Guides · DaVinci Resolve · REAPER

How to Convert a DaVinci Resolve AAF to a REAPER Project

Published: 29 July 2026 · Last updated: 29 July 2026
Author: AAF Cleaner — built by a professional post-production sound mixer

Moving an audio edit from DaVinci Resolve to REAPER can be frustrating because the two applications do not share a native project format.

DaVinci Resolve can export an AAF containing the structure of an audio timeline, together with the required WAV media. REAPER, however, does not natively list AAF among its supported readable formats. Opening only the exported WAV files will therefore lose the track layout, clip positions and edit points contained in the Resolve timeline.

The practical solution is to convert the Resolve turnover into a native REAPER project:

DaVinci Resolve
        ↓
Pro Tools AAF + WAV media
        ↓
AAF Cleaner
        ↓
REAPER project (.RPP) + WAV files

This guide explains how to prepare the Resolve timeline, export the correct files, convert them and troubleshoot the most common problems.

Note: Resolve AAF support continues to improve through real-world projects. Premiere Pro remains the most extensively tested source workflow — if something looks off, compare against a reference video and send a report.

Quick Answer

To transfer a DaVinci Resolve audio timeline to REAPER:

  1. Open the project in DaVinci Resolve.
  2. Relink any offline media.
  3. Go to the Deliver page.
  4. Select the Pro Tools render preset.
  5. Export the audio as Linear PCM with suitable handles.
  6. Locate the generated AAF and its audio media.
  7. Place the AAF and all exported media inside one ZIP file.
  8. Upload that ZIP to AAF Cleaner.
  9. Select Reaper Project (.zip) as the output.
  10. Download and extract the result.
  11. Open the generated .RPP file in REAPER.

The conversion creates a REAPER project in which the audio items are positioned according to the Resolve timeline.

Why REAPER Cannot Open a Resolve AAF Directly

An AAF is not simply an audio file.

It is an interchange document that describes how a timeline should be reconstructed. Depending on the export, it can contain information about:

REAPER can open the exported WAV files, but it does not natively interpret the AAF timeline that tells it where those files belong. AAF and OMF are absent from REAPER’s current official list of readable formats.

Importing only the WAV files manually therefore loses information such as:

Converting the AAF into .RPP lets REAPER rebuild the edit rather than simply import a folder of unrelated audio files.

Which Resolve Export Should You Use?

For this workflow, use DaVinci Resolve’s Pro Tools export preset.

The preset is found on the Deliver page. Resolve uses AAF to describe the timeline and creates separate rendered audio files for the clips included in the export. Blackmagic Design’s current Resolve documentation also recommends Linear PCM audio and shows the use of handles when preparing this type of turnover.

Even though the preset is named “Pro Tools,” the resulting AAF is an interchange package rather than a Pro Tools session. It can therefore be converted into another project format, including REAPER’s .RPP.

Preparing the Resolve Timeline Before Export

A clean source timeline is easier to transfer reliably.

Relink Offline Media

Before exporting, confirm that every required clip is online in Resolve.

An AAF can describe the position of a clip, but it cannot recreate a source recording that Resolve itself cannot locate.

Remove Unnecessary Tracks

Delete or disable tracks that should not be included in the audio session, such as:

This reduces the number of irrelevant items in the generated REAPER project.

Check Track Types

Inspect whether the timeline contains:

Complex channel structures are more likely to be interpreted differently between applications.

When possible, test unusual track types separately before exporting a full project.

Check Timeline Timecode

Confirm:

The REAPER project should use the same timeline reference as the Resolve edit.

Simplify Unnecessary Processing

Fairlight provides effects, automation, EQ, dynamics and routing that do not necessarily translate through AAF into another DAW.

Before export, decide which elements must be:

An audio turnover should primarily preserve the edit and source media. It should not be assumed that every Resolve-specific effect or bus configuration will appear identically in REAPER.

