Hands-On With the DaVinci Resolve Beta for iPad

[MacRumors]

Popular video editing app DaVinci Resolve from Blackmagic Design is soon going to be available on the iPad, and a beta version of the app is being tested right now. We have access to the beta, and thought we'd take a deeper look at how DaVinci Resolve performs on the iPad for those who are interested.

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DaVinci Resolve for iPad was first announced in October 2022, and it is designed with multitouch technology and the Apple Pencil in mind. Performance is optimized for the Apple silicon iPad models, and we tested on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

On the latest M2 iPad Pro models, Ultra HD ProRes rendering is 4x faster, but it also runs well on M1 iPads.

The iPad version of DaVinci Resolve is basically a version of the DaVinci Resolve 18 software for the desktop, and while there are some minor interface differences, functionality is similar. The app is able to open and create standard DaVinci Resolve project files that can be used interchangeably with the desktop version of DaVinci Resolve.

In our testing, DaVinci Resolve for iPad worked well for most workflows, and would be suitable for day to day use. There were no dropped frames, and the editing experience was solid. Color corrections, masking, and other effects that you might assume would not do well on the iPad were flawless, even when working with multiple 4K clips. Make sure to watch our video to see the app in action.

Blackmagic Design is aiming to release DaVinci Resolve for the iPad before the end of the year, and you will need an Apple silicon iPad to use the software when it comes out. DaVinci Resolve for iPad will be free to download, but there will be a Studio version priced at $95.

Article Link: Hands-On With the DaVinci Resolve Beta for iPad

 

[appleguy123]

Almost comical that this app is coming before $2.5T Apple can bother to get their flagship video editing software on their ”professional” tablet.

 

[MayaUser]

I am always confused as to whom NLE apps for mobile devices are targeted to. The only people I know who edit on mobile devices are teens who don’t own laptops or pros hired by Apple to showcase “created by iPhone”.

Do any of you (MR forum) edit professionally on mobile devices? Do you edit your personal / home videos this way?

I have a hard time editing on anything less than two 27” monitors.

someday when the brain (in this case the ipad)_ will support two high definition displays, it will be an option

 

[robbietop]

Adobe better watch out. Apple better catch the up

 

[MayaUser]

But then it’s just a touch screen computer?

I just don’t see a benefit for pro level NLEs for iPad.

i think ipad since last iOS can support external accessories/peripherals
For drawing , horizontal touch input with external monitor can be beneficial
Again the fact that the hardware and now , slowly we will have pro apps is beneficial for the future for sure. 7 years ago i would never thought using this kind of device, but now is more close than ever

 

[MayaUser]

I get the iPad can support external monitors.

I’m curious as to who edits professionally on a mobile device. Resolve is a high end product, with a decent learning curve, geared towards high end professionals.

like you said, kids that are born with touch in hand...and those kids will grow and will still doing it on these kind of devices..For me, im opened mind, but old school, i cannot run my work on ipad, but in 10 years from now...if the mac goes away and the ipad evolves...i dont know...since im a heavy Maya user, i have the benefit to chose between platforms

 

[MayaUser]

The only benefit I see is getting teens or hobbyists to start using Resolve so if they graduate to desktop use they are more likely stay with Resolve.

Maybe it’s just advertising…

when you say desktop, you mean desktop OS or desktop compared to laptops, i guess its the first ?!

 

[jonnysods]

I couldn't imagine editing a video on an iPad. It's bad enough when I have to use the trackpad in final cut sometimes when I'm on the road. Each to their own I suppose.

 

[MayaUser]

MacOS. Desktop or Laptop.

I can’t imagine Maya on iPad. But then again, I’m just and editor… what do I know.

of course, but im in minority, i guess people and young people use ipads for swift a lot and other apps. Probably a lot of people that wait for final cut pro will be happy when or If it will come out
The fact that now we begin to get some apps, and we have M1 and M2 into ipads itself, says a lot for the future
ipadOS is more prone to professional apps than android platform

 

[flexwithmarius]

I am always confused as to whom NLE apps for mobile devices are targeted to. The only people I know who edit on mobile devices are teens who don’t own laptops or pros hired by Apple to showcase “created by iPhone”.

