstinfo.c
index 6858b83765..02a2c94e10 100644
--- a/gst/gstinfo.c
+++ b/gst/gstinfo.c
@@ -830,8 +830,8 @@ static const guchar levelcolormap[GST_LEVEL_COUNT] = {
   FOREGROUND_RED | FOREGROUND_GREEN | FOREGROUND_BLUE,
   /* GST_LEVEL_FIXME */
   FOREGROUND_RED | FOREGROUND_GREEN,
-  /* placeholder for log level 7 */
-  0,
+  /* GST_LEVEL_TRACE */
+  FOREGROUND_RED | FOREGROUND_GREEN | FOREGROUND_BLUE,
   /* placeholder for log level 8 */
   0,
   /* GST_LEVEL_MEMDUMP */
@@ -852,7 +852,7 @@ static const gchar *levelcolormap[GST_LEVEL_COUNT] = {
   "\033[36m",                   /* GST_LEVEL_DEBUG */
   "\033[37m",                   /* GST_LEVEL_LOG */
   "\033[33;01m",                /* GST_LEVEL_FIXME */
-  "\033[37m",                   /* placeholder for log level 7 */
+  "\033[37m",                   /* GST_LEVEL_TRACE */
   "\033[37m",                   /* placeholder for log level 8 */
   "\033[37m"                    /* GST_LEVEL_MEMDUMP */
 };
@@ -992,6 +992,8 @@ gst_debug_level_get_name (GstDebugLevel level)
       return "LOG    ";
     case GST_LEVEL_FIXME:
       return "FIXME  ";
+    case GST_LEVEL_TRACE:
+      return "TRACE  ";
     case GST_LEVEL_MEMDUMP:
       return "MEMDUMP";
     default:
diff --git a/gst/gstinfo.h b/gst/gstinfo.h
index 64e6157920..0125f92ad0 100644
--- a/gst/gstinfo.h
+++ b/gst/gstinfo.h
@@ -52,18 +52,23 @@ G_BEGIN_DECLS
  *  successfully determined the type of the stream or when an mp3 plugin detects
  *  the format to be used. ("This file has mono sound.")
  * @GST_LEVEL_DEBUG: Debugging messages should be used when something common
- *  happens that is not the expected default behavior.
- *  An example would be notifications about state changes or receiving/sending of
- *  events.
+ *  happens that is not the expected default behavior, or something that's
+ *  useful to know but doesn't happen all the time (ie. per loop iteration or
+ *  buffer processed or event handled).
+ *  An example would be notifications about state changes or receiving/sending
+ *  of events.
  * @GST_LEVEL_LOG: Log messages are messages that are very common but might be
  *  useful to know. As a rule of thumb a pipeline that is iterating as expected
- *  should never output anzthing else but LOG messages.
- *  Examples for this are referencing/dereferencing of objects or cothread switches.
+ *  should never output anything else but LOG messages. Use this log level to
+ *  log recurring information in chain functions and loop functions, for
+ *  example.
  * @GST_LEVEL_FIXME: Fixme messages are messages that indicate that something
  *  in the executed code path is not fully implemented or handled yet. Note
  *  that this does not replace proper error handling in any way, the purpose
  *  of this message is to make it easier to spot incomplete/unfinished pieces
  *  of code when reading the debug log. (Since: 0.10.23)
+ * @GST_LEVEL_TRACE: Tracing-related messages (Since: 0.10.30)
+ *  Examples for this are referencing/dereferencing of objects.
  * @GST_LEVEL_MEMDUMP: memory dump messages are used to log (small) chunks of
  *  data as memory dumps in the log. They will be displayed as hexdump with
  *  ASCII characters. (Since: 0.10.23)
@@ -80,6 +85,7 @@ typedef enum {
   GST_LEVEL_DEBUG,
   GST_LEVEL_LOG,
   GST_LEVEL_FIXME = 6,
+  GST_LEVEL_TRACE = 7,
   /* add more */
   GST_LEVEL_MEMDUMP = 9,
   /* add more */
@@ -602,6 +608,17 @@ GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GstDebugCategory * cat, GstDebugLevel level,
  *
  * Since: 0.10.23
  */
+/**
+ * GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT:
+ * @cat: category to use
+ * @obj: the #GObject the message belongs to
+ * @...: printf-style message to output
+ *
+ * Output a tracing message belonging to the given object in the given
+ * category.
+ *
+ * Since: 0.10.30
+ */
 /**
  * GST_CAT_MEMDUMP_OBJECT:
  * @cat: category to use
@@ -661,6 +678,15 @@ GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GstDebugCategory * cat, GstDebugLevel level,
  *
  * Since: 0.10.23
  */
+/**
+ * GST_CAT_TRACE:
+ * @cat: category to use
+ * @...: printf-style message to output
+ *
+ * Output a tracing message in the given category.
+ *
+ * Since: 0.10.30
+ */
 /**
  * GST_CAT_MEMDUMP:
  * @cat: category to use
@@ -716,10 +742,19 @@ GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GstDebugCategory * cat, GstDebugLevel level,
  * @obj: the #GObject the message belongs to
  * @...: printf-style message to output
  *
- * Output a logging message belonging to the given object in the default category.
+ * Output a fixme message belonging to the given object in the default category.
  *
  * Since: 0.10.23
  */
+/**
+ * GST_TRACE_OBJECT:
+ * @obj: the #GObject the message belongs to
+ * @...: printf-style message to output
+ *
+ * Output a tracing message belonging to the given object in the default category.
+ *
+ * Since: 0.10.30
+ */
 /**
  * GST_MEMDUMP_OBJECT:
  * @obj: the #GObject the message belongs to
@@ -771,6 +806,14 @@ GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GstDebugCategory * cat, GstDebugLevel level,
  *
  * Since: 0.10.23
  */
+/**
+ * GST_TRACE:
+ * @...: printf-style message to output
+ *
+ * Output a tracing message in the default category.
+ *
+ * Since: 0.10.30
+ */
 /**
  * GST_MEMDUMP:
  * @msg: message string to log with the data
@@ -790,6 +833,7 @@ GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GstDebugCategory * cat, GstDebugLevel level,
 #define GST_CAT_DEBUG_OBJECT(cat,obj,...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_DEBUG,   obj,  __VA_ARGS__)
 #define GST_CAT_LOG_OBJECT(cat,obj,...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_LOG,     obj,  __VA_ARGS__)
 #define GST_CAT_FIXME_OBJECT(cat,obj,...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_FIXME,   obj,  __VA_ARGS__)
+#define GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT(cat,obj,...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_TRACE,   obj,  __VA_ARGS__)
 
