If you create your sound edit in the video editor (Premiere, Avid, FCP), you may want to migrate it to ProTools or another desktop audio platform to complete. This guide will walk you through exporting an OMF (Open Media Format) file from the video editor and opening it in ProTools (or other audio editing platform).
Use OMF to migrate your audio sequence and assets from your video editor to Pro Tools;
organize the Pro Tools session; save it with its assets (audio and video files)
1. Export an OMF file from your video editor.
In Premiere, select {File>Export>OMF}
Use the following settings:
- Sample Rate: 48000
- Bits per sample: 24
- Files: Encapsulate
- Render: Copy Complete Audio Files (note that this may result in larger file sizes than the trim option)
- √ Include Pan
2. Set up your Pro Tools Session
Create a new Pro Tools session with the same settings as your OMF export. They should be 48kHz, 24bit, Interleaved
Go to Session Setup and make sure the frame rate of the session is the same as your project
Import your OMF file into Pro Tools {File > Import > Session Data}
Use the following settings:
- Audio Media Options: Copy from source media
- Tracks: Destination: New track (repeat for each track being imported)
- Session Data: √ Import Clip Gain
- Session Data: √ Import Volume Automation
- Session Data: √ Pan odd tracks left/even tracks right
- Session Data: Track Data to Import: All
3. Import and synchronize your video in Pro Tools
In the video editor, export a Quicktime file (video only) to use as a visual reference in ProTools. Use an h264, for small file size - it does not need to be very high quality, only enough to refer to while you’re sound editing.
Import your video into Pro Tools with {File>Import>Video}. If you choose to “Import Audio from File”, you will need to mute the resulting audio track in Pro Tools’ mixer.
Synchronize your video with your audio sequence by dragging the video left or right. In the Top Left of the main Pro Tools window, select “Slip Mode” so you can drag the video smoothly. Use the +/- buttons in the lower right to zoom. (This is easier if you place a beep tone and corresponding visual sync cue - one frame of the ‘Bars and Tone’ generator in Premiere works well, placed 2 seconds before picture begins.)
If your video is too large for Pro Tools to handle and you are encountering CPU issues, you can use a smaller version of your video for your mix, and later combine your sound mix with the full resolution video in your video editor.
4. Organize your Pro Tools session
Re-name each track by double-clicking its name. Give them short, descriptive names such as Dialogue, SFX1, SFX2, Ambience, Music, etc.
Drag similar tracks near each other. Keep L/R pairs together. Each stereo track in your video editor is split to dual left/right mono tracks by the OMF import.
A little organization goes a long way, leaving more time for your mix. You can optionally color-code tracks for easier navigation {Window>Color Palette}
IMPORTANT: PLAY YOUR SESSION ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO CONFIRM SYNC AND CONTENT!
5. Save the session with its assets
In Pro Tools, select {File>Save Copy In}
Use the same file type and settings you’ve used thus far, and check the boxes:
- Items to Copy: √ Audio Files
- Items to Copy: √ Movie/Video Files
This process saves a new session folder, complete with all assets (session file, video file, audio files) needed by your mix engineer. Bring the entire session folder with you.