Native OMF export support needed

[Michael Gissing]

It took years for formats like ELs and OMF to mature. When OMF was EOL’d we all breathed a sigh as the format stopped changing and became predictable and robust. AAF is just another variant that we are expected to pay an extra license for, whether it’s built into the DAW or third party software.

FCP’s native OMF was really important in settling down what had been a crazy format and from FCP3 onwards it just worked. Even AVID seemed to be better once they had EOL’d OMF.

Since there is nothing intrinsically useful in an AAF that isn’t already in an OMF, users like me do not want AAFs over OMFs. OMFs give us exactly what we want. Unaltered original audio with handles on a TRACK!

I agree absolutely with Oliver and said it from day one. A year later the fact that OMF from FCPX is still a dodgy workaround and needs third party software only confirms my predictions months ago that relying on third party solutions for fundamental features and facilities was brittle and a cop out. At the time I was howled down. Thankfully the free issue of Automatic Duck means that we can at least go from AVID to FCP7 with relative ease via AAF. So although FCPX means I am seeing more AVID originated shows I still have not had a single FCPX edited show approach me for post finishing.

Until FCPX has a robust level of interchange for both picture and sound I am reverting to my original advice to editors to avoid this NLE for broadcast workflows. I had relaxed and was telling people there was a way to get from X to the real world but if the reports from users in this thread are indicative, I can’t in all honesty support this.

[Chris Harlan]

[Michael Gissing] “Thankfully the free issue of Automatic Duck means that we can at least go from AVID to FCP7 with relative ease via AAF.”

FWIW, I’m using the Boris transfer plugins (that use AFF) with a lot of success, though you of course have to pay for those.

[Michael Gissing]

Yes Chris I have heard the Boris translator was very good. I had already bought and used AD from many years so ‘upgrading’ to the free final versions was the best path for me.

If you want the Duck tools as well and they are no longer up on the web, I downloaded them all.

[Tony West]

[Shane Ross] “They are catering to the DSLR crowd “

What about my crowd Shane?

Almost every major league sporting event I cover, the footage comes in the door P2 or XD

Shooters trim their stuff up in-cam before it reaches the truck. (we don’t have time to mess around)

We do a ton of time-lapse stuff in sports, all on cards. That stuff looks great.

I worked on MLB spots for the ALL-STAR Game this week. All P2 out of Busch

I know some folks need tape, but don’t sleep on sports my brother. Big time viewers, big time money.

Melts out the door on TB hard drives and on to the next city.

LIVE TV is high end. It’s just done LIVE and fast

[Michael Gissing]

Tony, in Shane’s defence, this thread is about workflows where OMF matters so other broadcast applications for FCPX like live sport are not really comparative.

[Shane Ross]

[tony west] “What about my crowd Shane?”

Well, I know a guy who does major league sports…grabs footage from the EVS…edits highlights from plays for the throw to commercial, and throw from commercial. He didn’t touch tape. And he used FCP 7. True, they are playing with FCX and it seems to work for them. He’s sticking wtih FCP 7 when he can though, doesn’t like the editing methodology. But he is playing with it, and admits it does go quicker for him.

Tapes are rolling of each sporting event…don’t kid yourself. Yeah, the field cameras that aren’t feeding live might be rolling P2 or XDCAM, but the LINE CUT…that’s getting recorded to tape. Oh, and NFL films, still shoots film. How about that?

Shane
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[Chris Harlan]

[Michael Gissing] “If you want the Duck tools as well and they are no longer up on the web, I downloaded them all.
“

Thanks, man! I may take you up on that. The Boris stuff works amazingly well, though. Its sorta like just as everything got perfect, it all fell apart.

[Daniel Frome]

Sucky situation to be in. Feel free to export an AAF anyways and ask one of your fellow Avid/Protools editors (including me) to convert to OMF for you. Avid or Protools can both do this.

[Michael Gissing]

Daniel, On a recent job the old trick in AVID of dropping the audio onlu into an SD timeline didn’t work. The editor was using MC6 and the OMF export was not available with that trick.

[Daniel Frome]

Hmm, well I can’t speak for this other editor or the surrounding circomstances, but I’ve done this many from working in the animation industry.

That being said, I would have fired up ProTools most likely since it fits the job better.

Edit: Doh, I think you’re right about MC6. Well then…protools it is!