Do any of you (MR forum) edit professionally on mobile devices? Do you edit your personal / home videos this way?

I have a hard time editing on anything less than two 27” monitors.

For short form content (Tok/Reels), it’s great. I use LumaFusion on iPad and it works for my needs. I’d use Final Cut but…yeah. Luma has XML export for transferring projects to FCP if needed.

I’m intrigued by Resolve on iPad, but based on my experience with the full Mac version…it’s more than I need and a steep learning curve. Final Cut came naturally to me.

 

[LogicalApex]

you will need an Apple silicon iPad to use the software when it comes out

What does this mean exactly? M-Series iPad?

As all iPads are “Apple Silicone”.

 

[flexwithmarius]

I couldn't imagine editing a video on an iPad. It's bad enough when I have to use the trackpad in final cut sometimes when I'm on the road. Each to their own I suppose.

It’s not as bad as you’d expect. What really sucks is using the Photos app to trim video. Just kill me. If you’ve done it before you know the pain.

 

[MayaUser]

What does this mean exactly? M-Series iPad?

As all iPads are “Apple Silicone”.

probably a mistake, but yes, M1 or newer

 

[DisraeliGears]

The only benefit I see is getting teens or hobbyists to start using Resolve so if they graduate to desktop use they are more likely stay with Resolve.

Maybe it’s just advertising…

Broadly I think your right on the hobbyist/teens point, but there are some minor advantages.

I got into video creation with the pandemic for my work, and I went full iPad Pro only back in 2019. LumaFusion was/is an amazing entry point for video editing, kind of Goldilocks (not too simple ala iMovie, not too overwhelming ala Premiere). I’ve moved to FCPX on a Mac Mini, but I still find myself missing Luma’s touch interface at times. If DaVinci had been available, I probably would have started there and never left. It is astounding that there still isn’t an FCPX version tho.

And as for usefulness, the iPad is really light and easy to tote around or hand people. When I was using Luma, I could just pick it up off the keyboard and hand it to someone to get feedback, and make immediate edits. You don’t need someone to come to your office, or send a sharing link, etc. This won’t make any diff for professionals who have an edit bay, but for people just getting into it or having to collaborate with non-savvy colleagues, I could see the utility.

 

[MayaUser]

of course, but im in minority, i guess people and young people use ipads for swift a lot and other apps. Probably a lot of people that wait for final cut pro will be happy when or If it will come out


When I edit, I move in frames one at a time. It may be nice for vloggers to have something they make a quick TicTok or YouTube shorts on the fly, but for cinematic work, I just don’t see it.

for cinematic work you need a big display, again in the future ( i dont know, is just my guess) the ipad can act like the brain and thats it, like a tower from desktop computers where you connect the peripherals, monitors etc, like a mac mini but with UI on it when you need it
This is a debate that can last for years since Apple is not telling us their future plans for the ipad and ipadOS...i would like to know now, how the ipadOS and ipad will be like 5 years from now

 

[flexwithmarius]

Broadly I think your right on the hobbyist/teens point, but there are some minor advantages.

I got into video creation with the pandemic for my work, and I went full iPad Pro only back in 2019. LumaFusion was/is an amazing entry point for video editing, kind of Goldilocks (not too simple ala iMovie, not too overwhelming ala Premiere). I’ve moved to FCPX on a Mac Mini, but I still find myself missing Luma’s touch interface at times. If DaVinci had been available, I probably would have started there and never left. It is astounding that there still isn’t an FCPX version tho.

And as for usefulness, the iPad is really light and easy to tote around or hand people. When I was using Luma, I could just pick it up off the keyboard and hand it to someone to get feedback, and make immediate edits. You don’t need someone to come to your office, or send a sharing link, etc. This won’t make any diff for professionals who have an edit bay, but for people just getting into it or having to collaborate with non-savvy colleagues, I could see the utility.

This exactly. If you’re not editing a major production, Luma nails it.

Many, many TikTok users use CapCut. It does all the work for them. The more professional creators use FCP or Premiere.

 

[Amazing Iceman]

$99 one time or annual subscription?