Recommended DaVinci Resolve Export Settings

Step 1 — Open the Deliver Page

Open the timeline that you want to transfer, then click the Deliver page or use the corresponding Resolve shortcut.

Step 2 — Select the Pro Tools Preset

In the Render Settings panel, select:

Pro Tools

This preset creates:

Blackmagic Design describes the preset as rendering multiple files rather than one self-contained media file.

Step 3 — Choose an Export Location

Create a dedicated empty folder for the turnover.

For example:

Resolve_Reaper_Export/

Using a dedicated folder makes it much easier to identify all the files that must be included in the ZIP uploaded to AAF Cleaner.

Step 4 — Use Linear PCM Audio

In the Audio settings, select Linear PCM.

This produces uncompressed audio files suitable for professional editing and prevents the additional complications associated with lossy audio formats.

For video and broadcast work, the project will commonly use:

Keep the export consistent with the original Resolve project and delivery requirements.

Step 5 — Add Handles

Handles provide extra audio before and after each visible edit.

They allow the sound editor to:

Blackmagic’s Resolve training workflow often demonstrates a 24-frame handle, but the appropriate duration depends on the project.

For example:

Step 6 — Export a Reference Video When Needed

A reference video is not required for the AAF conversion itself, but it is highly recommended for audio post-production.

It helps verify:

Adding burned-in timecode makes synchronization problems easier to identify.

Do not include the reference video inside the AAF Cleaner ZIP. Keep it separately for use in REAPER.

Preparing the ZIP for AAF Cleaner

A Resolve Pro Tools turnover normally contains an AAF and separate audio media.

Upload the complete package rather than the AAF alone.

Your folder may look similar to this:

Resolve_Reaper_Export/
    Project.aaf
    Audio Files/
        Dialogue_001.wav
        Dialogue_002.wav
        Ambience_001.wav
        Music_001.wav

Select the AAF and the complete audio folder, then compress them into one ZIP:

Resolve_Reaper_Export.zip

Do not:

AAF Cleaner accepts ZIP files containing a non-embedded AAF and its associated audio media.

Converting the Resolve AAF into a REAPER Project

1. Upload the ZIP

Open AAF Cleaner and upload the ZIP containing:

The maximum file size currently displayed by the service is 5 GB.

2. Select the Output

Choose:

Reaper Project (.zip)

The output package is designed to contain:

3. Choose Clean or Faithful Mode

AAF Cleaner offers two processing approaches.

Clean Mode

Choose Clean when the priority is maximum simplicity and compatibility.

Clean mode:

This is useful when the original AAF contains structures that are not translating reliably.

Faithful Mode

Choose Faithful when preserving more of the original edit is important.

Faithful mode retains:

For REAPER output, retained level information can be applied to the generated media items.

Which Mode Should You Try First?

For a straightforward Resolve timeline, start with Faithful mode.

Switch to Clean mode when:

4. Download and Extract the Result

Download the generated ZIP and extract it completely.

Keep the .RPP file and the generated audio folder together.

Do not open the .RPP directly from inside the compressed archive.

5. Open the .RPP File in REAPER

Open REAPER and load the generated project.

Check:

What Should Be Preserved?

A successful conversion should preserve the essential edit information:

Resolve-specific processing should not be expected to reproduce identically.

Elements that may require manual recreation include:

The purpose of the conversion is to produce a usable REAPER editing session, not to reproduce the complete Resolve mixing environment.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

The AAF Uploads but Audio Is Missing

The AAF probably references separate media that was not included.

Fix: create a ZIP containing the .aaf file, every exported WAV file, and the complete Resolve-created media folder. Then upload the ZIP again.

AAF Cleaner Reports Missing Media

This normally means that a media reference in the AAF cannot be matched with a file in the uploaded package.

Check:

The .RPP Opens with Offline Items

The generated audio folder may have been moved away from the REAPER project.

