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136 Part II Project Interchange
∏ Tip: If you need to modify a sequence to prepare it for EDL export, duplicate the
sequence and work on the copy instead. This way you can always get back to the
original sequence if necessary.
In the duplicated sequence, remove motion settings, filters, and nonstandard
transitions. Move all clips to video track V1. You can use video track V2 for
superimposed (key) effects, such as titles.
Important: If you name disks and folders with double-byte characters, Final Cut Pro
may not be able to export or import EDLs. To avoid this problem, export to or import
from disks and folders with names that do not contain double-byte characters.
EDL Considerations Before Capturing
Before capturing your media files, make sure you:
 Calibrate the timecode via your device control connection.
 Label your source tapes with unique reel names.
Maintaining Accurate Timecode
The accuracy of your captured timecode is extremely important when exporting an
EDL. If timecode of your clips is inaccurate, online edits won’t match the original offline
cuts. This can be fixed by the online editor, but you’ll lose valuable time.
Make sure you calibrate your incoming timecode so it matches the captured video
stream accurately. For information on calibrating timecode, see “Calibrating Timecode
Capture With Serial Device Control” on page 332.
Reel Name Restrictions in EDLs
If you plan on exporting an EDL, there are restrictions on the reel names you can use.
The restrictions depend on what EDL format you’re using:
When you export an EDL, Final Cut Pro will automatically change reel names that aren’t
compatible with the selected EDL format.
System Reel name length Reel name characters
CMX 340 1–253 characters Numbers only
CMX 3600 8 characters Uppercase alphabetical
characters and numbers
GVG and GVG 4 Plus 6 characters Uppercase alphabetical
characters and numbers
Sony 5000 1–998 characters Numbers only
Sony 9100 6 characters Uppercase alphabetical
characters; numbers;
underscore (_)