DaVinci Resolve 19 just dropped, and it’s packed with impressive features that’ll make video editors rethink what’s possible. For example, the new Smart Reframe tool can automatically resize your videos for different platforms, like Instagram or YouTube, and keep the key elements in the frame using AI. No more manually cropping for every platform—this feature makes it a breeze for content creators.
And that’s just one example. DaVinci Resolve 19 brings plenty more updates like this, so here are the best ones you should know about.
Table of Contents
1. IntelliTrack AI Point Tracker (Studio Version Only)
This new AI point tracker intelligently tracks moving subjects. Even if the subject passes behind obstacles, it auto-corrects—no need for manual adjustments. Additionally, it syncs audio to follow the motion, making your edits smoother. This is perfect for complex shots where manual tracking is a hassle and time-consuming. However, you need the Studio version to access this feature.
2. AI-Based UltraNR Noise Reduction (Studio Version Only)
UltraNR uses AI to reduce noise in your footage, especially in low-light conditions. It maintains a good balance between noise reduction and preserving image details. Whether you’re cleaning up grainy footage from handheld shots or dealing with noisy nighttime scenes, this AI feature, which runs on your device, can be incredibly useful. Like the IntelliTrack AI Point Tracker, this feature is limited to the Studio version.
3. Smart Reframe
The Smart Reframe feature is ideal for content creators who need to quickly repurpose videos for multiple platforms. It automatically resizes your footage for different aspect ratios for platforms like Instagram and YouTube, while ensuring the main subject stays in focus. The reframe will automatically keep the subject centered when you select it. Since the tool tracks and applies the adjustments to the clip settings, you can tweak those adjustments if needed.
4. Defocus Background Effect
With this effect, you can mimic the shallow depth-of-field effect that you usually see in high-end cameras. By doing this, it makes your subject stand out more and draws the viewer’s attention right where you want it. This is especially useful for things like interviews, product showcases, or any scene where you need to highlight one specific part of the frame. What’s great about this effect is that it gives your videos that professional, cinematic look without needing expensive lenses or extra gear.
5. ColorSlicet
ColorSlice helps you make precise adjustments to specific colors in your footage. Instead of changing the whole image, it breaks down the colors into different sections or vector regions. This means you can tweak things like skin tones or specific colors in your video without messing up the rest of the image.
It’s perfect for when you want to fine-tune the color grading and have full control over how the final video looks. Whether you’re adjusting small details or giving your footage a unique style, ColorSlice makes it easier to get the perfect result.
6. Node Graph Stack
The Node Graph Stack helps you manage complex color grading easily. It lets you organize your nodes into neat stacks, which keeps everything clear and simple to follow. This is especially useful when you’re working on projects that need several layers of adjustments because it helps keep your workflow organized and avoids any confusion. Instead of getting lost in a mess of nodes, you can stay on top of each change you make.
7. Face Refinement Tool Enhancements
The Face Refinement Tool has become even better at tracking facial features, making it more accurate. This means you can now smooth out skin, enhance the eyes, and reduce blemishes with much more precision. It’s perfect for beauty or portrait work where you need to focus on specific areas of the face. What’s great is that you can make these changes to the face without affecting the rest of the image.
8. Support for HDR Displays on Windows
DaVinci Resolve 19 now works with HDR displays on Windows, meaning you can view and edit high dynamic range (HDR) content if you have a compatible monitor. With this, you get to see richer colors and deeper contrasts, which makes it easier to accurately grade your HDR footage. This way, you can be sure that your final video will look amazing on HDR-supported devices.
9. Open FX DaVinci Resolve Renderer Plugin for Third-Party Applications
The Open FX DaVinci Resolve Renderer plugin lets you export your color grades from Resolve into other software like Nuke or Flame. This is great because it allows you to keep your color grades and node graphs exactly the same, even when using different tools. So, if you work across multiple platforms or need to collaborate with someone who doesn’t use Resolve, this plugin can help streamline your workflow.
10. Remote Monitoring via IP Address
Remote Monitoring lets you stream your project live to clients or collaborators using an IP address. They can see how the project is coming along without needing to render the output and sending them every now and then. The real benefit of this tool is that it preserves the color accuracy of your footage, so what your client sees closely matches what you see on your monitor. This is especially useful for color grading sessions or when you need feedback from someone working remotely. However, it’s worth noting that both parties need a Blackmagic Cloud account, and there could be some limitations depending on the speed of the internet connection or the number of viewers in the session.
