What is an EDL?
An EDL (Edit Decision List) is a text file that lists every cut in a timeline: the event number, the source reel or file, the track, the transition and the in and out timecodes on the source and on the record side. The most common format is CMX 3600, which Premiere, DaVinci and Avid export.
Also called: Edit Decision List, CMX 3600
A few EDL events
Each event says where the shot comes from and where it goes. The source columns point to the raw file; the record columns, to the timeline.
| Event | Reel | Track | Source | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 001 | INTERVIEW_A | V | 00:14:32:08 to 00:14:40:08 | 01:00:00:00 to 01:00:08:00 |
| 002 | INTERVIEW_A | V | 00:22:05:10 to 00:22:11:00 | 01:00:08:00 to 01:00:13:20 |
| 003 | BROLL_07 | V | 00:00:03:00 to 00:00:06:12 | 01:00:13:20 to 01:00:17:02 |
Why EDLs are still around
It is the simplest way to move an edit from one place to another: from editorial to color, to the online editor or to the production spreadsheet. Every editor understands it, and you can read it in a text editor.
The simplicity has a price: an EDL holds one video track per file, carries no effects, titles or layers, and long file names can get cut off. For full timelines, there is XML.
EDLs and FilmScribe
We do not export EDLs. The cut timeline comes as .xml for Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve and as .fcpxml for Final Cut Pro, on Studio and Agency, with every segment pointing to the original media. To turn an EDL, an XML or an FCPXML into a cut list for Excel, the free tool does it.
EDL to CSV Convert an EDL, a Premiere XML or an FCPXML into a list of clips, source and record timecodes and durations, as CSV. Convert my EDL →Reading and sending EDLs safely
- 01
Keep the clip name comments
Most editors add a comment under each event, like * FROM CLIP NAME:, with the full file name. Keep those lines when you clean the file, since they help the receiver relink shortened reel names.
- 02
Tell them the frame rate
An EDL says whether timecode is drop or non drop frame on its FCM line, but not the frame rate. Tell the receiver the project fps, or the timecodes get read at the wrong rate.
- 03
Flatten complex sequences first
Nested sequences and multicam clips often export as one source the receiver cannot find. Flatten them before exporting, and remember that speed changes appear as M2 lines that not every app reads.
Related terms
See all terms →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an EDL and an XML?
An EDL is a simple list of cuts, one track per file and no effects. An XML describes the whole timeline, with multiple tracks, audio, adjustments and full file names. To check cuts, an EDL is enough; to move a project, use XML.
How do I export an EDL from Premiere?
In Premiere Pro, select the sequence and choose File > Export > EDL. In DaVinci Resolve, right-click the timeline and export it as an EDL.
Can I open an EDL in Excel?
Not directly, since it is text in fixed columns. Convert it to CSV with the free tool and open it in Excel or Google Sheets.
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