For Picture Editors & Producers
Audio Delivery & Prep Instructions
Prep the session this way and the mix starts on day one. Everything below takes a picture editor minutes and saves days on the stage.
Picture File
One reference movie that every department is looking at.
ProRes Proxy video, 1080p.
Burn in visible timecode in a corner of frame. Burn-in must match sequence timecode exactly.
Include a 2-Pop: a one frame visual flash with a one frame 1K tone, placed exactly two seconds before the first frame of picture. Repeat it two seconds after the last frame.
Picture must be fully locked.
Sync Map
Pop 1 frame flash + 1 frame 1K tone Program first frame to last frame Rule pops land on picture and audio
Timeline Prep & Production Audio
This is the part that decides whether the mix sounds like the shoot or like the camera.
All production audio tracks, boom and every individual lav, must be expanded, stacked and synced directly on the timeline.
Do not send a single stereo or camera mix track only. Dialogue assembly from raw sound rolls is a separate service and is quoted separately.Group tracks logically top to bottom: Dialogue, SFX, Music.
Mute or remove unused alternate takes, camera scratch audio and dead air.
Remove clip pan, volume automation and plug-in effects so the tracks arrive clean.
AAF Export
The handoff itself. Three settings, no guesswork.
AAF with embedded media, or AAF with media exported to a folder alongside it.
24-bit / 48 kHz.
3 to 4 seconds (72 to 96 frames) on every audio clip.
Additional Files
Two extras that keep intent intact.
A stereo WAV bounce of your editing timeline mix, for reference.
A separate folder with full resolution WAV or AIFF files for every music track used in the cut.
Before You Send
Run this list once. It catches almost everything.
- Picture is locked and the burn-in timecode matches sequence timecode.
- Head and tail 2-Pops are on both the picture file and the audio.
- Boom and all lavs are expanded and synced on the timeline, not collapsed to a mix.
- Tracks are grouped Dialogue, SFX, Music, with scratch and dead air pulled.
- All automation and plug-ins cleared from the audio clips.
- AAF is 24-bit / 48 kHz with 3 to 4 second handles, media embedded or foldered.
- Temp mix WAV and music folder are included in the package.
Questions on any of this?
Ask before you export. A two minute answer beats a re-export, and it is always faster to set the handoff up right the first time.