Avid DNxHR/DNxHD — ShotAI Compatibility
High-quality intermediate codec designed for multi-generation editing workflows in broadcast and post-production.
What is Avid DNxHR/DNxHD?
Avid DNxHR (Digital Nonlinear Extensible High Resolution) is the successor to DNxHD, designed for resolutions beyond 1080p including 2K, 4K, and 8K. Developed by Avid Technology, it is the native intermediate codec for Media Composer and is widely adopted in broadcast television and feature film workflows. DNxHR provides visually lossless compression while maintaining frame-accurate editing capability across shared storage environments. The codec supports multiple quality levels (LB, SQ, HQ, HQX, 444) to balance file size and quality requirements.
How does ShotAI handle Avid DNxHR/DNxHD files?
ShotAI natively ingests DNxHR and DNxHD files in both MXF and MOV containers without transcoding. During indexing, ShotAI preserves Avid-specific metadata including tape names, timecodes, and bin column data. The AI analysis engine processes each shot boundary, generating semantic embeddings that understand scene content, actions, and visual characteristics. When you search your DNxHR library, results include frame-accurate in/out points that you can export directly to Avid Media Composer via AAF or drag into any other NLE.
When should you use Avid DNxHR/DNxHD?
DNxHR is the preferred codec for Avid Media Composer workflows and collaborative broadcast environments using shared storage (Avid NEXIS). Choose DNxHR when working on multi-editor projects in broadcast television, when your facility requires MXF-based workflows, or when you need a high-quality intermediate codec that works natively on both Windows and macOS. DNxHR HQX is ideal for finishing in HDR, while DNxHR SQ provides broadcast-quality results at manageable file sizes for daily editing.
Quick Facts
- Format
- Avid DNxHR/DNxHD
- Container
- .mxf, .mov
- Category
- Production
Written by the ShotAI team. Last updated May 2026.