When you first open DaVinci Resolve, the initial destination is the project manager. This feature allows you to organize your different projects by saving them separately, preventing clutter. Although we will dive deeper into creating projects in a future lesson, for now, we'll open an example project containing an already edited video.
You'll notice that DaVinci Resolve offers both a free and studio version, with the key difference being some additional features in the studio version. In this guide, everything demonstrated works seamlessly on both versions. While I'm using version 19.1.3 on Windows, you should download the latest version of DaVinci Resolve available. The features covered in this lesson have remained relatively unchanged over the years, ensuring compatibility even with future versions.
There are minimal differences between the Windows and Mac versions of DaVinci Resolve. The main discrepancies lie in the user interface, specifically at the top, and the folder structure, as well as the variations in keyboard shortcuts. For Mac users, any mention of "Ctrl" in shortcuts should be substituted with "Command." Similarly, when I reference using the "Alt" key, you should use the "Option" key. We will provide a keyboard shortcuts resource to assist with these conversions.
After launching DaVinci Resolve, you might notice it doesn't open directly to the edit page by default. To access the edit page, right-click at the bottom, then select "Show Icons and Labels." This will reveal various pages like "Edit," "Cut," and "Media."
Media Page: This is for importing media, though we won't use it extensively as it's meant for advanced use cases.
Cut Page: Known for being a streamlined version of the edit page, typically used for on-the-go editing. However, it lacks vital features needed for comprehensive screencast editing.
Edit Page: The primary workspace for editing where you'll have access to all necessary functionalities.
The edit page provides several critical areas to explore:
Timeline: Located at the bottom, this is where you assemble your video, stacking various clips and audios. You can interact with it using a three-button mouse, allowing seamless navigation and zooming.
Viewer: In the middle, this displays the video as you edit. Most workflows will only need a single viewer, so deactivate the default dual viewer setup for simplicity.
Media Pool: Your repository for all imported media, images, and more. You can organize content into folders within the master bin for better management.
Toggle panels like the Media Pool and timeline height using designated shortcuts for a simplified UI. Adjusting these allows for more screen space and clearer visibility of your workspace. For example, tweaking the track heights and viewer panels can make editing more intuitive.
Although we won't dive into the Fusion page, it’s worth noting its role in advanced motion graphics and visual effects. For the Color page, beginners should stick to basic tools to adjust saturation and contrast without getting overwhelmed. The Fairlight page is for audio editing but will also be addressed later.
Now that you have a general overview of DaVinci Resolve's layout and some basic interactions, you're set to move forward. Upcoming lessons will guide you on importing media and getting started with your edits, ensuring you are comfortable maneuvering through this powerful editing tool.