Hands-On With the DaVinci Resolve Beta for iPad - MacRumors
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Hands-On With the DaVinci Resolve Beta for iPad

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Popular video editing app DaVinci Resolve from Blackmagic Design is soon going to be available on the iPad, and a beta version of the app is being tested right now. We have access to the beta, and thought we'd take a deeper look at how DaVinci Resolve performs on the ‌iPad‌ for those who are interested.

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DaVinci Resolve for ‌iPad‌ was first announced in October 2022, and it is designed with multitouch technology and the Apple Pencil in mind. Performance is optimized for the Apple silicon ‌iPad‌ models, and we tested on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

On the latest M2 ‌iPad Pro‌ models, Ultra HD ProRes rendering is 4x faster, but it also runs well on M1 iPads.

The ‌iPad‌ version of DaVinci Resolve is basically a version of the DaVinci Resolve 18 software for the desktop, and while there are some minor interface differences, functionality is similar. The app is able to open and create standard DaVinci Resolve project files that can be used interchangeably with the desktop version of DaVinci Resolve.

In our testing, DaVinci Resolve for ‌iPad‌ worked well for most workflows, and would be suitable for day to day use. There were no dropped frames, and the editing experience was solid. Color corrections, masking, and other effects that you might assume would not do well on the ‌iPad‌ were flawless, even when working with multiple 4K clips. Make sure to watch our video to see the app in action.

Blackmagic Design is aiming to release DaVinci Resolve for the ‌iPad‌ before the end of the year, and you will need an Apple silicon ‌iPad‌ to use the software when it comes out. DaVinci Resolve for ‌iPad‌ will be free to download, but there will be a Studio version priced at $95.

Tag: DaVinci Resolve

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Top Rated Comments

appleguy123 Avatar
appleguy123
47 months ago
Almost comical that this app is coming before $2.5T Apple can bother to get their flagship video editing software on their ”professional” tablet.
Score: 44 Votes (Like | Disagree)
L
LogicalApex
47 months ago

you will need an Apple silicon iPad to use the software when it comes out
What does this mean exactly? M-Series iPad?

As all iPads are “Apple Silicone”.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
P
paulrustad
47 months ago

I am always confused as to whom NLE apps for mobile devices are targeted to. The only people I know who edit on mobile devices are teens who don’t own laptops or pros hired by Apple to showcase “created by iPhone”.

Do any of you (MR forum) edit professionally on mobile devices? Do you edit your personal / home videos this way?

I have a hard time editing on anything less than two 27” monitors.
I’m not a professional at all but I use LumaFusion on my iPad, iPhone or Mac for video editing. Better than iMovie.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SamRyouji Avatar
SamRyouji
47 months ago

I am always confused as to whom NLE apps for mobile devices are targeted to. The only people I know who edit on mobile devices are teens who don’t own laptops or pros hired by Apple to showcase “created by iPhone”.

Do any of you (MR forum) edit professionally on mobile devices? Do you edit your personal / home videos this way?

I have a hard time editing on anything less than two 27” monitors.
Not necessarily mobile device per se, but I do editing on my one and only device: 13" M1 MBA. It's less than 27" but still does the job very well.

Now, on mobile devices, one thing that holds me is the precision; 1mm nudge with Apple Pencil and your edits will be less accurate and not what you want. The cursor speed and control on iPad to me also feels counterproductive as well.

I might give it a try tho if DaVinci allows the masking transition. LumaFusion requires you to fill the mask with green screen -> export the clip -> import it back -> add the transition. Too much steps to be a feasible workaround.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
VideoAlex22 Avatar
VideoAlex22
47 months ago

What kind of content are you making with it? Fart jokes in Walmart for TikTok or more serious jobs?

iMovie has gotten really nerfed and clunky over the years, IMO, but the mobile version is just trash.
I said it before and I’ll say it again: It’s a huge mistake to draw a line between TikTok videos and “more serious jobs”

YouTube redefined editing more than Georges Méliès. TikTok is where the most creative people from the next generation are-and, more importantly, it’s where all the money is going.

iMovie lost the thread, but so did FCP.
Final Cut is a good engine but needs a very serious re-think about 60% of its UI and edit functionality, and Apple doesn’t want to put in the time.

You know what’s exciting? Descript.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DisraeliGears Avatar
DisraeliGears
47 months ago

The only benefit I see is getting teens or hobbyists to start using Resolve so if they graduate to desktop use they are more likely stay with Resolve.

Maybe it’s just advertising…
Broadly I think your right on the hobbyist/teens point, but there are some minor advantages.

I got into video creation with the pandemic for my work, and I went full iPad Pro only back in 2019. LumaFusion was/is an amazing entry point for video editing, kind of Goldilocks (not too simple ala iMovie, not too overwhelming ala Premiere). I’ve moved to FCPX on a Mac Mini, but I still find myself missing Luma’s touch interface at times. If DaVinci had been available, I probably would have started there and never left. It is astounding that there still isn’t an FCPX version tho.

And as for usefulness, the iPad is really light and easy to tote around or hand people. When I was using Luma, I could just pick it up off the keyboard and hand it to someone to get feedback, and make immediate edits. You don’t need someone to come to your office, or send a sharing link, etc. This won’t make any diff for professionals who have an edit bay, but for people just getting into it or having to collaborate with non-savvy colleagues, I could see the utility.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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