 #define GST_CAT_ERROR(cat,...)			GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_ERROR,   NULL, __VA_ARGS__)
 #define GST_CAT_WARNING(cat,...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_WARNING, NULL, __VA_ARGS__)
@@ -797,6 +841,7 @@ GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GstDebugCategory * cat, GstDebugLevel level,
 #define GST_CAT_DEBUG(cat,...)			GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_DEBUG,   NULL, __VA_ARGS__)
 #define GST_CAT_LOG(cat,...)			GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_LOG,     NULL, __VA_ARGS__)
 #define GST_CAT_FIXME(cat,...)			GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_FIXME,   NULL, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define GST_CAT_TRACE(cat,...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_TRACE,   NULL, __VA_ARGS__)
 
 #define GST_ERROR_OBJECT(obj,...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_ERROR,   obj,  __VA_ARGS__)
 #define GST_WARNING_OBJECT(obj,...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_WARNING, obj,  __VA_ARGS__)
@@ -804,6 +849,7 @@ GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GstDebugCategory * cat, GstDebugLevel level,
 #define GST_DEBUG_OBJECT(obj,...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_DEBUG,   obj,  __VA_ARGS__)
 #define GST_LOG_OBJECT(obj,...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_LOG,     obj,  __VA_ARGS__)
 #define GST_FIXME_OBJECT(obj,...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_FIXME,   obj,  __VA_ARGS__)
+#define GST_TRACE_OBJECT(obj,...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_TRACE,   obj,  __VA_ARGS__)
 
