Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve 16.1 Released

During the latest Blackmagic Design livestream just days ago, we got to see the new Blackmagic Pocket 6K EF, which you you can read more about in this post here, and also the latest updates to DaVinci Resolve 16.

While Blackmagic Design is announcing the final release of DaVinci Resolve 16.0, we are also introducing a new public beta of DaVinci Resolve 16.1 that has innovative new features and update including big changes to the new Cut Page, a new “boring detector”, new Sync Bin and other improvements to functionality to help editors, colourists, and VFX artists in their daily work.

Changes in the bin now allow editors to place media in various folders and isolate clips from being used when viewing clips in the source tape, sync bin or sync window. Clips will be seen in all folders below the current level and as editors navigate around the levels in the bin, the source tape will reconfigure in real time.

blackmagic davinci-resolve 16.1

Images by Blackmagic Design

Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve 16.1 New Features

  • New public beta allows BMD to continue development.
  • New updates allow editors to improve sorting of media.
  • Smart Indicator adds UI feedback for intelligent edit features.
  • New cut clip tool allows instant cutting of clips in the timeline.
  • New button changes on DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard.
  • Boring Detector shows areas of the timeline that lack interest.
  • New Sync Bin organizes and displays sync media for easy shot selection.
  • Close up edit mode now includes face recognition to better frame shots.
  • New sync window allows manual syncing of clips, or audio based sync.
  • Multiple other improvements in editing, colour, Fusion and Fairlight audio pages.

New Smart Indicator

The new cut page in DaVinci Resolve 16 introduced multiple new smart features, which work by estimating where the editor wants to add an edit or transition and then allowing it to be applied without the wasted time of placing in and out points on the exact locations of the clips.

However, in complex edits this can be problematic as it is hard to know what the software would do and which edit it would place the effect or clip into. This is where the new Smart Indicator provides a small marker in the timeline so editors get constant feedback on where DaVinci Resolve will place edits and transitions. The new smart indicator constantly live updates as the editor moves around the timeline.

DaVinci Resolve 16.1 includes a cut clip icon in the user interface and simply clicking on it will slice the clips in the timeline at the CTI point. This is incredibly fast to use as with one button click, the clips are cut immediately.

DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard – New Features

The Resolve Editor Keyboard now gets a new adaptive scroll feature on the search dial, which will slow down a job when editors are hunting for an in point, all automatically. The live trimming buttons have been renamed to the same labels as the functions in the edit page, and they have been changed to trim in, trim out, transition duration, slip in and slip out. The function keys along the top of the keyboard have now been taken and used for various editing functions.

There are additional edit models on the function keys allowing more types of editing directly accessed from dedicated keys on the keyboard. There’s also a new transition window that uses the F4 key and pressing and rotating the search dial allows instant selection from all the transition types in DaVinci Resolve. Editors who need quick picture in picture effects can use F5 and apply them instantly.

New “Boring Detector”

A bit of a controversial new feature that allows the whole timeline to be highlighted where any shot is too long and would be boring for a viewer to watch. The boring detector can also show jump cuts where shots are too short as well.

The analysis is constantly showing which parts of the timeline are boring so as editors work and add shots to their edit, they can see the remaining parts of the edit which are considered boring. The boring detector is great when using the source tape, as editors can perform a lot of edits without playing the timeline, so the boring detector will be an alternative live source of feedback.

New Sync Bin

One of the most powerful features of DaVinci Resolve 16.1 is the new Sync Bin. The sync bin is a digital assistant editor which constantly sorts through thousands of clips and finds only the clips one may need and displays them synced to the point in the timeline.

The sync bin will show the clips from the cameras on a shoot all stacked by camera number and the viewer will transform into a multi view so editors can see what options they have for clips that sync to the shot in the timeline. The sync bin uses date and timecode to find and sync clips, and simply by using metadata and locking cameras to time of day, editors can save time in the edit.

The sync bin completely changes how multi camera editing can be completed. Just scroll along the timeline and the sync bin will display only shots that are related to the timeline clips. You can now even scroll off the end of the timeline and keep adding shots.

Enhanced Close-Up Edit Feature

The close up edit feature has now been enhanced in DaVinci Resolve 16.1 and it now does face detection and analysis and will zoom the shot based on positioning the face of the person nicely framed.

Sort/Sync Clips from cameras without Time Code

When you use shots from cameras without timecode the new sync window lets you sort and sync clips from multiple cameras. The sync window supports sync by timecode and it can also detect audio and sync clips by sound. All clips that have been synced will display a sync icon in the media pool so editors can tell which clips are synced and ready for use.

For those that missed or want to rewatch it – check out the Blackmagic Production & Camera Update below:

Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve 16.1 public beta is available now for download from Blackmagic Design here.

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