DaVinci Resolve 18 Beginner Problems: The Most Useful Tips 2023

DaVinci Resolve is the world’s only all-in-one solution when it comes to non-linear video editing (NLE). Color grading, color correction, motion graphics, visual effects and audio post-production can be done within one software and is accessible for anyone who wants to edit blockbusters, television shows and commercials. After it was acquired by Blackmagic Design, the DaVinci Resolve software became accessible for free, matching the Blackmagic Design founder’s (Grant Petty an Australian, yes, we’re proud right now) vision to democratize creativity.

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[#section1]1. Why DaVinci Resolve 18 Is the Leading Software for Post-Production[#section1]  

1. Sleek & Intuitive Design of the Editing Dashboard:

The separated editing pages within the software keep editors from being overwhelmed and assist in a more streamlined workflow.

1. The media page, to quickly and easily pull all your clips and audio together
2. The cut page to help you piece together a fast and focused first draft or to edit simplistic content and experiment.
3. The edit page where the bulk of your heavy editing will occur
4. The fusion page for motion graphics and visual effects and the color page for exceptional industry leading color grading
5. The fairlight page for audio post-production and the deliver page for the Hollywood-ready outputs.

The dual monitors, the well-known track layout, the drag and drop editing, the customizable keyword shortcuts and the library of effects and transitions as well as many templates available online equip beginners with all the inspiration, tools and guidance they need. Not only do they learn different tools between the various pages, but they are also exposed to Hollywood-level post-production processes and workflows. ‍

2. Free Version for Beginners:

This is the unique feature of this professional editing software compared to other players on the market. Even if the free version allows less, it already offers the most relevant features for beginners and thriving experts via their (leading) color, fusion and fairlight pages. Restrictions arise when it comes to the output: The free version has limitations regarding resolution (max 4K vs max. 32K) and frame rates (max. 60fps vs 120fps) which is fine, if you’re not trying to knock on Hollywood’s door.  

What might be more relevant is the missing lens correction and noise reduction which might motivate the user to purchase the studio version. But other than that, the software already equips editors with high end tools in color grading, visual effects and audio post-production. And if purchasing becomes necessary the 'studio’ version is cheaper than Adobe Premier pro and a bit more expensive than Final Cut Pro. This one-time purchase is not only competitive but also guarantees lifelong updates.

3. Multi-user Collaboration (DaVinci Resolve 18):

‍The latest update of DaVinci Resolve accelerates collaborative post-production processes through their Blackmagic cloud storage where editors can work together on the same projects in real time. The multiuser collaboration within DaVinci Resolve enables colorists, VFX artists, editors, and sound engineers to work simultaneously, communicate in chatrooms and enhances transparency on who is working on the project. The possibility to set marks into the timeline and setting other editors to “read only” when someone is working on a timeline already makes workflows efficient and trackable. For an annual fee you can store your database in the cloud and collaborate with remote workers or colleagues. The possibility to then sync the databases with services like Dropbox or Google Drive enables local as well as centralized storage of the files, making them accessible from all over the world.  

4. Auto Correction and Detection Features:

Just when you thought DaVinci Resolve’s 360 dashboard makes post-production easy and fast already closing loops, their auto detection melts editors’ hearts even more. The base correction at first helps starting at zero. The option to use reference frames allows editors to select frames they liked in other movie scenes to automatically color grade by importing them into DaVinci Resolve and add them to their own shots. This can be done for single sequences or complete projects.  

The auto detection feature brings efficient workflows to another level. DaVinci goes through your timeline autonomously and does a cut every time a new scene pops up. This not only saves a lot of nitty gritty work but also gives editors more room for their creativity which is one of the ultimate goals of DaVinci Software.  

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‍No surprise that DaVinci Resolve is everybody’s darling.

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The following major film productions that used DaVinci Resolve in post-production should already give a first impression of how top notch this editing software is:  

1. Avatar  

2. Deadpool

3. Kingsman

4. Pirates of the Caribbean  

You know what’s missing.

5. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (At this point we’re screaming)  

Looking at the different editing pages, there are some tools that outperform DaVinci Resolve’s features. For example the motion graphics and VFX tools on the fusion page aren’t as good as Adobe’s After Effects. But when it comes to color grading DaVinci Resolve remains unmatched and makes sense since the software started as a color grading tool only.  

