ALE File

What are ALE files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an ALE file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your ALE files.

What is an ALE file?

An .ALE file is an Avid Log Exchange file.

Avid Log Exchange files store detailed metadata logs for video editing workflows. They're produced by Avid editing applications such as Media Composer and Film Composer to exchange information about clips, takes, scenes, reel IDs, and timecodes in a human-readable text format. These files are used mainly during logging, media capture, conforming, or metadata tracking to prepare or share information about source media without including the actual video or audio files. Users write or export logs on any system (Windows or Macintosh) and then import them into an Avid editing bin or media database for organizing, capturing, or linking media.

The format is written using a utility called Avid Log Exchange that is included with most Avid editing systems. The utility can convert various log formats - such as those generated by telecine machines (FLX, ATN), other editors, tab-delimited shot logs, or Cinema Tools - into ALE format, so Avid can import the data cleanly with correct metadata for each clip to match against existing media. When imported, the metadata supports features like ASC Color Decision List (CDL) parameters and ensures each log entry corresponds to clip records in Avid bins.

Internally the file is ASCII text structured in three blocks: a Heading section, a Column section, and a Data section. Typical field names in the Heading include VIDEO_FORMAT, FIELD_DELIM, AUDIO_FORMAT, and DATE; the Column section gives titles like TRACKS, SCENE, START, NAME, TAKE; the Data section has one line per clip with those values. The file begins with the ASCII string "Heading" at byte offset zero. Evidence strings in the file include "HEADING", "COLUMN", "DATA", "SCENE", "TAKE", "VIDEO_FORMAT", "TRACKS", "AUDIO_FORMAT", "FIELD_DELIM", among others.

How to open ALE files

Important: Different programs may use files with the ALE file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your ALE file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Last updated: August 17, 2026

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