Problems importing an Avid EDL to FCP

[Jenny Cederqvist]

Just for clarification:
– The captured material i am using in FCP is the same as my editor used offlining in Avid, with the exact same timecode and logginginfo.
– I have tried reconnecting the offline items both .avi and .mov rawfootage, with the same outcome -> timecode for edited material changes the same amount.
– have also tried importing the Avid EDL, exporting both EDL and XML from FCP, importin them to a new project, and I still have the same problem.
– the code looks exactly right in TextEdit, right sources and TC

After some research i think im sure the timecode changes exactly the same amount (12s17f) when reconnecting a clip. But another clip seems to move 17s9f.

Now I´m re-cuttin the whole thingamole, just taking the in- and outpoints from the offline media the EDL provided.

Any better way?

[Walter Biscardi]

[Jenny Cederqvist] “- The captured material i am using in FCP is the same as my editor used offlining in Avid, with the exact same timecode and logginginfo. “

I’ve not known of anyone who has successfully brought in an Avid EDL and Avid media into an FCP project.

We use the Duck all the time to bring in Avid AAF’s, but we recapture the media. It’s worked more or less flawless for about three years now here.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.

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[Jenny Cederqvist]

Thank you for your answer. I earlier mentioned that i dont have Automatic Duck, and wont be purchasing one for this one and only project. I have had no problem importing the avid EDL to FCP, as I earlier mentioned. All in and outpoints are right, TC´s right, clips and transissions are right. No problem at all. The material is from an XD-cam, and converted to both avi and mov for smoother editing. The offline has been done on Premiere actually, and thats where the EDL comes from.

My only problem at this moment is Reconnecting the media, thats where everything goes wrong. Why does FCP reconnect the media totally wrong, although the timecode is correct in the EDL and timeline?

[Donal O kane]

You could try to create an offline version in media manager from your edl and then reconnect the xdcam .mov file to the offline clips?

Full length xdcam files will reconnect to offline clips for me, timecode accurately, but again omf import via auto duck from avid not edl, so not exactly the same situation.

[Bob Flood]

Jenny

FCP doesnt treat EDL’s like that. you cant relink an edl to any existing media. it renames all the clips based on (of all things) event and reel numbers, or something like that

FCP DOES allow you to Import an edl, and recapture the media with handle.
thats it, even then people have had problems with dissolves and such

try this:

import the edl into fcp, recapture 3 or 4 shots from one reel, and see how the shots line up. it should work fine, with maybe a 1 frame error or so. If after the test you are still getting 12 and 17 second offsets, then you have a bigger problem, like tapes captured across time code breaks, or some drop frame – non drop frame mismatch

Apple never meant for EDL Import to do nothing more than make a timeline and clips to be recaptured, much to many peoples chagrin.

and I know what you said about Automatic Duck, but to do what you want its the only way. Maybe someone on the forum who has it would let you run your work through it, for a nominal fee.

hope this helps

“I like video because its so fast!”

Bob Flood
Greer & Associates, Inc.

[Jenny Cederqvist]

Thank you guys, at least now I know never, ever, ever to do this again.

Floods answer could work, if I had any tapes. Our material is HDV filmed straight on memorycards (.mxf:s that have been converted to .mov for my FCP and .avi for the premiere), so no recapturing tapes is possible.

I guess Ill just sit all night and recut the whole thing with the EDL/timeline as reference. Its just 1,5h of fiktion film.

Just for the future, what is the correct way to communicate between FCP, Avid and Premiere? Is the only way Automatic Duck, or is there nowadays any mastercode for transfering between edits??
Studied the plugin, and would probably be a good thing to put money in, except AE->FCP, which work perfectly together anyways.

[Bob Flood]

Jenny

I may be wrong, but i thought there was a way to “recapture” from mxf. Look around at other forums just to make sure i am or am not dreaming.

“I like video because its so fast!”

Bob Flood
Greer & Associates, Inc.