Blackmagic Design has released another update for its DaVinci Resolve editing and color grading program. The headline new feature in DaVinci Resolve Studio version 20.1 for is the addition of support for Apple Immersive Video workflows.
macOS only
It’s important to make clear that the Apple Immersive Video workflows are only available to macOS users with this update. You also need to be using paid-for DaVinci Resolve Studio, not the free version of the software. With Davinci Resolve Studio 20.1, you can now edit, color grade and deliver Apple Immersive Video captured using the new Blackmagic URSA Cine Immersive camera. And, you can add visual effects and mix Spatial Audio.
Apple Immersive Video
Blackmagic Design says that DaVinci Resolve Studio for macOS is the world’s only solution that combines editing, color, VFX, audio post and delivery for Apple Immersive Video. The program also supports decoding and playback of the stereoscopic 8K 90 frames per second (fps) Blackmagic RAW files from the URSA Cine Immersive camera.
Additionally, you get the same familiar, industry-standard tools that you use on your 2D projects. However, now they’re updated for 3D immersive video.
Immersive video viewer
Davinci Resolve Studio 20.1 features a new immersive video viewer. You can pan, tilt and roll clips for viewing on 2D monitors. Alternatively, you can directly stream to Apple Vision Pro for an even more immersive editing experience. The new viewer shows immersive video in its native state, converted to LatLong or to a viewport view that customers can pan around in on screen. Plus, you can add a 360º backdrop track that can appear outside of the projected immersive image.
Color page
You can use the full range of primary color correction tools with files from the URSA Cine Immersive on the color page. However, you can only access some of the secondary grading tools. You also get new tools such as the Edge Mask in the 3D palette. This means that you can adjust the field of view captured by the URSA Cine Immersive to exclude microphones or other items that are just in shot.
Edge Mask adjusts the mask blend to soften the transition from the projected space to the backdrop.
Fusion and Fairlight
The Fusion page in Davinci Resolve Studio 20.1 gives you tools to create 3D titles and graphics. You can also work with USD (Universal Scene Description) files to add industry-standard 3D VFX to your immersive video. In addition, you can mix and master immersive Apple Spatial Audio Format (ASAF) soundtracks in the Fairlight tab. Fairlight fully supports integrated native operation with up to 7th-order Ambisonic busses as well as objects and channels. The 3D panner view is enhanced for ASAF so you can place sounds almost anywhere in 3D space, including object position, orientation and room simulation.
“We are excited to release this update for DaVinci Resolve Studio, which adds tools for Apple Immersive Video to the edit, color, Fairlight, and Fusion pages,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. “Now filmmakers can create stunning immersive content that was previously too complex or expensive to produce. The best part is that you can edit, grade, and mix 3D immersive video and audio using familiar tools from 2D projects! We can’t wait to see the immersive action, drama, concerts, sports, and other incredible experiences our customers will create using DaVinci Resolve.”
What we think
Blackmagic Design opened pre-orders for its URSA Cine Immersive camera at the end of last year. While the camera still hasn’t been released, the latest update for DaVinci Resolve shows that day must be close. Blackmagic Design typically updates its editing software to support the company’s new cameras just before they finally land on dealers’ shelves. So far, Immersive Video hasn’t been the hit that Apple had hoped. However, with the launch of URSA Cine Immersive and the option to edit video in DaVinci Resolve, maybe things will start to change.
Availability
Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve Studio 20.1 is available for download now. The update is free to existing users or $295 to new customers. Although the Apple Immersive Video workflows are only available to macOS users, there are also new features and bug fixes for Windows users of Resolve Studio, too. The free version of the software, DaVinci Resolve 20.1, also has a lot of improvements. For a full list of new features across all of the new versions, check out the Blackmagic Design support page.
