Edit Decision List: text file containing cut list with timecodes, event numbers, and transitions for conform between different editing systems.
Technical Details
Standard EDL formats work with 8-digit timecodes (HH:MM:SS:FF) at 24, 25, or 29.97 fps. The CMX 3600 EDL supports a maximum of 999 events per list, while advanced formats like AAF (Advanced Authoring Format) or XML can handle unlimited event counts. Each line contains the event number, reel name, edit type (V for video, A1/A2 for audio), Source In/Out, Record In/Out, and transition duration in frames. Audio EDLs use separate channels A1-A8 for multi-track recordings.
History & Development
CMX Systems developed the first computer-controlled EDL in 1971 for the CMX 600, the first digital non-linear editor. In 1973, the CMX 3600 format established itself as the industry standard for linear online editing. With Avid's Media Composer (1989), proprietary formats emerged, while XML-based EDLs became prevalent in the 2000s. Today, DaVinci Resolve, Avid, and Adobe Premiere support standardized EDL exports for conform workflows between different systems.
Practical Use in Film
On "Mad Max: Fury Road" (2015), editor Margaret Sixel used EDLs for conform between Avid (offline) and DaVinci Resolve (color grading). VFX pipelines utilize EDLs for shot tracking – "Blade Runner 2049" exported over 1,500 VFX shots via EDL to Double Negative. Documentaries with hundreds of archive clips benefit from EDL-based batch captures. Sound editors import EDLs into Pro Tools for precise audio synchronization without manual spotting.
Comparison & Alternatives
AAF files additionally transfer media references and effect parameters, whereas EDLs only contain cut information. XML exports from Final Cut Pro X or Premiere allow for more complex metadata transfer than classic EDLs. OpenTimelineIO is developing into the modern standard for pipeline integration. For simple conform workflows, EDLs remain more efficient than complex XML structures as they ensure universal compatibility.