User Manual

EDL Export of a Project and Its Media
When using EDL workflows, it’s important to make sure that every clip in your edited sequence,
and every source media file it’s linked to, has an appropriate reel number/reel name, and true
timecode written into that file. When conforming EDLs, DaVinci Resolve requires reel names
and accurate timecode to successfully conform the imported EDL timeline to media in the
Media Pool.
To export an EDL that can be easily conformed by DaVinci Resolve, each NLE has particular
settings that you should use. The primary supported format is CMX 3600, although
DaVinci Resolve also supports the DEDL format exported by both Smoke and Flame. Also, most
editing applications let you choose which video and audio tracks you want to export, and how
to handle the start timecode for the selected sequence of clips you’re exporting. In general, it’s
a good idea to make sure that the exported start timecode matches that of your
sequence timeline.
There are other details, however, that vary by application. For example, when exporting an EDL
from Media Composer using Tools > List Tool, you need to make sure that the Active Setting is
set to Default EDL, and that the Output Format is set to CMX_3600. When exporting an EDL
from Premiere Pro, you have the option of enabling Use Source File Name and Include
Transitions. When exporting an EDL from the legacy Final Cut Pro 7, you need to make sure you
set Reel Conflicts to Generic Edits, and turn on the File Names checkbox. Most applications
provide other settings that are optional, including EDL notes of various kinds, but for a cleaner,
easier to read EDL, you can turn these off if you like.
Conforming EDLs to
Individual Media Files
The advantage of working with discrete media files is that they are the “purest” version of the
media, without any effects (such as dissolves or superimpositions) “baked” into the visuals that
might create complications when you’re grading.
1 Before you import any media, make sure that the “Timeline frame rate” pop-up menu
in the Master Settings panel of the Project Settings is set to a frame rate that matches
your project and media. Otherwise, the EDL’s timecode will be misinterpreted.
2 Open the Media page, use the Media Storage browser to locate the media you want to
add to the project, and add it to the Media Pool by right-clicking the enclosing directory
and choosing one of the following commands:
–
Add Folder into Media Pool: Adds all compatible media files within that folder to the
Media Pool. Subfolders are not traversed.
–
Add Folder and SubFolders into Media Pool: Adds all compatible media files from
that folder, and all subfolders within that folder, to the Media Pool.
–
Add Folder Based on EDLs into Media Pool: Prompts you to choose an EDL.
Onlymedia referenced by that EDL is imported, and only the selected folder is
searched for that media.
–
Add Folder and SubFolders Based on EDLs into Media Pool: Prompts you to
choose an EDL. Only media referenced by that EDL is imported, and the selected
folder and all subfolders are searched for that media.
Chapter – 51 Conforming EDL Files 955