DaVinci Resolve Essentials - Beginner Video Editing Course

Open DaVinci Resolve, set up a talking head project, organize media in the project manager, and learn why decisions matter for the message while starting video, audio, and timeline workflows.

Configure your DaVinci Resolve project with 1920 by 1080, 30 fps, and enable proxies and render cache (quarter proxy, ProRes 422 proxy or DNxHR LB) on a local media location.

Create your first timeline in DaVinci Resolve, set up a 1920 by 1080, 30 fps main timeline, and drag A-Roll footage onto it while learning playhead navigation.

Beginner editors complete a talking head project that blends clear visuals with b-roll and music, delivering a 1080p mp4 under 60 seconds via a streamable YouTube link.

Master essential keyboard shortcuts in DaVinci Resolve to accelerate beginner video editing, using home-row keys (a s d f) for cutting (a) and ripple delete (f).

Plan and execute a rough cut in DaVinci Resolve by trimming footage, removing ums and gaps, and assembling a usable sequence that preserves the intended message.

Explore how to trim footage in DaVinci Resolve using edge adjustments, ripple delete, and the trim editor to avoid overwriting existing video or audio, with shift‑W toggling trim mode.

Clean up your rough cut by trimming, deleting unusable takes, and refining audio with keyboard shortcuts (A, F, shift+W) and ripple deletes, to produce a cohesive talking-head edit.

Review your rough cut or assembly cut by watching the full timeline, selecting stronger takes, and balancing pacing, audio, and b-roll to emphasize the message over effects.

Navigate the media page and media pool in DaVinci Resolve to import and organize music, sound effects, and B-roll, streamlining asset procurement and integration into your edit.

Preview and choose an audio track from the media pool, then add lo-fi music to support dialogue, adjust volume, and set in/out points to avoid overlaps.

Balance audio in DaVinci Resolve by using the inspector and mixer to set realistic volumes, avoid clipping at zero, and apply decibel ranges for primary, complementary, and background music.

Explore how J and L cuts improve pacing by previewing the upcoming scene's audio and manipulating the transition between shots.

Apply the rough cut workflow in DaVinci Resolve by trimming video with the alt key to select only video, and using J-cutting to tighten pacing while preserving the music track.

Learn how to insert b-roll in DaVinci Resolve by creating a dedicated b-roll timeline, using markers, and choosing insert or overwrite options to balance the story over spectacle.

Insert b-roll at natural cut points to maintain storytelling, and explore the effects tab and video transitions with a focus on message and audio.

Introduce sound effects from the sfx folder—ding, riser, and swoosh—to cue edits and transitions, then resolve mono vs stereo track issues and adjust levels before rendering.

Review the edit on the timeline, then use the deliver page to export a 1080p mp4 using the YouTube 1080p preset, and upload an unlisted shareable link for submission.

Edit class project two: a talking head video from scratch in DaVinci Resolve, using A-roll and B-roll with screen recordings. Incorporate stock media, music, and sound effects.

Practice short-form editing in DaVinci Resolve by creating a vertical 1080 by 1920 office tour that highlights products with a clean, professional style, using b-roll, music, and a streamable link.

Create a new project via the project manager, set up a vertical 1080p 30fps workflow, organize media into bins (recordings, audio, assets, timelines) with color tagging, then create the timeline.

Develop a short form rough cut by organizing and labeling audio tracks in DaVinci Resolve, converting voiceover to mono, color-coding, and trimming dialogue for a cohesive flow.

Build a structured selects timeline from your DaVinci Resolve footage by duplicating the string out, then curate usable clips using the media pool and keyboard shortcuts.

Delete unwanted clips and clean up your selects by removing bottom tracks, deleting gaps, and consolidating to a clean selects timeline; enable show duplicate frames to track copies.

Create dedicated timelines for each theme or subject matter, color-coordinate desk and product shots, and group similar clips using ripple cut and ripple insert, then optionally remove unused audio.

