How to Set Up Video Projects in DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is a leading video editing app in 2024. It packs a powerful featureset into an intuitive interface. With Resolve, you can edit and create studio-grade video projects with ease.

But what is the key to success? As with many things, preparation is essential. When you set project settings in advance, you’ll always feel organized and prepared to produce.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to set up DaVinci Resolve.

In this quick tutorial, you’ll learn how to set up video projects in DaVinci Resolve. Using the Project Settings menu, you can quickly set parameters in advance. Then, you can effortlessly drop in your own media and start editing.

DaVinci Resolve: The Importance of Project Settings

Video editing in DaVinci Resolve lets you make refined adjustments, frame by frame. This is an essential part of any successful edit. Any change that you need or want to apply can be made in just a few clicks.

Initial setup steps in DaVinci Resolve help streamline your editing process. (Image source: Envato Elements.)

But there’s also a huge advantage to gain from handling initial setup. By applying a few key settings in advance, you can make your editing workflow much more efficient.

Consider these benefits:

You can control the finished output. It’s easiest to control output settings and then edit within their bounds. Controlling where DaVinci Resolve saves videos helps you stay organized. Plus, you can control frame rates and image scaling in advance.
You’ll save time when editing later. Many output settings in DaVinci Resolve can be set ahead of time. Instead of applying them over and over, you can apply a change once and you’ll be covered for the rest of your edit.
You’ll boost the consistency of your finished edits. Maintaining a cohesive look and feel is absolutely crucial as an editor. You’ll go a long way by applying steady color management settings and more. Plus, if you make videos regularly, using the same settings will deliver a steady visual look and feel.
You will elevate the quality of your work. Always be intentional when you apply project settings. By choosing settings that fit your needs, you’ll jumpstart the design process.

As you can see, setting up video projects in DaVinci Resolve is a critical step to a great edit. Spend a few moments at the beginning, and you’ll reap the rewards later on.

How to Set Up Video Projects in DaVinci Resolve (Step by Step)

Editing in DaVinci Resolve is easy. But you can always help yourself work faster by adjusting Project Settings in advance. With a few clicks, you’ll update key parameters that control your finished project.

1. Open the Project Settings

Initial options in DaVinci Resolve are set on the Project Settings menu. To view it, you’ll first want to launch a new or existing project in Resolve. When you have Resolve open, you’re ready to apply initial settings.

Keep in mind: Project Settings in DaVinci Resolve can always be updated later on. But for best results, you’ll want to apply them in advance. Otherwise, you may see unwanted changes made to your project’s media.

Go to File > Project Settings to set up your video projects in DaVinci Resolve.

With the project open in DaVinci Resolve, locate the menu bar across the top of your screen. You’ll see options called File, Edit, Insert, and more. The one you want is File, so go ahead and click on the File dropdown.

When it opens, find the Project Settings option near the bottom. Click on Project Settings, and now you’re ready to begin your initial setup.

2. Customize Parameters and More

Now, the Project Settings menu is open and ready to work with. It’s a versatile settings panel with many options. On the left, notice the categories to choose from.

In total, there are nine. Initially, you’ll find yourself on the Master Settings tab. Below this are Image Scaling, Color Management, General Options, and more.

Think of the Project Settings panel as the control center for initial video setup in DaVinci Resolve.

Your best bet is to explore each of these tabs in turn, to check out your options. In brief, these tabs include:

Master Settings. Here, you can control the resolution of your finished video project. Want to produce a video in 1080p? You can control it here. Also available are options to control the playback frame rate, format, and more. If you’re asking yourself, “where does DaVinci Resolve save projects,” some of the answers lie here.
Image Scaling. On this panel, you’ll adjust how your own footage is handled upon import. Trying to maintain a consistent aspect ratio? You can control how imported footage is edited to fit into your chosen dimensions.
Color Management. DaVinci Resolve is noted for its top-grade color editing tools. On the Color Management tab, you’ll control the initial color grading settings that are applied on import.
General Options. This panel controls timecode settings and assists with clip matching in DaVinci Resolve.

For example, the General Options allow for changes to media conform options, color, and more.

