If you need to transfer your timeline between two different pieces of video editing software, using XML files could be the solution for you.
So, you've been brought in on a project and the edit is already partially completed. You're eager to get cracking with the work, but there's one major problem. The current edit was done on a software that you despise using. While you want to accept the work, the fact that you can't use your go-to editing software is a real deterrent.
Luckily, there are a few different ways to move edits between various editing software. One of them is by using XML files.
Here's a step-by-step guide to using XML files within FCPX, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.
PremiereProCS6-OpeningaFinalCutPro7Project Run time 00:04:18 Year 2013 Youtube-height 720 Youtube-id izr-efGqvIM Youtube-n-entries null Youtube-playlist null Youtube-playlist-index null Youtube-uploader Arlington Independent Media Youtube-uploader-id Arlingtonmedia Youtube-view-count 4096 Youtube-webpage-url.
FCPX to Premiere Pro
- Premiere Pro CC Projects- will NOT open in any versions prior to CC. They designed it this way on purpose to keep people out of the 'Owning Software' and move them into the 'Pay to Use' program. However, I can from experience, that Premiere Pro CS5.5 will most likely open a CS6 project.
- Create a new project in Final Cut Pro. To create a movie in Final Cut Pro, you first create a project, which provides a record of your editing decisions and the media you use. When you create a new Final Cut Pro project, you do the following: Name the project. Specify the event where the project is stored.
If you'd rather stay away from using Apple's Final Cut Pro X for your edit, you can simply move your timeline out of it using an XML file.
- To do this, load your current edit in the timeline (called a 'Project' in FCPX) and navigate to Export XML, as shown above. You can then save it to your desired location.
- If you'd like to import it to Adobe Premiere Pro, you must purchase and install an extra piece of software called Project X27. You can download it from the App Store or the Intelligent Assistance website for $49.99.
- Next up, navigate to your XML and right-click it. Select open with then select Project X27. After this, a new window will appear so you can select the attributes of the edit that you'd like to transfer to Premiere. Once you've done this, hit OK and save your new XML file.
- Go back to Premiere and navigate to Import, then select the XML you've just created. This will import your timeline along with your footage and assets. It's worth researching which aspects of the edit will and won't transfer. For example, color grades will not move across to Premiere.
DaVinci Resolve to Premiere Pro
- Start off by loading up your edit in Resolve.
- Navigate to Export AAF, XML, as shown above.
- Once you've done this, a new window will appear so you can select where to save your file and what to name it. It'll also give you the option to decide what sort of XML you want to create. I recommend selecting FCP XML 1.3, as this is the one that I've gained the best results from.
- If you'd like to import it to Adobe Premiere Pro, you must purchase and install an extra piece of software called Project X27. You can download it from the Intelligent Assistance website for $49.99.
- Next up, navigate to your XML and right-click it. Select open with then select Project X27. A new window will appear to let you select the attributes of the edit that you'd like to transfer to Premiere. Once you've done this, hit OK and save your new XML file.
- Go back to Premiere and navigate to Import, then select the XML you've just created. Your timeline will import into Premiere along with your footage and assets.
DaVinci Resolve to FCPX
- Start off by loading up your edit in resolve.
- Navigate to Export AAF, XML.
- Once you've done this, a new window will appear (as shown above), which will enable you to select where to save your file and what to name it. It'll also give you the option to decide what sort of XML you want to create. I recommend selecting FCP XML 1.3 as this is the one that I've gained the best results from.
- Open up FCPX and navigate to File>Import>XML.
- Select the XML file you've just created and hit Import. Once you've done that, DaVinci Resolve will create a new event where you will find your timeline and footage.
FCPX to DaVinci Resolve
- Load up your current edit in the timeline (called a 'Project' in FCPX) and navigate to Export XML. You can then save it to your desired location.
- Open up Resolve and navigate to Import AAF, EDL, XML.
- You can import the XML from FCPX without any interference, which is convenient. Select your file and click Import.
- A new window will appear allowing you to select various options. I advise deselecting use sizing information to ensure your edit maintains how it appears in FCPX.
- If you hit use color information, the grades you created using the color board in FCPX will come across.
- Select OK and your timeline will import along with your footage. You will find it in the media pool.
