DaVinci Resolve Beginners Tutorial 2024: Edit like a PRO for FREE!

Ben Claremont
6 Feb 202412:26

TLDRThis tutorial offers a concise guide to getting started with DaVinci Resolve, a powerful yet accessible video editing software. It covers downloading and installing the free version, creating a new project, and navigating the various workspaces. The video demonstrates basic editing techniques, importing media, cutting clips, adjusting audio levels, and adding music. It also touches on color correction, adding text and titles, and exporting the final video. The presenter shares personal preferences and tips for efficiency, highlighting the software's professional capabilities and their own transition from Premiere Pro to DaVinci Resolve.

Takeaways

  • 🚀 DaVinci Resolve is a powerful video editing software with both free and paid versions.
  • 📥 Download the latest version of DaVinci Resolve from the Blackmagic website.
  • 🎬 The free version offers 90% of the software's functionality.
  • 📁 Create a new project with a name and set project settings including resolution and frame rate.
  • 📂 Import media into the Media Pool and adjust project settings to match footage if needed.
  • 🔍 Use the Edit page for a streamlined workflow, especially for simple video projects.
  • 🎞 Drag and drop video clips onto the timeline for editing.
  • ✂️ Use the blade tool for cutting clips and adjust audio levels as needed.
  • 🎶 Add music tracks and adjust their volume to balance with dialogue.
  • 📝 Utilize keyframes for precise audio level adjustments.
  • 🌈 Apply color correction using the color wheels for a more professional look.
  • 📦 Export the final video from the Deliver tab, ensuring the correct settings are selected.

Q & A

  • What is the first step in getting started with DaVinci Resolve?

    -The first step is to download the latest version of DaVinci Resolve software from the Blackmagic website.

  • Is there a paid version of DaVinci Resolve?

    -Yes, there is a paid version, but 90% of the functionality can be accessed through the free version.

  • How do you create a new project in DaVinci Resolve?

    -After installation, a window will pop up where you can create a new project by giving it a name and clicking 'create'.

  • What are the different workspaces in DaVinci Resolve and what are they designed for?

    -The workspaces include Media for importing shots, Cut for basic edits, Edit for complex edits, Fusion for visual effects, Color for color grading, Fairlight for audio editing, and Deliver for exporting.

  • What is the recommended project resolution and frame rate for beginners?

    -For beginners, a common recommendation is 1920x1080 resolution with a frame rate of 30 FPS to keep things simple.

  • How do you import video clips into the DaVinci Resolve project?

    -You can import video clips by dragging and dropping them into the Media Pool on the left-hand side of the interface.

  • What is the purpose of the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the interface?

    -The gear icon is used to open the project settings where you can set the project resolution, frame rate, and other preferences.

  • How do you adjust the audio levels in DaVinci Resolve?

    -You can adjust the audio levels by expanding the size of the audio track to see the waveforms better and then dragging the line up or down to increase or decrease the volume.

  • What is the Dialog Leveler feature in DaVinci Resolve?

    -The Dialog Leveler is an automatic audio setting that attempts to balance dialogue levels by lowering loud parts and raising quieter parts.

  • How do you add transitions between clips in DaVinci Resolve?

    -To add transitions, go to the Effects tab, choose Video Transitions, and drag the desired transition to the start or end of a video track or between two clips on the timeline.

  • What is the final step in the editing process before exporting in DaVinci Resolve?

    -The final step is to set in and out points for the video, choose the desired export settings, and then add the project to the render queue before hitting 'Render All'.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Getting Started with DaVinci Resolve

This paragraph introduces the DaVinci Resolve software and guides users through the initial setup process. It starts with downloading the software from the Blackmagic website, highlighting the availability of a free version with most features. The video then walks viewers through creating a new project, navigating the different workspaces designed for various tasks such as media import, editing, visual effects, color grading, audio editing, and exporting. The paragraph emphasizes the flexibility of the software, catering to both simple and advanced editing needs.

05:04

🎬 Importing and Editing Media

The second paragraph delves into the specifics of importing video clips and editing within DaVinci Resolve. It explains how to import media into the project, adjust project settings such as resolution and frame rate, and handle frame rate inconsistencies between footage. The paragraph also covers basic editing techniques, including using the blade tool for cuts, adjusting audio and video track sizes, and managing the timeline. It touches on advanced features like linked selection for dialogue-heavy edits and provides tips for avoiding accidental cuts.