 

[Mr. Awesome]

Performance is optimized for the Apple silicon iPad models, and we tested on a 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Might wanna change the wording here. All iPads are Apple silicon. I believe what it’s trying to say is it’s optimized for the M-series.

 

[SamRyouji]

I am always confused as to whom NLE apps for mobile devices are targeted to. The only people I know who edit on mobile devices are teens who don’t own laptops or pros hired by Apple to showcase “created by iPhone”.

Do any of you (MR forum) edit professionally on mobile devices? Do you edit your personal / home videos this way?

I have a hard time editing on anything less than two 27” monitors.

Not necessarily mobile device per se, but I do editing on my one and only device: 13" M1 MBA. It's less than 27" but still does the job very well.

Now, on mobile devices, one thing that holds me is the precision; 1mm nudge with Apple Pencil and your edits will be less accurate and not what you want. The cursor speed and control on iPad to me also feels counterproductive as well.

I might give it a try tho if DaVinci allows the masking transition. LumaFusion requires you to fill the mask with green screen -> export the clip -> import it back -> add the transition. Too much steps to be a feasible workaround.

 

[visualseed]

I get the iPad can support external monitors.

I’m curious as to who edits professionally on a mobile device. Resolve is a high end product, with a decent learning curve, geared towards high end professionals.

There are many levels of professional editing. I can definitely see straight to web or YouTube projects being entirely done on the iPad without ever touching resolve on the desktop. For years I have seen people using Luma Fusion on the iPad (even iPhone) to do rough cuts in the field, output dailies, and even export projects to Final Cut to pick back up on when they are back in the office.

 

[CarAnalogy]

People say the next generation will be iPad users, but aren't those kids already learning this on full computers even today? I would like to hear from someone who works in education at any level. Of course these kids have been using iPads at home (maybe) and adults use phones instead of computers for daily tasks now, but at work it's still PCs. Even places that use iPads mostly use them either as catalogs or glorified signature pads.

When I was in school (before the iPad) young artists were using Wacom tablets, and those still seem to be superior. But I'm not an artist nor in education.

Still haven't seen anyone pop up on this thread to say that they are either of those things and heavy iPad-first users. Anyone?

I know I'm talking about drawing and that's not what this app does, but drawing seems to be the most obvious use-case, and the top poster's question still doesn't seem to have been answered by anyone using iPads for real production work.

 

[justiny]

I am always confused as to whom NLE apps for mobile devices are targeted to. The only people I know who edit on mobile devices are teens who don’t own laptops or pros hired by Apple to showcase “created by iPhone”.

Do any of you (MR forum) edit professionally on mobile devices? Do you edit your personal / home videos this way?

I have a hard time editing on anything less than two 27” monitors.

Building construction updates, private investigators, acquiring fixed surveillance camera footage, or really anything where a client would need someone on the ground and a quick turnaround of requested video in a professional and convenient package. Sure, you could easily do this work on a laptop, but where a lot of these scenarios involve working from a cramped vehicle’s interior, the compact design of the iPad Pro is pretty much perfect.

 

[profcutter]

probably a mistake, but yes, M1 or newer

Yet another reason I regret that I had to buy in 2020. I simply needed a way to do virtual white boarding over zoom, I knew something big was coming soon, but I couldn’t wait, classes started in August. I don’t know that I’ll end up wanting Resolve on the iPad, but it would have been nice to have the option.

 

[paulrustad]

I am always confused as to whom NLE apps for mobile devices are targeted to. The only people I know who edit on mobile devices are teens who don’t own laptops or pros hired by Apple to showcase “created by iPhone”.

Do any of you (MR forum) edit professionally on mobile devices? Do you edit your personal / home videos this way?

I have a hard time editing on anything less than two 27” monitors.

I’m not a professional at all but I use LumaFusion on my iPad, iPhone or Mac for video editing. Better than iMovie.

 

[NY Guitarist]

BMD is using Apple's playbook and getting newer users familiar with their other products through the free version of Resolve software.

Those that get stoked often buy the Studio version and perhaps one of their cameras, color panels, editor keyboards and more.

Also: Resolve is what I had hoped FCP 10 would have been. I have FCPX but almost never use it unless a client insists on it, otherwise Resolve does it all and gets significantly better with each release.