Additionally, you can control playback and more with the remaining Project Settings options. These include:

Camera Raw. Cameras package metadata in every image that they capture. With the Camera Raw settings, you can control whether you want to use these settings in the clips that you edit.
Capture and Playback. Here, you will adjust input settings for captures, playbacks, and more. It’s the panel you’ll turn to for adjusting export codecs, SDI configuration, and more.
Subtitles and Transcription. DaVinci Resolve is noted for impressive subtitle features. With AI tools, they can be generated very quickly. On this panel, you’ll control their visual appearance. For example, you can adjust how many characters can appear per line.
Fairlight. Fairlight is DaVinci Resolve’s built-in audio editing platform. This tab lets you adjust the sample rate of audio, along with applying fixed metering settings.
Path Mapping. This controls media locations for your projects. Where are DaVinci Resolve projects saved? You can make quick changes right here.

Asking yourself, “where are DaVinci Resolve projects saved?” You can control these project media locations on the Path Mapping tab.

3. Import Media to Edit

Once you’ve set your Project Settings, it’s time to get to work! The last step is to import media to edit. In other words, you need to pull videos into the app to work with.

In DaVinci Resolve, you have two options. On the Cut panel, you can drag and drop videos into the Media Pool. Simply find a video file that you have stored on your computer. Then, drag it onto the Media Pool and drop it into place. Let’s use this clip from Envato Elements to demonstrate.

Drag and drop clips onto the Media Pool to kickstart your next project.

Don’t want to drag and drop? Go to the File > Import > Media tab in the upper right of DaVinci Resolve. A file browser will launch, and you can import videos of your own.

More Top Tips and Tricks for DaVinci Resolve (From Envato Tuts+)

Above, you learned how to set up video projects in DaVinci Resolve. As you can see, spending a few moments on the front end helps you streamline your editing workflow. But once you get to work, there’s so much more to learn!

Want to get a jumpstart in DaVinci Resolve? Here are top tutorials from Envato Tuts+ to elevate your skills in seconds:

Streamline DaVinci Resolve Video Setup Steps Today

In this tutorial, you learned how to set up video projects in DaVinci Resolve. Using the Project Settings panel, you can apply an array of settings. These control video output dimensions, color grading, file locations, and more.

Always explore the Project Settings before you edit in DaVinci Resolve. Spending a few moments up front saves you time as you work with videos. Plus, you can maintain a consistent look and feel from video to video.

Post date May 23, 2022

This content originally appeared on Envato Tuts+ Tutorials and was authored by Marie Gardiner

DaVinci Resolve is a leading video editing app in 2024. It packs a powerful featureset into an intuitive interface. With Resolve, you can edit and create studio-grade video projects with ease.

But what is the key to success? As with many things, preparation is essential. When you set project settings in advance, you'll always feel organized and prepared to produce.

DaVinci Resolve interface — In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to set up DaVinci Resolve.

DaVinci Resolve: The Importance of Project Settings

Woman editing video — Initial setup steps in DaVinci Resolve help streamline your editing process. (Image source: Envato Elements.)

But there’s also a huge advantage to gain from handling initial setup. By applying a few key settings in advance, you can make your editing workflow much more efficient.

Consider these benefits:

You can control the finished output. It’s easiest to control output settings and then edit within their bounds. Controlling where DaVinci Resolve saves videos helps you stay organized. Plus, you can control frame rates and image scaling in advance.
You’ll save time when editing later. Many output settings in DaVinci Resolve can be set ahead of time. Instead of applying them over and over, you can apply a change once and you’ll be covered for the rest of your edit.
You’ll boost the consistency of your finished edits. Maintaining a cohesive look and feel is absolutely crucial as an editor. You’ll go a long way by applying steady color management settings and more. Plus, if you make videos regularly, using the same settings will deliver a steady visual look and feel.
You will elevate the quality of your work. Always be intentional when you apply project settings. By choosing settings that fit your needs, you’ll jumpstart the design process.

As you can see, setting up video projects in DaVinci Resolve is a critical step to a great edit. Spend a few moments at the beginning, and you’ll reap the rewards later on.