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CutConvert
Post-production file converter

Convert AAF to XML

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

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browseAvid AAF files

up to 2 files · 100 KB each

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How to convert AAF to XML

Convert an Avid AAF to XML online. CutConvert reads the .aaf file directly — the Compound File container and the AAF object model inside it — and writes a Final Cut Pro 7 XML (xmeml) of the composition: every track and cut, with clip names, source in points, and media file paths intact. Import the result into Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve — no Avid Media Composer license required.

  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 composition, its tracks, and cuts are read from the AAF object model and rewritten as Final Cut Pro 7 XML.

  3. Download your result

    Download the converted file instantly — or a single ZIP archive when you convert a batch of files.

Avid AAF and FCP7 XML, explained

An AAF is how Avid hands a timeline to the world — and if you don't have Media Composer, it's a locked box: Premiere imports AAF unevenly at best, and most tools refuse the format outright. This converter reads the file itself: compositions with their video and audio tracks, cut points, clip names resolved through the AAF's media chain, and original file paths for relinking. Effects and retimes are flattened to their source clips with their lengths kept, and transitions become straight cuts with the overlap timing preserved — the cut survives, the treatment doesn't, which is what a conform needs. 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 — the timeline 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 — that is the point. The converter reads the .aaf file itself, so 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. Effects and retimes are flattened to their underlying clips (lengths preserved); transitions become cuts with the overlap timing kept; grades and titles are not converted.

Which AAF files are supported?

Standard Media Composer exports — both compositions-only AAFs (recommended) and embedded-media AAFs, at either 512-byte or 4096-byte sector sizes. The reader is validated against real Avid exports using pyaaf2, the open-source reference implementation, as ground truth.

How do I import the XML into Premiere or Resolve?

Premiere: File → Import, select the .xml, relink media when prompted. Resolve: 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 reference media where the Avid system stored it — typically an Avid MediaFiles/MXF folder on the editor's drive. Relink to your own copies of the media on import; clip names carry through to make matching straightforward.

My AAF will not convert — what can I do?

An AAF with no composition (media-only AAFs exist) 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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Free to start

Convert everyday batches for free. Create an account when you need large, high-volume jobs.

Batch in, one ZIP out

Drop up to 10 files at once and download a single tidy ZIP — or one file if that is all you need.

Made for editors

EDL, SRT, Avid caption TXT, and Premiere transcript JSON — with speakers, frame rates, and timecode handled the way post expects.

Secure by default

Files are encrypted in transit, converted on managed infrastructure, and never sold or shared.

Questions, answered

Where are my files processed?

Your files are uploaded over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection and converted on CutConvert’s servers, then handed straight back to you as a download. We never sell or share your media.

Is it free? Do I need an account?

Small, everyday batches are free to convert. For large or high-volume jobs you’ll create an account and upgrade — which keeps the free tier fast for everyone.

What do I get when I convert multiple files?

Drop several files and you get back one ZIP archive containing every converted file. Convert a single file and you simply get that one file — no unnecessary ZIP.

Which formats are supported?

You can convert EDL to CSV; SRT and VTT subtitles to each other and to plain text; SRT, TXT, and DOCX/DOC transcripts to Premiere Pro transcript JSON; SRT to Avid Media Composer caption TXT; and Premiere Pro .prtranscript exports to SRT, VTT, or text — with speaker labels preserved. More post-production formats are on the way.

Can I pick a frame rate?

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