Learn to craft a tight desk setup video by syncing b-roll to the voiceover in DaVinci Resolve, using the selects timeline, J and L cuts, and stabilization to improve pacing.

Learn advanced sound design and music mixing in DaVinci Resolve. Build a compelling assembly cut by adjusting volume with audio transitions and crossfades.

Master the hypercut technique in DaVinci Resolve by choreographing rapid three-frame cuts synced to sound effects, markers, and a tight timeline for engaging short-form videos.

Learn to use overlays and blue or yellow flare transitions as motivated edits, then master compositing with opacity and keying to blend with b-roll and layered sound effects.

Create a vertical 60-second short form edit in DaVinci Resolve Essentials, using A-roll and keyboard-specific B-roll to review three keyboards with music and at least one sound effect.

Master quick techniques to link and unlink video and audio, locate footage in the media pool with alt+f and match frame with ctrl/command+f, and relink clips when needed.

Master timeline icons in DaVinci Resolve, learning how red track selector icons and blue import icons control edits, locking, sync lock, ripple delete, and the trim editor workflow.

Discover how adjustment clips in DaVinci Resolve function as a universal tool to apply looks and effects to all footage beneath, with enable/disable and order of operations.

Combine footage into compound clips to clean the timeline and nest tracks into one file; edit inside the compound clip and see changes reflect on the main timeline.

Power bins are a universal folder that saves presets and assets for fast startup across projects in the same database, enabling quick reuse of clips, audio, and effects.

Explore Fusion as a compositor for visual effects, text animation, and simple motion, using a node-based workflow and Fusion compositions to enhance clips.

Learn how fusion nodes power video compositing in DaVinci Resolve, connect background and transform nodes to the media out, and navigate the fusion pipeline.

Learn how fusion, as a compositor, merges multiple backgrounds using merge nodes, masks, and preview windows to create layered visuals in DaVinci Resolve.

Master the merge node in DaVinci Resolve, using the long and short setup methods, mapping yellow background and green foreground, with shift-click insertions, backspace deletions, and blend mode tweaks.

Discover how to insert a color corrector node into the merge pipeline to control results with node order, adjusting saturation on the yellow primary, blue mask, and green match inputs.

Master the fusion page basics by building shapes and masks with background, ellipse, and merge nodes. Learn to mask a circle and prepare for keyframing animation.

Master keyframing in Fusion to animate a circle from left to right, setting frame 0 and 149 with position changes using the transform node.

Learn to smooth animation with splines in DaVinci Resolve, using key frames, the spline menu, and ease controls to create natural motion for size and center displacement.

Animate a logo in Fusion with two fluid, non-linear motion styles on a timeline, moving on and off frame, render a shareable link, and screenshot the node tree for feedback.

Set up a fusion composition with a background node to define the frame, import and resize the whale logo, remove the orange background, and address resolution mismatch with auto resolution.

Learn how to key green screen footage using DaVinci Resolve's ultra keyer in Fusion, isolate colors with threshold adjustments, and refine with matte and luma keyers to achieve clean transparency.

Learn to create a pop-in and slide-out animation in Fusion using a transform node, keyframes, ease out back cubic, spline refinements, and time stretcher.

Learn to craft smooth in and out animations in DaVinci Resolve by animating the center displacement with keyframes, easing curves, and quick timeline adjustments for precise timing.

Master motion blur in Fusion to smooth animation by adjusting quality and shutter angle, then enhance depth with drop shadow and soft glow while setting in and out points.

Track a callout across the frame from right to left in DaVinci Resolve, and add a time-of-day lower third with an animated board. Leverage Fusion's tracking and two node trees.

Learn to build and track a lower third in fusion within DaVinci Resolve, creating a new timeline and text callout such as '9 a.m. Sunday'.

Create dynamic write-on text in DaVinci Resolve using the text plus node, mastering the inspector's layout, shading, and animation controls to keyframe from frame 0 to 30.

