DaVinci Resolve is a proprietarycolor grading, color correction, visual effects, and audio post-production video editing application for macOS, Windows, and Linux, developed by Blackmagic Design. It was originally developed by da Vinci Systems as da Vinci Resolve until 2009, when da Vinci Systems was acquired by Blackmagic Design.[2][3] In addition to the commercial version of the software (known as DaVinci Resolve Studio), Blackmagic Design also distributes a free edition, with reduced functionality, simply named DaVinci Resolve (formerly known as DaVinci Resolve Lite).[2][4]
Development
Original da Vinci Systems development (2003–2009)
The initial versions of DaVinci Resolve (known then as da Vinci Resolve) were resolution-independent software tools developed by da Vinci Systems (based in Coral Springs, Florida), who had previously produced other color correction systems such as da Vinci Classic (1985), da Vinci Renaissance (1990), and da Vinci 2K (1998).[5] The system was first announced in 2003 and released in 2004.[6][7] It began with three possible configurations: the Resolve DI digital intermediate color correction tool, the Resolve FX visual effects tool, and the Resolve RT 2K resolution processing tool.[5] These initial versions were integrated exclusively into dedicated hardware controllers.[8][5]
In 2009, Australian video processing and distribution technology company Blackmagic Design bought da Vinci Systems, retaining and expanding the engineering team for Resolve[12][13] but eliminating support-based contracts for the tool.[9] In October 2009, Blackmagic Design CEO Grant Petty speculated in an interview that the price of Resolve could likely be reduced to below $100,000.[14]
Blackmagic Design versions (2010–present)
At NAB 2010 in Las Vegas, in April 2010, Blackmagic Design announced three new pricing models for Resolve, with a new software-only macOS version retailing for $995, the macOS version with the Advanced Control Surface (previously branded as Impresario by da Vinci Systems[14][15]) retailing for $29,995, and licenses for the Linux version (supporting multiple-GPUs for increased performance) retailing at $19,995 (with the most advanced configuration available retailing for under $150,000).[16] Before this change, the pre-built versions of Resolve were the only available options, selling for between $200,000 and $800,000, which was common industry practice at the time.[16]
In September 2010, version 7 (restyled as DaVinci Resolve) was the first to be released by Blackmagic Design under the new pricing model, and the first release for macOS. It included a redesigned user interface, Apple ProRes support, and support for the RED Rocket digital video decoder boards manufactured by Red Digital Cinema.[17]
The pricing model changes continued in June 2011 with the release of version 8: As part of this new version, Blackmagic Design announced a free, reduced-functionality edition of the software (known as DaVinci Resolve 8 Lite), alongside the continuing commercial options.[18] Version 8 also introduced OpenCL acceleration support and XML integration with non-linear editor (NLE) applications.[19] Subsequently, version 8.2 (December 2011) further expanded the software's scope (which was previously available only for macOS and Linux) with the first Windows release, beginning with a public beta.[20][21]
Version 9 (2012) included redesigned user interface elements, added metadata editing options, and expanded the range of supported cameras and file types.[22][23] The following year, version 10 was released, increasing the amount of information imported from XML, AAF and EDL files, and adding OpenFX plug-in, JPEG 2000 and AVI support.[24][25] Version 10 was also the first to include basic video editing features alongside the color correction functionality, such as the trimming of clips.[26][25]
Released in August 2014, version 11 added audio mixing, media organization features, and further video editing features, enabling the software to function as a standalone non-linear editor (NLE) for the first time, in addition to integrating with other NLEs.[27][28][29]
Subsequently, version 12 (announced at NAB 2015) added a new audio engine (supporting VST/AUplug-ins),[30][31] and version 14 (2017) added an integrated version of audio editing software previously developed by Fairlight (following Blackmagic Design's acquisition of the company during the same year[32]).[33]
The first version of Resolve for standard editions of Linux (version 12.5.5) was made available in 2017. It was also the first version in which a free Resolve version for Linux became available. Previous versions required a custom build of Linux, use of the DaVinci Resolve Advanced hardware control panel, and a license dongle.[34]
Released in 2018, version 15 added an integrated version of the Fusioncompositing and visual effects application, which was first developed in 1987 and was acquired by Blackmagic Design in 2014.[35][2]
Blackmagic Design officially announced DaVinci Resolve version 16 at NAB 2019, in April 2019. New features included a dedicated 'Cut' page (a streamlined alternative to the 'Edit' page), machine learning functionality (Studio edition only) to handle repetitive tasks (e.g. facial recognition to sort clips by person), 3D audio within Fairlight, and new collaboration features (including Frame.io integration).[36][37][38] Version 16.0 was made available on 8 August 2019.[39]