 #define GST_ERROR(...)			GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_ERROR,   NULL, __VA_ARGS__)
 #define GST_WARNING(...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_WARNING, NULL, __VA_ARGS__)
@@ -811,6 +857,7 @@ GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GstDebugCategory * cat, GstDebugLevel level,
 #define GST_DEBUG(...)			GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_DEBUG,   NULL, __VA_ARGS__)
 #define GST_LOG(...)			GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_LOG,     NULL, __VA_ARGS__)
 #define GST_FIXME(...)			GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_FIXME,   NULL, __VA_ARGS__)
+#define GST_TRACE(...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_TRACE,   NULL, __VA_ARGS__)
 
 #else
 #ifdef G_HAVE_GNUC_VARARGS
@@ -821,6 +868,7 @@ GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GstDebugCategory * cat, GstDebugLevel level,
 #define GST_CAT_DEBUG_OBJECT(cat,obj,args...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_DEBUG,   obj,  ##args )
 #define GST_CAT_LOG_OBJECT(cat,obj,args...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_LOG,     obj,  ##args )
 #define GST_CAT_FIXME_OBJECT(cat,obj,args...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_FIXME,   obj,  ##args )
+#define GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT(cat,obj,args...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_TRACE,   obj,  ##args )
 
 #define GST_CAT_ERROR(cat,args...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_ERROR,   NULL, ##args )
 #define GST_CAT_WARNING(cat,args...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_WARNING, NULL, ##args )
@@ -828,6 +876,7 @@ GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GstDebugCategory * cat, GstDebugLevel level,
 #define GST_CAT_DEBUG(cat,args...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_DEBUG,   NULL, ##args )
 #define GST_CAT_LOG(cat,args...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_LOG,     NULL, ##args )
 #define GST_CAT_FIXME(cat,args...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_FIXME,   NULL, ##args )
+#define GST_CAT_TRACE(cat,args...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (cat, GST_LEVEL_TRACE,   NULL, ##args )
 
 #define GST_ERROR_OBJECT(obj,args...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_ERROR,   obj,  ##args )
 #define GST_WARNING_OBJECT(obj,args...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_WARNING, obj,  ##args )
@@ -835,6 +884,7 @@ GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GstDebugCategory * cat, GstDebugLevel level,
 #define GST_DEBUG_OBJECT(obj,args...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_DEBUG,   obj,  ##args )
 #define GST_LOG_OBJECT(obj,args...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_LOG,     obj,  ##args )
 #define GST_FIXME_OBJECT(obj,args...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_FIXME,   obj,  ##args )
+#define GST_TRACE_OBJECT(obj,args...)	GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_TRACE,   obj,  ##args )
 
 #define GST_ERROR(args...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_ERROR,   NULL, ##args )
 #define GST_WARNING(args...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_WARNING, NULL, ##args )
@@ -842,6 +892,7 @@ GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GstDebugCategory * cat, GstDebugLevel level,
 #define GST_DEBUG(args...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_DEBUG,   NULL, ##args )
 #define GST_LOG(args...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_LOG,     NULL, ##args )
 #define GST_FIXME(args...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_FIXME,   NULL, ##args )
+#define GST_TRACE(args...)		GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_TRACE,   NULL, ##args )
 
 #else
 /* no variadic macros, use inline */
@@ -911,6 +962,17 @@ GST_CAT_FIXME_OBJECT (GstDebugCategory * cat, gpointer obj, const char *format,
   va_end (varargs);
 }
 
+static inline void
+GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT (GstDebugCategory * cat, gpointer obj, const char *format,
+    ...)
+{
+  va_list varargs;
+
+  va_start (varargs, format);
+  GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG_valist (cat, GST_LEVEL_TRACE, obj, format, varargs);
+  va_end (varargs);
+}
+
 static inline void
 GST_CAT_ERROR (GstDebugCategory * cat, const char *format, ...)
 {
@@ -971,6 +1033,16 @@ GST_CAT_FIXME (GstDebugCategory * cat, const char *format, ...)
   va_end (varargs);
 }
 
