Essential keyboard shortcuts for DaVinci Resolve

In this guide, we'll explore some crucial keyboard shortcuts in DaVinci Resolve that can significantly speed up your editing process. These shortcuts include both the default shortcuts and a few custom ones that I've found helpful. Let's streamline your setup!

Basic playback and timeline shortcuts

The space bar

The space bar is your go-to for starting and stopping playback. Simply press it once to play and again to pause. It's a simple yet powerful shortcut that every editor should master.

Snapping toggle (Press N)

Snapping helps align clips perfectly on the timeline. You can toggle snapping by pressing "N," making the magnet icon appear or disappear. When active, snapping ensures clips align neatly without drifting apart.

Customizing keyboard shortcuts

Accessing keyboard customization

To customize your shortcuts, navigate to "Keyboard Customization" within Da Vinci Resolve. This opens a window where you can define your shortcut preferences.

The delete commands

There are two types of delete commands in DaVinci Resolve:

1. Delete Selected: Bound to the delete key on your keyboard or a custom mouse button.
2. Ripple Delete: Removes a clip and shifts other clips to fill the gap. Typically assigned to the backspace key or shift+delete on a mouse.

Setting up these commands properly ensures efficiency when removing clips during editing.

Splitting clips

Splitting clips is essential for precise edits. The default shortcut is control + backslash, but I suggest setting this to a single key like "4" or binding it to a mouse button for quick access.

Advanced trimming shortcuts

Start and end to playhead

These shortcuts, by default, are control + shift + brackets, but you might find it beneficial to assign them to "1" and "2" on your keyboard.

• Start to Playhead: Instantly deletes all content from the current point to the start of the clip.
• End to Playhead: Conversely, trims content from the playhead to the end.

Using these effectively can enhance your editing flow by quickly removing unwanted sections.

Recap and setting up defaults

To wrap up, ensure your keyboard shortcuts are saved as a custom configuration. Navigate to "DaVinci Resolve" > "Keyboard Customization," set your preferred shortcuts (e.g., split to "3," start to playhead to "1," end to playhead to "2"), and save this setup under a unique name.

Customizing and mastering these shortcuts will make editing in DaVinci Resolve more efficient and intuitive, paving the way for a seamless editing experience.