Pavithra -VFX-001 Level 1 Report

19 / 8 / 2025

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Installation of DaVinci Resolve Software

I visited the official Blackmagic Design website to download the free version of DaVinci Resolve. The process required me to complete a short registration process and select the appropriate operating system for the download. Before installation, I had to read and agree to the terms and conditions, which is a mandatory step to proceed further. Once this was done, the software was successfully installed and ready for use.

🔗 DaVinci Resolve Official Website

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Project Manager Page

Upon launching the application, I was greeted with the Project Manager page. This page serves as a central hub where I can create, open, and manage all my projects within DaVinci Resolve.

Interface of Project Manager Page

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Media Page

The Media Page is where you import, organize, and manage all the files for your project before editing.

Interface of Media Page

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Edit Page

After creating a new project, the software automatically directed me to the Edit Page.
In DaVinci Resolve, the Edit Page is the main workspace for assembling and refining the video project. It’s often compared to Adobe Premiere Pro’s timeline editing area.

Interface of Edit Page

Opening the Edit Page

At the bottom of Resolve, you’ll see different page icons (Media, Cut, Edit, Fusion, Color, Fairlight, Deliver). Click Edit (the one with a film strip and scissors icon).

Main Sections of the Edit Page

1. Media Pool – Holds all your imported clips, audio, images, and assets. You can organize them into bins (folders).
2. Source Viewer – Preview clips before adding them to the timeline. You can set In (I) and Out (O) points to trim before inserting.
3. Timeline Viewer – Shows the final sequence playback. Useful for checking edits in real time.
4. Timeline – Where you assemble your project. Add multiple video tracks and audio tracks. Use tools like blade (B), selection (A), and trim (T).
5. Inspector – Adjust properties of selected clips (scale, position, rotation, opacity, etc.). You can keyframe for animations.

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Cut Page

The Cut Page in DaVinci Resolve is used to quickly build and edit a video sequence. In this page, we can import and arrange clips, trim unwanted parts, and add simple transitions or titles. It allows us to adjust basic clip settings like position, scale, and crop while previewing the sequence easily. Overall, it helps in creating a clean and fast rough cut of the project.

Interface of Cut Page

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Assignment 1: Create a 30-Second Video Using the Edit Page

Theme: Beauty of Nature

Assignment-01

Steps Followed

• Collected travel clips from Pexels and other free video platforms.
• Arranged the clips in order and applied smooth transitions for a natural flow.
• Used the Blade tool (Ctrl+B) to cut unwanted frames at the beginning and end of the timeline.
• Removed unnecessary portions with Ripple Delete (Shift + Backspace), which automatically joined the clips without leaving gaps.
• Applied video transitions between clips for smooth scene changes.
• Adjusted basic audio levels for better sound balance.

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Outcome

• A 30-second video showcasing the beauty of nature.
• The video highlights seamless transitions, proper cuts, and balanced audio to create a pleasant viewing experience.

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Note: Always use copyright-free audio tracks when publishing on platforms like YouTube.
Using copyrighted songs can lead to restrictions, muted audio, or even the video being taken down.

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Assignment 2: Create a Fast-Paced 1-Minute Social Media Video Using the Cut Page

Theme: A Trip to My Native

Assignment-02

Steps Followed

• Gathered multiple clips from free video sources.
• Edited with quick cuts and fast transitions to give the video an energetic, fast-paced vibe.
• Applied video transitions between clips for smooth flow.
• Increased the speed of the clip using the "change clip speed" option .
• Explored the Titles feature to add text overlays and enhance storytelling.

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Outcome

• A 1-minute fast-paced edit of my native featuring:
  • Cuts
  • Transitions
  • Titles

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Fairlight Page Audio Editing – Task Summary

Objective:
The aim of this task was to edit a classroom video of my friend speaking, which had considerable background noise. The goal was to enhance voice clarity, reduce unwanted noise, and incorporate music and audio effects.

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Step 1: Organizing Clips

The clips were placed on the timeline in this order:

1. Title screen – “Before Noise Cancellation” along with intro music (fade-out applied)
2. Original audio clip – video with noisy audio
3. Title screen – “After Noise Cancellation”
4. Edited audio clip – same video after noise reduction and effects

Tip: Using separate tracks for each clip helps in adjusting volume and applying effects individually.

Fade Effects: Hover over the small triangles at the start or end of a clip and drag inward.

• Fade-in: music gradually appears
• Fade-out: music gradually disappears

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Noise Cancellation Workflow in DaVinci Resolve using RX 11

This document explains the step-by-step process I followed to apply noise cancellation in DaVinci Resolve by integrating iZotope RX 11 plugins.

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1. Importing the Media

• Open DaVinci Resolve.
• From the Media Pool, import the required video file.
• Once imported, place the clip on the timeline.