+static inline void
+GST_CAT_TRACE (GstDebugCategory * cat, const char *format, ...)
+{
+  va_list varargs;
+
+  va_start (varargs, format);
+  GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG_valist (cat, GST_LEVEL_TRACE, NULL, format, varargs);
+  va_end (varargs);
+}
+
 static inline void
 GST_ERROR_OBJECT (gpointer obj, const char *format, ...)
 {
@@ -1037,6 +1109,17 @@ GST_FIXME_OBJECT (gpointer obj, const char *format, ...)
   va_end (varargs);
 }
 
+static inline void
+GST_TRACE_OBJECT (gpointer obj, const char *format, ...)
+{
+  va_list varargs;
+
+  va_start (varargs, format);
+  GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG_valist (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_TRACE, obj, format,
+      varargs);
+  va_end (varargs);
+}
+
 static inline void
 GST_ERROR (const char *format, ...)
 {
@@ -1102,6 +1185,17 @@ GST_FIXME (const char *format, ...)
       varargs);
   va_end (varargs);
 }
+
+static inline void
+GST_TRACE (const char *format, ...)
+{
+  va_list varargs;
+
+  va_start (varargs, format);
+  GST_CAT_LEVEL_LOG_valist (GST_CAT_DEFAULT, GST_LEVEL_TRACE, NULL, format,
+      varargs);
+  va_end (varargs);
+}
 #endif
 #endif
 
diff --git a/gst/gstminiobject.c b/gst/gstminiobject.c
index c5606d80bb..07d3e4befe 100644
--- a/gst/gstminiobject.c
+++ b/gst/gstminiobject.c
@@ -309,8 +309,7 @@ gst_mini_object_ref (GstMiniObject * mini_object)
 #ifdef DEBUG_REFCOUNT
   g_return_val_if_fail (GST_IS_MINI_OBJECT (mini_object), NULL);
 
-  GST_CAT_LOG (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, "%p ref %d->%d",
-      mini_object,
+  GST_CAT_TRACE (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, "%p ref %d->%d", mini_object,
       GST_MINI_OBJECT_REFCOUNT_VALUE (mini_object),
       GST_MINI_OBJECT_REFCOUNT_VALUE (mini_object) + 1);
 #endif
@@ -359,7 +358,7 @@ gst_mini_object_unref (GstMiniObject * mini_object)
 #ifdef DEBUG_REFCOUNT
   g_return_if_fail (GST_IS_MINI_OBJECT (mini_object));
 
-  GST_CAT_LOG (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, "%p unref %d->%d",
+  GST_CAT_TRACE (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, "%p unref %d->%d",
       mini_object,
       GST_MINI_OBJECT_REFCOUNT_VALUE (mini_object),
       GST_MINI_OBJECT_REFCOUNT_VALUE (mini_object) - 1);
@@ -387,7 +386,7 @@ gst_mini_object_replace (GstMiniObject ** olddata, GstMiniObject * newdata)
   g_return_if_fail (olddata != NULL);
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_REFCOUNT
-  GST_CAT_LOG (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, "replace %p (%d) with %p (%d)",
+  GST_CAT_TRACE (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, "replace %p (%d) with %p (%d)",
       *olddata, *olddata ? (*olddata)->refcount : 0,
       newdata, newdata ? newdata->refcount : 0);
 #endif
diff --git a/gst/gstobject.c b/gst/gstobject.c
index fabfa0ea8b..f14d09ceb2 100644
--- a/gst/gstobject.c
+++ b/gst/gstobject.c
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ gst_object_init (GstObject * object)
   object->lock = g_mutex_new ();
   object->parent = NULL;
   object->name = NULL;
-  GST_CAT_LOG_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "%p new", object);
+  GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "%p new", object);
 
