How to Use Avid Media Composer Default Metadata to Reconform DaVinci Resolve Renders

With the release of AVID/1 the ‘Tape’ bin column was used for digitizing video. Currently, DaVinci Resolve when creating MXF OP-Atom media files embeds ‘Tape’ metadata into the rendered clips if activated. Avid by default assigns ‘Source File’ metadata to tapeless sources when using AMA Plugins. The Avid relink command can use both the ‘Source File’ column and ‘Tape’ column creating an identification metadata match for reconforming the sequence.

IN MEDIA COMPOSER

Step 01) Go to the ‘File Menu’ and choose ‘Input > Link to Media…’ command. Select a source file on the storage device.

‘Link to Media…’ command creates master clips with metadata populated in the ‘Source File’ column.

A master clip is created in the bin. Now the master clip is ready to be cut into a sequence. When finished creating the sequence.

Step 02) Select the sequence in the bin.

For DaVinci Resolve, if the Avid sequence was edited with groups. In the bin, select the sequence, right-click and a contextual menu appears. Choose ‘Commit Multicam Edits’ from the contextual menu before exporting Avid AAF files for Resolve.

Step 03) Go to the ‘File Menu’ and choose ‘Output > Export to File…’

Let’s have a look at the AAF Export Settings

There! Now on to DaVinci Resolve.

IN DAVINCI RESOLVE

Step 04) ‘Master Project Settings’ (Shift 9) > Under ‘Conform Options’

• Next to ‘Use Timecode’ choose ‘Embedded in the source clip’
• Place a check mark next to ‘Assist using reel names from the’
• Choose ‘Source clip filename’
• ‘Mixed frame rate format’ choose ‘Resolve’

Step 05) Import AAF file

• Place a check mark next to ‘Automatically import source clips into media pool’
• ‘Mixed frame rate format’ choose ‘Resolve’

Clip is added to the media pool and a timeline is created.

Linked! Now, on to grading.
COLOR-CORRECT AS NEEDED

Step 06) Go to the ‘Deliver Page’ and next to ‘Location’ click the ‘Browse’ button.

• Select an Avid MediaFiles/MXF/1 and then change the 1 to 12 so Resolve will make a new folder to contain the render
• Render as: ‘Individual clips’
• Click on the ‘Video’ tab and click on ‘Advanced settings disclosure triangle’
• Place a check mark next to the words ‘Export Video’
• Format: ‘MXF OP-Atom’

In Render Settings

• Click on the ‘File’ tab
• Under ‘Filename uses’ section place a check mark next to the words ‘Use unique filenames’

Once the desired selections are in place at the bottom of the Render Settings click ‘Add to Render Queue’ button.

Under ‘Render Queue’ click ‘Start Render’ button. And now for the return trip!

BACK TO MEDIA COMPOSER

Step 07) Create a new bin and title it ‘Resolve_Essence’. Select the bin and go to the ‘File Menu’ and choose ‘Input > Import Media…’ command.

Navigate to the numbered ’12’ folder and select the ‘msmMMOB.mdb’ file.

A master clip is created in the bin for the 3rd party AMT (Avid Media Toolkit) Resolve MXF OP-Atom media file.

‘Import Media…’ > ‘msmMMOB.mdb’ created a master clip with metadata populated in the ‘Tape’ column.

Step 08) Duplicate the original sequence and place it into the ‘Resolve Essence’ bin.

Step 09) In the Project Window (Command 9) click the ‘Info’ tab and then click the ‘Clear Bin Memory’bin.

Step 10) Open up the ‘Resolve_Essence’ bin and select the sequence and the master clip.

Step 11) Go to the ‘Clip Menu’ and choose the ‘Relink…’ command. The ‘Relink’ window appears.

Select the following and click on the ‘OK’ button.

Conform done!