letter to the editor
conformalizer requirements from picture editorialconformalizer is a tool for comparing two versions of a picture cut and re-conforming audio data to match.
it saves a huge amount of time for sound editors and removes any doubt or uncertainty about what has changed.
it allows editors to easily rebalance sound data between reels and also removes the reliance of sound teams on change notes from picture editorial.
conformalizer compares EDLs, XML or cutlists which represent the two versions of picture and then automatically recuts a protools session or database.
usually, the picture editorial dept. outputs a list every time they output a picture version.
the sound dept. keeps these for later use and is able to very quickly update their data from any version to any other.
conformalizer can also automate the use of standard AVID change notes
all that is required is a list (or set of lists) for each version of the cut.
there are four options:
OPTION 1 - CUTLIST
a cutlist for all relevant video tracks (one list or several) using these settings (varies with AVID version)
Template - Avid Template or tabbed lists (T-columnar not supported)
Picture Conforming - A Roll (single strand)
Using - Ink Numbers or key numbers
Running footage - 35mm - 4 perf
Durations - footage
Assemble List options:
check Ink Numbers
check Lab Roll
check Clip Name
check these screenshots from popular video editing systems
Avid Cut List Tool - global options
Avid Cut List Tool - assemble options
FCP - Cinema Tools Film List options
cutlists rely on the start of the AVID timeline being consistent between versions.
the cutlist mode relies on the ink numbers or keycodes but can also use the 'clip name' field if you include it. conformalizer will use the clip field when the ink number field contains ONLY a feet+frames value.
ALL clips must have ink or keycode values to be traceable. this usually means applying an ink number to VFX shots as they arrive. this can be simply 0000+00 for all clips.
OPTION 2 - EDL
a CMX3600 EDL for each relevant VIDEO track, or flattened EDL for the sequnce.
PAL film projects should output 25fps (fast) EDLs
NTSC projects should output 30fps or 29.97 DF or NDF EDLs
reels should not start 'before the hour' eg. 00:59:30:00
conformalizer relies on the 'source' field and/or clipname for tracing shots. If you rename clips or rolls, conformalizer will fail to trace the shot.
CMX3600 EDLs allow only 8 ASCII characters in the source name so be careful when logging.
do not include any transitions or effects, only the 'from clip name' field
AVID - EDL manager export options
AVID - flattend EDL export
FCP - EDL export options
OPTION 3 - Final Cut Pro XML interchange document
an XML file for each version of the cut
the FCP interchange format includes all information about a sequence and requires no user setup. the picture editor selects 'export XML' from the file menu in FCP.
conformalizer will use the 'source' timecode and reel name if available. aux timecodes will be ignored.
please avoid leaving the sequence set to Drop Frame unless the entire project is intentionally working this way.
OPTION 4 - CHANGENOTE
an AVID change note for each version update.
this is the least useful option to the sound team. change notes can be buggy and only ever represent one particular picture change.
if the sound team needs to conform from version3 to version9 they will have to ask you to create the note before they can proceed.
THINGS TO NOTE:
AVID rendered effects (eg. slowmos) can be problematic if you cut the original (fast) footage in to replace it.
film projects using NTSC EDLs can experience a problem with the 3:2 pulldown when making EDLs. conformalizer will find lots of 'changes' which have slipped by 1 frame when clearly nothing has changed. AVID provides an option in the EDL manager for 'pulldown start frame' which should provide a solution.