How To Open Final Cut Project In Premiere
Premiere to FCPX
- Open up Premiere and load up your edit.
- Navigate to Export>Final Cut Pro XML and save your file in a convenient location.
- Once again, you'll need to purchase a new piece of software in order to make your XML compatible with FCPX and Resolve. Head to the Intelligent Assistance website or the App store to buy it (it's called SendtoX).
- Once you've downloaded it, right-click your file and select open with>SendtoX.
- When a new window appears, select the library you'd like to import the edit into.
- Once you've done that, Premiere creates a new event and imports your timeline and footage into it.
Premiere to Resolve
- Complete steps 1-3 from the Premiere to FCPX instructions above.
- Open up Resolve and navigate to Import AAF, EDL, XML.
- Select your file and click import.
- A new window will appear allowing you to select various options. I advise deselecting use sizing information to ensure your edit maintains how it appears in FCPX.
- If you hit use color information, the grades you created using the color board in FCPX will come across.
- Select OK and your timeline will import along with your footage, which will be added to the media pool.
So, that's how to work with XML files within these three different editing softwares. It's far simpler than it may at first seem and well worth mastering!
If you need to transfer your timeline between two different pieces of video editing software, using XML files could be the solution for you.
So, you've been brought in on a project and the edit is already partially completed. You're eager to get cracking with the work, but there's one major problem. The current edit was done on a software that you despise using. While you want to accept the work, the fact that you can't use your go-to editing software is a real deterrent.
Luckily, there are a few different ways to move edits between various editing software. One of them is by using XML files.
Here's a step-by-step guide to using XML files within FCPX, Premiere Pro, and DaVinci Resolve.
PremiereProCS6-OpeningaFinalCutPro7Project Run time 00:04:18 Year 2013 Youtube-height 720 Youtube-id izr-efGqvIM Youtube-n-entries null Youtube-playlist null Youtube-playlist-index null Youtube-uploader Arlington Independent Media Youtube-uploader-id Arlingtonmedia Youtube-view-count 4096 Youtube-webpage-url.
FCPX to Premiere Pro
- Premiere Pro CC Projects- will NOT open in any versions prior to CC. They designed it this way on purpose to keep people out of the 'Owning Software' and move them into the 'Pay to Use' program. However, I can from experience, that Premiere Pro CS5.5 will most likely open a CS6 project.
- Create a new project in Final Cut Pro. To create a movie in Final Cut Pro, you first create a project, which provides a record of your editing decisions and the media you use. When you create a new Final Cut Pro project, you do the following: Name the project. Specify the event where the project is stored.
If you'd rather stay away from using Apple's Final Cut Pro X for your edit, you can simply move your timeline out of it using an XML file.
- To do this, load your current edit in the timeline (called a 'Project' in FCPX) and navigate to Export XML, as shown above. You can then save it to your desired location.
- If you'd like to import it to Adobe Premiere Pro, you must purchase and install an extra piece of software called Project X27. You can download it from the App Store or the Intelligent Assistance website for $49.99.
- Next up, navigate to your XML and right-click it. Select open with then select Project X27. After this, a new window will appear so you can select the attributes of the edit that you'd like to transfer to Premiere. Once you've done this, hit OK and save your new XML file.
- Go back to Premiere and navigate to Import, then select the XML you've just created. This will import your timeline along with your footage and assets. It's worth researching which aspects of the edit will and won't transfer. For example, color grades will not move across to Premiere.
DaVinci Resolve to Premiere Pro
- Start off by loading up your edit in Resolve.
- Navigate to Export AAF, XML, as shown above.
- Once you've done this, a new window will appear so you can select where to save your file and what to name it. It'll also give you the option to decide what sort of XML you want to create. I recommend selecting FCP XML 1.3, as this is the one that I've gained the best results from.
- If you'd like to import it to Adobe Premiere Pro, you must purchase and install an extra piece of software called Project X27. You can download it from the Intelligent Assistance website for $49.99.
- Next up, navigate to your XML and right-click it. Select open with then select Project X27. A new window will appear to let you select the attributes of the edit that you'd like to transfer to Premiere. Once you've done this, hit OK and save your new XML file.
