Audio File Transfer

The following guide is a walkthrough for transferring over an AAF, OMF or XML of the picture locked version of your film and soundtrack for mixing and/or further sound design/music.

It may be that we do this earlier in our process of working together than the picture lock stage – either way, the process is the same. I run my studio through Logic Pro X and so the following is a guide to transferring audio to me for work in that format.

I will need;

  • The AAF, OMF or XML file for the project.
  • The folder of audio files created when you render the above out.
  • A low-res (HD) reference video file that includes...
  • Timecode ticker embedded in the image.
  • “2-pop” at 00:59:58:00 and visual marker on that frame.
  • Confirmation of the project’s frame rate (reference video fps to match).

Creating AAF, OMF or XML


An AAF, OMF and XML are all similar types of audio data transfer. They essentially create a map of where the audio should be in relation to your own edit timeline so that I hear exactly what you hear.

Please note, if you’ve done a lot of automation/fading of your audio this can be lost in the transfer depending on the format used. If I am mixing your project that’s not really a problem as I will be making changes to those parameters anyway. I’ll always have your reference audio to refer back to as I work through the project.

Next, take a read through this excellent guide from sound designer Jesper Södorström and make the relevant export.I like to work with fairly large handles as it gives me more control over fade ins and outs – anything over 5 seconds will be fine.

Save your reference video file and the newly created OMF, XML or AAF folders together and transfer these over to me however is easiest for you. For feature length projects I’d recommend you post this to me on a hard drive which I can post back at the project’s end.



    If there are any issues that crop up, don’t worry.

    We’ll iron them out one way or another.  As I say, I’m always on the other end of the phone or email. My number is +44(0)773 8077866, if you don’t already have it.

    Looking forward to hearing what you’ve made!

    Richy

    Checking OMF or AAF in Logic Pro


    If this is new to you, you might want to check your OMF or AAF export in Logic Pro X to see if everything you expect to be there is there, as it’s difficult for me to tell if all the regions and files are in the correct place and present. But you really don’t need to do all this if you don’t want to.

    If you do, you can download Logic Pro X from the Apple store (free for 3 months) and do the following. 

    First open a new logic project, then...Logic Pro > Preferences > Advanced Tools > Enable All 

    Then go to... File > Project Settings > Synchronisation > then make sure the frame rate is set to the same as the film (23.976, 24, 25 fps – whatever is correct for your project). 

    Then go to... File > Project Settings > Audio > then make sure the sample rate is at 48 kHz and not 44.1 kHz. 

    Then go to...File > Movie > Open Movie > (choose the film file) > (keep the two checkboxes ticked {Open the Movie} and {Extract the audio track}. This will open the reference video and extract the audio from it so that we can mute it/solo it when using it as a master reference file. 

    Then either go to... File > Import > Other > then select the OMF file which should be in the folder of audio files that was created when you made the OMF export from Premiere
    Or

    File > Import > AAF > then select the embedded AAF file.
    You might have to manually link the first file (hopefully not) but once you’ve done that it should find everything else correctly as they’re all in the same folder. 

    Note
    If there is a missing file or two, it might be easier to just send me these individually rather than creating an entirely new AAF or OMF export. If this happens just make a note of the file name, select next, and let me know about it and we can sort it out. 

    To check the transfer has worked properly, mute the reference video audio file (the one that was created when you imported the movie) then listen through the whole film to make sure that all the sounds that should be there are present and in the correct place. 

    Premiere only creates mono files from stereo tracks (a Left and a Right) – so these will all be panned to centre for now. I will restitch these into stereo tracks when I start working on it. At the moment you’re only checking to see that the files you expect to hear are present and aligned correctly.