Exporting high-quality video from DaVinci Resolve involves several key settings and considerations. Here's a breakdown of how to achieve optimal results:
1. Delivery Page Settings:
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Resolution and Frame Rate: Match your timeline resolution and frame rate. If you shot in 4K at 24fps, export at 4K 24fps unless you have a specific reason to change it.
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Codec: The codec significantly impacts quality and file size.
- ProRes (422 HQ, 4444): Excellent for intermediate files and archiving. Offers great quality with reasonable file sizes, especially on macOS.
- DNxHR (HQ, HQX): A good alternative to ProRes, particularly for Windows users. Similar quality and file sizes to ProRes.
- H.264/H.265 (HEVC): Suitable for final delivery (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.). H.265 offers better compression than H.264 for similar quality, resulting in smaller files. Choose these if the deliverable needs to be a manageable size.
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Bitrate: Higher bitrates mean higher quality and larger file sizes.
- VBR (Variable Bitrate): Allows the bitrate to fluctuate depending on the complexity of the scene. Often a good choice for H.264/H.265. Consider using 2-pass encoding for VBR for even better results.
- CBR (Constant Bitrate): Maintains a consistent bitrate throughout the video. Less common for final delivery due to potentially larger file sizes.
- H.264/H.265 Recommended Bitrates (for 4K): Aim for 50-80 Mbps for high-quality 4K exports for online platforms like YouTube. For 1080p, aim for 16-20 Mbps. Experiment to find the best balance between quality and file size.
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Encoding Profile (H.264/H.265):
- Main: A good balance of compatibility and quality.
- High: Potentially better quality, but might not be supported by all devices/platforms.
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Audio: Choose AAC or PCM for audio. A bitrate of 320kbps for AAC typically provides excellent audio quality.
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Render Settings:
- Render Speed vs. Quality: Consider rendering at a lower speed for potentially higher quality, especially if you're experiencing banding or artifacts.
- Force sizing to highest quality Check this box for higher quality resizing.
2. Color Management:
- Color Space Transform (CST): Ensure your color space settings are correct, especially if working with log footage. Using the correct Input Color Space and Output Color Space in the Color Management page ensures proper color rendering.
- Output Color Space: Match the intended viewing environment (e.g., Rec.709 for standard displays, DCI-P3 for cinema).
3. Export Process:
- Choose a Destination: Select a location on your computer to save the exported file.
- Add to Render Queue: Add your export settings to the render queue.
- Start Render: Start the rendering process.
- Project File Export: If you need to export the project to share with another editor, go to File > Export Project and save as a .drp file. This does not export the video file, it saves the project settings.
Example Scenario:
Let's say you're exporting a 4K video for YouTube:
- Resolution: 3840x2160
- Frame Rate: 24fps (matching your timeline)
- Codec: H.265 (HEVC)
- Bitrate: VBR, 2-pass, 60 Mbps Target, 80 Mbps Max
- Encoding Profile: Main
- Audio: AAC, 320kbps
- Color Space: Rec.709 (assuming standard display)
Key Considerations:
- Source Footage Quality: Your final export can only be as good as your source footage.
- Testing: Always test different export settings to find the optimal balance for your specific needs. Export a small section of your video with different settings and compare the results.
By paying attention to these settings, you can achieve high-quality exports from DaVinci Resolve that meet your specific requirements.