 #ifndef GST_DISABLE_TRACE
   gst_alloc_trace_new (_gst_object_trace, object);
@@ -291,8 +291,7 @@ gst_object_ref (gpointer object)
   g_return_val_if_fail (object != NULL, NULL);
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_REFCOUNT
-  GST_CAT_LOG_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "%p ref %d->%d",
-      object,
+  GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "%p ref %d->%d", object,
       ((GObject *) object)->ref_count, ((GObject *) object)->ref_count + 1);
 #endif
   g_object_ref (object);
@@ -318,8 +317,7 @@ gst_object_unref (gpointer object)
   g_return_if_fail (((GObject *) object)->ref_count > 0);
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_REFCOUNT
-  GST_CAT_LOG_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "%p unref %d->%d",
-      object,
+  GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "%p unref %d->%d", object,
       ((GObject *) object)->ref_count, ((GObject *) object)->ref_count - 1);
 #endif
   g_object_unref (object);
@@ -349,7 +347,8 @@ gst_object_ref_sink (gpointer object)
 
   GST_OBJECT_LOCK (object);
   if (G_LIKELY (GST_OBJECT_IS_FLOATING (object))) {
-    GST_CAT_LOG_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "unsetting floating flag");
+    GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object,
+        "unsetting floating flag");
     GST_OBJECT_FLAG_UNSET (object, GST_OBJECT_FLOATING);
     GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (object);
   } else {
@@ -380,11 +379,11 @@ gst_object_sink (gpointer object)
 {
   g_return_if_fail (GST_IS_OBJECT (object));
 
-  GST_CAT_LOG_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "sink");
+  GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "sink");
 
   GST_OBJECT_LOCK (object);
   if (G_LIKELY (GST_OBJECT_IS_FLOATING (object))) {
-    GST_CAT_LOG_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "clear floating flag");
+    GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "clear floating flag");
     GST_OBJECT_FLAG_UNSET (object, GST_OBJECT_FLOATING);
     GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (object);
     gst_object_unref (object);
@@ -415,7 +414,7 @@ gst_object_replace (GstObject ** oldobj, GstObject * newobj)
   g_return_if_fail (newobj == NULL || GST_IS_OBJECT (newobj));
 
 #ifdef DEBUG_REFCOUNT
-  GST_CAT_LOG (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, "replace %p %s (%d) with %p %s (%d)",
+  GST_CAT_TRACE (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, "replace %p %s (%d) with %p %s (%d)",
       *oldobj, *oldobj ? GST_STR_NULL (GST_OBJECT_NAME (*oldobj)) : "(NONE)",
       *oldobj ? G_OBJECT (*oldobj)->ref_count : 0,
       newobj, newobj ? GST_STR_NULL (GST_OBJECT_NAME (newobj)) : "(NONE)",
@@ -439,7 +438,7 @@ gst_object_dispose (GObject * object)
 {
   GstObject *parent;
 
-  GST_CAT_LOG_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "dispose");
+  GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "dispose");
 
   GST_OBJECT_LOCK (object);
   if ((parent = GST_OBJECT_PARENT (object)))
@@ -471,7 +470,7 @@ gst_object_finalize (GObject * object)
 {
   GstObject *gstobject = GST_OBJECT_CAST (object);
 
-  GST_CAT_LOG_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "finalize");
+  GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "finalize");
 
   g_signal_handlers_destroy (object);
 
@@ -801,7 +800,8 @@ gst_object_set_parent (GstObject * object, GstObject * parent)
    * in the floating case. */
   object->parent = parent;
   if (G_LIKELY (GST_OBJECT_IS_FLOATING (object))) {
-    GST_CAT_LOG_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "unsetting floating flag");
+    GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object,
+        "unsetting floating flag");
     GST_OBJECT_FLAG_UNSET (object, GST_OBJECT_FLOATING);
     GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (object);
   } else {
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ gst_object_unparent (GstObject * object)
   parent = object->parent;
 
   if (G_LIKELY (parent != NULL)) {
-    GST_CAT_LOG_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "unparent");
+    GST_CAT_TRACE_OBJECT (GST_CAT_REFCOUNTING, object, "unparent");
     object->parent = NULL;
     GST_OBJECT_UNLOCK (object);