What does Edit Decision List (EDL) mean?
Edit Decision List (EDL) is a document used in post-production that records every edit made in a video sequence — including the source footage, timecodes for the start and end of each clip, and the type of transition used. The EDL serves as a roadmap for moving a project between different editing systems or facilities. When a production moves from an offline edit (done on a lower-resolution copy of footage) to an online edit (done with full-resolution masters), the EDL allows the online editor to recreate the exact same cut using the original high-quality files.
Example:After completing the rough cut on a laptop using proxy files, the editor exported an EDL so the finishing facility could conform the final film using the original 4K camera footage.
Example: When the production switched post facilities mid-project, the EDL allowed the new editor to import the entire cut and continue working without having to rebuild the sequence from scratch.
Did you know?
EDLs were developed in the 1970s for use with early tape-based editing systems. Although modern non-linear editing software has largely made them obsolete for day-to-day editing, EDLs remain an important deliverable for broadcast and archive purposes — some broadcasters still require them alongside finished masters.
