Tips for matching an imported timeline in DaVinci Resolve

Several quick tips when conforming (matching) an imported timeline

It’s a common workflow to be provided with a rendered ‘guide clip’ (offline reference movie) approved by the editor. Usually, the editor exports a .xml or .aaf to be imported into DaVinci Resolve that reconstructs the timeline. But things almost always go wrong when the editor’s software platform differs from your software.

Your job is to fix all the problems that arise so your timeline matches the approved offline reference movie.

Depending upon your workflow, you may have only a few clips that need to be manually fixed to match the offline – or there may be hundreds of clips! In my experience, the average one-hour broadcast documentary will need 10% of the shots to be fixed (hello, drone shots.)

In this Insight, you’ll learn a few of my favorite tips and tricks for solving common timeline-conforming problems. We’ll also cover a few preference changes in Resolve that make this workflow easier.

Key takeaways from this Insight