Publishing an FCP X XML Sequence

Use FCP X XML Export when you want to share a sequence with third party applications. The XML Export generates a simplified sequence that can be used in third party applications for creative editorial, color correction, media management, etc.

You can also use XML export to share a sequence and media files with Flame Premium, but the amount of exported metadata is limited by the FCP X XML format:

• Non-dissolve transitions (Wipe, Action, Matchbox) are converted to dissolve.
• Since Flame Premium uses an effects and transitions technology different from FCP X, and because the timeline is not magnetic like in Final Cut pro X, it is not possible to completely represent a Flame Premium sequence in FCP X XML format. For the same reason FCP X does not support FCP 7 XML.

The exported XML file can be imported in:

• Apple Final Cut Pro X (version 10.1 and later)
• DaVinci Resolve (version 11 and later)
• Autodesk Flame (version 2015 Extension 1 and later)
• Autodesk Smoke (version 2015 Extension 1 and later)

To publish a sequence as an FCP X XML and export its media:

1. Do one of the following:
   • Right-click the sequence to export and select Export. And then, using the Media Export window, navigate to the clip's destination.
   • From the MediaHub, drag-and-drop the file from the Media panel to the location displayed in the browser.
2. Set Export Type to Sequence Publish.
3. Set Format Preset to one of the FCP X XML presets.
4. Click Export.

   Flame Premium prepares the export job. Once that preparation is done, Flame Premium performs the export in the background. You are free to use the application as the export happens.

Customizing FCP X XML Publication

1. In Media Export, set Export to Sequence Publish.
2. Enable Show Advanced Options to access the detailed settings.
3. In the Sequence Options, set Format to Final Cut Pro X XML.

From the Sequence Options tab, you can export an AAF file that references the original media files or generate an XML file that will reference new media files.

To export only an FCP X XML, without media:

1. Enable Include Video and Include Audio, as required.
2. Disable both Export Video Media and Export Audio Media.
3. Click Export.

   This creates an FCP X XML file where the video and audio tracks reference the original media files. Also note that the Tracks and Transitions option is implicitly set to Keep All Tracks, and cannot be changed.

To export an FCP X XML and its media:

1. Enable Include Video and Include Audio, as required.
2. Enable Export Video Media and Export Audio Media, as required.
3. Set Video Format to Movie, and Audio Format to Movie.
4. Select a Media option, either Use Original Media or Use Media with FX.
5. Select an option for Tracks and Transitions. This option defines the exported structure of the sequence:
   • Flatten Tracks: The sequence is converted to a single segment.
   • Flatten Tracks with Transitions: A multi-track sequence is converted to a single track sequence and dissolve transitions are preserved. Non dissolve transitions are flattened.
   • Keep All Tracks: The sequence structure is not modified and non-dissolve transitions are converted to dissolve transitions. Also, non centered transitions are converted to centered dissolves.

FCP X XML Presets

You can use one of the following sets of Sequence Publish presets to export an FCP X XML for a specific purpose.

XML for Apple Final Cut Pro X (Flatten)

Use these Export Presets to publish clips or sequences as a final asset to be used in a third party application that supports FCP X XML. Media with FX is used to generate media files.

XML for Apple Final Cut Pro X (Flatten With Transitions)

Use these Export Presets to publish your sequence when you want editors, colorists, or visual effects artists to work on a simplified sequence version that allows to them to see shot boundaries. Media with FX is used to generate media files.

XML for Apple Final Cut Pro X (All Tracks)

Use these Export Presets to publish your sequence when you want editors, colorists, or visual effects artists to work on a simplified multi tracks sequence version that allows them to see shot boundaries. The original media is used to generate media files for segments that have Timeline FX. Segments made from Tools, Batch, Container, Matte Container or Batch or Batch FX use media with FX.

Note: The All Tracks Publish options uses the top most video tracks to generate content and not the current track focus. If the sequence you want to use for XML Export contains material on video track you do not want to export, remove these extra video tracks prior to exporting.

XML for DaVinci Resolve (ProRes 422 and 24-bit WAVE)

This preset generates a video and audio multi-tracks FCP X XML file with 10-bit QuickTime ProRes 422 referencing the media with effects. 24-bit audio WAVE files are also generated. Audio tracks are flattened.

XML for DaVinci Resolve for Source Grading (ProRes 422 and 24-bit WAVE)

This preset generates a video and audio multi-tracks FCP X XML file with 10-bit QuickTime ProRes 422 using the original media. 24-bit audio WAVE files are also generated, but the audio tracks are flattened.

XML for DaVinci Resolve for Source Grading (Sequence-only)

This preset generates a video-only multi-track FCP X XML file referencing the source media with effects. No media files are generated.

Limitations

Note that when exporting a sequence as an FCP X XML file:

Metadata-only export limitations:

Media file-related limitations:

• The FCP X XML format does not support file sequences definition so exporting a metadata only XML referencing file sequence OR exporting file sequences will not work in FCP X and DaVinci Resolve. But the file will be loadable in Flame Premium.
• The accompanying video media files exported by Flame Premium must use either QuickTime or MXF containers.
• The accompanying audio media files exported by Flame Premium must be either AIFF or WAVE.
• Audio sub-frame editing is not supported. Ensure audio edits are frame-based.
• When exporting a sequence as XML-only , the segments of virtual media generated in the application (Colour Sources, Gap FX, Tools or Batch, Container, Matte Container, etc) are seen as Unlinked Media.
• Avoid using transition fromand to colour clips because these cannot be represented in third party applications when exporting only XML metadata. There is no problem for FCP X XML with exported media files.
• FCP X XML does not define the bit depth of the sequence. The resulting sequence is created at the project bit depth. Override the project bit depth using MediaHub > AAF & XML Import Option > Select Resolution.
• A sequence referencing AVC-HD media files exported as XML-only do import correctly in Apple Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve. You should export the sequence and new media files.
• When working with mixed resolution content, it is possible to export an XML that references the Original Media and generate media files of the original source clip resolution.
• A sequence made of mixed frame rates is exported at the sequence rate, and the Original Media option generates files using the sequence rate. If clips were resized to accommodate the resolution difference, the generated media files are exported at the sequence resolution.
• Containers and Matte Container are exported as new clips and use the sequence's record timecode and rate. No alpha is exported for Matte Container.
• Transitions in FCP X XML are always centered and have even duration. Since Flame is capable or creating transitions of different orientation and duration, the transitions are modified to be compatible with FCP X.
• Avoid using illegal Unix characters in sequences and clip names because some third-party applications cannot read media files with such characters. Flame does not sanitize the file names when exporting XML with media files.
• XML files from DaVinci Resolve referencing file sequences cannot be imported in Flame Premium since the media is flagged as Unlinked Media.