- Go back to Premiere and navigate to Import, then select the XML you've just created. Your timeline will import into Premiere along with your footage and assets.
DaVinci Resolve to FCPX
- Start off by loading up your edit in resolve.
- Navigate to Export AAF, XML.
- Once you've done this, a new window will appear (as shown above), which will enable you to select where to save your file and what to name it. It'll also give you the option to decide what sort of XML you want to create. I recommend selecting FCP XML 1.3 as this is the one that I've gained the best results from.
- Open up FCPX and navigate to File>Import>XML.
- Select the XML file you've just created and hit Import. Once you've done that, DaVinci Resolve will create a new event where you will find your timeline and footage.
FCPX to DaVinci Resolve
- Load up your current edit in the timeline (called a 'Project' in FCPX) and navigate to Export XML. You can then save it to your desired location.
- Open up Resolve and navigate to Import AAF, EDL, XML.
- You can import the XML from FCPX without any interference, which is convenient. Select your file and click Import.
- A new window will appear allowing you to select various options. I advise deselecting use sizing information to ensure your edit maintains how it appears in FCPX.
- If you hit use color information, the grades you created using the color board in FCPX will come across.
- Select OK and your timeline will import along with your footage. You will find it in the media pool.
How To Open Final Cut Project In Premiere
Premiere to FCPX
- Open up Premiere and load up your edit.
- Navigate to Export>Final Cut Pro XML and save your file in a convenient location.
- Once again, you'll need to purchase a new piece of software in order to make your XML compatible with FCPX and Resolve. Head to the Intelligent Assistance website or the App store to buy it (it's called SendtoX).
- Once you've downloaded it, right-click your file and select open with>SendtoX.
- When a new window appears, select the library you'd like to import the edit into.
- Once you've done that, Premiere creates a new event and imports your timeline and footage into it.
Premiere to Resolve
- Complete steps 1-3 from the Premiere to FCPX instructions above.
- Open up Resolve and navigate to Import AAF, EDL, XML.
- Select your file and click import.
- A new window will appear allowing you to select various options. I advise deselecting use sizing information to ensure your edit maintains how it appears in FCPX.
- If you hit use color information, the grades you created using the color board in FCPX will come across.
- Select OK and your timeline will import along with your footage, which will be added to the media pool.
So, that's how to work with XML files within these three different editing softwares. It's far simpler than it may at first seem and well worth mastering!
Aka ms xbox setup. For more editing tips and tricks, check out these additional articles.
Cover image via boyhey.
I've written about how to move:
* An FCP 7 project to Premiere Pro
* An FCP 7 project to FCP X
* An FCP X project to Audition
* An FCP X Project to Premiere Pro CC
So, in this article, I want to show you how to move a Premiere Pro CC project to Final Cut Pro X.
We do this in three steps:
- Export the Premiere project as an XML file
- Convert the XML file into something Final Cut can read
- Import the XML file into Final Cut Pro X
However, there are some cautions in this process: Not everything transfers perfectly. I'll talk more about this at the end.
INSIDE PREMIERE
Here's a typical project inside Premiere. There are several things to note here:
- All media is linked, nothing is off-line
- There are multiple tracks of audio, most of which are stereo pairs
- There are multiple layers of video
- There are multiple text clips
- There are dissolves between B-roll clips
Notice that all stereo audio starts on an odd-numbered track. This is important. Most software assumes that stereo pair audio will be on two separate tracks and further assumes that the left channel starts on an odd track. I have found that I get the most reliable transfers when working with multi-track stereo audio when the left channel is placed on an odd-numbered track. (Premiere does not care if there are gaps between audio clips, nor if an entire audio track is left blank.)
NOTE: This project is based on an older Premiere project, where stereo audio spanned two tracks. In the current version of Premiere, stereo audio can appear as a single clip in a single track. When moving projects between Premiere and FCP X, whether stereo audio is on one or two tracks does not make a difference; as long as when audio spans multiple tracks, the left channel is placed on an odd-track.
Thinking about text, notice the text color and formatting in this opening title…
…and the formatting of this locator text.
To transfer a project from Premiere, select the project in the Project panel. Then, choose File > Export > Final Cut Pro XML.
