DaVinci Resolve gives you nearly unlimited ways to create stunning video projects. Long-loved by professionals as a color-correction platform, it has evolved into an all-in-one video editing platform that allows you to take a video project from start to finish. In this guide, we’ll cover what happens after you’ve completed your masterpiece and you want to get it into the world. This is a step-by-step checklist on exporting a video from DaVinci Resolve.
Two main export paths: quick exports and Deliver page
There are a couple of methods you can use to export your video or video project from DaVinci Resolve. This is perfect for vloggers or social media creators that want to edit on the go and get their work online as fast as possible. The social export options have settings optimized for each of these platforms. If you want to publish to that platform specifically, select its option. If you want a video in a format that’s online-friendly but don’t know where it’s going yet, choose H.264. Step 4: Click the export button. Step 5: Select where you’d like to save your exported file in the “Save” popup menu, then click “Save.” Now your video will be saved to the destination you selected after it finishes rendering.
- Now your video will be saved to the destination you selected after it finishes rendering.
- If you want to have more control over the format of your exported video, you’ll want to use its more traditional export features. These are a little more complex, but they give you nearly limitless control over the final format of your video.
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Method #2: Using the “Deliver” export tool
Step 1: Click on the rocket ship icon at the bottom of the screen labeled “Deliver.” Step 2: In the Deliver export window, navigate to “Render Settings.” Step 3: Enter your video export preferences. This is where things get a little complex. In Render Settings, you’ll see similar icons to what appear in Quick Export. However, you’ll see an additional option labeled “Custom.” If you want to control your export settings, make sure this option is selected. Now, you can create a custom export setting for your video. For our example, we’ll be exporting a video in MP4 format with its original codec as H.264. Here are our example settings:
- Enter your desired file name in the “File Name” text field.
- Click the “Browse” button next to the “Location” field and select the location to save your exported video.
- Select “Single Clip” to create one export file from all your edited clips.
- Make sure the “Export Video” box is checked.
- Click on the “Format” dropdown menu and select “Quicktime” or “MP4” as your exported video format.
- Set your Codec as H.264.
- Make sure your resolution and frame rate match your project settings.
- Leave the render quality on “Automatic.”
You can use these settings or input your own based on your specific video export needs. Step 4: Click “Add to Render Queue.” Step 5: Click on “Start Render” at the bottom of the render queue. And that’s it. Now you’re able to export video tracks from DaVinci Resolve in whatever format you choose.
Final adjustments and considerations for MP4 exports
Final thoughts: Now that you know how to export a video from DaVinci Resolve, we recommend doing some research and finding out which export formats work best for the kind of video projects you’re creating. Do you want a smaller file size that’s easier to upload online? Or do you want to preserve every tiny detail for projection on a big screen? No matter what you want to do with your projects in the end, DaVinci Resolve has you covered, with plenty of shortcuts to speed up your workflow.
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Troubleshooting MP4 export issues in DaVinci Resolve
Many DaVinci Resolve users encounter MP4 export challenges. Questions like "How do I let DaVinci Resolve export MP4?", "How to export MP4 in DaVinci Resolve?" arise one after another. Causes can include unsupported codecs, corrupted files, or mismatched project settings. If Resolve cannot export MP4, you can convert your video to MP4 in H.264 using HitPaw Video Converter, which can also help when you cannot export MP4 directly.
- DaVinci Resolve supports importing and exporting MP4 with H.264/H.265 codecs. For free versions on Windows, exporting MP4 may be limited to H.264.
- In Deliver, you can choose MP4 as the output format and select MP4 container with H.264 or H.265 codecs. Use Add to Render Queue and Start Render to export.
- Ensure audio is exported if needed: in Deliver > Audio, enable Export Audio and select the appropriate Output Track.
Color management and gamma consistency can affect MP4 exports. If gamma shifts occur, adjust DaVinci Resolve preferences and color space tags in Deliver’s advanced settings to align with P3-DCI and sRGB as needed. When exporting, keep an eye on bitrate, as higher bitrate increases file size and may impact upload times.
With these steps and tips, exporting a DaVinci Resolve project to MP4 becomes a reliable part of your workflow. If problems persist, consider standardizing on MP4 with H.264 for online use, or QuickTime with appropriate codecs for higher-fidelity needs.