AAF and OMF files are mechanisms for storing and retrieving media files and metadata so that projects can be freely exchanged between different applications and platforms. MXF is a media file format that can be used with AAF (but not OMF) files.
Media data and metadata enable an application that receives AAF and OMF sequence files (such as Pro Tools) to automatically and quickly reassemble the composition. A simple metaphor for this approach is that media data files are the pieces of a puzzle and metadata is the set of instructions for assembling the puzzle.
In the simplest case, only an AAF or OMF sequence is exchanged. If this sequence points to existing media files, the size of the sequence file is relatively small and the export/import process is relatively fast.
AAF and OMF sequences can also have media data embedded in them. This creates a single, larger file that is slower to export and import, but which may be easier to manage than thousands of files stored on different volumes.
AAF is a sequence file format. AAF sequences are the best way to exchange projects and maintain valuable metadata. An AAF sequence can refer to OMF or MXF media files, or have OMF and MXF media files embedded within them. There is no such thing as an AAF audio or video media file.
Pro Tools will import, play back, and export an AAF sequence that either links to media files or has audio embedded within it.
When you import an AAF sequence with embedded audio into Pro Tools, the audio will be extracted into mono tracks using the current session’s audio file format.
MXF is a media file format. There are MXF video files and MXF audio files, but there are no MXF sequences. An AAF sequence may refer to or include MXF media files, but OMF sequences cannot refer to or include MXF files.
Pro Tools can import and play back MXF audio and video files created in Media Composer or other Avid applications.
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OMF is both a media file and sequence format. OMF media files can be audio or video, and Pro Tools can import and play back OMF audio and video. Pro Tools can also export OMF audio, but not OMF video.
Pro Tools can import and play back OMF audio and video files created in Media Composer or other applications.
An OMF sequence cannot reference or have MXF media embedded within it.
Pro Tools can import an OMF sequence with embedded audio, but not embedded video.