DaVinci Resolve Edit Page Essentials: Interface, Navigation, and Playback Control

What the Edit Page Is For (and How to Think About It)

The Edit page is where you assemble your story: arranging clips on a timeline, refining timing with trimming tools, previewing playback in real time, and applying common editorial adjustments (like transforms, speed changes, and basic effects). The key to working fast is knowing where each control lives and building muscle memory for navigation and playback.

Edit Page Layout: A Hands-On Walkthrough

1) Viewer(s): Your Playback and Review Area

At the top center, the Viewer displays your edit. Depending on your layout, you may see a single Viewer or dual Viewers (Source/Timeline). The Viewer is where you confirm timing, continuity, and whether edits feel right at speed.

• Playhead: The vertical line in the timeline that indicates the current frame shown in the Viewer.
• Timecode display: Helps you verify exact positions and durations.
• Playback controls: Play/stop, step, and other transport functions (often faster via keyboard).

2) Timeline: Where the Edit Happens

The timeline is the horizontal track-based workspace where you place video and audio clips. You’ll spend most of your time here, so learn to zoom, scroll, and trim without hunting for UI buttons.

• Tracks: Video tracks (V1, V2…) and audio tracks (A1, A2…).
• Clips: The building blocks of your sequence.
• Playhead + In/Out range: Defines what you preview and what you export (when using timeline ranges).

3) Inspector: Clip-Level Controls

The Inspector (typically top-right) shows properties for the currently selected clip. If nothing is selected, it may show timeline-level settings depending on your configuration.

• Transform: Position, zoom, rotation, anchor point.
• Crop: Trim edges of the frame.
• Dynamic Zoom (if enabled): Simple push/pull motion.
• Audio: Volume, pan, and clip-level adjustments (depending on setup).

Micro-skill: If you ever “lose” controls, click a clip once in the timeline and look to the Inspector; many beginners forget that the Inspector is selection-dependent.

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4) Effects Library: Transitions, Titles, and Effects

The Effects Library contains common editorial tools like video transitions, audio transitions, titles, generators, and effects. You typically apply items by dragging them onto a clip or edit point in the timeline.

• Video Transitions: Drag to an edit point between two clips.
• Titles: Drag onto a video track above your footage.
• Effects: Drag onto a clip; adjust parameters in the Inspector.

5) Index: Find Clips, Markers, and More

The Index panel helps you search and manage timeline elements (clips, markers, flags, etc.). It’s especially useful when timelines grow and you need to jump to something quickly.

• Search: Find by clip name or marker text.
• Sort/Filter: Narrow down what you’re viewing.
• Jump to item: Clicking an entry typically moves the playhead to it.

Micro-Skill 1: Customize Your Workspace for Speed

Resolve’s Edit page layout can be adjusted so the panels you use most are always visible.

Step-by-step: Build a “Trim + Playback” Workspace

• Step 1: Make sure the timeline is tall enough to clearly see audio waveforms and edit points.
• Step 2: Keep the Inspector accessible (open when adjusting clips; close when you need more timeline space).
• Step 3: Open the Effects Library only when needed; close it to reduce clutter.
• Step 4: If you use the Index for markers, keep it docked and narrow; expand it when searching.

Practice tip: Your goal is to reduce “panel hunting.” If you repeatedly open/close the same panel, consider keeping it visible and resizing other areas instead.

Exercise: 60-Second Layout Drill

• Open the Inspector, then close it.
• Open the Effects Library, then close it.
• Open the Index, type a search term (any), then clear it.
• Resize the timeline height so you can clearly see audio waveforms on A1.

Micro-Skill 2: Zoom and Navigate the Timeline Efficiently

Fast editing depends on moving around the timeline without losing context. You’ll constantly alternate between “big picture” (overall structure) and “fine detail” (frame-accurate trims).

Core Navigation Concepts

• Horizontal zoom: Changes how much time you see.
• Vertical zoom (track height): Changes how tall tracks appear (useful for audio waveforms).
• Scrolling: Move left/right in time and up/down across tracks.

Step-by-step: Zoom to Detail, Then Back Out

• Step 1: Click an edit point (the cut between two clips).
• Step 2: Zoom in until you can clearly see the cut and nearby frames.
• Step 3: Perform a small trim (even a 1–2 frame change).
• Step 4: Zoom back out until you can see the surrounding scene or section.

Keyboard Habit: Playback + Zoom Pairing

Pair timeline zoom shortcuts with playback shortcuts so you can: play → stop → zoom in → trim → play again, without touching the mouse more than necessary.

Exercise: Navigation Sprint

• Jump to three different points in your timeline (beginning, middle, end) using the timeline ruler and scrolling.
• At each point, zoom in enough to see individual clip edges clearly, then zoom back out.
• Raise the height of A1 so waveforms are easy to read, then reduce it again.

Micro-Skill 3: Selection vs Trim Tools (and When to Use Each)

Resolve provides different tools for different editing intentions. The most common beginner slowdown is trying to do everything with one tool.

Selection Tool: Move and Select

Use the Selection tool when you want to select clips, move them, or click to place the playhead. It’s your default “pointer.”

• Best for: selecting clips, dragging clips, selecting edit points.
• Watch out for: accidentally overwriting timing by dragging a clip slightly.

