Hands-On With the DaVinci Resolve Beta for iPad

[montuori]

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.

I suspect this is part of it. Blackmagic pretty much gives MacOS Resolve away (unless you need the Studio version which is both unnecessary for most functionality and is pretty cheap regardless). They're making their money with hardware. If this is a first foray into tying that hardware into the iPad ecosystem, well, that's pretty smart.

Blackmagic the company is solid. They provided me some email support for the free version of Resolve and were quick to indicate that I should write back if I ran into any other issues. You better believe that when I need to buy hardware, I look at their offerings first. I've heard similar stories from others.

Here's an anecdote for how that can turn out: Figure53 (the company behind QLab) also allow their software to be used without a license, albeit with some functionality restrictions. Allowing people to use the software for real projects (and, no doubt by putting out the best software of its kind IMO) has entrenched QLab pretty solidly into all sizes of theaters. A full 100% of the productions I've worked on in the last decade -- 100 shows or so -- have built sound on QLab and most have used the (paid) video features when video was required.

 

[locksmack]

probably a mistake, but yes, M1 or newer

So it would work on an A15 iPad Mini?

I’m being facetious of course, but technically the A15 is newer than the M1 (which is based on A14).

 

[darngooddesign]

What does this mean exactly? M-Series iPad?

As all iPads are “Apple Silicone”.

In the video it sounds like M# iPads get the full version, while other iPads don't get all the features.

 

[visualseed]

So it would work on an A15 iPad Mini?

I’m being facetious of course, but technically the A15 is newer than the M1 (which is based on A14).

I think the limitation is more on ram than the specific cpu architecture and requiring a least an M1 guarantees an 8GB min.

 

[docbop]

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.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

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

Apple always gone the path of why sell you one device that does everything when we can sell you two or more. So maybe DaVinci Resolve will finally get Apple to make a laptop with a touch screen. Sure you can continue down your new path of certain features only for higher end products. So Apple make a 15" Macbook Air M2 with a touch screen and pen for your middle tier laptop, being a real computer with OSX it could run Logic and Final Cut. That still leaves you with Macbook Pros for high graphic and compute performance.

 

[Ludatyk]

probably a mistake, but yes, M1 or newer

If it’s indeed M1 or newer… I’ll be highly surprised. This might be a first time I’ve seen a company do such a thing… I kind of wish more companies do this which would help with the narrative “no real work gets done on the iPad.”

Microsoft Office comes to mind… but I know as far as scaling goes they want their software on as many devices as possible. But it would be nice Microsoft segment part of their top-notch tools to M1 or newer devices.

 

[MacAddict1978]

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.

Nope. Not professionally or personally. I need the screen real estate with all the clips I usually work with, AND two monitors.

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

If someone was vlogging or making a TikTok touch is fine.... but I really want to see someone doing heavy 3D title effects and adjustments using the tip of an Apple Pencil to select options.

I agree though, the younger gen is all about touch - and Apple is out of touch on touch. The Surface Studio is a great example of where desktop and touch could have great improvements in video editing and offer the best of both worlds.... it's also a huge display unlike an iPad.

I have no doubt one day Apple will fix this yanky janky iPad as computer vs. Mac senselessness - I think the only reason they don't is because Microsoft did it. Apple's the company that could sell it though.

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

What kind of content are you making with it? Fart jokes in Walmart for TikTok or more serious jobs?

iMovie has gotten really nerfed and clunky over the years, IMO, but the mobile version is just trash.

 

[citysnaps]

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

What's comical is making the assumption Apple wants to release FCP for their tablets.

And similarly, that Apple's "professional" moniker is used to target certain devices to professional users. When it's just a label to tier and price products with more features.

Kind of like Beats Pro headphones being targeted to professional sound engineers in music recording studios.

 

[Unami]

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 do. I usually got my iPad with me, when I'm on vacation, and I've twice done very short edits of clips customers sent me then. Also I've done a concept for a movie using downloaded stock footage. All done in Luma Fusion, which is not really fun to use. But I got paid, so it's professional - and I'd gladly pay that 100$ for having something better than luma fusion the next time I do that.

I also use Lightroom on my iPad for photo edits, so I could see me doing a little color grading in Davinci on the couch, maybe use the apple pencil for masking/rotoscoping.

Sure, it's not feasible to use an ipad as a day to day workhorse - ipadOS would slow you down so you won't be competitive, and, as you say, 2 or more screens are much preferred (as is a proper storage sollution, a mouse with a clicking wheel and a keyboard with a number pad) - but as a tool I still use it professionally from time to time (it's also the screen for my teleprompter)

 

[DrV]

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 could imagine editing on an iPad with Davinci Resolve. I have been using Resolve for small projects for years and while I only need a small subset of what it can do, I am still a happy user (and even got the Studio License). The 12.9" screen is arguably very small but, on the other hand, not that much smaller than my 16" MBP which I usually use for editing.

What I do is non-professional in the sense that making movies is not my profession even though I may get paid for the time I edit videos. What I need it for is projects like interviews, instructions, data visualizations, lecture videos, diverse hobby projects, etc. Stuff that needs to be good enough for YouTube.

It is difficult to see iPads used for high-end stuff, but there is a lot of low-end going on in video. It is interesting to see where this leads.

 

[hovscorpion12]

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.

Technically, a MacBook Pro is a "Mobile device" since Its not strapped to a monitor.

All jokes aside, from 2018 to today I edit all my videos on my 2018 LTE iPad Pro [Now 5G] iPad Pro M1 using LumaFusuion. With DaVinci Resolve on iPadOS, i can't wait to see how well it stacks.

