The Battle of the NLEs: Could Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve Defeat Apple and Adobe?

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by Yossy MendelovichOctober 2^nd, 2017

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Blackmagic Design released a tutorial video to help FCP 7 users migrate to Resolve. Helpful tool, or just an excuse for Blackmagic to show off their potential of becoming the next industry-standard professional NLE?

With Apple’s announcement of MacOS High Sierra came the End of Life for Final Cut Pro 7, forcing many savvy editors to recalculate their route to a new professional NLE platform. Blackmagic Design jumped at the opportunity to release a video demonstrating the very soft landing when transitioning from FCP 7 to the new DaVinci Resolve 14.

Although aimed primarily at FCP 7 users, the video may appeal to other NLE as it gently encourages them reconsider switching to Blackmagic Design’s platform. Why? Because it really is an impressive NLE system with very professional and unique capabilities. 

The GUI (Graphical User Interface) looks slick, engaging, simple and usable, reminiscent of a hybrid platform between FCP X and Premiere Pro rather than FCP 7. It reminds you of FCP X without the magnetic timeline.

In the video, Blackmagic explains that the purpose of the tutorial is to help FCP 7 editors make the transition to Resolve by demonstrating similar interfaces, trimming models and keywords. Upon taking a closer look, though, it seems that a solid portion of the video is dedicated to FCP X editors and PP editors as well.

New features include performance improvements and the audio post-production suite Fairlight. In addition, DaVinci Resolve 14 includes tons of new features for editors and colorists, including dozens of new effects such as automatic facial recognition and tracking so users can quickly refine and enhance faces in their sequences.

The Fairlight platform inside DV Resolve. A Fully functioning DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) for recording, enhancing and mixing audio tracks.

Face refinement filter tracks faces in Resolve Studio. It is really amazing taking into consideration FCPX lacks the option of tracking unless third party plugins are used.

Moreover, DaVinci Resolve Studio offers outstanding features like film grain emulations, flares, accurate filters and more.

Blackmagic knows that switching NLEs is like getting divorced and married again. It is a hard thing to do that requires a lot of courage. Although for many FCP 7 users the obvious transition would be to FCPX, Blackmagic Design badly wants those users and Apple just gave them momentum.

Let’s face it: a professional NLE platform that includes an industry-standard color grading suite and now a state-of-the-art DAW armed with solid technological features certainly makes DaVinci stick out of the crowd.

Regarding price, the Studio version is now available for only $299 – less than the cost of most annual Cloud-based subscription plans, and the same price as FCP X.

Will FCP 7 users recognise DaVinci Resolve as the next natural step? Or should editors wait until the convention in Cupertino at the end of October in order to explore if FCP X should be their weapon of choice? Let us know in the comments section below.