User Manual

Preconforming “Flat” Media Files to EDLs
Preparing an edited sequence for grading, along with each individual clip of media, can be time
consuming for effects-intensive projects, or it may be an unnecessary step for a project with no
effects whatsoever.
In these cases, it can be simpler and quicker to export a flattened master media file that can be
split back apart into its individual clips in DaVinci Resolve. This workflow is similar to a more
traditional tape-to-tape workflow, except that you’re working from a digital master, rather than a
tape-based master.
The easiest way to do this is to use the Preconform button in the Edit page to split a single
master file that you’ve imported into the Media Pool back into individual clips in a new timeline.
To preconform a flattened master media file to an EDL:
1 Open the Media page, use the Media Storage browser to navigate to the flattened
master media file that you exported containing the entire program, and double-click to
add it to the Media Pool.
2 Right-click anywhere in the background of the Media Pool, and choose Timelines >
Import > Preconformed EDL.
3 In the “Select an EDL file” dialog that appears, navigate to the EDL that matches the
flattened master media file you had exported, select it, and click Open.
4 In the “Parse preconform options” dialog that appears, give the new Timeline a name,
and click OK.
A new Timeline appears in the Media Pool list, and opening it in the Edit page shows the
flattened media file with edits added to its video track that correspond to those from the
selected EDL, ready for further editing and grading. The audio is left uncut, on the premise that
you’re probably focused on grading the visuals in this workflow, and not on re-editing the audio.
Conforming “Flat” Media
Files Using Split and Add
The second method of conforming an EDL to a flattened file is to use the “Split and Add”
command in the Media page to split one or more master media files into individual clips that
match those of an EDL, then importing the EDL itself in the Edit page in a second step.
This method is useful if there are clips in different folders or volumes that you want to conform
to a single EDL. For example, the majority of the first reel of a program may have been exported
as a single flattened file, but the corresponding EDL may require that an additional folder of
effects clips be added to the Media Pool to be fully conformed.
To split a flat media file in the Media page and import its EDL in the Edit page:
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.
2 Open the Media page, use the Media Storage browser to navigate to the flattened
master media file that contains the entire program.
3 Select the flattened media file, right-click it, and choose “Split and Add into
MediaPool.”
Chapter – 51 Conforming EDL Files 957