10:09

🎥 Advanced Editing and Color Correction

This paragraph continues the editing process by discussing the removal of unwanted audio tracks, adding music, and adjusting audio levels. It explains how to fade in or out music, balance dialogue and background noise, and use keyframes for precise audio adjustments. The paragraph then moves on to color correction, detailing the use of color wheels for basic adjustments and the potential for more advanced color grading. It also briefly mentions the Fusion tab for advanced effects and the Fairlight tab for audio editing, before ending with the Deliver tab for exporting the final video.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is a professional video editing software used for color correction, visual effects, audio post-production, and more. In the video, it is presented as a versatile tool suitable for both beginners and professionals, with a focus on its free version's extensive functionality.

💡Workspaces

Workspaces in DaVinci Resolve refer to the different sections of the software, each designed for specific tasks such as Media for importing, Cut and Edit for editing, Fusion for visual effects, Color for color grading, Fairlight for audio editing, and Deliver for exporting. The video emphasizes the flexibility of these workspaces to adapt to various editing needs.

💡Project Settings

Project settings in the context of video editing involve configuring parameters such as resolution and frame rate to match the footage being edited. The video script mentions setting these preferences to ensure consistency between the project and the imported media, which is crucial for maintaining video quality.

💡Media Pool

The Media Pool is an area within DaVinci Resolve where users can import and manage their video clips, photos, music, and audio files. It serves as a central location for organizing and accessing media before placing them into the timeline. The script describes dragging and dropping files into the project as a straightforward process.

💡Timeline

The timeline in video editing is a visual representation of the sequence and duration of clips and audio tracks in a video project. It allows for precise editing, cutting, and arranging of media. The video script explains how to drag clips onto the timeline and adjust their length, which is fundamental to the editing process.

💡Linked Selection

Linked selection is a feature in DaVinci Resolve that allows users to edit both the video and audio tracks simultaneously. This is particularly useful for dialogue-heavy edits, as it ensures that any cuts or adjustments apply to both the visual and audio components of a clip. The script provides a practical example of using linked selection to cut both audio and video at the same time.

💡Audio Levels

Adjusting audio levels involves controlling the volume of audio tracks within a video to achieve a balanced sound mix. The video script discusses the importance of keeping background music at a lower volume than dialogue and provides a method for fading in and out music, as well as fine-tuning individual audio tracks to avoid clipping and distortion.

💡Color Correction

Color correction is the process of adjusting the colors in a video to achieve a desired look or to correct any imbalances. DaVinci Resolve is renowned for its advanced color correction capabilities. The script simplifies this process by focusing on basic adjustments like color temperature, contrast, and shadows to improve the overall visual appeal of the video.

💡Text and Titles

Adding text and titles to a video involves incorporating static or animated text overlays to convey information or enhance the narrative. The video script describes how to use the Effects tab in DaVinci Resolve to select and customize text animations, which can be placed over the video clips to create titles, captions, or credits.

💡Transitions

Transitions are visual effects used to smoothly connect two or more video clips, creating a seamless flow between scenes. The script mentions the availability of preset transitions in DaVinci Resolve and instructs on how to apply them between clips or at the start and end of a video track to avoid abrupt cuts.

💡Exporting

Exporting is the final step in the video editing process where the edited project is rendered into a video file. The video script outlines the steps to set in and out points, choose a codec like H.264, and add the project to the render queue before rendering. This is essential for sharing or publishing the completed video.

Highlights

DaVinci Resolve is a powerful video editing software with both free and paid versions.

The free version offers 90% of the functionality.

Creating a new project in DaVinci Resolve is straightforward and involves setting a name.

The software has different workspaces for various tasks like media importing, editing, visual effects, color grading, audio editing, and exporting.

For simple videos, the Edit page is recommended for importing media and editing.

Project settings allow customization of resolution, frame rate, and proxy media format.

Importing video clips is as easy as dragging and dropping them into the Media Pool.

The timeline allows for editing, with options to adjust the size of video and audio tracks.

Linked selection combines audio and video tracks for simultaneous editing.

Cutting and trimming clips can be done using the blade tool or by dragging the clip edges.

Removing audio from a clip can be done by unlinking the audio and video tracks and deleting the audio.

Adding music to the edit is similar to importing video clips, and audio levels can be adjusted for balance.

Text and titles can be added using the Effects tab and customized with various options.

Transitions can be applied between clips for smoother scene changes.

Color correction is a key feature of DaVinci Resolve, with options like Color Temperature, Contrast, and Color Boost.

The Fairlight tab offers advanced audio editing features.

Exporting the video involves setting in and out points, choosing a codec, and adding to the render queue.

DaVinci Resolve is a professional-grade editor suitable for both beginners and experienced users.

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