Aaf - Merging Pyramix User Manual

AAF

Pyramix can import and export projects in AAF (Advanced Authoring Format)
Note: Pyramix can also use MXF audio files and export MXF audio files. Please see: MXF on
page 425
About AAF
AAF is a set of specifications for project interchange (.aaf ) files. Media files can be embedded or referenced by link.
When embedded, audio can be in a WAV or AIFF wrapper or be in simple PCM format. When imported from an
AAF file PCM audio must be 'wrapped' for playback. E.g. as BWAV, Wave or PMF files.
AAF files can have envelope information, static level information or both.
Note: AAF files can specify sample and frame rate per track.
Alternates
The AAF specification accommodates Alternate Clips. I.e. Alternative media for a given Clip. Unfortunately not all
applications deal with the alternates in the same way when exporting and importing. Therefore we have
attempted to accommodate the common variations.
Sample Accurate Edits
Certain NLE applications require audio edits to occur only on frame boundaries. It is often desirable to have audio
Clips start or finish somewhere other than a frame boundary. Therefore some applications allow this to be accom-
plished but add small padding Clips of silence to maintain frame boundary compliance. In a large project large
numbers of these tiny Clips can make editing in a DAW difficult or impossible. Therefore we have included an
option to remove them on import and also an option to add them on export for applications down the line which
require them.
Recommendations
• Use embedded audio in AAF files where possible.
• In a controlled network workflow with proven file compatibility AAF files with linked Media files may be
more appropriate to avoid needless duplication.
• Where the AAF file contains embedded PCM audio (E.g. AAF export from Pro Tools) Normalize Envelope to
Envelope + Gain. This option offers greater clarity and flexibility.
• Remove 'Sample Accurate Edits' . If these are not removed, editing complex projects becomes difficult or
impossible due to all the tiny 'padding' Clips. Sync is not affected in any way by selecting this option.
• Use mono WAV files for stereo and multi-channel Media files for maximum compatibility with other appli-
cations.
File and Project Interchange : Import / Export 18 - 432