 

[masotime]

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

Just so I understand correctly - an M2 iPad Pro is 4x faster than an M1 iPad for Ultra HD ProDes rendering in DaVinci Resolve?

 

[VideoAlex22]

But then it’s just a touch screen computer?

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

Gotta say this is the kind of comment that we will all look at 10 years from now and laugh.

Is it perfect now? No. Will it be good later? Probably. Will it be good enough eventually? Almost certainly.

It’s the *cut* page: it’s the most simple story-making stage in Resolve’s preferred workflow. For you to compare it to Final Cut or premiere is only partially fair. They get the headlines for beating Premiere (apple surely has a “good enough to demo” build of FCP sitting somewhere… or they don’t and that’s a whole other problem we need to talk about) and it will exsist. And they will build on it, and iterate and the next version will have an edit page and maybe the next one has fairlight lite or something…. And at some point you’ll be on a trip shooting with your Pocket Cinema camera and think “I wanna cut this little thing into something for Instagram” and you check it out…and that’s when they have you.

Is LA switching over to the iPad Pro for marvel Gen 4? No.

Are you short sighted to poo-poo “content creators” who “can’t afford a real computer”? Extremely.

Those people redefined our industry faster than Citizen Kane and if you’re too proud to recognize that I suggest you re-evaluate your audience and your own influences.

 

[Fat_Guy]

Node based editing is the future, layers are soooo - Premiere Pro… 🤣

 

[VideoAlex22]

Just so I understand correctly - an M2 iPad Pro is 4x faster than an M1 iPad for Ultra HD ProDes rendering in DaVinci Resolve?

I think since this is beta software they’re avoiding declarative statements like this. Be patient. You know maxtech and dozen other YouTubers will test and retest all the options.

What I’m curious about is the range of iPads this will run on. It says M1 and M2 but what about older? This might be the first app we’ve seen in the iOS ecosystem draw a line requiring apple silicon (that I know of.) and what of M1 iPad Airs?

 

[VideoAlex22]

Node based editing is the future, layers are soooo - Premiere Pro… 🤣

Ah yes. That’s why we all use shake.

 

[VideoAlex22]

Node based editing is the future, layers are soooo - Premiere Pro… 🤣

What’s more node-y than Resolve anyway? Fusion and color are both node-based. One of them is already in this app, and the other will probably make it in eventually.

Let the video be Linear and color/effects be nodes. Or layers. Or whatever else is next.

 

[PowerButton]

I’ve shot, and edited many commercials, even one that aired for the Super Bowl. Saying that, until the iPad has better IO and full file manager support it will be tough using it for commercial productions.

The iPad is great for what it is, but if I have enough room to carry a cinema camera [with lenses and support] I have enough room to carry, and work on a laptop.

 

[Abazigal]

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

Maybe that's the whole point. Companies like Lumafusion and Blackmagic are willing to invest the resources into bringing powerful video-editing software to iOS precisely because Apple isn't directly competing with them in this space (ie: no Final Cut Pro for iPad equivalent), so they believe there is still money to be made in this field.

 

[kamilstudios]

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.

I trimmed lot of videos using Photo app. You can touch and hold at the in/out area and it will zoom the timeline for detail frame-by-frame trimming, so you can get a precise position of where you want to cut.

 

[Choco Taco]

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

Probably for the same reason it doesn't have a calculator app.

 

[the one who gnaws]

What does this mean exactly? M-Series iPad?

As all iPads are “Apple Silicone”.

Fair point about iPads all being Apple Silicon, but it’s pretty clear from context that it’s referring to m-series here (even if it’s not technically correct terminology). Probably we can expect that sort of usage to persist. Maybe this is a case where there is no correct _and_ concise way to say it, because “m-series iPad” isn’t exactly common usage yet either, afaik. BTW: silicone is a rubber like substance commonly used in caulking. The correct word here is _silicon_, which is the chemical element (a semiconductor) used in computer chips.

 

[VideoAlex22]

$99 one time or annual subscription?

Good question-resolve has so far been more like the FCP X price-buy once and you have the pro version forever. The price has also steadily dropped from $999 to $299 (and was 15k before Blackmagic bought it)

 

[Wokis]

Figured it'd run well since Resolve on M2 MBA is great! But I'm kinda split on the whole thing.

I really REALLY like that BMD is on the forefront of getting concepts like this to work. Hats off to them!

But I don't really see myself using this. For me being productive in Resolve is a lot about the interface, and grading becomes pretty cumbersome unless you have WAY more screen real-estate to play with. Might as well start off with at least a laptop, then.

I guess for someone grading dailies in difficult environments or wanting to work in some really new thought-out way will find this useful. Would love to hear from fellow colourists later what use they find for it.

Personally I would really like to see a "linked mode", where instead of using an iPad in sidecar mode (which has its flaws as it's just a compressed video stream) you could run a linked session of Resolve on a Mac/PC and iPad at the same time and have say the Gallery/Stills/Media page show up on the iPad.

 

[VideoAlex22]

What kind of content are you making with it? Fart jokes in Walmart for TikTok or more serious jobs?

iMovie has gotten really nerfed and clunky over the years, IMO, but the mobile version is just trash.

I said it before and I’ll say it again: It’s a huge mistake to draw a line between TikTok videos and “more serious jobs”

YouTube redefined editing more than Georges Méliès. TikTok is where the most creative people from the next generation are-and, more importantly, it’s where all the money is going.

iMovie lost the thread, but so did FCP.
Final Cut is a good engine but needs a very serious re-think about 60% of its UI and edit functionality, and Apple doesn’t want to put in the time.

You know what’s exciting? Descript.