Convert EDL to CSV — Free Online EDL Reader for Avid

Convert an EDL to CSV for Vendor Handoffs and Tracking Sheets

Many a vendor, colorist, or producer might ask for an EDL of your cut, just to populate their own trackers. EDLs are great for rebuilding a digital edit into a film edit (it is what they were made for after all) but these days, it's an easy way to get lots of details of the sequence out of the NLE and into a spreadsheet. Upload your EDL here, verify the event list parses correctly, and download a CSV your team can pull into Google Sheets or Excel. No account required.

Because EDLs were created in the early days of the digital editing era, when everything was still shot on film, they do not carry details about effects. Retimes, fades, and multiple tracks can quickly confuse an EDL. It is best to collapse all your tracks, make all fades within the boundaries of the edit, and only export one track at a time.

Use this tool to easily convert EDLs into CSVs for anyone. That way YOU get to make sure it is correct before sending to teams to update VFX or online trackers, or generate a quick shot count for a delivery report.

What's Inside an Avid EDL File

An EDL (Edit Decision List) is a plain-text record of your edit. Each event contains a reel or clip name, a source in/out timecode (where on the camera original the shot starts and ends), and a record in/out timecode (where it lands in the sequence). CMX 3600 is the most widely supported format and is what most online and VFX facilities expect. This reader also accepts EDLs from other CMX variants and shows every field - transitions, dissolves, marker data - in a table you can review instantly.

If your EDL includes markers, you can also generate subtitle or subcap output from selected marker colors.

EDL Reader FAQ

What can I see in the parsed EDL? Event numbers, edit types, source and record timecodes, reel names, clip names, source file fields, timewarp notes, and marker data when present.

Can I export the results? Yes. You can download a CSV for spreadsheets or a modified EDL after making supported edits.

Do I need an account? No account is required to use the free EDL reader.

EDL File Action Code List

Every event in a CMX 3600 EDL carries an edit type — a one- or two-character action code that tells you how the shot enters the sequence. When you convert an EDL to CSV, these codes land in the "Edit Type" column, so it helps to know what they mean before you hand the spreadsheet to a vendor.

Channel indicators appear alongside the action code: V for video, A1/A2 for audio tracks, A1A2 or AA for both audio channels, and B for video plus audio together.

How EDL Fields Map to CSV Columns

When you convert an EDL to CSV in Avid workflows, each field in the event line becomes a column in the spreadsheet. This is the mapping this reader uses:

Worked Example: EDL to Excel Spreadsheet

Here is a short CMX 3600 EDL. It has two events — a cut and a 24-frame dissolve — each with a comment line naming the clip:

TITLE:   SHOW_REEL1_V01
FCM: NON-DROP FRAME

001  A001C003 V     C        09:12:04:10 09:12:07:22 01:00:00:00 01:00:03:12
* FROM CLIP NAME: A001C003_220611_R1AB.mov

002  A004C011 V     D    024 10:41:19:00 10:41:24:00 01:00:03:12 01:00:08:00
* FROM CLIP NAME: A004C011_220611_R1AB.mov

Uploaded here and downloaded as CSV, that becomes a spreadsheet you can open directly in Excel or Google Sheets:

Event,Clip Name,Reel/Tape,Edit Type,Source In,Source Out,Record In,Record Out
001,A001C003_220611_R1AB.mov,A001C003,C,09:12:04:10,09:12:07:22,01:00:00:00,01:00:03:12
002,A004C011_220611_R1AB.mov,A004C011,D 024,10:41:19:00,10:41:24:00,01:00:03:12,01:00:08:00

EDL Timecode: Drop Frame vs Non-Drop Frame

The FCM line near the top of an EDL declares the timecode mode. Non-drop frame counts every frame in sequence and is standard for film and most scripted work. Drop frame — written with semicolons between the seconds and frames (01:00:03;12) — skips two frame numbers each minute (except every tenth) so that timecode stays aligned with real-world clock time at 29.97fps, which matters for broadcast delivery. Reading the EDL first lets you confirm the mode matches what your vendor expects before anything gets conformed.

EDL Comment Lines You'll See

Lines that begin with an asterisk are comments. Avid writes several of them, and they carry the metadata that makes a converted CSV actually useful:

• * FROM CLIP NAME: — the source clip name for the event (becomes your Clip Name column).
• * TO CLIP NAME: — the incoming clip name on a transition.
• * SOURCE FILE: — the underlying media file name when it differs from the clip name.
• M2 — a motion-effect line indicating a retime (speed ramp) on the event. See the troubleshooting note below.

How to Export an EDL From Avid Media Composer

To create an EDL list in Avid, load your sequence and open File > Output > EDL (this launches EDL Manager). Choose the CMX 3600 format for the widest compatibility, set your reel names, and export a single video track at a time. Remember the classic 8-character reel-name limit — longer names get truncated, which is a common reason reels look wrong once you read the EDL back. Collapse effects and keep fades inside the edit boundaries so the list stays clean.

Troubleshooting a Messy EDL

• Reel names look wrong or blank: the source reel exceeded 8 characters, or the clip was never assigned a reel. Reassign in Avid and re-export.
• Duplicate reels: two different sources share a reel ID. Rename one before conforming so vendors don't pull the wrong media.
• Unexpected extra events or M2 lines: a retime (speed ramp) is on the timeline. EDLs can't fully describe motion effects, so flatten or bake the retime, or hand off an AAF instead for anything with effects.

EDL vs ALE vs AAF: Which File Do You Need?

An EDL is the right file for a simple, effect-free shot list. If you need metadata columns or effects, a different format serves better — and Developing Tank has a free tool for each:

If a facility asked you to convert an EDL to AAF, it usually means they need the effects an EDL can't hold — export an AAF from Avid instead.