Editing a timeline in DaVinci Resolve involves arranging and manipulating video and audio clips, and one fundamental way to start is by adding media from your source files.
Adding Clips to Your Timeline
A common and intuitive method to begin building or adding to your timeline is by dragging clips directly from the Source Viewer. The Source Viewer allows you to preview individual clips from your media pool before placing them in your sequence.
Here's how it works:
- Locate the clip you want to add in your Media Pool.
- Double-click the clip to open it in the Source Viewer. You can mark In and Out points within the Source Viewer to select a specific portion of the clip.
- Drag and drop the desired portion (or the whole clip) from the Source Viewer onto the Timeline Viewer area to the right.
Understanding the Edit Overlay
When you drag a clip from the Source Viewer onto the Timeline Viewer, an overlay pops up. This overlay presents you with seven distinct types of edits you can perform, allowing you to choose exactly how the new clip interacts with the existing clips on your timeline:
*(Image Placeholder: Imagine a graphical overlay showing the 7 edit buttons)*
These options determine where the new clip is placed and how it affects the duration and sequence of your existing timeline.
The Seven Edit Types Explained
Here are the seven edit operations available when dragging and dropping from the Source Viewer, as presented in the overlay:
| Edit Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Insert | Places the new clip at the edit point, pushing all subsequent clips down the timeline to make space. |
| Overwrite | Replaces whatever is currently on the timeline at the edit point for the duration of the new clip. |
| Replace | Replaces an existing clip on the timeline with the new clip, matching the duration of the clip being replaced. |
| Fit to Fill | Adds the new clip, stretching or compressing its speed to match the duration of a selected gap or marked region on the timeline. |
| Place on Top | Adds the new clip on a new track above the target point on the timeline, without affecting existing tracks below. Useful for graphics, B-roll, or overlays. |
| Append at End | Adds the new clip to the very end of the current timeline sequence. |
| Ripple Overwrite | Replaces whatever is currently on the timeline at the edit point for the duration of the new clip, automatically closing any gap left behind or trimming clips if the new clip is longer. |
By understanding and utilizing these edit types during the drag-and-drop process, you gain precise control over how new media is integrated into your DaVinci Resolve timeline. This is just one fundamental method in the comprehensive editing toolkit available in DaVinci Resolve.
