Hands-On With the DaVinci Resolve Beta for iPad

[iPadified]

We should trust that someone did a market analysis…

The point is that there is now some software (beside games) that utilize the M1/M2.

Personal, likely decade(s) long preferences are best avoided as old paradigms have been refuted at a steady pace by the iPad and associated software. The iPad is here to stay, also in the professional space. It is curious that to be deemed “professional” at MR you preferable must have a mac pro and and an array of monitors and external storage. A real pro uses the tools that are best for the situation. Sometime it is a desktop setup, sometime it is an iPad.

PS. If your were born in 1978, you belong to the younger generation. DS

 

[nostaws]

I’m excited for it.

$100 - $200 isn’t even a rounding error in a filmmaking budget.

The ability to have your film/video in the cloud/on a server and just walk into a conference room and use a large screen tv connected to an Apple TV to show the team the cut, and then make edits is awesome.

You could easily edit a feature documentary or indie film using resolve on an iPad.

Ironically the history of resolve was more as a color correction/grading tool, that evolved into editing. I’m not sure I would ever grade on an iPad. That’s what the big expensive (calibrated) screens are for.

 

[nostaws]

It’s a huge mistake to draw a line between TikTok videos and “more serious jobs”

👆 Probably the most important sentence in the whole thread.

 

[profcutter]

Just remember, paradigms stick around then change unpredictably. Who edits on media100 anymore? Avid was king, then FCP took the Indy editing market, and Avid was left at the high end (obviously not even the highest end.) FCPX screwed the pooch, and folks moved on.
I think for some applications: things like AJ+ and short form news and docs, this sounds like an amazing tool. To be able to cut dailies in the field, without lugging an MBP seems like a win, especially because some of the best doc footage comes when people think you’re just an amateur. I don’t think folks are going to edit features on resolve for iPad, but that’s not the point. Quick turnarounds, an easier interface that doesn’t dumb everything down like iMovie, folks have clamoring for that for years. I agree the iPad isn’t quite there yet, but v1.0 isn’t even out yet. Maybe by v3, the iPad os will have evolved enough to make a real portable workstation. As for coloring? Come on. Best done with a large calibrated display, no? You’re asking too much for an iPad app.

 

[moons_mooniverse]

That‘s the app I was waiting for!!
For people who just love the iPad and wish they could do everything with it instead of using a Macbook this is huge!!!!
Sure the Macbooks have still a lot advantages. And I also love my MacBook Pro. But the iPad experience is unique.
And having and App like Davinci Resolve makes it really special.

 

[threesixty360]

I think apple produced Logic Pro, Final Cut and previously aperture, not to make crazy money but to keep the “creative professional“ branding for the mac line. Back in the day it was touch and go whether companies like adobe wanted to keep making mac a priority. Even adobe‘s attitude to flash on the mac kind of burnt apple. So with the pro line of apple apps the purpose was to make sure apples mac line up had everything creative professionals need.

I dont think apple have that problem with the iPad. Which is probably why they don’t make their pro apps available and rather make entry level apps for hobbyists and newbies (GarageBand, iMovie etc). Ultimately there are far more developers on the iPad than on the mac, I dont think apple is trying to compete with companies making pro products on the iPad.

I also feel like the only reason Final cut would exist on the iPad is if the average selling price of iPads keeps creeping up so that it matches their macbook line. If you think about it Final Cut only exists to sell macs. They are taking a hit on the software everytime they sell it, same with Logic Pro. They are both cheaper than the real market value for that kind of software. But if apple sells you Final Cut they know you need a $1000+ mac. If they sell you an iPad because of Final Cut that’s an average price of like $450 maybe? It doesnt really make business sense.

Finally, despite what youtubers think, there is a very limited amount of pro video makers who the do high level editing and colour grading. So I don’t think Final Cut on an iPad is going to generate huge sales. final Cut on iPad would just be a huge marketing exercise at most.

for black magic it’s much simpler proposition. No competition on iPad for a start, then the idea that its in line with their business model anyway (give it Away for free and get people needing to use it when they become pro and sell hardware to them at that point).

