Timeline Export

Export your project timeline out of Genvid and into your editing application for professional editing, color grading, and final delivery.

Overview

Timeline Export lets you take your finished project from Genvid and continue working on it in the editor of your choice. When you export, Genvid packages a bundle — a ZIP file containing:

A timeline file that describes your shots, their order, and references to your media
All your media files — the video clips from your selected shots and their dialog audio — inside a media folder

You choose the timeline format that matches your editing application:

Format	Editing Application	File in the Bundle
FCPXML	Final Cut Pro (X / modern)	`{project-name}.fcpxml`
OTIO	Premiere Pro / DaVinci Resolve (native)	`{project-name}.otio`
AAF	Avid Media Composer	`{project-name}.aaf`

Whichever format you pick, the bundle is packaged the same way: the timeline file at the top level and every media file inside the media folder.

Why Export Your Timeline?

While Genvid handles AI generation and production workflows, professional editing applications offer powerful tools for the final stages of post-production:

Color grading and correction to achieve your desired look
Advanced audio mixing with professional effects and EQ
Transitions and effects beyond what Genvid provides
Final delivery in any format required by your distribution platform
Collaboration with editors who work in your studio's tool of choice

Prerequisites

Before exporting, make sure your project has:

At least one shot with selected video
Optionally, shots with dialog audio — dialog audio is included automatically when it exists

You'll also need an editing application that can import the format you choose (Final Cut Pro for FCPXML, Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve for OTIO, or Avid Media Composer for AAF).

Partial Exports

You can export a project even if some shots are missing video or audio. The timeline will have gaps where media is missing, letting you continue editing while you finish production in Genvid.

How to Export Your Timeline

Step 1: Open the Timeline Page

Open your project
Open the section menu from the breadcrumb dropdown and select Timeline
The Timeline page opens, showing your project laid out end to end with a playback bar and zoom controls

Step 2: Open the Export Dialog

Click the Export Timeline button on the Timeline page.

The Export Timeline dialog opens with the following description:

Export your project timeline for import into your editing application. The bundle includes the timeline and all media files.

Step 3: Choose a Format

Use the Format selector to pick the timeline format for your editing application:

FCPXML — Final Cut Pro (X / modern) (default)
OTIO — Premiere Pro / DaVinci Resolve (native)
AAF — Avid Media Composer

Step 4: Start the Export

Click Export Timeline to begin
When the export completes, your browser downloads a ZIP file

Step 5: Extract the Bundle

Locate the downloaded ZIP file
Extract it to a folder on your computer
Inside you'll find:
- The timeline file at the top level (for example, {project-name}.fcpxml, {project-name}.otio, or {project-name}.aaf)
- A media folder containing all your video and audio files

Keep Files Together

Keep the timeline file and the media folder together in the same location. Moving or renaming the media folder will require relinking media in your editing application.

Importing into Final Cut Pro (FCPXML)

Choose the FCPXML format for Final Cut Pro.

Final Cut Pro Version

Genvid's FCPXML export uses FCPXML version 1.10, which is compatible with Final Cut Pro 10.4.9 and later on macOS.

Step 1: Import the FCPXML File

Open Final Cut Pro
Select your target library in the sidebar (or create a new one)
Go to File > Import > XML...
Navigate to your extracted folder and select the .fcpxml file
Click Import

Final Cut Pro creates a new event containing your project.

Step 2: Relink Media Files

After importing, Final Cut Pro needs to connect the project to your actual media files. This is a standard Final Cut Pro workflow called "relinking."

In the browser, you may see clips with missing media indicators (red film frames)
Select all the clips that need relinking (or select the event)
Go to File > Relink Files...
In the Relink Files window:
- Click Locate All...
- Navigate to the media folder in your extracted bundle
- Click Choose
Final Cut Pro matches and relinks the media files
Click Relink Files to confirm

Successful Relink

Once relinking is complete, all missing media indicators disappear and your clips display properly in the browser and timeline.

Step 3: Open Your Project

In the browser, find the imported project (it shares your project's name)
Double-click to open it in the timeline
Your shots appear in order, ready for editing

Importing into Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve (OTIO)

Choose the OTIO format for Adobe Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve. OTIO (OpenTimelineIO) is an open, interchange timeline format that both applications read natively.

General steps:

Extract the bundle so the .otio file and the media folder sit together
In Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, import the .otio file the same way you would import any timeline or project file
If any clips show as offline or missing, point the application at the media folder in your extracted bundle to relink them

Relinking

As with any interchange format, your editing application may need you to relink the media the first time you open the timeline. Keep the media folder alongside the timeline file so it can find the clips.

Importing into Avid Media Composer (AAF)

Choose the AAF format for Avid Media Composer. AAF (Advanced Authoring Format) is the standard interchange format Avid uses to exchange timelines with other tools.

