Both DaVinci Resolve Free vs Studio include basic features, such as cropping, visual effects, motion graphics, color grading and audio post-processing options.
DaVinci Resolve Free has minimal system requirements. However, it doesn’t provide such functions as lens correction and temporal noise reduction.
DaVinci Resolve Studio is a paid version of the program created by Blackmagic, which comes with basic and advanced AI features for automatic recognition of colors and faces, stereoscopic 3D tools, ResolveFX and FairlightFX plug-ins, HDR grading options, etc.
What Is DaVinci Resolve Free?
DaVinci Resolve Free is a perfect option for filmmakers and editors who need to perform simple daily tasks. Moreover, you get a full-fledged program without any time limitations or watermarks. This free video editing software allows for multi-camera editing and animating media files using keyframes or compositing options. You can also add captions and transitions.It also has a built-in set of Fusion video effects and the Fairlight audio-editing application. For more complex processing, you can add subtitles, use keyframes, add 2D or 3D captions.
DaVinci Resolve Free: Strengths and Weaknesses
Convenient to work with multiple angles. Multi-camera editing allows you to edit a video while other parts of it are playing in the background in real-time. You can sync different camera angles and switch between them. It’s also possible to work with layers of images and videos. They can be animated, rotated or scaled with the help of motion paths.
Advanced color correction tools. You can adjust the hue, saturation and brightness of an image by selecting colors from frames. Besides, you can perform noise reduction, find and correct spots, work with color circles and curves. The program supports HDR and allows you to stabilize images.
Quick access to common functions. If you open the Cut page, you can quickly add videos to the timeline and crop them without using a more complex editing toolset. There are fewer options here than in the Edit section, but it has such features as Source Tape mode for you to play all clips together and find a specific section.
Integrated digital audio workstation. You can use the Fairlight page for editing audio. This is a full-fledged free DAW software integrated into Resolve. With it, you can record audio, mix tracks, replace dialogs and work with spatial sound. Also, you will have access to audio plug-ins and a music library.
Cinematographic quality VFX compositing. Thanks to the Fusion page, you can use VFX compositing, keying and motion graphics options in a 3D workspace. You can add visual effects, animated graphics and captions to create a video that looks like a feature film. On this page, you can also remove elements from the frame or paint over them, rotoscope moving objects and create particle effects.
Searching and adding LUTs in a few clicks. In the latest version of DaVinci Resolve, the developers have added a new visual LUT browser. Due to this, you can quickly find, view and apply DaVinci Resolve LUTs. Besides, you can always expand your collection with third-party plug-ins.
Resolution limitations. In the free version, you can work with videos with a resolution not exceeding 4K UHD (3840 × 2160).
What Is DaVinci Resolve Studio?
Resolve Studio is an enhanced version of DaVinci Resolve Free, which has a set of advanced features besides the options offered by the free program. It’s suitable for creative professionals engaged in post-production who work with high-end equipment or are looking for a video editor with advanced functionality.By choosing DaVinci Resolve Studio, you will get a set of AI tools, which include face recognition, deformation rate correction, automatic color balancing and color matching. You will also get ResolveFX and FairlightFX plug-ins. The program supports 4K, 8K and higher resolutions with frame rates up to 120fps.
DaVinci Resolve Studio: Strengths and Weaknesses
HDR video support. By using high dynamic range color correction, you can enhance Ultra HD videos. You can create clips with brighter tones, richer contrast and deeper shadows that meet Dolby and HDR10 standards.
Tools for creating realistic frames. It includes noise reduction and motion blur effects that will help you make your footage look more natural. This feature can be used for reducing intermittent noise and motion blur. You can also apply spatial noise reduction techniques.
Convenient collaboration tools. This program allows you to work on one timeline together with your team. You can share grades there and accept edits automatically or only after your approval. Due to the advanced remote grading feature, you can import low-resolution files from another computer or the Internet so that colorists can perform color correction. This will let you finish your project faster.
Focusing on the story using Stereoscopic 3D Grading. With Stereoscopic 3D Grading, you can remove unnecessary colors and fix alignment errors. In this way, you can control your viewer’s eye line.
Automatic video correction using AI tools. This program features the Neural Engine artificial intelligence technology. It comes with many tools, including facial recognition options. With it, you can combine videos with the same characters into groups. Also, you can match colors automatically and remove objects in the same way you use the Content-Aware Fill option in Adobe products.
Stunning effects and OpenFX filters. These filters are used for applying visual effects, editing, compositing and final processing. With their help, you can modify faces, add blur, flare and grain.
Might be complicated for beginners. It will take time for novices to figure out how to use the program.
DaVinci Resolve Free vs Studio: Price
You can use DaVinci Resolve Free without time restrictions or watermarks. It has all the basic video editing functions. The license costs $299 and includes all the functions that professional video editors need to have.
DaVinci Resolve Free doesn’t require any additional costs and includes basic video editing tools, such as page cropping, visual effects, motion graphics, color grading and audio post-processing.
DaVinci Resolve Studio costs $299. Besides the options available in the free version, there are also DaVinci Neural Engine tools, shared-access and stereoscopic 3D options, dozens of ResolveFX and FairlightFX plug-ins, HDR gradation, film grain, blur and fog effects, etc.
DaVinci Resolve Free vs Studio - Who Wins?
The choice between DaVinci Resolve Free vs Studio depends on your skills and the tasks that you are going to solve.
DaVinci Resolve Studio has some unique features that will come in handy for top-notch professionals. With this program, you can quickly sort videos using AI tools, automatically match colors, work with HDR videos and create clips faster with your team.
However, if the projects you are working on don’t require advanced editing, then DaVinci Resolve Free will be a great solution for you. Beginners will appreciate that it allows for multi-camera editing, provides quick access to the main functions and comes with audio enhancement options.
