AAF Export for Pro Tools

[matthieus24600646]

Do you know why Premiere gives me this message when I export AAF? After pro tools is not able to open it correctly. The only solution I found is to duplicate the sequence and delete the video.
Thanks
Matt

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hi matthieus,

Sorry. What are your computer specs and the format you are using? Macs running Apple silicon might be able to handle AAF.

Thanks,
Kevin

[LluisV]

Hi matthieus24600646,

I have the same problem... always. And I use the same workaround.

aaf export only works if  video clips have one audio track and are not merged with other audio tracks.

I have an aaf workaround manual that I send to any video editor to get an usable package for sound editing.

Regards,

Lluís

[R Neil Haugen]

Merged clips are your problem ... don't do that. Use the multicam process, and flatten before exporting that AAF, then it will work perfectly.

"Multicam" in Premiere is kinda misnamed in practice ... it isn't just for multiple cams, it's the preferred/best-practice way to join video with separate audio in Premiere.

Merge clips tosses out the audio metadata, btw ... read the section in this new best-practices guide on merged clips versus multicam.

Adobe Long-form and Episodic Best Practices Guide

Neil

[LluisV]

I do not find how multicam will be helpful with film edit.

We have tons of short takes with one video file, that sometimes have audio, and some audio files. Usually there are auxiliary people that synchonices and merges each video take with its corresponding audio takes and renames it.

Later, the film editor will use this thousands of takes to create a film...

The final edit will be sent to audio editors through aaf export. Audio editors need to have all the audio clips separated.

We think merged clips is the only way to move takes back and forth into the timeline keeping video and audio always in sync.

Regards,

[R Neil Haugen]

I'm guessing you didn't actually read the suggested bits, which do give the full working process for doing exactly what you need done. Primary writer for that extensive working guide is Jarle Leirpoll, one of the best teachers for anything for pro work using Premiere.

They are very clear in that paper ... 'merged clips' is only a process used for quick timeline stuff where you put an audio clip to a video clip, to move them around together on that sequence. It loses all meta for the audio, and will not transfer to AAF or any other exporting html type process.

Mutlicam is used for all other purposes.  Whether or not there's more than one camera or not is irrelevant.

In fact, you can have a bin of 25 video clips and 25 audio clips, every one a different shoot. Select all, "create multicam" ... and you will get 25 different linked video/audio 'sequences' ... clips really ... with the meta of both the audio & video maintained.

"Flatten" and use for AAF, EDL, XML, whatever. As this is how you get the audio properly handled so you can hand it off to your audio people. Which again, is covered in detail in that paper.

Neil

[LluisV]

I'm very sorry, I've not seen the link.

Looks really interesting... I've started reading!

Many thanks

Lluís

[R Neil Haugen]

Very understandable, as the terms used are not ... clear ... as to what the process actually involves. At least to me. So yea, at first it seems that 'merged' is the normal process for any video with separate audio work, but ... it isn't.

And when you learn why ... well yea, you can see the logic.

I wouldn't mind a different naming schema though ...

Neil

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hi LluisV,

Thanks for the comments. Merge Clips works excellent if you're a one-person operation. Once you hand it off to a sound editor via AAF, merge clips won't work well for collaboration. Use the MultiCam technique Neil mentioned. I believe there is a workaround out there, though. I'll see if I can find it.

Thanks,
Kevin

[LluisV]

Hi Kevin and Neil,

I use a workaround... I delete all video clips (dragging with alt key pressed) and export the aaf file.

I've been testing the multicam way and I am astonished, this is the right way!!!

Best Practices & Workflow Guide for long form and episodic post production will be a very helpful tool. I will share it with all people I collaborate.

There will be a spanish release?

Thank you both for your invaluable and kind help.

Lluís

[R Neil Haugen]

It seems weird I know, considering the name ... but the Multicam is the designed way for joining all video/audio where you want to keep the audio metadata. And works for the 'hand-off' workflows just fine. As long as you flatten, of course.

Jarle published on his website an expanded version of the multicam section ...

Jarle’s blog expansion of the pdf Multicam section: Premiere Pro Multicam

And there's also a link on his site to his 1200 page tome, "The Cool Stuff in Premiere Pro" ... which though it's a few years old, is still the best manual for fast, pro workflows getting stuff done from editing shortcuts & processes through audio setup and even Ae workflows.

Neil

[LluisV]

Hi Neil,

I've landed to Jarle's blog folowing links of the workflow manual. There are a lot of aditional and interesting information.

I will consider to buy the book.

Thanks again for your kind help.

Lluís