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2. Switching to Fairlight Page

• Navigate to the Fairlight page (dedicated for audio post-production).
• This page allows access to the mixer, effects, and plugin management.

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3. Accessing Audio Effects

• In the Fairlight page:
  • Open the Effects Library.
  • Go to Audio FX.
  • Use the Search bar to locate available effects or plugins.

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4. Initial Plugin Search

• First, I searched for the RX 11 plugins directly:
  • RX 11 Voice De-noise
  • RX 11 Spectral De-noise
  • RX 11 Dialogue Isolate
• Issue: These plugins did not appear in the initial search results.
• Instead, I found AU Sound Isolation (a built-in DaVinci Resolve tool).
  • I dragged and dropped it into the effects panel.
  • The effect was applied successfully, but it was not RX 11.

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5. Locating RX 11 Plugins Properly

• To access the RX 11 suite correctly:
  1. Go back to the Effects panel.
  2. Scroll down and open Restoration.
  3. Inside Restoration, select VST.
  4. Now, the RX 11 plugins become available.
     • ✅ RX 11 Voice De-noise
     • ✅ RX 11 Spectral De-noise
     • ✅ RX 11 Dialogue Isolate

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6. Applying RX 11 Plugins

• Drag and drop the required RX 11 plugin (e.g., Voice De-noise) onto the audio track or mixer channel.
• The plugin appears in the Effects Chain.
• Open the plugin interface and make adjustments:
  • Set Threshold and Reduction amount based on noise levels.
  • Choose Adaptive mode if the noise is not consistent.
  • For dialogue, use Dialogue Isolate for best clarity.

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7. Adjusting and Fine-Tuning

• After applying:
  • Play back the audio to monitor the effect.
  • Adjust attack, release, and sensitivity settings until the noise reduction sounds natural.
• Use Spectral De-noise for background hums or constant noise.
• Use Voice De-noise specifically for human voices.
• Use Dialogue Isolate when the main goal is to extract clean speech from noisy environments.

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Notes & Learnings

• RX 11 plugins do not show up in a normal Audio FX search; they are found under:
  • Restoration → VST
• AU Sound Isolation is useful but is a built-in DaVinci tool, not RX 11.
• RX 11 plugins are much more advanced and precise for professional noise reduction.

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Workflow Summary

1. Import video → Media Pool.
2. Switch to Fairlight page.
3. Open Effects Library → Audio FX.
4. Try search → AU Sound Isolation appears, RX 11 not visible.
5. Go to Restoration → VST → RX 11 plugins show up.
6. Drag & drop RX 11 plugin → Adjust settings.
7. Fine-tune noise reduction according to project needs.

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Conclusion:
The Fairlight page provides a step-by-step workflow to enhance noisy audio while allowing exploration of multiple audio effects in a beginner-friendly environment.

Assignment-03

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Deliver Page Export – Task Summary

Objective:
The goal of this task was to export a finalized 1-minute video from DaVinci Resolve’s Deliver page, making it ready for uploading to YouTube while maintaining high-quality audio and video.

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Step 1: Select a Preset

• Chose the YouTube → 1080p preset for standard horizontal video.
• This automatically set the file format (MP4) and video codec (H.264) optimized for YouTube.
• Ensured the preset matched the intended platform to avoid compatibility issues.

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Step 2: Assign File Name & Destination

• Gave the exported video a clear and descriptive file name.
• Selected a dedicated folder on my system to store the final video for easy access.
• Double-checked that the folder had enough storage space to prevent interruptions during rendering.

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Step 3: Review Video & Audio Settings

• Resolution: 1920 × 1080 (Full HD) for sharp visuals.
• Frame rate: kept consistent with the project (60 fps) for smooth playback.
• Audio: AAC format to ensure high-quality sound.
• Quality: Set to Automatic → Best to get maximum clarity while keeping the file size manageable.
• Verified all settings before moving to the render queue to prevent mistakes.

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Step 4: Add to Render Queue

• Clicked Add to Render Queue to line up the video for export.
• Confirmed that all settings, including format, resolution, frame rate, and audio, were correctly applied.
• Took a moment to check the estimated file size and render time.

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Step 5: Render the Video

• Clicked Render All to start exporting the video.
• Monitored the progress to ensure there were no errors or interruptions.
• Once completed, verified the exported file by playing it to check audio and video quality.
• The final video was ready for YouTube upload, maintaining the edits and enhancements done in Fairlight.

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Additional Notes

• Learned how different presets affect video quality and compatibility with platforms like YouTube.
• Understood the importance of checking render settings to avoid post-export issues.
• Practiced organizing exported files systematically for future projects.
• Noticed that rendering time varies with resolution, frame rate, and effects applied to the project.

Conclusion:
Using the Deliver page allowed me to export my video efficiently while ensuring high-quality output suitable for online platforms. The step-by-step workflow helped maintain consistency and professionalism in the final product.