The first details for DaVinci Resolve version 17 were announced on November 9, 2020, including improved Fairlight audio and HDR color correction tools.[40] Version 17.0 final was officially released on February 25, 2021.[41] Version 17.1 was released on March 10, 2021, and was the first Mac release to run natively on Apple silicon.[42] Version 17.2 was released on May 12, 2021, and added AV1 hardware decoding support.[43] Version 17.4 was released on October 22, 2021.[44] Version 17.4.6 added AV1 hardware encoding support.[45]
DaVinci Resolve 18 was officially announced on April 18, 2022, with introduction of real-time collaborative video editing, using Blackmagic Cloud devices as host servers;[46] it was officially released on July 21, 2022.[47] DaVinci Resolve 18.1, released on November 11, 2022, added Nvidia NVENC AV1 hardware encoding support.[48]
On October 20, 2022, Blackmagic Design announced that DaVinci Resolve was also coming to iPadOS for the first time, stated that DaVinci Resolve for iPad would take advantage of 12.9-inch screen of the iPad Pro, and would be "a true professional editor that’s focused on introducing new innovations in speed". Unlike the desktop application, the iPad application provides only editing and color-related functionalities, while maintaining compatibility with DaVinci Resolve 18 project files and real-time collaboration via Blackmagic Cloud. DaVinci Resolve for iPad was released as a free app on Apple's App Store in December 2022, with the option to upgrade to DaVinci Resolve Studio via a $95 in-app purchase.[49][50]
DaVinci Resolve 19 was officially announced on April 12, 2024.[1]
For content delivery to services such as Netflix, Resolve provides functionality to create and validate IMF (Interoperable Master Format, standardized by SMPTE[58]) packages, known as IMPs[59] (which comprise multiple components, such as MXF content, a composition playlist (CPL), and XML package data[60]), without the use of separate DCP software.[61]
Since version 15 (2018), DaVinci Resolve also includes an integrated version of the Fusion application for compositing and visual effects, also developed by Blackmagic Design. Fusion's core functionality is based on a modular, node-based interface, with each node forming one specific aspect of the effects being implemented. The same interface style is used in the Resolve-integrated version.[80]
The free version of DaVinci Resolve and DaVinci Resolve Studio are available from the macOS App Store. However, some functionality, such as CUDA support is not available and VST or OpenFX plugins may have limited compatibility.[85] This is due to restrictions imposed by Apple.[86]
iPad version
In December 2022, DaVinci Resolve for iPad was released. It is supported on iPads with an Apple A12 Bionic chip or newer running iPadOS 16 or later.[87]
Related hardware
Since introducing software-only options for Resolve, Blackmagic Design have also released hardware control panels that integrate with the software and provide users with a tactile interface and access to additional shortcuts. They include the DaVinci Resolve Micro Panel, the DaVinci Resolve Mini Panel (both released in 2017), and the DaVinci Resolve Advanced Panel (previously known as Impresario when manufactured by da Vinci Systems).[15][88]
In addition to the full control panels, Blackmagic Design also announced the Editor Keyboard for Resolve in April 2019. It includes a standard computer keyboard and specialized components (such as a transport control for altering timeline position) to support two-handed editing.[89] Before the release of the Editor Keyboard, the DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor, which integrates the advanced functionalities of the relatively new Cut page, was introduced.
Resolve also integrates with other hardware produced by Blackmagic Design, such as their Cintel film scanner.[90]
In July 2018, Blackmagic Design released an external, portable graphics processing unit, the eGPU, developed in association with Apple to leverage the MetalAPI for professional video and graphics (such as those used by DaVinci Resolve).[91]
Reception
Davinci Resolve only had 100 users in 2009; however, since being acquired by Blackmagic Design, the software had a user base of more than 2 million using the free version alone as of January 2019.[92] This is a comparable user base to Apple'sFinal Cut Pro X, which also had 2 million users as of April 2017.[93]
In 2011, DaVinci Resolve received a Red Dot award for 'Motion Picture Colour Grading System'.[94]
Version 14 received an additional Red Dot award in 2017 for 'User Interface Design, Post-Production Software',[95] and in the same year, the software's newly released control panels, the Micro Panel and Mini Panel, also received Red Dot awards for 'Motion Picture Colour Grading System'.[96][97]
In 2018, the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) named DaVinci Resolve (version 15) as a recipient of their 2018 Engineering Excellence Awards.[100]
DaVinci Resolve and Blackmagic Design hardware were used to create five of the eight 2019 Oscar nominated best picture films including Bohemian Rhapsody (most awards), The Favourite (most nominations), Roma (most nominations), Green Book (won Best Picture) and Vice.[92] Additionally, DaVinci Resolve and Blackmagic Design hardware were used to create thirteen 2018 Oscar nominated films,[114] nine 2017 Oscar nominated films,[115] seven 2016 Oscar nominated films,[116] four 2014 Oscar nominated films,[117] and four 2010 Oscar nominated films (two for Best Picture).[118]