DaVinci Resolve 14 Gains Fairlight Audio and Collaborative Editing

The Fairlight audio post production suite is now built into Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve 14. The grading and finishing software also includes new collaboration tools that allow editing, colour and audio mixing from multiple systems, simultaneously within the same project without importing or exporting files, or translating or conforming projects.

Customers can switch directly between editing, colour and audio functionality in a single step, in effect changing post production from a linear to a parallel workflow, so that everyone can work at the same time. A public beta of DaVinci Resolve 14 is available now and for immediate download from the Blackmagic Design website.

To speed up performance, Resolve has a new playback engine, CPU and GPU optimizations, support for Apple Metal for low-overhead access to the GPU, and better threading to result in lower latency and faster UI refresh rates. Users working on long timelines with large numbers of clips are the focus for these changes. Scrubbing and playback are more immediate and extra acceleration is applied for processor intensive formats like H.264, making it possible to edit 4K images on a laptop.

Fairlight Audio Suite

The Fairlight audio system, now built into the application, is recognised for its set of professional audio tools for recording, editing and sweetening, professional bussing, mixing and routing. It handles multiple format mastering to 3D audio formats such as Dolby 5.1, 7.1 and 22.2 surround sound. The audio engine is designed to work with 192kHz 96-bit audio and delivers up to 1,000 tracks with real time equalizer, dynamics processing and plug-ins on all tracks when used with the Fairlight Audio Accelerator. The system can record up to 96 channels while simultaneously playing back and mixing up to 150 audio channels in real time.

Fairlight also has a multi track timeline for subframe editing down to the sample level. Several main, sub and aux busses are available to master and deliver to multiple formats at the same time. Every channel on the mixer has real-time 6-band parametric equalizer [EQ] – which allows you to change the bands’ parameters, with an expander/gate, compressor and limiter dynamics. Clip time warping will stretch or compress audio without shifting pitch. Each parameter can be automated, including VST plug-ins, using various automation modes.

Due to the multi channel recording tools, customers can record voice overs - or an entire orchestra - while also monitoring video and multiple channels of dialogue and sound effects. The monitoring can handle busses up to 24 channels wide with customizable fold-up and fold-down for crossing between formats. Monitoring can be done on up to 16 different sets of speakers, including large cinematic installations.

DaVinci Resolve 14 works with the Fairlight Audio Accelerator card, supplying up to 1,000 zero latency tracks and real time effects processing for EQ, dynamics and up to 6 VST plug ins per channel. Even without the accelerator, most modern computers can still process more than 60 tracks in real time. DaVinci Resolve 14 can also be used to drive any of the Fairlight hardware mixing consoles. The bussing and mixing architecture also allows multi language and multi format delivery to be handled simultaneously from the same project, to help reduce the time required to deliver final masters.

Collaborative Editing, Colour and Audio Post

However, because the availability of colour correction, finishing and audio post production tools means that more than one person may need to work on the same job, the new collaboration tools support simultaneous editing, colour correction and audio post. Assistant editors can prepare footage while editors cut the video, colourists grade the shots, and sound editors mix and finish audio, all in the same project at the same time – without risk of overwriting each other.

With the new bin, clip and timeline locking tools, users can work on specific parts of the project on their existing storage system. The collaboration functionality does not rely on importing, exporting, translating and conforming projects, which would mean waiting for a locked edit before starting colour and audio work.

A secure chat client allows team members to communicate from within DaVinci Resolve without using an external internet connection or exposing projects to hacking. The new timeline comparison tool makes differences and merge-changes between two timelines visible by displaying a side by side comparison of each change.

Editing Tools and FX Filters

Tools for editors include new slip and slide trim commands to help dynamically trim live on the fly during playback. Users can save interface layout presets, view multiple bins at once and open multiple bin windows. New marker overlays, audio-only and video-only edit tools, track colours and subframe audio editing are other useful tools.

For colourists, over 20 new Resolve FX filters are available to remove dust, fix dead pixels, warp images and other artefacts. New stabilization, match move and other image processing tools allow more creative approaches during correction. The face enhancement tool automatically recognizes and tracks facial features while users smooth skin, adjust skin tone, brighten eyes and change lip colour without having to manually select or rotoscope any part of the image.

A DaVinci Resolve Micro Panel, Mini Panel or Advanced Control panel may be added. Smooth, high resolution weighted trackballs, knobs, dials and other controls apply enough resistance to adjust the settings accurately and are logically placed near natural hand positions. Blackmagic Design also announced a price reduction for DaVinci Resolve Studio, from US$995 to US$299.

The free version of DaVinci Resolve is still available with the new editing and audio post tools but Resolve 14 Studio version adds the new collaborative multi user tools, Resolve effects including face enhancement, 4K and 120fps project support, stereoscopic 3D, optical quality blur and mist effects, film grain, de-noise tools and others.

Blackmagic Design has also developed a new training and certification program, and certified curriculum for DaVinci Resolve. Customers can learn at their own pace by buying Blackmagic Design’s series of books, or they can take training courses online or in person at certified training centres. More details are available on the DaVinci Resolve website.

DaVinci Resolve 14 runs on Mac, Windows and Linux in order to support existing systems and workflows. Customers running Red Hat or CentOS Linux can build their own workstations using low cost motherboards, fast processors, large amounts of RAM and up to 8 GPUs for real-time performance.   www.blackmagicdesign.com