DaVinci Resolve 18 Review: Powerful Post-Production Software Worth Upgrading

DaVinci Resolve 18 is the latest release of Blackmagic Design’s professional-grade video editing software. With powerful new creative tools for color, visual effects, audio and collaboration, Resolve 18 accelerates post-production with an intuitive interface and innovative features.

This comprehensive guide will explore everything editors, colorists and content creators need to know to unlock the full potential of DaVinci Resolve 18.

Navigation

Overview of DaVinci Resolve 18

DaVinci Resolve combines professional editing, color correction, visual effects, motion graphics and audio post-production all in one software tool. For years it has been Hollywood’s go-to system for major cinema productions like Disney’s The Jungle Book and Mission Impossible: Fallout.

The newly released DaVinci Resolve 18 includes major enhancements to existing pages along with brand new features:

Fusion visual effects with new Magic Mask and Mini Flowgraph capabilities
Improved HDR grading tools and EasyDCP support for cinema deliveries
Redesigned color wheels, curves and qualifiers interfaces
Dolby Vision trim pass workflow for HDR mastering
Innovative Stereo 3D tools and cross-convert features
More efficient editing and Fairlight mixing workflows

DaVinci Resolve 18 is currently available in:

DaVinci Resolve: Free version with unlimited creative features
DaVinci Resolve Studio: Paid $295 version with advanced collaboration tools and capabilities for higher-end workflows

The system requirements vary depending on your specific workflow needs. At minimum, DaVinci recommends:

16 GB RAM: For more complex timelines, higher is better
Discrete GPU 4 GB VRAM: NVIDIA or AMD graphics card
Quad-core CPU: Intel or AMD processor
macOS 10.15, 11 or 12: For macOS hardware
Windows 10 version 1909: For Windows machines

Now let’s jump into the key pages and tools that make up the Resolve experience.

Getting Started with DaVinci Resolve 18

Downloading and Installing DaVinci Resolve 18

First download the latest version of DaVinci Resolve for free from the official Blackmagic Design website. This will be an installer file for either macOS or Windows depending on your machine’s operating system.

Next launch the Resolve installer and follow the on-screen steps. The process will guide you through selecting application directories, components to include, assigning hardware resources and more.

Once Resolve finishes installing, open the application and you’ll be prompted to either sign in or activate your license. If activating Resolve Studio, you’ll need your activation key which can be purchased from Blackmagic.

Navigating the User Interface Pages

The DaVinci Resolve interface layout consists of five main pages, all accessible from the side toolbar

Here’s an overview of what each page contains:

Media: Import and manage all project media assets
Edit: Assemble shots and work with timelines in a classic NLE interface
Fusion: Create motion graphics, titles, transitions and visual effects (VFX) shots
Color: Professional-grade color correction tools for enhanced grades
Fairlight: Full digital audio workstation (DAW) for sound editing, sweetening and mixing
Deliver: Export video masters directly to various formats and platforms

The default layout displays the Editor while the other pages hide off-screen. To switch pages, simply click the icons in the sidebar. You can also customize the appearance, undock windows, build preset layouts and more.

Power users will enjoy DaVinci’s advanced keyboard customizations for editing shortcuts, macros and speed boosts. Popular configurations emulate other NLEs like Adobe Premiere or Apple Final Cut Pro.

Now let’s import and organize media to build a Resolve project.

Importing and Organizing Media

All source media, from video clips to audio files and still images, gets imported into the Media Pool. This functions like a media asset manager with keywords, favorites and smart bins to sort footage.

To import media, open the Media page and do one of the following:

Click Import Media to select files/folders to add
Drag-and-drop files directly into the left Media Pool area
Save clips directly to the designated Scratch Disk location so they auto-import next launch

Supported media formats include:

Video: QuickTime, AVI, MP4, AVC-Intra, formats up to 8K
Images: JPEG, PNG, DPX, EXR, TIFF
Audio: AIFF, MP3, WAV

Once clips appear in the Media Pool, you can:

Add custom metadata like scene, shot and take info
Create smart bins to dynamically organize footage
Rate clips with stars and flags to find best takes
Transcode high-res camera formats for smoother playback

When you’re ready to start editing, right-click clips from the Media Pool and select Create New Timeline Using Selected Clips. This builds an initial sequence with shots ready for refinements.

