20 new features in DaVinci Resolve 20

Finally, the transcription tool in DaVinci Resolve supports Polish, which enables the use of many text-based features. So you can create subtitles, assign speakers, and edit the Timeline textually, e.g. trim clips by removing words and pauses, search for and replace words or parts of words with others, and all this in your native language! Before this works, however, through a new option in the DaVinci Resolve -> Extras Download Manager menu, you need to download additional files containing language packs, and then in Project Settings, in the Subtitles and Transcription tab, check the Enable Extended Language Support (beta) option.

Creating a professional mix, especially one that includes interview tracks, music, or sound effects, requires experience and time. Meanwhile, the new AI Audio Assistant, based on the analysis of these tracks and AI algorithms, promises to do it automatically! The tool will balance dialogues, music, and effects, saving hours of manual work and guaranteeing high quality. Will it really be like this? Who knows, but AI has surprised more than once. Probably in the first versions there will still be a lot of corrections, but either way, the tool can provide a solid base and save time, so it’s worth trying!

Voice conversion with AI Voice Convert, which offers both built-in and user-trained models, is another great new feature. Yes, you have to agree that it is a bit controversial, but then again, let’s take a situation where the interview was conducted in poor conditions, or there is a missing commentary (authorized by the author of the statement, of course!)… A voice generated or recorded and then converted can save the recording or save time and money on potential “re-shoots”. Of course, these are not completely new features on the market, but so far they have only been available outside of DaVinci Resolve and usually involved additional costs.

And another AI-related innovation related to sound! Dialogue Matcher, because that’s what we’re talking about, matches the characteristics of the recording, including tone, level, and even reverb. It’s a tool perfect for equalizing dialogue recorded in different conditions and using different equipment, ensuring smooth and uniform sound.

Until now, almost every edit using more advanced dynamic changes based on keyframes ended in the Fusion tab, where the Spline Editor is available. Now, a completely redesigned keyframe and curve editor is available in both Cut and Edit. A dedicated panel allows for precise animation and quick effect corrections. Keyframes can be edited both in the Timeline view and in the panel on the left side of the screen, which can also be freely moved and zoomed.

Vertical video is already commonplace, but there’s never enough editing space! That’s why DaVinci Resolve 20 has introduced an optimized interface layout in all main tabs. Now, editing for TikTok, Instagram or YouTube Shorts will be more convenient and intuitive, and the workspace will be better used.

DaVinci Resolve 20 also brings significant new features to the text tools. The program now lets you filter visible fonts by defining a list of allowed fonts, which allows you to limit your selection to only those that are approved for use, making them easier to manage. MultiText, built on the basis of Text+, lets you create and edit multiple text layers in a single tool. All layers are visible in the Text List panel, which remains available in all Inspector tabs. Both tools also have templates for creating text in three layouts: Point, Text Box, and Circle, which speeds up work with different styles of text; in the case of Text Box, there are options for automatic text wrapping and cropping to the boundaries of the box. Thanks to these changes, working with text in DaVinci Resolve has become more flexible and intuitive, and creating complex animations and text layouts much easier and faster.

While voice recording was possible before, it now seems even easier and more accessible. The new Voiceover panel allows you to record voice directly on the Timeline, including the ability to preview text (Prompter), select the audio source, target track, quick return to the beginning, as well as Voice Isolation and Dialog Leveller tools.

The question of the possibility of using AI for multicam clips, in particular automatic selection of the speaker’s camera, has been popping up on internet forums with regular frequency. And now there’s Multicam SmartSwitch! It’s a huge time-saver for interviews, podcasts and live events.

The Source Tape feature, while potentially interesting, hasn’t had many enthusiasts so far, probably because it was only available in the Cut tab. Well, it’s finally made it to Edit. Of course, it lets you browse all your footage as a single “tape,” making it easier to quickly find the perfect shots. It’s worth a try!

The Fusion and Color tabs, due to their different image workflow model, present, to put it mildly, a somewhat rough friendship. However, changes like this one can definitely change that a little! In DaVinci Resolve 20, you can now preview an image containing effects from the Color tab. All you need to do is change the appropriate option in MediaOut.

The previously known Color Warper tool has gained a new option in the form of Chroma Warp. It allows, like the traditional Hue – Saturation grid, correction of hue and saturation. Nevertheless, working with Chroma Warp seems to be more intuitive and faster, and color manipulation, especially in Point to Point mode, more precise. It is worth testing!

Magic Mask was and still is a real game changer, turning the tedious rotoscoping into a much shorter and more user-friendly process. So what can we expect from version 2? The Magic Mask v2 code has supposedly been rewritten, which is supposed to result in even faster and more accurate tracking. Additionally, there is a brush option, which allows you to manually correct the mask area. So if there was anything to complain about in version 1, it seems we have an answer. It looks exciting!

Like Magic Mask, Depth Map v2 has also been completely redesigned, promising better scene analysis and more accurate effects. It’s one of those options that’s hard to describe and definitely easier to see.

This is a small novelty that could have gone unnoticed, but it makes the excellent Resync Media Files function finally fully functional! Namely, from now on, automatic file synchronization in a given folder, of course after selecting this option, also synchronizes graphic files and file sequences (e.g. Timelapse). A small thing, but makes you happy.

And one more seemingly minor thing, but it will save you time and avoid unnecessary stress. It is known that in the heat of the editing battle, clips are often moved, enlarged, reduced, or rotated. There is therefore a certain risk that as a result of these changes, there will be a small area right next to the frame that is transparent and easy to miss in the preview. However, pixels from this area will turn black after export, which may not be so visible in full screen, but in social media with a bright background it immediately catches the eye. From now on, the red area of ​​the “alarm” background may also catch the eye, which can be activated in the Viewer Background Settings menu, which will allow for correction while editing.

And the last twentieth novelty, although in this case it is a small exception, because it is not yet available even in beta, but announced for this year. It is the AI ​​Set Extender effect, which allows you to intelligently extend backgrounds or scenography, filling gaps or enlarging the plan using AI. Perfect for VFX, virtual scenes or saving the frame.

All the new features, and there are many more, have been collected and described in a document published by Blackmagic Design, so it is worth reading. Everyone has an individual workflow and maybe other functions than those presented here will be more to their liking? Nevertheless, it is easy to notice that a large part of them are only available in the Studio version, so this is another reason to consider buying! And once again as a warning – a database backup is mandatory before updating, because after converting to version 20 there will be no going back!

Finally, although version 20 makes an incredible impression, let’s not forget that the DaVinci Resolve program already had a lot of tools supporting film post-production at virtually every stage. So if someone would like to expand their knowledge with both these new and previously available tools, Kaktus.studio offers individual classes, more information can be found here.