AAF export bugs overview

So I've been reporting several serious AAF export bugs the past two years, none of them have been fixed so far:

AAF export: Tracks are out of sync when clips have altered speed
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=121834

AAF export: Video file has wrong dimensions
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=142916

AAF export skips clips that have layered audio
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=111056

AAF export: Clips without media for muted tracks
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=121941

AAF export: Audio not found from random clips
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=121940

Suffice to say that exporting to the audio department from Resolve is a straight nightmare.
As I am the audio dept, I won't be recommending Resolve to anyone as I'm the one that has to deal with, and explain all the misery that is AAF export from resolve...

Some of these bugs have workarounds, which could be easily programmed as macro's into Resolve's AAF export. The random clips without media bug has no workaround, making it impossible to properly export an AAF from Resolve no matter what you try.

any chance you could do a screen record and post? We can try and recreate the bugs and maybe help?

EDIT: I may finally have a workaround to prevent most of the bugs:
(Turns out I didn't) (sorry for the late edit, I forgot to change the above sentence)

AAF export guidelines:

For the biggest chance of a proper AAF export follow these guidelines.
If any of these steps are not followed you end up with a faulty AAF.

1. Copy/duplicate the entire timeline to a new temporary 'FOR AAF' timeline.

2. Unmute all audio tracks

3. Choose timeline > Flatten audio track layers

4. Select everything on the timeline and go Edit > Remove Attributes and choose Retime Effects. (Disable ripple if it was enabled)

5. Export using the default Pro Tools preset (and don't forget to add frame handles).

6. Perhaps make an extra export of the video, as the one exported with the AAF might have an incorrect aspect ratio.

All these steps could just be programmed into the export algorithm of Resolve, but as long as they're not, we'll have to do all this ourselves.

7. End up with a hole cheese after all and realize it's impossible to make an AAF in Resolve:

misery.png (108 KiB) Viewed 2559 times

8. Forget all the above steps and export an XML, and use other software to use that XML to make an AAF. (Which brings it's own bag of problems like stereo tracks that've become mono during the XML export or import, etc, etc, etc...)

I have now LITTERALLY spend a DAY in total trying to get a proper export of a simple 8-minute video.


Previously written:

Hmm I'd essentially just do a normal export, not sure what that would accomplish.
AFAIK I'm not the only one. But I might be one of the few that gives it attention, also because I'm the one importing it again. I think not much OMF/AAF exporting is done yet from Resolve as almost no pro's I know have gone to Resolve for editing.

My latest attempt:

This audio in resolve..

audio in Resolve.png (15.05 KiB) Viewed 2580 times

.. Results in this after AAF import in Pro Tools. Same part of the edit.
There is a gap, two clips have the wrong audio (wrong moment in time probably), and cuts are on the wrong place as well. All within 8 seconds.

Another investigation reveals that there was still layered audio, even though it is DISABLED in the timeline menu.

On an other track, the timeline has still shifted. So presumably, somewhere there is still a speed-altered audioclip. Who knows.

audio in Pro Tools from AAF.png (12.65 KiB) Viewed 2580 times

It's impossible to work like this. Spending an entire day per project trying to get a proper export.

I think this will be my last post concerting AAF export, I've sort of given up at this point.
I guess I'll make an XML or something and use Premiere to make the AAF. If that works proper anyway.
It consumes SO MUCH time... and is so frustrating...

going from Davinci to Pro Tools start with the PT preset
Change the video setting to quicktime and choose resolution (720 or 1080)
don't use embedded audio use Linear PCM and deselect use unique filenames

see is that works better?

Exact same problem as Skiess describes !

I work in a film documentary school in France. We moved from Premiere Pro to Davinci two years ago.
All mixes are made with Pro Tools.
We had no AAF problem with Premiere, but it turns out that AAF export doesn't works well with DaVinci Resolve.

IE missing files, tracks out of synch... same as Skiess shows in the previous posts.

Is there any hope that this could be solved in newer updates ?

And... AAF from Davinci only "works" with Pro Tools 12 or newer.

Many thanks, sorry for the basic English.

Tests made with : Davinci Resolve 17.4.1, latest version of Pro tools.

I'm currently dealing with out of sync tracks when exporting.
Trying the tip of removing all retime effects to see if it works.
Please BM, help us.

I'm currently dealing with out of sync tracks when exporting.
Trying the tip of removing all retime effects to see if it works.
Please BM, help us.

Here is a great link laying out how to get a working aaf out of resolve: https://www.pro-tools-expert.com/home-p ... -pro-tools

For out of sync issues I've found making sure Align audio edits to frame boundaries fixed my issue. Its Located at: Resolve Preferences > User > Editing > General Settings > Align audio edits to frame boundaries

I know its not a true fix but maybe it helps a working aaf out to pro tools