Now let’s explore DaVinci’s wide array of editing capabilities.

Key Editing Features in DaVinci Resolve 18

The Edit page contains DaVinci’s powerful multi-track timeline where scenes come together. This combines traditional non-linear editing tools with unique trim modes, effects, transitions and audio enhancements.

Here are some of the key editing features that set DaVinci Resolve apart:

Trimming Tools and Techniques

Trimming is the process of shortening or lengthening shots in your sequence. Resolve’s context-sensitive trimming modes give unmatched flexibility for the editor’s intent:

Selection Mode: Trim without moving other clips
Ripple Mode: Trim while shifting subsequent shots
Roll Mode: Cut durations while maintaining sync relationships
Slip Mode: Change a shot’s in/out points simultaneously
Slide Mode: Move a clip’s position while maintaining shot length and timeline duration

You can trim multiple tracks simultaneously or enable options like Smart Indicators to snap based on scene cuts. Powerful Dynamic Trimming lets you make live on-the-fly adjustments with the JKL keyboard shortcuts.

Immersive Audio Editing Capabilities

The Fairlight page brings a full digital audio workstation directly into DaVinci Resolve 18. This allows editors to finesse sound design and do preliminary audio post-production without switching software tools.

New features include auto-alignment of multi-channel sound, static and ambience noise reduction, EQ curve improvements and real-time crossfades between audio clips. The streamlined sound library speeds up searching for sound effects and music.

Support for third-party VST audio plugins like iZotope or Dolby Atmos for immersive sound enables unlimited options for professional treatment. You can record directly into DaVinci or ADR voice replacement right in context of your timelines!

Color Correction and Grading

DaVinci first pioneered GPU-accelerated color grading, completely reinventing previous software correction tools. The advanced Color page provides unprecedented creative possibilities and precision for the colorist.

In Resolve 18, new Color Warper and mesh-based Warp effects analyze environmental reflections to neutralize color irregularities. The overhauled primary color wheels interface also improves responsiveness with streamlined Log grading workflows.

Quickly balance shots and build an initial grade with start points designed for various camera formats. Apply Looks (preset LUTs) in one click for instant stylistic changes.

Save time with innovative Shot Matcher – powered by advanced DaVinci AI to automatically adjust hue, saturation and contrast so shots seamlessly match.

Or dive into limitless advanced correction with qualification, tracking, curves and custom nodes giving colorists complete control over any image parameter. Add a beauty pass, relight a scene or create unique artistic looks.

Fusion Visual Effects and Motion Graphics

The Fusion page provides over 500 state-of-the-art effects tools – including planar tracking and camera stabilization – enabling editors and VFX artists to composite shots or create broadcast graphics and titles right inside DaVinci.

Using the new Mini Flowgraph in Resolve 18, build complex effect chains by connecting predefined ResolveFX and Fusion plug-ins without needing to create entire compositions. Easily animate movement associated with an object’s position in 3D space with the Magic Mask effect.

Quickly spice up scenes by searching and browsing Resolve’s extensive 2D and 3D title library, extensible with any custom graphics. Construct multi-layered compositions using alpha channels with temporal and spatial ripple effects flowing through graphic animations.

Whether you need to split screens, add explosions, paint out objects, or generate advanced transitions like page turns and disintegrations… DaVinci Fusion unleashes unmatched creative possibilities.

Now let’s check out some of the premium features included with DaVinci Resolve Studio.

DaVinci Resolve Studio Exclusive Features

The paid DaVinci Resolve Studio upgrade adds capabilities for enterprise-level post-production facilities, particularly surrounding project collaboration, audio mixing and 3D/VR deliverables.