I think if apple makes a very expensive iPad that they deem the same level as the mac lineup, then I think would be time to start adding the pro apps to reinforce that view. The top of the line iPad, as expensive as it is, isnt that thing yet.

 

[The Game 161]

good to see the option there but to be honest my ipad pro 12.9 is basically used for content only these days. It's great at that though of course.

 

[hans1972]

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.

But are you just describing scenarios or do you know real people do it?

 

[Fat_Guy]

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.

I went from AVID free version to the AVID SD version and then to Media Composer and lately to Davinci Resolve. A couple of shows on network TV here in Canada in 2005 and 2009 and I never want to experience that much hassle again! Later a feature length documentary movie and cut a series of the same material more recently for streaming. Some shorts and many music videos. So I’m a hack but did a few things so here is my take.



I switched from AVID when they did the big format move recently and have kept it at that traditional interface. I’m not alone here and I get why they did it but that is what spurred me onto Resolve.



Tried Resolve on a regular computer and had to upgrade to a 3D Solid Works computer and upgrade everything from there with a graphics card that was worth more than the computer. Then got a speed editor with the free studio program and here I am.


But I’m an old fart and the kids hate the setups like I have. They make their YouTube videos on things like iPads - this is nothing new here- and some are successful doing this. More successful than me which is why I gave you the resume above. If their material is better and watched more than mine, then I can’t criticize them using Resolve on an iPad if they want to.



I had one of my shows go one after Saturday Night Live and that was a huge moment for me, but things have changed and the kids have views now that embarrass my old broadcast views even though it was just a one shot deal.



In other words, I am no longer relevant, a “has been” that can’t criticize Resolve on an iPad - as ridiculous as that may seem to me…

 

[GuilleA]

Other than email and basic editing, working professionally on an iPad is a nightmare. You have to jump through so many hoops and adjust to its way of doing things and everything takes twice as long (sometimes even longer, or can't be done at all).

 

[schuhlelewis]

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 literally can’t wait, but I see it as more of a companion to the main app than a replacement.

I shoot commercially and often put a rough together myself (if not the whole project). The idea of being able to do that on something I can carry around without it even being a decision is something I’m really excited for. I feel like the iPad is going to be great for getting that first 60% of a project roughed out (where the more organic nature of a touchscreen and pencil is a positive), and then I’ll bring it to my desktop to finesse, finalise, grade etc (or send it to an editor).

After a long hiatus I’ve started shooting stills recently. I won’t even edit those on desktop anymore (even with things like the file system being more convoluted), because the iPad just feels way more natural. I’m not sure if that’s completely relevant to video, but I’m definitely looking forward to getting the beta.

I appreciate that might be a niche.

 

[prospervic]

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.

I beg to differ. I have both these same devices, and I find the 16” display to be dramatically larger than the 12.9” and makes video editing noticeably easier.

 

[prospervic]

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

Right on. And as far as “can’t afford a real computer” goes, seems he’s blissfully unaware that a top-spec iPad Pro with Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil will run you US$2679.00. (And that’s WITHOUT the optional cellular connectivity.)

 

[LogicalApex]

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.

I think it is very easy to just say "M-Series iPads". 🤷🏾‍♂️

 

[darngooddesign]

I think it is very easy to just say "M-Series iPads". 🤷🏾‍♂️

But that would be incorrect.

According to the video, non M# iPads will get it but not with all the features.You shouldn't expect to do everything on an iPad with 3 or 4 GB RAM.

 

[yellowbunny]

This is going to be great on set. Can quickly review the Blackmagic raw files (that Final Cut still can’t import…) and make super quick grades with a client. Amazing

 

[justiny]

But are you just describing scenarios or do you know real people do it?