Fix: extract the entire downloaded ZIP into a single folder and keep the .RPP and media directory together.

If REAPER still reports missing files, use its media search function and point it toward the generated audio folder.

Clips Are at the Wrong Timeline Position

Check:

Create a short test timeline using the same starting timecode. If the short export works, one particular object in the main project may be causing the problem.

Stereo Audio Is Split into Mono Tracks

This may be expected when Clean mode is selected.

Clean mode separates stereo material into independent L/R tracks to produce a simpler and more widely compatible session.

Use Faithful mode when preserving the original stereo structure is important.

Clip Gain or Fades Are Missing

Clean mode intentionally removes gains, fades and AAF effects.

Use Faithful mode when those elements need to be retained.

Remember that fade curves may still differ slightly between editing applications because each application represents and interprets transitions differently.

There Are Empty Tracks

Possible causes include:

Simplify the Resolve timeline and export a small test sequence to isolate the source.

The Conversion Produces an Error

Some AAF structures may still need work. Try:

The feedback form allows you to identify Resolve as the source, REAPER as the target and describe whether the problem concerns import, timing or missing audio.

Why Use a Native REAPER Project?

Without conversion, the usual alternatives are:

A native .RPP avoids the intermediate DAW step:

Resolve timeline
      ↓
AAF + WAV turnover
      ↓
AAF Cleaner
      ↓
Editable REAPER project

This workflow is useful for:

Using Premiere Pro instead? See How to Import Premiere Pro AAF or OMF into REAPER.

Delivering to Logic Pro? See How to Fix DaVinci Resolve AAF Import Problems in Logic Pro.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can REAPER import AAF files directly?

REAPER does not currently list AAF as a natively readable format. The timeline must therefore be translated into a REAPER project or reconstructed through another compatible application.

Can DaVinci Resolve export an AAF?

Yes. DaVinci Resolve includes a Pro Tools preset on the Deliver page that exports an AAF together with rendered audio media.

Why is the Resolve export preset called Pro Tools?

Pro Tools is a common destination for professional audio turnovers. The preset uses AAF as the interchange format, however, so the exported timeline can be translated for use in another DAW.

Do I need Pro Tools to move a Resolve project into REAPER?

No. The Resolve AAF can be converted directly into a .RPP project without opening it in Pro Tools.

Should I upload only the AAF?

No. A Resolve Pro Tools export normally uses separate audio files. Place the AAF and the complete exported media folder inside one ZIP.

Does AAF Cleaner create a real REAPER project?

Yes. The REAPER output is a .RPP project accompanied by its audio media.

Should I choose Clean or Faithful mode?

Choose Faithful when you want to preserve clip gain, fades and stereo organisation.

Choose Clean when you want a simpler timeline and are willing to remove those elements to improve compatibility.

How many handles should I export?

There is no universal value. Blackmagic’s current training guide demonstrates 24-frame handles, but longer handles may be useful for dialogue editing or projects requiring significant recutting.

Should I export a reference video?

Yes, whenever possible. A reference video with burned-in timecode helps verify synchronization and identify missing or misplaced clips.

Does the conversion include Resolve effects?

Resolve-specific plug-ins, Fairlight processing, complex automation and routing should not be expected to translate completely. Recreate or render essential processing separately.

Does AAF Cleaner modify my Resolve project?

No. It creates a new exchange package. The original Resolve project and source files remain unchanged.

Conclusion

DaVinci Resolve can create a professional AAF audio turnover, but REAPER cannot interpret the AAF timeline directly.

The correct workflow is to export Resolve’s Pro Tools AAF package with Linear PCM media and suitable handles, then translate the AAF structure into a native .RPP project.

This preserves the information that would otherwise be lost when importing WAV files manually: track organisation, clip placement, source edits, media relationships, and gains and fades when supported.

As with any turnover, compare the generated REAPER project with a reference video before beginning the final edit or mix.

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