I'm running Avid Media Composer, Mac, have tried 4 times to export an aaf file to my protools editor, and he says it's crashing his system. does anyone know a workaround, another way to export an aaf or omf (giving me an exception -1 error) file? thanks,gerry

Is the file you are exporting linked to media or is it an Embedded AAF? If you are doing an Embedded, try using the link option instead.

I have the same problem, when I export my (OMF 2.0) sound to an Omf (consolidated media, embedded in OMF), it gives me the "exception -1 error" too.

To circumvent that error, I just use the "Folder" option, and then an .omf file is created, that links to a separately created OMFI MediaFiles folder, although the size will be bigger.

While the OMF would be 500 MB, the Folder option gives me a 5 GB folder.

Can you try making a new audio only timeline and consolidate that? Then try an embedded OMF

luces umbrarum:

While the OMF would be 500 MB, the Folder option gives me a 5 GB folder

@ Andrew Action:

I do that all the time, I just export the audio, as the video tracks are deleted.

Still I get a ten times bigger OMFI MediaFiles folder than the .omf should be, if that function would work, or the error message at least could give me a clue, what is wrong with my timeline.

luces umbrarum:

I just export the audio, as the video tracks are deleted.

If you do consolidate it may be a Mac related problem I am unaware of.  99% of my OMF or AAF exports are from PC Avid to Mac Protools.

AndrewAction:

Do you CONSOLIDATE in this situation?

I use the consolidate option in the export method selection.

And I am suggesting that you createa duplicate timeline, eliminate the video and Consolidate this timeline (before opening the export dialog)

I consolidate to a drive with no Avid media on it

Then I can then export an OMF/AAF with embedded media  (the file is small because the media is already consolidated.)

Or I can export an OMF/AAF with the media "Linked to" the Avid media file I just consolidated this timeline to  (my whole reason for "I consolidate to a drive with no Avid media on it" )  This Avid media folder will also be a small size unless there is something weird going on.

I normally export audio during the onlining process for colour correction and sound post processing.

I duplicate the original edit, strip one duplicate of all its audio, decompose it and batch the video at 1:1 and DV 25 420, and with another duplicate of the original edit, I just delete all the video, have 8-10 audio tracks then, which I then export as OMF (consolidate and embed), which sometimes gives me the "unexpected error", or the OMF with consolidated media and a media folder.

I also export the audio to the system drive (Desktop > Project > Audio for company), which has no media of the project, as all the media of that project is on three external FW800 1TB drives.

I don't really know, why the resulting folder is 10 times bigger than an exported OMF, but it is that way now, and a system administrator is out of reach. But since there is only one show left, where I might encounter this "unexpected error" again, before the PowerMac is properly cleaned and setup with a fresh install of everything for our next project I don't mind.

Thank you for taking the time, but it seems, that this might by a Mac related problem with that version of MC, as on an older MC 12, exporting OMF files is no problem.

Carefully reading your explanation and understanding that English may not be your first language I still get the feeling that you are relying on either Consolidate or Relink from the export dialog box.

I am suggesting that in the same way you decompose a sequence that you consolidate your audio from a sequence in a sequence bin, THEN export the already consolidated sequence with just embed or relink selected.  The consolidate BEFORE exporting eliminates a possible bug in the export process (Consolidate and embed)

FWIW An AAF export from Mac MC 3.0.0 worked both ways for me today and the Avid MediaFiles folder (media was MXF) was the same size (roughly) as the embedded AAF

Good luck with your last show

Yes, English is not my mother's tongue.

I will try to consolidate first, and then just export the consolidated sequence into an OMF or OMFI MediaFiles folder.

I will report back, if that worked.

OP, did you manage to get your audio exported properly btw?

Thanks BLKDOG. I did this, but it output a 32Mb aaf file. is this correct? my sound designer says it should be about 2-4 Gigs. Also, now in the same bin I have an exported sequence. Do you think i'm done here, 32Mb? thank you,gerry 

Hi Andrew, pardon my ignorance, and excuse my confusion & question, but as i am using a Mac Avid, can you please tell me step-by-step how to export an omf or aaf file, so i don't get the error message again? i'm new to Avid & my sound designer can't open my previous aaf files created, all 4Gb. thanks a million.

Can do this for later today. Probably email you. What version of Protools and OS is your sound designer on?

My workflow is predominantly from PC Avid to Mac PT HD though I have had no problems Mac Avid (currently MC 3.0) to Mac PT HD (8.0) The workflow has worked since PT TDM 2

Thank you Andrew. My Sound Designer is on Pro Tools 7.3 & Mac OX Tiger, & he says he can't receive omf 1.0 files for some reason. I am working on Mac OS Tiger, with Media Composer 2.8. Thanks,Gerry