Program edit lists/EDL problems

[Bob Flood]

Hi justin

in a nutshell, you are correct, Edit Decision Lists can only Identify 1 video track and four audio tracks at a time, sometimes 2 in a KEY (bg and FG)
So, you need to export a separate edl for each video track as well as 4 audiotracks, so with 7 video tracks that would be at least 7 edl’s…great huh?

as for Non TC sources, there are 2 note lines on each “event” in the EDL. One can be either the clip name or file name, and the other can be one of the 6 comments.

Also, dont worry about converting the files to a different text format. If they are asking for a “program edit list” then the EDL is exactly what they want.

hope this helps

“I like video because its so fast!”

Bob Flood
Greer & Associates, Inc.

[Bob Flood]

one more thing

the edl will not export any nested timeline info, so you have to replace the nests in your show with a cut and paste from the nest sequence ie replace the single nest clip with the clips and tracks you used to make the nest.

“I like video because its so fast!”

Bob Flood
Greer & Associates, Inc.

[Barry Lank]

Is it just me or would an edl for a 7 video track video be the worst way ever to piece together a video?!

Wouldn’t it make more sense to give the client an xml, or better yet the actual project file in the rare event that someone else would have to make changes?

With the 18 different videos we are doing I would have to make like… 250-300 edl files?!?!?

I’m going to see if we can change the deliverables to something more manageable and practical.

[Bob Flood]

Justin

I hear ya!

I know from experience that these deliverable edls are usually only used for modifying the show or finding shots to use as stock. I imagine they would just print them out, put em in the master tape box, and call it a day.

Perhaps a batch list from your final sequence would be sufficient?

hope this helps

“I like video because its so fast!”

Bob Flood
Greer & Associates, Inc.

[Barry Lank]

You hit the nail right on the head.
The bottom of a master tape box in an unorganized stock room seems to be the inevitable final resting place for these deliverables.

We decided to export xml files and convert them to a readable text format.

Thanks for the help.

[Mark Raudonis]

Justin,

I’ve found that Network deliverable requirements often do not keep up with current technology.

Your edl requirement is a prime example. We’ve found that if you discuss it with the network, sometimes they will accept a “sequence” file instead of an EDL. Obviously, this will give them much more info to go on, but then you get into all those pesky “versions”. As previously mentioned, EDL’s are primarily used to detect stock footage, and music cues. An XML output of the project is probably the best bet.

Another example of “outdated” delivery requirements is the definition of “acceptable” resolutions in “AVID” terms. Many people are now delivering shows editing with FCP from start to finish, but the guy who writes the specs at the network hasn’t caught on yet.

Mark

[Bob Flood]

Justin

Glad i could help.

What are you using to convert the XML to Text? I often need to do the same thing just to get a more informative log of a project than a batch list

“I like video because its so fast!”

Bob Flood
Greer & Associates, Inc.

[Barry Lank]

I just opened it up in textedit then saved it as a .txt document. It looks just like html source code.

[David Heidelberger]

I’ve got a program on my website that will translate an FCP XML to Excel. It’s a little bit homemade, in that you need to have a specially prepped timeline, but it works and it’s free. Just be sure to read the documentation:

https://www.davidheidelberger.com/software.html

I think that XML2Text can also now do the same thing (although it couldn’t when I wrote the program).

– David