Specifications
Chapter 1: Introduction 3
A A F, O M F, a n d M X F B a s i c s
AAF and OMF files are mechanisms for storing
and retrieving media data and metadata so that
projects can be freely exchanged between differ-
ent applications and platforms (such as between
Pro Tools and Avid video editing applications).
Media data and metadata enable an application
that receives AAF and OMF sequence files to au-
tomatically and quickly reassemble the compo-
sition. A simple metaphor for this approach is
that media data files are the pieces of a puzzle
and metadata is the set of instructions for as-
sembling the puzzle.
In the simplest case, only an AAF or OMF se-
quence is exchanged. If this sequence points to
existing media files, the size of the sequence file
is relatively small and the export/import process
is relatively fast.
AAF and OMF sequences can also have media
data embedded in them. This creates a single,
larger file that is slower to export and import,
but which may be easier to manage than thou-
sands of files stored on different volumes.
Pro Tools supports AAF and OMF sequences that
contain embedded audio media.
Pro Tools does not support AAF or OMF se-
quences containing embedded video media, ex-
cept if you are importing such sequences into a
video satellite track. In such cases, video meta-
data is imported into the track.
MXF
MXF is a media file format. There are MXF video
files and MXF audio files, but there are no “MXF
sequences.” An AAF sequence may refer to or in-
clude MXF media files, but OMF sequences can-
not refer to or include MXF files.
Avid Support for MXF Media
Avid editing applications support MXF media as
follows:
• Creation of MXF media when capturing,
transcoding, rendering, or using other meth-
ods to create media
• Import of MXF media files created in other
Avid applications
• Export of MXF audio and video files
Pro Tools Support for MXF Media
Pro Tools supports MXF media as follows:
• Import of MXF video and audio media
• Export of MXF audio media
Pro Tools cannot export video files of any type.
Video files digitized in Pro Tools are technically
of the MXF format, but are intended only for use
in Pro Tools and are not tested for compatibility
with other applications.