How to Export EDL from DaVinci Resolve (No Missing Cuts)
Learn the exact steps to export a clean Edit Decision List (EDL) from DaVinci Resolve without missing cuts, missing timecode, or track errors.
How do you export an EDL from DaVinci Resolve?
To export an EDL, right-click your timeline in the Media Pool, navigate to Timelines > Export > Timeline, change the file format to EDL (*.edl), and save the file.
While the export process is just a few clicks, preparing the timeline is where most editors fail. Because an EDL (Edit Decision List) is a legacy text format, it cannot interpret complex timelines. If you simply export an EDL from a timeline with 5 video tracks, titles, and compound clips, the resulting file will be missing cuts and completely unusable for the receiving program. You must prep the timeline by flattening all video to Track 1 (V1).
How do you prep a DaVinci Resolve timeline to ensure no missing cuts in the EDL?
You must collapse all video clips onto a single track (V1), delete all text generators, remove unsupported transitions, and ensure every clip has a valid source timecode.
To guarantee an error-free EDL, duplicate your timeline first. On the duplicate, move all b-roll and cutaways down to Video Track 1, overwriting the footage underneath. Delete Video Tracks 2, 3, and beyond. Next, remove any cross-dissolves or speed ramps, as EDLs handle these poorly. Finally, ensure that every clip in your Media Pool has a valid reel name and timecode; if a clip lacks embedded timecode (common with cheap consumer cameras or screen recordings), the EDL will skip it entirely, resulting in missing cuts.
How should you share the final video after the EDL workflow is complete?
After the EDL workflow is used for grading or VFX and the final video is rendered, share it with stakeholders using Cutsio for a premium, white-labeled review experience.
EDLs are for machine-to-machine communication; they are not for humans. When the technical post-production phases are complete, the video must be presented to clients or directors. Using Cutsio elevates this final step. Instead of sending a compressed file over email, Cutsio allows you to share a secure, branded link with frictionless, high-fidelity playback. Features like view tracking and explicit approval gates ensure that the project crosses the finish line without miscommunication.
FAQ
Why is my EDL missing clips?
Your EDL is missing clips because those specific video files lack embedded source timecode, or they were placed on a video track (like V2) that the EDL export ignored.
Can I export an EDL for multiple video tracks?
Standard EDLs only support one video track. If you must export multiple tracks, you have to export a separate EDL for each individual video track.
What is a CMX 3600 EDL?
CMX 3600 is the industry-standard EDL format. It is universally accepted by almost all professional video and audio software for basic timeline reconstruction.