11. Built-in Dialogue Leveler
The Dialogue Leveler is a handy tool that automatically adjusts the volume of voices in your mix, so all the dialogue comes through clearly and evenly. Instead of manually adjusting each individual track, this feature does the hard work for you, saving you loads of time. It’s perfect for things like interviews, podcasts, or any video project where clear, consistent dialogue is super important. Keeping all voice levels balanced, ensures your audience never has to strain to hear what’s being said, no matter the situation.
12. Multi-Source Editing
With Multi-Source Editing, you can easily work with different camera angles or media sources at the same time. This is a lifesaver when editing live productions or multi-camera shoots because it lets you keep track of multiple inputs simultaneously. Instead of juggling separate clips one by one, you can seamlessly switch between them during the editing process.
13. Patch Replacer
The Patch Replacer is a super useful tool that helps you remove unwanted objects from your footage. Instead of having to deal with complicated masking or manual touch-ups, it automatically fills in the space by blending surrounding pixels. Similar to the Magic eraser or Clean up tool you see on Google and Apple Photos app, this is for videos.
14. BlackmagicProxy Generator
The Blackmagic Proxy Generator App automatically creates proxies from your original footage to speed up editing. Just set a watch folder, and the app converts new media into H.264, H.265, or ProRes proxies. You can even extract proxies into a separate folder for offline editing, making remote workflows much easier.
15. Dialogue Separator (Studio Version Only)
The Dialogue Separator is a tool that uses AI to separate the dialogue from background noise, making it much easier to clean up your audio tracks. Whether you’re dealing with interviews, field recordings, or any situation where you need the dialogue to stand out clearly, this tool does the job automatically for you.
16. Fairlight AI Audio Panning
The Fairlight AI Audio Panning feature uses AI to automatically adjust the audio based on the movement of objects or people in your video. This means that if someone moves across the screen, the audio will pan in sync with their position, making it sound like the audio is following them. It’s especially helpful in scenes with multiple moving subjects, as it creates a more immersive experience by aligning the sound with the on-screen action.
17. Fairlight Ducker Track FX
The Fairlight Ducker Track FX makes it super easy to automatically lower background music or ambient sounds whenever dialogue comes in. This means you don’t have to manually adjust audio levels throughout your project to ensure voices are heard clearly. The tool does it for you, ensuring the dialogue always stands out without overpowering the background sound. It’s a quick and efficient way to keep your mix balanced, especially in scenes where clear dialogue is key.
18. Ambisonic Surround Sound Support
Ambisonic Surround Sound Support allows you to create 360-degree, immersive soundscapes, perfect for VR projects or spatial audio content. It captures sound from all directions, giving you a full-sphere sound design that feels dynamic and realistic. This feature is ideal for projects where you want to pull the audience into the audio experience, making them feel like they’re right in the middle of the action. It’s a great way to elevate your sound design for VR or any project that needs a more immersive audio environment.
19. Faster Speed Warp (Studio Version Only)
This is the final Studio-only feature in this list and it also uses AI. It is designed to speed up the process of retiming clips. Normally, when you want to slow down or speed up a clip, it can take a lot of time for the software to process, especially if you’re aiming for smooth slow-motion effects. But with this update, Speed Warp now uses AI to analyze the movement of objects in the clip. This allows it to create smoother slow-motion effects without the long rendering times you might be used to.
DaVinci Resolve 19 Missing Features
Despite the impressive updates in DaVinci Resolve 19, there are still some features that users are eagerly waiting for. One common request is better support for collaborative workflows beyond the Blackmagic Cloud, allowing easier sharing without requiring accounts. The multi-monitor support could also be enhanced for more intuitive handling of multiple displays and streams during complex edits.
Users also hope for improved integration with external hardware like tablets for drawing, better Fusion performance, and even faster rendering speeds for high-resolution projects, especially with complex effects like Magic Mask and Object Removal. Additionally, audio improvements, such as more robust latency controls during remote sessions can also be improved.
These are just a few features that people are still waiting for, but let’s hope the Resolve 20 will deliver on them.
