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Post-production file converter

Convert AAF to XML

Turn an Avid AAF into Final Cut Pro 7 XML, read straight from the file. No Media Composer required.

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browseAvid AAF filesConverted in your browser. Files never leave your device.About an hour of footage is free. Bigger projects: $5 a file, or Pro.

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How to convert AAF to XML

Convert an Avid AAF to XML online. CutConvert reads the .aaf file directly, including the Compound File container and the AAF object model inside it. It writes a Final Cut Pro 7 XML (xmeml) of the composition with every track and cut. Clip names, source in points and media file paths stay intact. Import the result into Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. You don't need an Avid Media Composer license.

  1. Add your .aaf file

    Drag the AAF onto the drop zone. A compositions-only AAF, the normal Media Composer export, works best. Embedded-media AAFs carry the same timeline plus media you don't need for a conform.

  2. Convert the composition to XML

    Press Convert. The converter reads the composition, its tracks and cuts from the AAF object model and rewrites them as Final Cut Pro 7 XML.

  3. Download your result

    Download the converted file, or one ZIP when you convert a batch.

Avid AAF and FCP7 XML, explained

An AAF is how Avid hands a timeline to other tools. Without Media Composer it's a locked box. Premiere imports AAF unevenly, and most tools refuse the format. This converter reads the file itself. It reads compositions with their video and audio tracks, cut points, clip names resolved through the AAF's media chain, and original file paths for relinking. It translates supported ordered position, scale, centered rotation, opacity, static crop and constant speed with source-clock keys. The report names sampled curves, animated crop and other controls you'll need to recreate. We haven't compared the results against Avid's own rendering. The reader is verified against pyaaf2, the open-source reference implementation, on real Avid exports.

Turn an Avid AAF into Final Cut Pro 7 XML, read straight from the file. No Media Composer required. It is free to start, encrypted in transit, and converts a whole batch into one ZIP — sign in when you need large, high-volume jobs.

AAF to XML FAQ

Do I need Avid Media Composer installed?

No. The converter reads the .aaf file itself. You can open a timeline someone sent you without an Avid license, or rescue a cut when the AAF import in your own editor mangles it.

What exactly is converted?

Compositions (sequences) with their video and audio tracks, every clip's position and duration, source in points, clip names and media file paths. Supported standard motion, opacity, static crop and constant speed also transfer. Check the report for how transitions, sampled curves, titles and markers were handled. You'll need to recreate proprietary effects, grades and animated crop.

Which AAF files are supported?

AAFs exported by Media Composer, Pro Tools, DaVinci Resolve and Premiere Pro. Both compositions-only (recommended) and embedded-media files work, with 512-byte or 4096-byte sector sizes. We validate the reader against 101 real files from those four exporters, with pyaaf2, the open-source reference implementation, as ground truth. Clip counts and positions match exactly on every file.

How do I import the XML into Premiere or Resolve?

In Premiere, choose File > Import, select the .xml, and relink media when prompted. In Resolve, choose File > Import > Timeline > XML. The XML carries the original media paths from the AAF, so relinking is automatic when the files are in place.

Why do my clips show a media drive path I don't recognize?

AAFs point to media where the Avid system stored it, usually an Avid MediaFiles/MXF folder on the editor's drive. Relink to your own copies of the media on import. Clip names carry through, which makes matching easier.

My AAF will not convert. What can I do?

Media-only AAFs exist, and an AAF with no composition has nothing to convert. If your AAF does contain a sequence and still fails, the structure may be unusual. Get in touch via the About page and we will look at the file.

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Questions, answered

Where are my files processed?

In your browser. The file never leaves your computer, and CutConvert only records that a conversion happened. We never see, store, sell or share your media.

Is it free? Do I need an account?

Files up to about an hour of footage convert free on every converter. CapCut projects are free up to 500 KB. Guests get five conversions a month; a free account has no monthly cap within the free size caps. Bigger files are $3 each, or $5 for a project conversion from one program to another. Pro is $9 a month ($90 a year) for files up to 50 MB. Studio is $19 a month ($190 a year) for files up to 500 MB.

What do I get when I convert multiple files?

One ZIP with every converted file. A single file comes back on its own. Press + to add more output formats: they go in the same ZIP, and each file still counts as one conversion.

Which formats are supported?

Projects in: Premiere .prproj, DaVinci Resolve .drp, Avid AAF and bins, Final Cut FCPXML, CapCut drafts and Audition sessions. Projects out: FCP7 XML, FCPXML, Resolve .drp, AAF, CapCut and REAPER, plus CMX 3600 EDL and shot-list CSV. Transitions, markers, titles, keyframes, levels, speed changes and nested sequences carry over wherever the target app can hold them. Captions: SRT, WebVTT, SBV, ASS, TTML, DFXP, iTT, SCC, MCC, EBU-STL, Avid caption TXT, timed CSV, Word and plain text. Transcripts: Whisper, WhisperX, AssemblyAI, Deepgram, Rev.ai and CapCut JSON, Premiere transcript JSON and .prtranscript, and Rev, Otter and Word-style text. Styling, placement and speakers come along where the output supports them.

Can I pick a frame rate?

Yes. For EDL and Avid caption output, choose 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97 or 30 fps, or let CutConvert detect it from your source.