Understanding issues specific to importing AAF files (6.5)

To ensure that the project that you want to import conforms to general AAF specifications and is compatible with After Effects, make sure that you consider each of the following:

Character limits for names

The folder name (based on the AAF file name) created in the Project window is truncated at 31 characters, the maximum limit in After Effects. Names for footage and composition items in the Project window and for layers in the Timeline window are also truncated at 31 characters.

Cross-platform environments

Footage references are saved in a platform-specific format (Windows or Mac OS paths and file names) in the AAF file, so if you are trying to import a Windows-exported AAF file into a Mac-based After Effects system, the footage references will not be resolved, and will appear as placeholder footage. You must do a Replace Footage on the placeholders to relink the footage.

Separate video and audio tracks

An AAF file can have separate clips for audio and video. When the AAF file is imported into After Effects, each clip is converted into a layer. For an audio clip, only the audio switch is enabled for the layer; for a video clip, only the video switch is enabled for the layer.

Clips on the same track

Clips that appear on the same track in Avid will appear as separate layers in After Effects.

Depth order of video and audio tracks

During AAF import, video tracks are processed before audio tracks, so converted audio layers will appear above video layers in the After Effects Timeline window.

Different image dimensions and pixel aspect ratios

When an Avid editing system imports footage, it is scaled to the dimensions of the project regardless of the original dimensions of the footage. When the AAF file is imported into After Effects, footage will appear with its original dimensions and pixel aspect, which may be different than the dimensions of the project. You can use the Interpret Footage command in After Effects to make pixel aspect adjustments.

Missing media

Referenced media that is not accessible during the import operation will appear as placeholder footage in After Effects.

Empty sequences

If a sequence contains no tracks, the composition created when it is imported will be set at DV resolution (720 x 480; 0.9 pixel aspect) with a length of 10 seconds.

Cuts-only video and audio clips

Supported.

Audio

Audio gain (level) changes are supported, but audio pan is not. Mono and stereo audio are supported, 5.1 audio is not supported. Separate audio channel tracks (even if out-of-sync) are imported into After Effects as a single audio layer.

Clip Speed

Clips with a Motion Effect will be converted to the corresponding layer Stretch value (for slow or fast motion) or layer Time Remap keyframes (for reverse motion).

Empty tracks

Ignored.

Muted tracks

Avid does not save muted track information in an exported AAF file; so muted tracks cannot be preserved in After Effects.

Locators

Ignored.

Composition size and pixel aspect ratio

Created based on the StoredWidth and StoredHeight values for the first media file in the first sequence found.

For more information on how video effects, video transitions, audio effects and transitions are converted when After Effects imports an AAF file, see www.adobe.com/support/products/aftereffects.