Finish and animate your lower third by merging into the fusion pipeline, masking a rectangle, styling border and color, enabling motion blur and drop shadow, and keyframing its length.

Track the subject and build a callout in the Fusion page, creating a text node, a line, and a circle that animate to point at Frank.

Animate a callout in Fusion by building a white background and ellipse, then reveal it with a sliding rectangle mask, keyframes, and motion blur for smooth in-and-out motion.

Learn to track motion in Fusion using the tracker tracker node, switch between point tracker and teletrack, and troubleshoot tracks by refining keyframes and splines to attach call-outs.

Track and animate a callout in DaVinci Resolve using the tracker, merge, and transform nodes, keyframing the callout to start at frame 35 and fade out by frame 120.

Select one famous landmark video from class project 7, track a call out in Fusion, and apply creative motion graphics; render, upload, and screenshot node trees for feedback.

Craft a high-energy dirt bike trailer in Davinci Resolve, using speed ramping, visuals, and sound design to excite viewers in a 30-second horizontal edit.

Create a new six dash trailer project, set media location, and use a 24 fps timeline; import recordings and audio, power bins, build the dirt trailer v1 with music.

Decide quickly and boldly on music placement by selecting a 30-second snippet, using match cuts and ripple deletes to align audio with the trailer, and balance video and audio editing.

Discover how to create string out timelines in DaVinci Resolve by selecting clips, sorting the media pool by clip name, and organizing timelines into action, close, and establishing bins.

Learn to identify usable moments and build a selects timeline in DaVinci Resolve by duplicating timelines, marking clips with color codes, and aligning footage to trailer music.

Set up timeline with music, voiceover, and sound effects tracks, then set voiceover to mono and color purple; orange marks sound effects, while you preview waveforms with Fairlight to balance.

Develop and refine a voiceover for a 30-second trailer by balancing music and speaker levels with the mixer, selecting audio snippets, and applying crossfades to craft a cohesive rough cut.

Build a rough cut by organizing selects across timelines, syncing audio to visuals, and choosing engaging opening shots, using trimming, copies, and basic retime controls to shape pacing.

Learn to use retime controls in DaVinci Resolve to speed up or slow down footage, apply speed points for speed ramps, and fine-tune with the top and bottom handles.

Finish refining the rough cut by closing the read time controls, then adjust pacing with deliberate cuts, retiming footage and applying speed ramping for impact.

Explore speed ramping in DaVinci Resolve, using key frames, retime controls, and ease in/out curves to ramp up and down playback, cut on action, and create smooth, dynamic transitions.

Create dramatic flicker cuts by building a rapid frame-increment sequence aligned to music peaks, then apply visual effects to enhance the bass drop.

Learn to build a camera flash effect in DaVinci Resolve by using blur and brightness keyframes, fusion enhancements, and saving reusable VFX in the media pool and power bins.

Add title cards and finishing touches to a trailer using text plus, adjust aspect ratio with output blanking, and apply fade-on titles with optional drop shadows for clarity before delivery.

Navigate DaVinci Resolve export settings to render as single or multiple clips, choose MP4 with H.265 or H.264, adjust bitrate with variable rate, and save delivery presets.

Create a parkour promo in the DaVinci Resolve Essentials course by weaving interview soundbites with music and foley into a 30–60 second 1080p, 24 fps project.

Balance two clips on the color page in DaVinci Resolve, correct exposure and contrast, then apply a documentary tone look and export a still for credit.

Learn the color page basics in DaVinci Resolve, from setting up a project and frame rate to using nodes and scopes for cohesive color grading across clips.

Explore color wheels and rgb curves to adjust lift, gamma, gain, and offset for precise color correction on the color page.

Learn a four-node color correction structure in DaVinci Resolve, using exposure, balance, contrast, and adjustments to achieve a balanced look from a hero frame, with gain and curves adjustments.

Balance your image using the offset wheel and scopes, recenter colors toward a neutral base, compare before and after, and enable two-times zoom and skin tone indicator.