Advanced Fairlight Audio Post Workflows

Fairlight in Resolve Studio expands the toolset for audio post-production teams to polish sound design, score music or finalize immersive mixes.

Integrated ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) features loop recording takes synchronized with picture to capture alternate dialogue recordings. Index sound effects clips andFX switch between them dynamically in the Fairlight timeline without needing separate tracks.

For surround sound, use built-in Dolby Atmos mixing including binaural monitoring, negating the need for an external 3D audio workstation. Create immersive soundscapes with up to 24 simultaneous audio channels!

Remote Collaboration Across Multiple Workstations

Resolve Studio optimizes workflows for distributed teams via Resolve Sync Bin which shares media, timelines and edits across multiple systems connected to shared storage. Colorists can immediately grab timelines from editors while VFX artists receive composition updates in real time.

Work across facilities worldwide with the DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard designed for high speed editing and navigation. The editable keyboard can save and run macros plus connect via USB-C cable or Bluetooth LE.

Advanced DaVinci Neural Engine Features

Harness intelligent machine learning for incredible efficiency gains with DaVinci’s Neural Engine which powers many Resolve Studio exclusive features:

Resolve FX AI: Automatic noise reduction and upscaling powered by AI
Magic Mask: Quickly create dynamic masks with auto object tracking
Super Scale HDR: High quality HDR up-rezing with smart detail reconstruction
Face Refinement: Improve skin tones and blemish removal for portraits

Immersive Video Playback and Grading

Finalize high-end 3D, VR/360 and stereo projects with dedicated stereoscopic grading and finishing tools included only in DaVinci Resolve Studio:

Convert mono or stereo projects to 3D video
Adjust parallax settings and edge tolerances
Calibrate left / right eye separately
Add depth with volumetric lighting and window adjustments
Render dome projection or YouTube VR180/360 playback

By keeping the entire stereo post pipeline within Resolve, studios eliminate multi-software costs and complex handoffs between different tools.

Now let’s deliver the final video master files.

Outputting Video Projects

Exporting and Sharing Final Video Masters

After finishing all creative edits, visual FX, color correction and audio post sound design… complete video projects by exporting masters from DaVinci’s Deliver page.

Choose from unlimited export presets for all major professional delivery specifications:

Web streaming platforms like YouTube or Vimeo
Broadcast or cable television standards
Digital cinema DCPs ready for theater projection
Custom professional codecs like ProRes or H.264
Video files with alpha channels for compositing pipelines

Easily burn subtitles and closed captions directly into exports. Resolve Studio extends capabilities with additional presets plus Dolby Vision HDR or HDR10+ support when mastering for next generation displays.

Review and Approve Tools

With integrated Review and Approval features, clients and collaborators can securely view in-progress edits to provide feedback. Sync changes by merging back into the DaVinci timeline so editors know exactly what adjustments to make.

Protect sensitive content using watermarked exports where illegal leaks can be traced back to the license owner. Share rough cuts using the free DaVinci Resolve app for iPad which lets clients draw notes frame accurately from mobile devices.

YouTube / Vimeo Direct Uploads

Skip traditional exports and save time by uploading directly to video platforms like YouTube or Vimeo right from DaVinci Resolve Studio’s Deliver page.

Select custom thumbnails, input metadata, schedule publish times and set appropriate public / private viewer restrictions for social media video posts. Receive notifications when encoding completes so you can manage uploads without needing to constantly monitor progress.

By keeping exports, mastering and deliverables within the same creative environment, DaVinci Resolve 18 speeds up post-production so you spend more time making incredible content rather than waiting for renders to process!

Conclusion

DaVinci Resolve 18 sets the gold standard for professional editing, visual effects, color correction and audio post production. With each new release, Blackmagic Design keeps making the all-in-one software even more powerful and efficient for creative teams.

Whether you’re an aspiring filmmaker or an Emmy Award winning Hollywood finishing artist… DaVinci Resolve Studio gives unlimited options to make your creative vision a cinematic reality!

NEW