Every scenario I described has been my own experience, as well as friends and coworkers.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

Nice that they worked to ensure their proj file compatibility between platforms even where features are lacking. I’ve come to expect FCP projects to not work any two computers since Apple just breaks compatibility with every update.

 

[obviouslogic]

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

Several factors... more memory, like you said, plus memory bandwidth, storage performance, GPU and CPU performance, more media engines all come into play for higher end functionality... especially when it comes to video.

Granted the M-series in the iPad throttles a lot sooner than on a MacBook, but the overall performance is much, much better than any A-Series SoC could produce.

 

[visualseed]

Several factors... more memory, like you said, plus memory bandwidth, storage performance, GPU and CPU performance, more media engines all come into play for higher end functionality... especially when it comes to video.

Granted the M-series in the iPad throttles a lot sooner than on a MacBook, but the overall performance is much, much better than any A-Series SoC could produce.

Those may be factors for top-end performance but the desktop version works decently on 5 year-old Intel processors as long as they have at least 8Gb ram though they do recommend 16. However, I do think they specifically take advantage of the built-in ProRes accelerator of the M-chips, but that's not a requirement of everybody's workflow.

Resolve worked decently under Rosetta on the Mac (some codecs still required it last I checked). I bring this up because I don't know how much of their code for the iPad app is a ground up rewrite or shared between the Intel-based Mac and Windows projects and just recompiled for arm but not specifically written to take advantage of the architecture beyond the advantages provided by the compiler.

Having said that I would not want to use it on an A-series iPad, though the last model iPad Pro or even the iPad Air 4 would probably do ok for what 80% of people would need out of it.

 

[MacFan782040]

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.

The fact that Final Cut doesn’t have auto captions or any desirable UI to edit vertical video is astonishing.

 

[Fat_Guy]

I understand that different people have different uses which is why I specified only a dual screen setup for professional work. Resolve is not meant for everyday editing; it’s for serious professionals who took years to become fluent in their field.

My question is not why design a cut/paste/transition mobile app. It’s why migrate a heavily professional app with the target audience being tied to a desktop class setup (meaning keyboard, mouse and click wheel).

I started on iMovie, and have lots of respect for the kids (and adults) who are out there making creative content. Again, my question is about migrating a high-end, professional app.

If you get the studio edition, the client (or third monitor) monitor is enabled and with the high end graphics cards we use why not three screens as default. My only issue is HDMI/Display port conflicts.


Resolve is enabling group management use but is not at AVID levels of course. It’s still also an indie use product as far as I can see. I met a young filmaker and converted him from Premire Pro to Resolve. Previously he was using iMovie. Getting him into Resolve in an iPad is one way to get him more involved in a desktop environment. Outside of de-noise and color grading why not. Now I wait for someone to tell me color grading and de-noise are easily handled in an iPad. I feel like such an old fart…. 🤣

 

[Fat_Guy]

I am not impressed by views being the metric.

Views are important if you are making content that is subsidized by advertising dollars. What makes it for me is does the content move you? Does it get you to think? To feel? To act?

Very few of my videos are publicly available. However, millions of dollars were raised and thousands of teen were encouraged and inspired by the work I do for several nonprofits.

If you can still make content that inspires people, that moves people; you’re no has-been.

I hear you but back in the day getting on broadcast TV was hard. Now it is opened up to everyone on-line and the creativity is amazing. I still have shows hung up for certification with the CRTC up here in Canada. No certification as a Canadian Program for time and points and no broadcast.



The kids just shoot and edit and out it goes. Even their workflows are different. If they can do it mobile then they can go places and with shorter timelines to finish.


I almost watch all my TV on YouTube these days with the exception of sports and news. It’s only a matter of time when the broadcasters drop the walls at the network level and let some real creativity come in. I get they vet advertisers before production even begins, but this model has to change.

 

[CaspianKing]

Just use Capcut... that's all you'll need nowadays!

 

[jonnysods]

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 don't don't know how you'd get frame by frame precision. Even keyboard shortcuts etc, I'd be a dead man on a tablet!