Comments not retained when importing EDL (into FCP or Avid)!

[John Pale]

Yes. EDL’s have no idea what a browser or a bin or clip is.
They are designed for linear tape based edit controllers from the 1970’s.

What are you using an EDL for? There may be a more modern solution than that, depending on the application.

[Mike Barber]

Basically, the client (who uses Avid) sent me a bunch of QT dailies in order to pull selects. After going through a few dozen clips with the VFX supervisor, I assembled the sections of the clips we wanted onto a timeline in FCP and then exported the EDL (as well as a QT) with a brief yet unique description for each clip as a comment.

I send this EDL and QT to the client who then has the DPX sequences generated and delivered to us. I’m not sure if there is a better way to do it, but I am always open to new/better ideas.

So, I take it that we shouldn’t expect the comment fields to be retained?

[Doug Beal]

Not at my machine right now but is there not a check box as to include comments and which field of comments to retain?
I remember four comment fields. don’t remember which one sticks with the edl or if all can

Doug Beal
Editor / Engineer
Rock Creative Images
Nashville TN

[Mike Barber]

Yes, but that’s in the export, not in the import.

[Mike Barber]

FYI, here is an excerpt from the EDL:


001 001 V C 11:02:08:14 11:02:20:00 01:00:00:00 01:00:11:11
* FROM CLIP NAME: VX348-1.MOV
* COMMENT: LENS_DEFOCUS_DIRTY

002 001 V C 11:40:53:24 11:41:00:16 01:00:11:11 01:00:18:03
* FROM CLIP NAME: VX348-1 PT2.MOV
* COMMENT: DIRTY_DEBRIS_01


[Kevin Monahan]

In the past, only Comment Column 4 would be carried over in any EDL. See if this still works.

Kevin Monahan
http://www.fcpworld.com
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro

[Ernesto Crvalo]

EDLs are terrible. You do have another much better option for getting to avid from FCP which is Automatic Duck’s Pro Export FCP 4.0. But it’s not as free as EDL.

[Doug Beal]

I guess I didn’t get what you are trying to accomplish. Are you expecting the comments to show up in the reconnect? in some window or column? I don’t recall that as a capability on import. it’s just the edit number, reel number, edit type, tracks, duration & TC I/O master I/O that translates on import.

I come from the linear days so if we are working with EDLs we do a printout and verify the hard copy against the import. comments are printed as you show in your example.
we still deal with EDLs in a red workflow using Assimilate Scratch and FCP or Avid. We still print them out to verify, in addition to visually matching against a ref QT w BITC.

To move between FCP and Avid MC or DS automatic duck gets it done but the only way I trust comments to translate is a printout. Auto duck generates an HTML that looks similar to an EDL.
Because of the different code used for DVE, text gen, speed ramps etc between edit softwares a lot of this won’t translate so comments are quite useful, but must be printed out from a text program or database like filemaker.
with Scratch, notes can be attached to the footage or placeholders in the slots on the construct so shots destined for VFX can be kept up with prior to final conform. helps us old guys to remember what’s happening and allows someone to follow the breadcrumbs.

Doug Beal
Editor / Engineer
Rock Creative Images
Nashville TN