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Understanding Color Levels When Re-Importing DeepEditor Exports Into Avid

Some users may notice that DeepEditor vub exports appear 'washed out' in video players, or that Avid is automatically applying a Levels scaling (full range to video levels) color adapter. This article explains why this happens and provides a correct, repeatable workflow for round-tripping between DeepEditor and Avid.

Avid Levels Scaling Comparison

1. Why This Happens

DeepEditor Standard Exports Use DNx HQX

DeepEditor aims to match the input codec from the source media file for vub exports whenever possible. If the input codec isn’t supported or cannot be replicated, the export will default to DNx HQX. DNx HQX has:

  • Higher bit depth

  • A different color-range flag

  • A tendency to be interpreted as Full Range (0-255)

The automatic use of DNx HQX standard-quality vub exports is temporary and already tracked in our development queue.

2. Why Avid Adds a Color Adapter

Most Avid projects are set to:
Color Space: YCbCr 709

When you link/import media, Avid checks the file’s metadata. If a file is flagged Full Range (0-255), Avid automatically applies:

Color Adapter ➡️ Levels scaling (full range to video levels)

Avid example level scaling full range to video level applied

This will take the levels to Video Levels (16-235)

This ensures the clip looks correct in Avid’s YCbCr 709 color protocols, but it’s also why editors may see unexpected contrast differences if the adapter is left in place

3. Recommended Workflow

Step 1: Link/Import the vub export into Avid

Link the exported MXF or MOV into a bin using source browser or option + drag.

Import the file following your Avid media management workflow. 

Step 2: Remove the Automatic Color Adapter

  1. Right-click the clip → Source Settings

  2. Go to the Color Encoding tab

  3. Avid will show:
    Levels scaling (full range to video levels)

  4. Delete that transformation

  5. Click Apply → OK

Avid example level scaling full range to video level removed

Step 3: If the clip is already in the timeline

Right-click the segment → Refresh Color Adapters
(This re-applies the clip’s corrected color metadata.)

Step 4: OR cut it into the sequence

This avoids mass-refreshing the entire timeline.

4. Optional: Disable Automatic Color Adapters

Not required, but available if preferred.

Navigate to:
Settings → User Settings → Color Management

Untick:

“Insert color transformations automatically in the Source Settings upon linking.”

Avid example adjust automatic colour adapters

This prevents Avid from auto-applying level scaling in the future.
(We don’t recommend changing workflow-wide settings unless the editorial team is comfortable doing so.)

5. Upcoming Fix

DeepEditor will soon maintain the same DNx flavor as the original source clip (e.g. DNx SQ → DNx SQ). This will prevent:

  • Full-range flag mismatches

  • Unwanted Avid color adapters

  • (occasional) Washed-out video previews

  • Confusion during QC

This change is already logged internally, and your reports help prioritize it.