Western digital external hard disk drive. Give the XML file a name and storage location. Here, I'm calling it 'Dr. Cerf Documentary (Transfer)' and storing it to the Desktop.
A warning message appears, indicating if Premiere had any problems with the transfer.
In this case, all problems relate to audio levels. (This is the Translation Results report from this export. Different projects will generate different reports.)
After a few seconds, the XML file appears on the Desktop.
NOTE: XML files are very small – generally, just a few hundred KB. They are only needed to transfer information from one program to another. Once the data has been transferred, the XML file can be deleted. For this reason, I tend to store them to the Desktop to make them easy to find and delete when this process is complete.
CONVERTING FOR FINAL CUT PRO X
FCP X and Premiere use different versions of XML, so we need to convert the XML file so that Final Cut can read it. This requires a utility from Intelligent Assistance called: '7toX' — it's available in the Mac App Store for $9.99. Here's the link. 1tb portable external hard drive price in india.
Either start the application and select the XML file, or, much easier, simply drag the XML file on top of the application icon. This dialog asks what you want to do with the converted XML file.
- Send to Final Cut Pro X converts the XML file, opens FCP X, and imports the file into a new Library; all automatically.
- Save XML file converts the XML file and saves it to the Desktop.
While sending the file to FCP X is the fastest, when it comes to transferring files, I tend to be a 'belt-and-suspenders' kind of guy. I prefer to do this in two steps:
- Convert the XML
- Import it into a Library in FCP X
So, I chose the 'Save XML File' option, gave it a name and storage location and clicked Save. The translation process starts and only takes a few seconds.
IMPORT INTO FINAL CUT PRO X
Start Final Cut and create a new Library.
Open Final Cut Project In Premiere
NOTE: Creating a new Library is optional, as you'll see in a minute, but I prefer to transfer projects to their own library.
Choose File > Import > XML. Select the converted XML file and click Import.
The transferred project is imported as its own event, with the sequence and media inside. (This is why creating a new library is optional.)
As you would expect, the project and all media are displayed in the Browser.
THINGS CHANGE
Here's what the transferred project looks like, inside FCP X.
- All clips and edits transferred successfully; no media went off-line
- Audio was properly converted to stereo clips.
- All audio cross-fade durations were set correctly, and the fade shape was set to +3 dB (the default setting in FCP X)
- Text clips were inserted with proper duration and location, but the text itself was lost
- Clip scaling was ignored, all clips were imported with Spatial Conform set to 'Fit.'
NOTE: In discussing this article with the folks at Intelligent Assistance I was told they have encountered issues where Premiere can play media that isn't recognized by FCP X because it wasn't ingested and rewrapped as MOV. This just points up that it is important to transfer files ahead of your deadline so you have time to fix problems if they occur.
SUMMARY
If I were doing this for real, rather than writing an article about the process, transferring files is very fast. Assuming all software is installed, moving large projects from Premiere to FCP X would generally take a couple of minutes, at the most.
In today's interconnected world, moving edits from one application to another is fast and easy. The trick is knowing what transfers and what doesn't. Media and edits are ALWAYS safely transferred. The issues all relate to effects.
EXTRA CREDIT
As we've just seen, because of the differences between Premiere and Final Cut Pro X, not everything transfers successfully. We have similar problems when sending files between different versions of Final Cut, Avid and Premiere.
While all edits and most media transfer successfully between applications, most wipes, effects and color grading do not. This is because each application handles these differently which means that the best time to transfer files is when the edit is complete but effects are not yet started. Here's a white paper from Intelligent Assistance providing more details on what transfers and what doesn't.
Also, the following suggestions on media are taken from the 7toX help files:
Carefully consider the media format of your video clips. For example, Final Cut Pro X can support R3D clips directly, whereas Final Cut Pro 7 needs RED QuickTime Wrapper versions of the clips. Black video usually means that your NLE is missing a plug-in. If you've installed a Final Cut Pro X plug-in to support your camera's format, then you'll need to download and install a version for Final Cut Pro 7 or Premiere Pro. (Import a clip directly into Final Cut Pro 7 or Premiere Pro to see if the camera format is supported.) The most reliable way to get media that works in Final Cut Pro 7, Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro X is to transcode to your favorite flavor of ProRes.
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