DJI Mavic, Air and Mini Drones
Friendly, Helpful & Knowledgeable Community
Join Us Now

DaVinci Resolve - am I doing this totally wrong?

Max Headroom

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2024
Messages
510
Reactions
444
Location
England.
My Mini 3 can record in -

4K - 3840 x 2160 pixels (30fps max)

2.7K - 2720 x 1530 (60 fps max)

My monitor has a max resolution of 2560 x 1440 so i have been filming at 2.7k - 2720 x 1530 - 60 fps then changing it to 2560 x 1440 - 60fps when editing it in Davinci resolve my thinking being if my monitor cannot show 2.7k - 2720 x 1530 - 60 fps there is no reason to "Deliver" it at that resolution in DaVinci, so as the thread title says am i doing this totally wrong?

Any advice would be most welcome
 
Are you using the free version, or have you paid for the full-spec software?

If it's the free version, I'm certain that you are limited to 1080p output, so mastering to higher resolutions might not benefit you. Worth checking perhaps.
 
It is the free version.

I used a guide to set a custom timeline resolution (see below) i have checked a video i recently changed from 2720 x 1530 - 60 fps to 2560 x 1440 - 60fps and it is showing as 2560 x 1440 see below -

1747405434299.png


1747405235375.png
 
Are you using the free version, or have you paid for the full-spec software?

If it's the free version, I'm certain that you are limited to 1080p output, so mastering to higher resolutions might not benefit you. Worth checking perhaps.
I think that was a limit in the past but not any more, the free version is limited to 4K60.

In terms of what resolution to use, I use a 1440p monitor but I export at either 4K or 1080p because they're more standard video resolutions and widely supported across most devices whereas 1440p and other in between resolutions are not always supported properly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Max Headroom
If it's the free version, I'm certain that you are limited to 1080p output, so mastering to higher resolutions might not benefit you. Worth checking perhaps

I have checked a couple of different sites and It looks like the free version allows up to 4K @ 60 fps.


DaVinci Resolve 19

The free version of DaVinci Resolve 19 allows for editing and colour grading at Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) resolution, which is also the maximum resolution for export you can work with higher-resolution footage but the final output will be limited to Ultra HD.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Importing and Editing: The free version can handle media files of unlimited resolution, allowing you to work with high-resolution footage like 6K or 8K footage.
Timeline Resolution: The maximum resolution for creating a timeline is Ultra HD (3840 x 2160).
Export: The maximum resolution for exporting your final project is also Ultra HD (3840 x 2160).
In essence, you can import, edit, and grade footage at higher resolutions, but the final output will be limited to Ultra HD.
 
I think that was a limit in the past but not any more, the free version is limited to 4K60.

In terms of what resolution to use, I use a 1440p monitor but I export at either 4K or 1080p because they're more standard video resolutions and widely supported across most devices whereas 1440p and other in between resolutions are not always supported properly.

Thanks.

My mini 3 doesn't allow me to record 4k @ 60 fps only 30 fps, i prefer 2.7k @60 fps as i find playback so much smoother in faster moving video (panning etc) and as i cannot watch 4k i am not losing quality when viewing the video.

So would i be better off exporting at 2720 x 1530 - 60 fps rather than changing it to 2560 x 1440 - 60fps even though my monitor cannot show it at that resolution?
 
Do you care if others watch your videos such as in Youtube?

I honestly don't like to watch other videos that are not in 4k and I certainly prefer not to ever watch a video that is 1080p only. My advice is record in the highest and best resolution you are able to based on your drone/computer/software and then manage it from there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1gratedulflyingdawg
honestly don't like to watch other videos that are not in 4k and I certainly prefer not to ever watch a video that is 1080p
This was my thoughts at first but then I wondered how many people watch YouTube in 4k I may be wrong but imagine the vast majority are watching on phones or on computers incapable of viewing 4k, I also found 4k at 30 FPS like watching a flick book when watching fast moving vide that's why I always shoot in 60 FPS.
 
This was my thoughts at first but then I wondered how many people watch YouTube in 4k I may be wrong but imagine the vast majority are watching on phones or on computers incapable of viewing 4k, I also found 4k at 30 FPS like watching a flick book when watching fast moving vide that's why I always shoot in 60 FPS.
I think we're getting there and in 2-3 we'll be there where 4k is the only way.

Why are you having issues when recording in 4k30? Is it your equipment?
 
Why are you having issues when recording in 4k30? Is it your equipment?

Its not the recording its playback i have viewed many 4k - 60fps videos like the one below with no problems

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.


But when it drops to 30 or 25 fps i see this which was taken from a thread here were others also had the bad stutter.

Watch it on YouTube from 1:12 where he does the top down shot -

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
 
Last edited:
My Mini 3 can record in -

4K - 3840 x 2160 pixels (30fps max)

2.7K - 2720 x 1530 (60 fps max)

My monitor has a max resolution of 2560 x 1440 so i have been filming at 2.7k - 2720 x 1530 - 60 fps then changing it to 2560 x 1440 - 60fps when editing it in Davinci resolve my thinking being if my monitor cannot show 2.7k - 2720 x 1530 - 60 fps there is no reason to "Deliver" it at that resolution in DaVinci, so as the thread title says am i doing this totally wrong?

Any advice would be most welcome

I'm not a good reference for Resolve. I tried it for a while and went thru about 7% of the learning curve....

but my advice would be, irrespective of what editing software you use: with how inexpensive storage is today, I'd always record in 4K (either 30fps or 60fps). Doesn't really matter (to me at least) whether it's H264 or H265 or DLog....record your raw video at close to the highest specs because you may want to upgrade your TV/moniter in the future

then from that raw video you can down-convert for current needs you want. But saving at 4K gives you the options in the future to re-edit at higher specs.

I'm not anything close to some of the semi-expert videographers/photographers we have posting here. My eyes glaze over way too often. I went thru a year with Resolve; changed over to Vlogger and a couple of other apps I'm forgetting; then worked with CapCut for a while. I don't need color wheels or graphs or all the fancy editing tools. I've settled on AVI Demux. It's free and does everything I need or want and can work with DLog and Luts. Simple adjustments on colors, tints, saturation etc, And, most importantly for me, it generates almost no artifacts during the editing process all those other professional apps were generating, including resolve

but again, my main advice is to archive your flights at 4K specs
 
  • Like
Reactions: Max Headroom
Its not the recording its playback i have viewed many 4k - 60fps videos like the one below with no problems

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.


But when it drops to 30 or 25 fps i see this which was taken from a thread here were others also had the bad stutter.

Watch it on YouTube from 1:12 where he does the top down shot -

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
Might be YouTube but I don't know enough about how these videos were captured or processed or uploaded to comment on why it sometimes choppy for me too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Max Headroom

DJI Drone Deals

New Threads

Forum statistics

Threads
136,851
Messages
1,621,859
Members
165,502
Latest member
malejo
Want to Remove this Ad? Simply login or create a free account