Adjust contrast to add depth by pushing darks and highlights using color wheels or RGB curves, including an optional S-curve for precise control across shadows, midtones, and highlights.

Explore the color page in davinci resolve, using adjustment nodes to apply looks and isolate color changes with curves, qualifiers, and power windows for targeted regions.

Explore creative adjustments and color tools in DaVinci Resolve, including color slice, color warper, and hue-saturation tweaks to shape blues, reds, and overall looks.

Master the full color correction workflow in DaVinci Resolve by setting up four nodes, using RGB curves, exposure, balance, and contrast, and saving presets with stills and power grades.

learn to correct skin tones in DaVinci Resolve with waveform and vectorscope, use the skin tone indicator, isolate skin via qualifier, and adjust hue, offset, and gamma on color page.

Discover how to craft a cinematic color look in DaVinci Resolve using vignette and power windows, building serial corrections to achieve orange highlights and blue shadows.

Explore how LUTs (look up tables) transform colors as filters, balance footage through color correction, apply a global look in Rec.709, and practice shot matching for a cohesive video.

Copy and paste color grades across clips in DaVinci Resolve using edit or color pages, copy attributes, paste color correction, or append grades, then compare with scopes to match shots.

Balance two shots with split-screen view and waveform and vectorscope to compare left and right clips. Adjust exposure, gain, and RGB curves to align color and brightness across 1080p footage.

Master the color page by using adjustment clips to apply a grade across clips and build master groups for consistent pre and post clip edits, including halation and glow.

Learn how color space transforms preserve image information across cameras by converting between input spaces (like Panasonic V-Log) and DaVinci Wide Gamut to Rec.709 using color space transform nodes.

Master the color page with exposure, balance, and contrast to drive edits, then export frames as PNGs named class project 10_1_yourname and 10_2_yourname and upload.

Apply a three‑node color workflow in DaVinci Resolve (exposure, balance, contrast) to two donut clips, correct overexposure and yellow spill, and export a still for the class project.

Explore techniques to smooth playback in DaVinci Resolve by enabling render cache, using smart caching, and understanding proxy and optimized media settings; manage caches and deletions to keep timelines responsive.

Master generating proxy media in the media pool to create low-memory clips, toggle proxies in the preview for playback speed, and relink proxies during deliver for efficient editing across editors.

Render in place bakes your edits into a new video file, bypassing proxies and cache, with the ability to decompose back to the original compound clip.

Learn to sculpt audio with equalization in DaVinci Resolve, using the frequency analyzer and six-band EQ to carve space for voiceover and music, plus shaping sound effects in Fairlight.

Explore audio tricks in DaVinci Resolve, like pitch shifting and varied sound effects to avoid repetition. Improve voiceovers with multiband compression and the vocal channel for a balanced, fuller sound.

Master Fairlight in DaVinci Resolve to manage audio across tracks and buses with the mixer. Create and apply track presets, EQ, compression, de-esser, and vocal isolation for consistent sound.

Learn to use retime controls and optical flow in DaVinci Resolve to smooth motion, compare frame interpolation methods like nearest and frame blend, and apply enhancements across clips.

Explore grid and guides for precise framing, master dynamic zoom, and use Fusion macros and magic mask to streamline editing and isolation of subjects.

Lead the final project of the DaVinci Resolve Essentials course by crafting a 60–90 second mini documentary from Gnarly in Pink, deconstructing the brief, selecting music, and applying color grading.

Learn to deconstruct a client brief and plan a video with setup, conflict, and resolution. Identify audiences, tone, and social platforms like YouTube to craft a 60–90 second hook.

Explore pre-visualization techniques through moodboards and storyboards, using pen-and-paper sketches or digital tools like Milanote, StudioBinder, Canva, and PowerPoint to plan shots, color palettes, and audio cues before editing.

Set up a new DaVinci Resolve project, import footage, and craft a cut with interviews, voiceover, A roll, B roll, and music; iterate with sound, fusion, color, and motion graphics.