AAF and EDL Exporting for Colorists

Here is a quick howto on exporting AAFs and EDLs from an Avid bin. Disclaimer - This is for colorists, not editors!

Exporting an AAF:

First, open your project. Be sure to set the frame rate correctly if you are starting a new project or importing a bin from another.

Next, open the bin that contains the sequence you want to export an AAF from.

Select the timeline and right click it. This sequence should already be cleaned for color. Meaning, camera source on v1, opticals on v2, speed fx on v3, vfx on v4, titles and graphics on v5.

After you right click, go “Output” -> “Export to File” — After you right click, go “**Output**” -> “**Export to File**”

Navigate to the path that you want to export to.. Then, click “Options”

In the “Export As” pulldown select “AAF.” Next, un-check “Include Audio Tracks in Sequence” and make sure “Export Method:” is set to “Link to(Don’t Export) Media.” Then click “Save” to save the settings and return to the file browser. — In the “**Export As**” pulldown select “**AAF**.” Next, un-check “**Include Audio Tracks in Sequence**” and make sure “**Export Method:**” is set to “**Link to(Don’t Export) Media**.” Then click “**Save**” to save the settings and return to the file browser.

Give the AAF a name and hit “Save.” That’s it! Your AAF is sitting on the disk now. — Give the AAF a name and hit “**Save.**” That’s it! Your AAF is sitting on the disk now.

Exporting an EDL:

We should all be using AAFs to make our conform lives easier, but if you need an EDL for a particular piece of software or just want something that is easily read by a human, here you go.

Setup the project and import your bin the same as an AAF. Instead of right-clicking on the sequence, go -> “Tools” -> “List Tool” and it will open a new window. I’m probably dating my self, but back in my day, this was called “EDL Manager.” Li… — Setup the project and import your bin the same as an AAF. Instead of right-clicking on the sequence, go -> “**Tools**” -> “**List Tool**” and it will open a new window. I’m probably dating my self, but back in my day, this was called “EDL Manager.” List Tool is a huge improvement since it lets you export multi-track EDLs quickly.

Select “File_129” from the “Output Format:” pull-down. This sets the tape name to 129 characters (128+0 =129) which is the limit for a filename in most operating systems. Next, click the tracks you want to export. — Select “**File_129**” from the “**Output Format:**” pull-down. This sets the tape name to 129 characters (128+0 =129) which is the limit for a filename in most operating systems. Next, click the tracks you want to export.

Double-click your sequence in the bin to load your timeline into the record monitor. Then click “Load” in the “List Tool” window. At this point, you can click “Preview” to see your EDL in the “Master EDL” tab. To save, click the “Save List” pull-dow… — Double-click your sequence in the bin to load your timeline into the record monitor. Then click “**Load**” in the “**List Tool**” window. At this point, you can click “**Preview**” to see your EDL in the “**Master EDL**” tab. To save, click the “**Save List**” pull-down and choose “**To several files**.” This option will make one EDL per video track. Choose your file location in the browser and hit save. That’s it. Your EDLs are ready for conforming or notching.

Alternate Software EDL Export

That’s great John, but what if I’m using something else other than Avid?

Here are the methods for EDL exports in Filmlight’s Baselight, BMD DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, and SGO Mistika in rapid-fire. If you are using anything else… please stop.

Baselight

Open “Shots” view(Win + H) and click the gear pull-down. Next click “Export EDL.” The exported EDL will respect any filters you may have in “Shots” view, which makes it a very powerful tool, but also something to keep an eye on. — Open “**Shots**” view(**Win + H**) and click the gear pull-down. Next click “**Export EDL**.” The exported EDL will respect any filters you may have in “**Shots**” view, which makes it a very powerful tool, but also something to keep an eye on.

Resolve

In the media manager, right-click your timeline and select “Timelines“ -> “Export“ -> “AAF/XML/EDL“ — In the media manager, right-click your timeline and select “**Timelines**“ -> “**Export**“ -> “**AAF/XML/EDL**“

Premiere Pro

Make sure your “Tape Name” column is populated.

Make sure to have your Timeline selected. Then go, “File“ -> “Export“ -> “EDL“ — Make sure to have your Timeline selected. Then go, “**File**“ -> “**Export**“ -> “**EDL**“

The most important setting here is “32 character names.” Sometimes this is called “File32” in other software. Checking this insures the file name in it’s entirety(as long as it’s not longer then 32 characters) will be placed into the tape id locatio… — The most important setting here is “32 character names.” Sometimes this is called “File32” in other software. Checking this insures the file name in it’s entirety(as long as it’s not longer then 32 characters) will be placed into the tape id location of the EDL

Mistika

Set your marks in the Timespace where you want the EDL to begin and end. Then select “Media“ -> “Output“ -> “Export EDL2” -> “Export EDL.“ Once pressed you will see a preview of the EDL on the right. — Set your marks in the Timespace where you want the EDL to begin and end. Then select “**Media**“ -> “**Output**“ -> “**Export EDL2**” -> “**Export EDL**.“ Once pressed you will see a preview of the EDL on the right.

No matter what the software is, the same rules apply for exporting.

Clean your timeline of unused tracks and clips.
Ensure that your program has leader and starts at an hour or ##:59:52:00
Camera source on v1, Opticals on v2, Speed FX on v3, VFX on v4, Titles and Graphics on v5

Many of us are running lean right now. I hope this helps the folks out there who are working remotely without support and the colorists who don’t fancy editorial or perhaps haven’t touched those tools in a while.

Happy Grading!

JD

Color Grading & Finishing