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EddieDaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve · Audio

How to add sound effects in DaVinci Resolve

Updated 5 stepsFor DaVinci Resolve

The short answer

Import the effect into the Media Pool, or search the Sound Library panel on the Edit page, then drag it onto an empty audio track at the frame where it should hit.

Jump to the steps Do it in Eddie
Faders and knobs on an audio mixing console.
Photo by James Kovin on Unsplash

5 steps

In DaVinci Resolve

  1. 01Import or search
  2. 02Get the free library
  3. 03Add an effects track
  4. 04Place on the frame
  5. 05Set the level

  1. 01

    Import or search

    Import your effect files with File > Import > Media, or open the Sound Library from the toolbar on the Edit page and search by name.

  2. 02

    Get the free library

    If the Sound Library is empty, download Blackmagic's free Fairlight Sound Library from its support site and add its folder in the Sound Library panel.

  3. 03

    Add an effects track

    Right-click an audio track header and choose Add Track, so effects stay apart from dialogue and music.

  4. 04

    Place on the frame

    Drag the effect onto the track and line its peak up with the action. Turn off snapping (N) to move it freely.

  5. 05

    Set the level

    Lower Volume in the Inspector's Audio tab so the effect sits under speech, and fade the ends if it starts abruptly.

Eddie AI

Do it in Eddie

Eddie generates sound effects from a prompt.

Ask, for example, "Add a whoosh as the title comes in." A two-second effect costs about 7 credits. You can't upload your own sound effect file to Eddie's effects lane yet. Generated audio arrives in Resolve, and Assets > Generated assets (.zip) in All export options gives you every generated file to relink next to the timeline.

Back to Resolve

Open the edit, click Export and choose Resolve. The default is a Resolve project (.drp) that opens with the timeline built; behind the arrow is a Resolve FCPXML you bring into the project you have open with File > Import > Timeline. In the desktop app, Send to DaVinci Resolve builds the timeline in the Resolve you have running, through Eddie's script (Workspace > Scripts > Eddie AI AE).

If you imported the footage through the desktop app, the timeline points at your original camera files. If you uploaded on the web or pulled from cloud storage, it points at Eddie's proxy media: relink to those in the Media Pool with Relink Selected Clips, not to the camera originals.

Try it in Eddie freeNew accounts start with 500 free credits.
Eddie's audio lanes: a warm piano track ducked under the dialogue, with the music brief beside it.

From the help center

FAQ

Questions

Does DaVinci Resolve come with sound effects?
Blackmagic offers the Fairlight Sound Library as a free download. Once installed, it shows in the Sound Library panel.
Why is my Sound Library empty?
The library isn't installed or its folder isn't added. Download it, then add the location in the Sound Library panel.

Audio

More DaVinci Resolve questions

Let Eddie do the DaVinci Resolve busywork

Add your footage, say what you want, and send the cut back to your editor. New accounts start with free credits.

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