If you’re still not convinced of DaVinci Resolve’s capabilities and level of quality, we have some alternatives for you that might get close to the industry leader:  

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[#section2]2. Best DaVinci Resolve Alternatives 2023[#section2]

Before we get into the list you might ask yourself why would someone consider using something else? The quality is top notch, and the full version is also affordable compared to Blackmagic’s competitors. Well, there’re some compatibility issues and system requirements that make it difficult to experience DaVinci Resolve’s full potential (see chapter 3) which is why the following alternatives are recommended in the industry. We gathered the data from Answerthepublic to provide an overview of the most popular comparisons:  

1. DaVinci Resolve vs Final Cut Pro

2. DaVinci Resolve vs Premiere Pro

3. DaVinci Resolve vs Studio

4. DaVinci Resolve vs After Effects

5. DaVinci Resolve vs Filmora

6. DaVinci Resolve vs iMovie

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[#section3]3. Helpful Resources for Common Problems in DaVinci Resolve[#section3] ‍

DaVinci Resolve 18 Keeps Crashing or Won’t Open: We find Appluas’ very helpful when it comes to resolving the crashing issue in DaVinci Resolve. He suggests the following:  

1. Use a dedicated GPU

2. Use the latest version

3. Update your Windows  

4. Disable the integrated GPU

5. Run DaVinci in Compatibility Mode

6. Enable IGPU Multi-Monitoring

7. Move source video files

8. Use .mov format

9. Enlarge virtual memory file  

DaVinci Resolve runs slow, lags: Ioforth recently published an article that gives multiple methods to overcome the lagging periods of the professional video editing software. Put shortly:  

1. Upgrade to studio version

2. Edit with one layer of video

3. Optimized media and render cache

4. Upgrade your pc (again)

5. Disable Live Save feature  

6. Update Beta Version to Stable Release  

7. Plug in your laptop  

8. Lower Playback Resolution  

DaVinci Resolve without..  

1. GPU: Having a GPU in your system is essential. Without it the Resolve Software won’t run at all.  

2. Rosetta: Mac users are still required to install Rosette for some third-party plugins even though the 17.1 version pursued native Resolve installation for M1 and m2 systems.  

3. Panel: It is not necessary to use the DaVinci Resolve software with a desktop surface panel. However if you have the cash, the panel makes the color grading and other editing features far more efficient and also far more fun.

4. Dongle: That’s possible since Blackmagic Design released an activation key version for their software.  

5. Admin: Without admin rights it’s not possible to install DaVinci Resolve.  

6. Internet: After you installed and activated the license you can run the software completely without internet. One possible issue however could be in multi-user collaboration when cloud systems like drobox or Google drive must be synced to access updated files.  

7. A mouse – My Pro Tip: While this may sound like a joke, I have spent many hours editing on resolve with and also without a mouse. And I can tell you without a doubt that it is entirely possible to work from your touchpad, all your keyboard shortcuts (especially the ones closer to the right side of the keyboard) are right at your fingertips and with some practice your accuracy with the touchpad can get quite good. All that being said, I will generally opt for a physical mouse with a side scroll wheel which I have programed to manipulate some sections of the edit page to allow for a much faster much more accurate workflow.

[#section4]4. DaVinci Resolve’s Compatibility and System Requirements[#section4]  

1. DaVinci Resolve to Premiere Pro

2. DaVinci Resolve to MP4

3. DaVinci Resolve to After Effects

4. DaVinci Resolve to YouTube

5. DaVinci Resolve to Instagram

6. DaVinci Resolve to Final Cut Pro

If you’re wondering if you match all the system requirements to extract the full potential of DaVinci Resolve, you should read the highly cited article of Richard Lackey. Here’s a sneak peek:  

[#section5]We Are DaVinci Resolve Experts for Your Post-Production Needs[#section5]

If you happen to need post-production done with DaVinci Resolve and don't have time for classes – say no more. At Tiny Giants AV you have seasoned editing, VFX, sound engineering and color grading experts that will take your footage to the next level. Call us at 02 8850 2223 for a consultation.