DaVinci Resolve FREE VS PAID Should You Switch?
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In this DaVinci Resolve comparison video Alli discusess the Free version of DaVinci Resolve to the Paid, Studio version of Resolve, and talks about all the various features and if it's worthwhile to upgrade, so that you can decide if it's time to make the switch!
About a year ago, I switched from the free version of DaVinci Resolve to the paid version. Was switching necessary if you're a pro editor? Can you get away with using the free version? And when do you know it's time to make the switch to Studio?
In this video, I'm going to let you know, and I'm going to share what real-life video editors need to care about, do care about, and whether it’s really worth spending the money to make this switch.
If you're new here, Will and I release weekly DaVinci Resolve tutorials. Coming up, we're going to be releasing a whole whack-load of tutorials looking at some of the features and effects that I discuss in this video. To stay in the loop, subscribe to our channel. Now let's hop in there and start comparing.
First things first, the free version of Resolve is pretty impressive. They don't try to pull any sneaky moves, like limiting how often you can use the free version or adding a watermark to all your videos when you export them. The only reason a watermark would be added to one of your clips is if you go to use an effect or a feature that's only available in the Studio version. But you'd see it right away, and in some cases, they still let you use that feature or effect so you get an idea of how amazing it actually is.
You can also use the free version offline, update to the very latest release, and export in up to 60 frames per second in 4K. Overall, I found this to work fine for me because the video projects I typically work on are exported in 4K resolutions at 24 frames per second. If you have any questions about the Studio version versus the free version, you're probably not the only one wondering, so feel free to drop them in the comments below, and I will do my best to answer.
The free version also includes multi-editor collaboration, stabilization for shaky footage, slow motion, and even green screen chroma keying. There are also a lot of cool title effects as well as HDR color grading.
However, things are going to run slower in the free version. So, if you have tight deadlines or like maximizing your efficiency, this might be a problem for you. The free version does support pretty much all 8-bit video formats, but footage shot at a bit rate of 10 doesn’t handle as well. Additionally, the free version only uses one GPU, whereas the Studio version utilizes multiple GPUs, making Resolve operate better and giving you better performance.
So, 100%, I would say that if you're new to DaVinci Resolve or video editing, the free version is the place to start. The free version is great for hobbyists or casual video editors. Even if you are a professional video editor, you can still get by using the free version—I did it. But if you're getting paid to edit and you're doing this professionally, buying the Studio version will save you tons of time, improve performance on your computer, and open up so many amazing effects, features, and opportunities for growth.
Here are my favorite and most-used features and effects from the Studio version:
A lot of the video projects I work on have people on screen, and of course, they want to look their best. The Studio version has effects and features that enhance people’s skin, brighten their eyes, reduce bags under their eyes, whiten their teeth, add blush and lipstick, and smooth out wrinkles. The face refinement effect alone is worth making the switch to Studio.
You can still improve someone’s skin in the free version of Resolve (I’ve created a tutorial on this), but it just takes longer.
Super Scale is another amazing feature. It allows you to take footage shot at a lower resolution and enhance it. For example, if you're working with a clip shot in 720p, you can enhance it to look like it was shot in 1080p or 4K. At first, I was skeptical, but it’s impressive and something I use more than I expected.
Music Remixer is another great tool in the Studio version. It lets you adjust a song by removing or quieting lyrics, instruments, or specific elements.
Rendering a video is also much faster in the Studio version.
Relight is an amazing tool that lets you add lights to your scene in post-production, opening up more creative opportunities.
Magic Mask is another game-changer. It allows you to isolate and track objects or people, letting you do things like place text behind a mountain or swap a background. Manually masking and tracking is time-consuming, but Magic Mask makes it easy and fast.
I often get asked by clients to add closed captions to videos. The Studio version can create them instantly, which saves a ton of time compared to manually typing them out in the free version.
When working with audio, removing distracting background noise is a major need. The paid version has a simple tool that does an amazing job quickly and efficiently.
If you create horizontal videos that need reformatting for social media in vertical form, Smart Reframe is another awesome feature. It simplifies reformatting video projects.
Another great aspect of the Studio version is its one-time payment model. You pay once, get lifetime access, and can use it on up to two computers. DaVinci Resolve regularly updates and adds new features, always putting the editor first. They even listen to feedback. I’ve seen features implemented after providing feedback, which is something I truly appreciate.
So, if you're a professional video editor and make money from video editing, the Studio version is absolutely worth the investment. I’ve improved so much as an editor thanks to the amazing features and effects it offers.
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🎵MUSIC & SOUND FX WE USE IN OUR VIDEOS🎵
➜ https://bit.ly/2NPCjd7
👉GET 50% OFF OUR EDITING PRODUCTS:
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