Blackmagic Design has finally released Davinci Resolve 18.5. This version of the program has been available as a public beta release since April but is now available to download as the current version of the software. Davinci Resolve 18.5 introduces dozens of new tools, including four new AI tools, over 150 feature upgrades and major updates to the Cut page.
Cut page
Three new menus have been added to the Cut page timeline in Davinci Resolve. You can use the timeline options, timeline actions and edit actions to toggle ripple editing and trim edit points to the playhead. You can also resync audio and change the appearance of the timeline. In addition, you can now carry out scene cut detection on the Cut page. Other new features include the ripple button, which enables and disables rippled edits, and Split A/V, so you can adjust the edit point for video or audio separately.
Color page
One of the most exciting new features with Davinci Resolve 18.5 is Relight FX. With this, you can add virtual light sources to your video to adjust environmental lighting, fill dark shadows or change the mood. You can also choose between a broad light, a point source or a spotlight and adjust surface softness and specularity. In addition, you can now configure DaVinci Resolve color management on a timeline level. This means you can set independent timelines and output color spaces per timeline for projects with mixed media.
Neural Engine AI
With Resolve 18.5, the DaVinci Neural Engine AI can analyze and automatically sort audio clips based on classification. After analysis, Resolve will sort audio clips into bins categorized for dialogue, music and effects. It will even add detailed subcategories such as explosions, water or insects. In addition, on the Fairlight page, audio tracks can be grouped for faster mix automation and editing. You can also transcribe audio within clips to search for media based on narrative content. Resolve 18.5 has an automatic speech-to-text feature so you can quickly generate subtitles for timelines. This feature is now available on both the Cut and Edit pages.
Cloud collaboration
Davinci Resolve 18.5 supports Blackmagic Cloud, so you can save your project libraries on the Davinci Resolve Project Server in the cloud. This also means that you can work collaboratively with editors, colorists, VFX artists and audio engineers on the same project at the same time, anywhere in the world. In addition, you can export your timeline to the Blackmagic Cloud using the new Presentations feature. Other people can then review the timeline and leave comments that appear as markers.
Remote monitoring
With Davinci Resolve 18.5, you can now start remote monitoring with only a Blackmagic ID and a session code. After enabling remote monitoring in Resolve, you can simply share your code. You don’t have to worry about IP addresses and port forwarding. In addition, you can stream to multiple computers, iPads or even iPhones simultaneously.
Other enhancements
In Davinci Resolve 18.5, Fusion now supports Universal Scene Descriptor (USD) files. This means you can import USD data such as geometry, lighting, cameras, materials and animation for easier collaboration between VFX artists. The native AI-based Depth Map tool is now also supported in Fusion Studio. In addition, Resolve 18.5 now supports the OpenTimelineIO (OTIO) format. This makes it easier to import and export timelines from other NLE applications. OTIO supports metadata for clips, timing, tracks, transitions and markers.
What we think
The latest update to Davinci Resolve has added so many great features. Resolve 18.5 makes collaborative work much easier to implement. The new AI features are also going to help you manage your video and audio clips or add subtitles. In addition, there are exciting new features, such as Relight FX, which you can use to enhance your video. If you haven’t tried Davinci Resolve before, now may be the time to see what it can do.
Pricing and availability
Davinci Resolve 18.5 is available to download from the Blackmagic Design website now. The new version is a free-of-charge update whether you use the free Davinci Resolve program or the paid-for Studio version.