Trim Tools: Refine Timing at Edit Points

Trim tools are designed to adjust cut points precisely. Instead of moving whole clips around, you change where one clip ends and the next begins.

• Ripple trims: Change duration and shift downstream clips to maintain no gaps.
• Roll trims: Move the cut point between two clips without changing overall timeline duration.
• Slip/Slide (if used): Adjust content inside a clip or move a clip while compensating adjacent edits.

Step-by-step: Do a Simple Ripple Trim

• Step 1: Zoom in near a cut.
• Step 2: Hover near the edge of a clip until the trim cursor appears.
• Step 3: Drag the edge left/right to shorten/extend the clip.
• Step 4: Play across the edit to confirm the timing feels natural.

Exercise: Tool Recognition

• Hover over a clip edge and identify when you’re in a trim mode vs normal selection.
• Perform one ripple trim that shortens a clip by a noticeable amount.
• Undo, then perform a smaller trim (1–5 frames) and play it back.

Micro-Skill 4: Set In/Out Points for Focused Playback and Precise Ranges

In/Out points define a range. You can use them to loop playback over a problem area, focus on a section while trimming, or define a specific portion for operations that respect ranges.

Step-by-step: Loop Playback on a Problem Cut

• Step 1: Place the playhead a few seconds before the cut you want to refine.
• Step 2: Set an In point.
• Step 3: Move the playhead a few seconds after the cut.
• Step 4: Set an Out point.
• Step 5: Play the range repeatedly while you adjust trims.
• Step 6: Clear In/Out when finished so you don’t accidentally limit later playback.

Exercise: In/Out Speed Drill

• Set an In point, then an Out point, then clear both—repeat three times without using menus.
• After setting a range, play it, stop, and nudge a trim slightly; play again.

Micro-Skill 5: Manage Tracks (Targeting, Locking, and Organization)

Track management keeps your timeline clean and prevents accidental edits. Even simple projects benefit from consistent track roles (e.g., dialogue on A1, music on A2, SFX on A3; main video on V1, titles on V2).

Common Track Controls to Know

• Track targeting/selection: Determines where edits land and what responds to certain operations.
• Lock: Prevents changes to clips on that track.
• Mute/Solo (audio): Helps you isolate dialogue or music while editing.
• Enable/Disable (video): Temporarily hide a layer like titles or overlays.

Step-by-step: Protect Your Music While Trimming Dialogue

• Step 1: Identify the music track (e.g., A2).
• Step 2: Lock the music track so ripple trims won’t accidentally shift it.
• Step 3: Perform your dialogue trims on A1/V1 as needed.
• Step 4: Unlock the music track when you’re ready to adjust it.

Exercise: Track Control Scavenger Hunt

• Lock one video track and confirm you can’t move its clips.
• Mute an audio track, play for two seconds, then unmute.
• Disable a video track (if available in your layout), then re-enable it.

Playback Control: Build Editing Rhythm with Keyboard Shortcuts

Efficient editing is rhythmic: play, stop, step, trim, play again. The mouse is great for positioning, but the keyboard is faster for transport and precision.

Playback Actions to Master

• Play/Stop: Your most-used command.
• Shuttle/Jog (if used): Variable speed review for scanning performances or action.
• Step frame-by-frame: For exact cut placement.
• Jump to previous/next edit: Quickly evaluate cut points.

Step-by-step: Evaluate a Cut Like an Editor

• Step 1: Jump to an edit point.
• Step 2: Play across it once at normal speed.
• Step 3: Stop and step back a few frames.
• Step 4: Step forward frame-by-frame to find the cleanest cut moment.
• Step 5: Trim, then replay the same section.

Snapping: Toggle It On Purpose (Not by Accident)

Snapping helps clip edges, playhead, and markers “snap” together for alignment. It’s great for quickly lining up cuts, but it can fight you when you’re trying to make tiny offsets (like audio sync nudges).

When to Use Snapping

• On: assembling rough structure, aligning B-roll to dialogue beats, matching clip edges.
• Off: micro-adjusting audio, creating intentional overlaps, fine timing offsets.

Exercise: Snapping Toggle Challenge

• Turn snapping on and drag a clip near an edit point; feel the “magnet” behavior.
• Turn snapping off and drag the same clip to a slightly offset position.
• Turn snapping back on and realign the clip edge perfectly to the cut.

Speed Exercises: Locate Key Controls Without Thinking

These drills are designed to reduce hesitation. Time yourself and repeat until you can do each task in under 10 seconds.

Exercise Set A: Panel Location Drill

• Open the Inspector and adjust a Transform value (e.g., Zoom), then reset it.
• Open the Effects Library and find Video Transitions, then close the library.
• Open the Index and locate the search field, type two letters, then clear.

Exercise Set B: Timeline Efficiency Drill

• Toggle snapping on/off twice.
• Set In/Out around a 5–10 second section, play it, then clear In/Out.
• Zoom in on a cut, step frame-by-frame across it, then zoom back out.

Exercise Set C: Tool + Playback Combo

• Select a clip, play 2 seconds, stop, trim the outgoing edge slightly, play again.
• Jump to the next edit point, repeat the same process.
• Lock an audio track, perform a ripple trim elsewhere, then unlock.