X to Avid – where do we stand?

[Francois Jean]

That might be costly but invaluable in your situation …search for EDL-X on your App store

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/edl-x/id539666579?mt=12

Avid was an offline NLE , the first EDL generator .

[Charlie Austin]

[Jeff Markgraf] “Any thoughts from the workflow gurus would be appreciated.”

Like Zachary said, EDL-X (not free). Or, you can import fcpxml into Resolve 11 lite (free) and export an AAF. I’ve tested both methods with video, not sure about Audio… EDL-X may work for that as well. X2Pro (not free) makes amazing audio AAF’s, but last I tried MC for some reason wouldn’t open them. More specifically, they opened and looked right, but MC wouldn’t link to the embedded audio. I haven’t tried with the latest MC (8.3) I’ll give it a try and update when I can..

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~ My FCPX Babbling blog ~
~”It is a poor craftsman who blames his tools.”~
~”The function you just attempted is not yet implemented”~

[Eric Santiago]

At some basic level, Charlie’s on the nose with Resolve 11 Lite or Full.
I had to move huge R3D data from FCPX to Avid MC and used Resolve 11 to AAF option.
Now the things that dont travel all too well are the virtual type clips such as Audio Sync.
It works but at times, things go missing.
Basic edits Im sure will be fine, I can do another test.
Now as far as AUDIO, that will take some testing on my end.

[Jeff Markgraf]

From what I’ve found online, the X to Resolve to Avid route seems most likely.

Unfortunately, these projects will be compositing heavy – which is why I want to do them in X in the first place. And I gather compound clips and such are a little dicey in making the translation.

Still, if I can get a basic sequence in the Avid that mostly reflects the original X sequence (sorry – “project”) then it will be a good place to start. I don’t mind some rebuilding and tweaking. After all, these are only rough mockups – the final graphics will be done by the graphics person in AE & Cinema 4D and whatever other magic programs she uses.

I’m hoping Clip Exporter will be easy to use to get the X project & files to her.

I wonder why X to Pro can’t do video in the AAF compositions along with the audio? What a lifesaver that would be.

[Charlie Austin]

[Jeff Markgraf] “I wonder why X to Pro can’t do video in the AAF compositions along with the audio? What a lifesaver that would be.”

No idea, as they have solutions (for FCP 7 I think) that do just that. I’ve bugged them about it, please head to Marquis and do the same. 🙂

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~ My FCPX Babbling blog ~
~”It is a poor craftsman who blames his tools.”~
~”The function you just attempted is not yet implemented”~

[Eric Santiago]

What about from X to 7 then AAF/OMF to Avid?

I dont have the resource to test that today 🙁

[Jeff Markgraf]

Eric-

Yes, I imagine that would work. But it also requires having FCP 7 on the computer, which would be a problem here at the nameless network. Even the little bit I’m trying to do here could cause small phase shifts in the space-time continuum here. I kid you not.

[Oliver Peters]

I think Resolve is the best way to go. Remember that you will have to render new media when you do this. That’s a good thing as it makes relinking easy for Avid. Media Composer is terrible for relinking outside of its own controlled environment.

Regarding effects – forget it. The compositing will never translate. I suggest that you render out self-contained composites and place them on top of the elements. That way you’ll have the clean elements as connected clips and then the final version on top. These will stack onto tracks in Resolve and MC.

At least that way, you’ve have the final composite in Avid and would only have to rebuild it is something changed about the composite.

– Oliver

Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com

[Jeff Markgraf]

Oliver –

In my case, not carrying over the effects is fine.

Normally, I do a rough mockup in the Avid and then send a reference and clean video to the designer. Her finished composition goes on the top layer. I plan to do the same thing in X. The difference is that it will be much faster to do the mockup, so I can be more detailed in the rough cut. (This place is full of “Rough Cut Ladies,” if you know what I mean. The more it looks like the final version, the better.)

I plan to use Clip Exporter to send the clean video to the designer as a linked AE composition. So having the effects stripped off is just fine.

Getting the sequence into the Avid is a security blanket for the VP types. The Avid sequence would have clean clips with minimal effects, along with music & sfx and VO. It’s only there so someone can go back into the project in a couple of months and move things around based on client feedback or to make a cutdown or whatever. At that time, the new reference rough cut would go back to the designer who would make a new finished composition.

So mainly, I want to avoid having to completely reinvent the wheel in the Avid after I’ve done it in X. Getting an Avid sequence that mostly matches the X sequence in terms of clip placement is the primary goal. I’ll be using MXF media from the Avid and from other programs sources intended for the Avid, so at least the transcode step is moot.

As always, I appreciate your (and the other Cows’) thoughts. Maybe I can be the first X editor to crack the network wall of Avid!

[Oliver Peters]

[Jeff Markgraf] ” I’ll be using MXF media from the Avid and from other programs sources intended for the Avid, so at least the transcode step is moot.
“

Actually, no – not if you go the Resolve route. You have to render from Resolve and it creates an AAF that links to that new media.

– Oliver

Oliver Peters Post Production Services, LLC
Orlando, FL
http://www.oliverpeters.com