Step by Step: Export Final Cut Sequence to OMF

dsteinwedel · 8th March 2009

Hi All,

I'm working on a short project (20 minute indie, decently paying too!!) and the director has never done proper post before. I've been educating him through the steps--and we're to the point where he hands off OMF and picture. However, he's having trouble exporting a proper OMF (he tells me the resulting files are empty).

Unfortunately we're on opposite sides of the state and I don't have a copy of Final Cut with which to walk him through the process and/or provide tech support.

I'm wondering if anyone knows of or has (and is willing to share) a guide for editors to use to make OMFs? I already dug him up these two:
Technique: Exporting Using OMF
Exporting Audio for Post-Production Sweetening

But they don't look all that detailed and I would like to be armed with something more specific if he's still having trouble.

Thanks!
Dave

TVPostSound · 8th March 2009

FCP OMF export is pretty easy.
Make sure EVERYTHING is rendered first, and ask for more than 1 second handles, you will need them. If you can get 30 seconds, go for it!!

If the OMF gives him the 2 Gig limit warning, have him make multiple OMFs. Say 4 tracks each.

Dallas Taylor · 8th March 2009

Yeah, FCP should be a breeze... Avid is a little more challenging & have a few more "gotchas" thrown in

.

You said that the Director's resulting file is "empty"... That can happen when you don't "consolidate & embed media" in Avid, but I don't think FCP even gives you an "unbedded" option?

Exporting an OMF in FCP:

File ---> Export ---> Audio to OMF

Sample Rate: 48 kHz (unless noted otherwise)
Sample Size: 16 Bit (unless noted otherwise)
Handle Length: 00:00:02;00 (unless otherwise noted) >>This will give you 2 second handles<<
(include crossfade transitions)
SAVE

I think that's everything. Hope this helps!

TVPostSound · 8th March 2009

Quote:

However, he's having trouble exporting a proper OMF (he tells me the resulting files are empty).

He needs to select the tracks, and highlight ALL media (except the video tracks) in the timeline first.

mlemaudit · 3rd September 2009

I still have some problems with some OMF exported from Final Cut pro 6.0.6. The first one I received works like a charm and the other 2 do not open. Tried to double click on the OMF only and it's not working, in a new session on my current session and not better... The message "Could not complete your request".... and ends with line 2417

On Final Cut we deleted the video, removed the music at 44.1khz (because the Pro tools 8 project is at 48khz) and we consolidated the projet then export a new OMF and STILL it won't open in Pro Tools !? Any ideas someone??? The deadline is already tomorrow....

8th March 2009	#1
dsteinwedel Gear nut Joined: Feb 2007 Location: San Francisco Posts: 122 Thread Starter	Step by Step: Export Final Cut Sequence to OMF Hi All, I'm working on a short project (20 minute indie, decently paying too!!) and the director has never done proper post before. I've been educating him through the steps--and we're to the point where he hands off OMF and picture. However, he's having trouble exporting a proper OMF (he tells me the resulting files are empty). Unfortunately we're on opposite sides of the state and I don't have a copy of Final Cut with which to walk him through the process and/or provide tech support. I'm wondering if anyone knows of or has (and is willing to share) a guide for editors to use to make OMFs? I already dug him up these two: Technique: Exporting Using OMF Exporting Audio for Post-Production Sweetening But they don't look all that detailed and I would like to be armed with something more specific if he's still having trouble. Thanks! Dave

8th March 2009	#2
TVPostSound Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 847	FCP OMF export is pretty easy. Make sure EVERYTHING is rendered first, and ask for more than 1 second handles, you will need them. If you can get 30 seconds, go for it!! If the OMF gives him the 2 Gig limit warning, have him make multiple OMFs. Say 4 tracks each. __________________ IMDB Just finished: "Top Chef Season 9" for Bravo. Now mixing: Top Chef Masters Season 10, The Real L Word Season 3, Around The World In 80 Plates, Gallery Girls, Life After Chef.

8th March 2009	#3
Dallas Taylor Gear maniac Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Washington DC Posts: 172	Yeah, FCP should be a breeze... Avid is a little more challenging & have a few more "gotchas" thrown in . You said that the Director's resulting file is "empty"... That can happen when you don't "consolidate & embed media" in Avid, but I don't think FCP even gives you an "unbedded" option? Exporting an OMF in FCP: File ---> Export ---> Audio to OMF Sample Rate: 48 kHz (unless noted otherwise) Sample Size: 16 Bit (unless noted otherwise) Handle Length: 00:00:02;00 (unless otherwise noted) >>This will give you 2 second handles<< (include crossfade transitions) SAVE I think that's everything. Hope this helps! __________________ DALLAS TAYLOR CAS/MPSE /// Sound Designer/Mixer @ Defacto \\\ Twitter • Facebook

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3rd September 2009	#5
mlemaudit Gear interested Joined: May 2007 Posts: 9	I still have some problems with some OMF exported from Final Cut pro 6.0.6. The first one I received works like a charm and the other 2 do not open. Tried to double click on the OMF only and it's not working, in a new session on my current session and not better... The message "Could not complete your request".... and ends with line 2417 On Final Cut we deleted the video, removed the music at 44.1khz (because the Pro tools 8 project is at 48khz) and we consolidated the projet then export a new OMF and STILL it won't open in Pro Tools !? Any ideas someone??? The deadline is already tomorrow....