Syncing Audio and Video in DaVinci Resolve: Everything You Need to Know

Matching the beat of your music to your visual content is crucial in post-production. Well-synced audio and video create perfect harmony and effectively tell the story you want to relay. Video editors undergo this process by employing editing software like Da Vinci Resolve, a popular and go-to tool by most professionals and even beginners.

In this article, learn how to sync audio and video in DaVinci Resolve, maximize its features, and get a bonus tip for an equally incredible alternative tool.

Part 1. Deep Dive into DaVinci Resolve’s Audio Syncing Features

If you’re looking for a compact video editor for cutting, fusion, motion graphics, color correction, and other editing tasks post-production, the answer is DaVinci Resolve. This tool is helpful if you use multiple tools for specific features to finish one project. DaVinci Resolve can be an all-in-one solution for you.

You can also complete audio editing or sync audio and video in DaVinci Resolve. Here are some of its key features for audio and video syncing:

• Automatic Syncing: You can auto sync audio in DaVinci Resolvethrough two ways. First is through waveform matching, where the tool will analyze the waveform of your video and match it with your audio file. While in timeline matching, the tool syncs your video and audio file's timelines.

• Manual Syncing:You can do this by aligning the visual and audio markers in your video or using the eyedropper tool to match the audio peaks with your video.

• Multi-Camera Syncing:You can sync multiple audio and video from different sources, which is very useful if you want to switch from various camera angles.

Aside from that, DaVinci also lets you collaborate with other editors. The tool allows you to sync across timelines, which is a game-changer, especially if you’re working on multiple projects with different people at a time.

Part 2. How to Sync Audio and Video in DaVinci Resolve

After learning more about the different features that will help you sync audio in DaVinci Resolve, it’s time to find out how it works. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to sync audio and video in the tool.

Automatic Syncing

Follow the steps below to use DaVinci Resolve’s Auto Sync Audio feature:

Step 1: Import your video and audio files in DaVinci Resolve. Select both files, then right-click and select Auto Sync Audio. Note: Make sure that you are in the Edit tab when doing this so you can see this feature.

Step 2: Choose whether you want the tool to sync via waveform or timeline. Click Sync to implement action. Once done, you can drag your synced video to your timeline to continue editing.

Manual Syncing

Aside from automatic syncing, you can manually sync your files. This method is helpful if you have a video file with no recorded audio. In such a case, the auto-sync audio feature will not work because there’s no audio to sync. Follow the steps below to do manual syncing instead:

Step 1: Go to the Media tab and double-click on your video clip. In the preview window, find a spot where you can identify a sync point (a point in your video where you want to start to sync the audio).

Step 2: Double-click on your audio clip then go to the Audio Window (right side of the screen). Select Waveform and choose a sync point in your audio file using the slider in the audio window panel.

Step 3. Click back on your video then on the Audio Window, select the link icon (Link/Unlink Audio). This will then sync your video clip with the audio file.

Syncing Multiple Tracks

DaVinci Resolve can also sync multiple video tracks. If you are doing tutorials or vlogs and employ multiple camera angles but want to sync them into one audio, then this is the best solution. Here’s how to do it in the tool:

Step 1: Make sure you are in the Edit tab first. Drag both your clips in the timeline and stack one over the other. Select all your clips in the timeline. Right-click and select Auto Align Clips.

Step 2: Select whether you want to align via waveform or timecode. Finally, click Sync to finish the work.

Part 3. Alternative Tool for Audio and Video Syncing

DaVinci Resolve is a popular editing tool for professional video editors. While it’s undeniably a robust tool, the interface coupled with the wide array of features can be overwhelming for most users, especially beginners. As such, many may find it requiring a steep learning curve and more time for familiarization. Luckily, you can find many reliable alternatives such as Wondershare Filmora.

As with DaVinci Resolve’s audio sync tools, Filmora also has an auto beat sync feature. This tool can sync your audio and video smoothly like a professional. What makes this feature unique?

• Automatically sync your videos to your music clips to produce a well-matched result.
• Intuitively adds video effects based on the analysis of your beat points.

Now, that’s a step above your usual syncing experience!

To utilize the auto beat sync feature in Filmora, follow the quick guide below:

Step 1:Right-click on the media files imported and select Auto Beat Sync.

Or you can also select the imported media then go to Tools and select Auto Beat Sync.

Step 2: In the Auto Beat Sync window, you can see the following: Auto Highlight, Auto Beat Sync, and Video Effect. Use Auto Highlight to add more clips, Auto Beat Sync to import background music, and Video Effect to set parameters like Glow, Video Wall, and Blur Effects. 

Step 3: Once satisfied with your results, you can save your project as a working file if you want to check back on it later. Otherwise, you can go to Export. Select your preferred export settings and save your video

With the steps above, you don’t need to rely on DaVinci Resolve for audio sync tasks. Filmora’s auto-beat sync tool can be an equally powerful alternative. As a video editor, Filmora has an extensive editing suite, AI-powered features, and a rich library of creative resources, all compacted into one user-friendly and intuitive editing platform. Its AI-powered tools give you an incredible edge in completing different editing tasks faster, from music generation to text-based editing, and more.

Part 4. Troubleshooting Tips for Audio Syncing

There may be times when audio syncing may not work as you expect. This can be true whether you’re working on the DaVinci Resolve beat sync feature or on other tools. In this case, here are some helpful tips to fix common issues:

• Check if the frame rates of your audio and video files match, as this often causes issues when syncing.
• When using an external audio recorder, make sure that both your camera and the recorder start at the same time.
• For large files, it's best to use automatic synchronization features to save time like the ones in DaVinci Resolve or Filmora.
• Robust software like DaVinci requires high-performance hardware and larger computer memory. Clear your cache, close other desktop tools, and check whether your computer meets the software’s system requirements.

Conclusion

A perfectly combined visual content and sound can make standout content. At times, it can even make or break your video. This is why your choice of tool for audio post-production is crucial. With DaVinci Resolve, you can sync audio and video in multiple ways, from automatic to manual syncing, without jumping from one tool to another. Even if you’re not a professional editor, you can sync audio in DaVinci Resolve by following the guide shared in this article.

However, if you’re looking for an alternative that can deliver the same high-quality audio sync results as DaVinci Resolve but with fewer complexities, you can bet on Filmora. With its auto beat sync tool and extensive editing tools, you can create stunning projects effortlessly.