General steps:

Extract the bundle so the .aaf file and the media folder sit together
In Avid Media Composer, import the .aaf file into your project
If any clips are unlinked, link them to the media in the media folder from your extracted bundle

Relinking

Avid may require you to link the imported clips to the media files the first time you open the sequence. Keep the media folder alongside the timeline file so the clips can be found.

Understanding Your Exported Timeline

Shot Organization

Your exported timeline reflects the structure of your Genvid project:

Shots appear in the correct order (by sequence, scene, and shot index)
Each shot with selected video appears as a clip on the timeline
Dialog audio is synchronized with its corresponding video clips

Gaps in the Timeline

If some shots in your project don't have selected video, you'll see gaps in the timeline at those positions. These gaps:

Maintain correct timing for the surrounding clips
Tell you exactly where content is missing
Can be filled later as you finish production in Genvid and re-export

Audio Tracks

Your dialog audio is included in the bundle automatically:

Audio clips appear on a separate audio lane below the video
Each audio clip is synchronized to its corresponding shot
Shots without dialog audio have empty space on the audio lane

Troubleshooting

Media Won't Relink

If your editing application can't find your media files:

Verify file locations: Ensure the media folder is in the same location as when you extracted it
Check file names: Don't rename files in the media folder
Try manual relinking: Relink individual clips and point the application at the media folder
Re-extract the bundle: If files were corrupted, extract the ZIP again

Timeline Timing Seems Off

If clips don't seem to be the right duration:

This can happen if video files have slightly different durations than expected
The export uses the actual durations of your media files for accuracy
Minor adjustments may be needed in your editing application's timeline

Export Fails or Stalls

If the export doesn't complete:

Check your connection: Ensure you have a stable internet connection
Verify media exists: Make sure your shots have selected videos
Try again: Temporary issues may resolve on retry

Can't Find the Downloaded File

If you don't see the downloaded ZIP:

Check your browser's download folder
Check if your browser is blocking downloads
Try the export again and watch for the download prompt

Technical Notes

Timeline Timing

Genvid builds the timeline at a standard frame rate and reads the actual duration of each video file rather than relying on stored values. This keeps timing accurate even when AI-generated videos vary slightly from their requested durations, and helps your editing application relink and play the media correctly.

What Travels With the Bundle

Every export packages the timeline file together with copies of your media, so the bundle is self-contained. You don't need to separately download video or audio — extracting the ZIP gives you everything your editing application needs.

Tips for a Smooth Workflow

Before Exporting

Select your best takes: Only selected video and its dialog audio are included in the export
Review your project: Play through the timeline in Genvid to ensure everything looks correct
Complete as much as possible: The more shots you have finished, the more complete your exported timeline will be

After Importing

Save your project: After relinking, save your editing application's project or library to preserve the media connections
Create backups: Keep the original exported bundle in case you need to re-import
Work non-destructively: Use adjustment layers and effects rather than modifying original clips

Iterative Workflow

You can export as many times as your production needs:

Export your timeline at any stage
Continue production in Genvid
Export again with updated content
Import the new bundle as a separate project in your editing application
Copy completed clips between projects as needed

Limitations

Keep these limitations in mind:

Limitation	Details
One-way export	Changes made in your editing application cannot be imported back to Genvid
No effects	Transitions, effects, and color grading from Genvid are not exported
No titles	Text overlays and titles are not included
Video and audio only	Keyframes and reference images are not exported
Single timeline	Multiple sequences are flattened into a single timeline

Common Questions

Can I export a project that's not finished?

Yes. Any shots without selected video will appear as gaps in the timeline. This lets you start editing while you finish production in Genvid.

Do I need to export audio separately?

No. Dialog audio is included in the bundle automatically whenever it exists, in the same media folder as your video clips.

Which editing applications are supported?

Genvid exports three timeline formats: FCPXML for Final Cut Pro, OTIO for Adobe Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve, and AAF for Avid Media Composer. Choose the format that matches your application in the Export Timeline dialog.

What video formats are included?

The export includes your original video files in their native format. Most Genvid videos are H.264 or ProRes, which professional editing applications handle natively.

What happens if I re-export after making changes?

Each export creates a new, independent bundle. Your previous exports and any editing-application projects using them are not affected. You can import the new export as a separate project.

Why do I need to relink media?

Timeline files reference media by file path. When you move the bundle to your computer and extract it, your editing application needs to learn where the actual files are located. Relinking is a standard workflow in every editing application that establishes these connections.

Next Steps

Video Editor - Generate and select videos for your shots
Dialog Editor - Create dialog audio for your shots
Project Dashboard - Manage your project and its sections