XML to ALE conversion problems

[Matt Babinec]

Hey guys,
I have come seeking your vast knowledge.

I am the editor for a short film for a week long film festival, will be editing with media composer, and am trying to sort out the bugs in the workflow with the RED and avid.

I have been following the pdf that avid provides about how to import the .r3d files (found here) into avid and have hit a bit of a hiccup.
When I get to the step where I have to convert the .xml file REDCINE gives me to an ALE avid can read, the resulting ALE does not contain any information about the clips.

This is what the XML file from REDCINE looks like:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<Library name="new xml">
<resolution> 1920, 1080 </resolution>
<fps> 24.000 </fps>
<ShotList>
<Slot name="">
<Clip name="A001_C022_080125">
<user>"5a5a42f0-acec-43de-bd14-69a8e9b88135"</user>
<source>"E:\Test R3D files\A001_C022_080125_001.R3D"</source>
<reel_id>"A001"</reel_id>
<length> 775 </length>
<handles> 0, 774 </handles>
<media_length> 775 </media_length>
<timecode>01:03:39:23</timecode>
<scale> 52.734,52.734 </scale>
</Clip>
</Slot>
<Slot name="">
<Clip name="A002_C012_080125">
<user>"5daa2200-93a3-4dfd-b831-cf045fce5f22"</user>
<source>"E:\Test R3D files\A002_C012_080125_001.R3D"</source>
<reel_id>"A002"</reel_id>
<length> 508 </length>
<handles> 0, 507 </handles>
<media_length> 508 </media_length>
<timecode>01:01:29:11</timecode>
<scale> 52.734,52.734 </scale>
</Clip>
</Slot>
</ShotList>
</Library>

I process that in Xtrans with the REDCINE_ALE.xsl file provided on avids website,

and the resulting ALE file looks like this:

Heading
FIELD_DELIM TABS
VIDEO_FORMAT 1080
AUDIO_FORMAT 48khz
FPS 24.000
Column
Name Camera Reel Clip Camroll Shoot Date SeqOrder Source UNC Path User Tape Dur_Frames Start End Original_Start Original_End Aux TC1 DPX Resolution Handles Offset Scale
Data

There is no data about the clips in the resulting ALE file. what am I doing wrong, and how can i get this to work?
I followed all the other steps from that document and converted the .r3d files to DNxHD quicktime files which import file into avid just without the metadata that I need.

Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Thank you very much!

 

[Zhibo Lai]

Matt, I am having this exact same problem, was about to post the same question until I found yours first.

I am doing workflow tests for a recent short film shot on Red. My editor will be cutting it on FCP, but I'd like to get it working on my PC with Avid. I'm still on Avid xPress Pro, haven't made the upgrade to MC yet.

My additional question is, once the ALE is successfully created, will there be any issues with using xPress as opposed to MC?

 

[Matt Babinec]

I believe they will be releasing a new XSL file on the avid site soon that will address this issue, but I have found a workaround for now.

For each clip listed in the XML, there is a
<Slot name="">
and a
</slot>
tag wrapping the clip information. If you move the
</slot>
tag up ans place it right after
<slot name="">
So it looks like this

<slot name=""></slot>

xtrans will be able to convert it to an ALE that Avid can read.
I haven't had any problems with this yet and it doesn't seem to be messing with the metadata at all, so give that a try.

I think the ale should work with xpress since they can accept ale files. you'll just have to give it a try!