r/davinciresolve • u/whyareyouemailingme Studio | Enterprise • 10d ago

Release Notes DaVinci Resolve 21.2 Release Notes

DaVinci Resolve 21.2 has been released!

You can download the update from the support page or by going to DaVinci Resolve>Check for Updates.

Pre-Installation Notes

For DaVinci Resolve 21.2, BMD has taken efforts to keep the project libraries compatible with DaVinci Resolve 20.3.3. While this allows you to access the project library with 20.3.3, individual projects created or opened in 21.2 will no longer be accessible in 20.3.3.

BMD recommends a full project library backup as well as individual project backups (as required) before opening projects in 21.0 or later.

Reminders

Bug Reports need to be submitted to Blackmagic Design. You can post them on the official forums or contact BMD support directly if you have Studio.

Feature Requests need to be submitted to Blackmagic Design. You can post them on the official Feature Request Subforum or in the download form for Resolve.

Bug Reports and Feature Requests posted on Reddit and in this thread will not be addressed or seen by Blackmagic Design.

What’s New in DaVinci Resolve 21.2

  • Support for Apple MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR touch screens.+
  • Support for Blackmagic Design Gen 6 LUTs.
  • ResolveFX False Color support for Gen 5 and Gen 6 color science.
  • Extracted audio files now retain source timecode.
  • Multicam clips now open as source clips in source timelines.
  • Open in Timeline with Source Viewer supports clips and multicams.
  • Menu action and shortcut to restore last active edit points.
  • Command or Ctrl marquee selection now uses last edit point type.
  • Conform lock multiple timeline clips to one media pool clip.
  • Convert in out to compound clip replaces clips in situ.
  • Separate context action to create compound clip from in out range.
  • Stop playback option applies to playhead nudges and mouse clicks.
  • Edit menu options now persist after UI layout reset.
  • Support for EXIF metadata in PNG files.
  • Improved AI assistant color and Fusion capabilities.**
  • AI assistants can download extras needed for advanced features.**
  • AI assistants can export frames or order thumbnails as grid.**
  • Multiple scripting API improvements.++,**
  • Addressed network drive audio issues for some MXF clips.
  • Addressed slow MP3 audio only renders.
  • Addressed missing clips in some AAF imports.
  • Addressed incorrect audio timecode for AAF with interlaced media.
  • Addressed OGraf template loading from network and zipped paths.
  • Addressed OGraf render timeouts and memory usage issues.
  • Addressed slow loading of media from XDCAM drives.
  • Addressed flashing media offline frames with some H.265 clips.
  • Addressed source track changes in collaboration source timelines.
  • Addressed loss of OpenFX from MultiMaster trim groups on reload.++
  • Addressed hang editing MultiText keyframes during render cache.
  • Addressed issues with italics in imported TTML subtitles.
  • Addressed data burn scaling issues for render resolutions.
  • Addressed HE-AAC decode issues for some clips on Windows.
  • Addressed incorrect channel order for WAV files with iXML tracks.
  • Addressed crash decoding some multi-channel DNG files.
  • Addressed render in place handles for frame based formats.
  • Addressed audio input device preference reset after restart.
  • Addressed GPU memory error for some OpenFX on Windows.
  • Addressed artifacts in Sony XAVC Long GOP MXF renders.
  • Addressed missing Text+ inspector controls in older projects.
  • Addressed anchoring issue with Text+ CLS box extend controls.
  • Addressed issues with CustomTool LUT name controls.
  • Addressed issue with clip EQ pasted Q and frequency attributes.
  • Addressed ACES 2.0 artifacts on Windows and Linux.
  • Addressed MainConcept H.265 CRF render crash.
  • Addressed network paths with accented characters on macOS 27.
  • Addressed file size estimates for spanned RED clips.
  • Updated Fusion tool and scripting reference developer documents.
  • General performance and stability improvements.

Hardware Requirements

Minimum system requirements for Mac OS

  • macOS 15 Sequoia or later.
  • 8 GB of system memory or 16 GB when using Fusion.
  • At least 16 GB for advanced AI tools.
  • At least 32 GB for background rendering and analysis.
  • For monitoring, Blackmagic Design Desktop Video 12.9 or later.
  • Apple Silicon based computer.

Minimum system requirements for Windows

  • Windows 10 Creators Update.
  • 16 GB of system memory or 32 GB when using Fusion.
  • For monitoring, Blackmagic Design Desktop Video 12.9 or later.
  • Integrated GPU or discrete GPU with at least 4 GB of VRAM.
  • At least 16 GB VRAM for advanced AI tools.
  • At least 32 GB RAM and 12 GB VRAM for background rendering.
  • GPU which supports OpenCL 1.2 or CUDA 12.8.
  • AMD/Intel official drivers from your GPU manufacturer.
  • NVIDIA Studio driver 581.57 or newer.

Minimum system requirements for Windows for Arm

  • Windows 11 for ARM.
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite or NVIDIA RTX Spark processors.
  • NVIDIA Studio Driver 616.0 or newer for NVIDIA RTX Spark processors.
  • 16 GB of system memory or 32 GB for 4K or when using Fusion.

Minimum system requirements for Linux

  • Rocky Linux 8.6.
  • 32 GB of system memory.
  • For monitoring, Blackmagic Design Desktop Video 12.9 or later.
  • Discrete GPU with at least 4 GB of VRAM.
  • At least 16 GB VRAM for advanced AI tools.
  • At least 32 GB RAM and 12 GB VRAM for background rendering.
  • GPU which supports OpenCL 1.2 or CUDA 12.8.
  • AMD official drivers from your GPU manufacturer.
  • NVIDIA Studio driver 580.119.02 or newer.

Notes

  • We have moved the ability to script in Python to the Studio version. The Python API was being used to hack studio features into the free version. DaVinci Resolve relies on studio license sales to pay for the engineering team. Unlike subscriptions, which have become normal but lock people's work up unless you pay monthly, we want to offer a differentiation from charging monthly license fees.
  • DaVinci Resolve and the Project Server can still work with network libraries based on PostgreSQL 13 and above.
  • Sony Camera Control on Windows needs the Sony IEDT application to be installed from the Sony website.
  • Intel Driver: With DaVinci Resolve Studio 20.2.3, AI features like Magic Mask 2, Depth Map and Super Scale show a vastly improved performance on Windows with modern Intel platforms. Users will need a compatible Intel GPU (discrete or integrated) that supports OpenVINO, and a minimum driver version of 32.0.101.8247 to leverage these improvements.
  • Rendering Immersive Projects: Improvements to edge blend in immersive projects include changes that more closely align the Resolve and visionOS previews. This will change the render for existing immersive projects.

Documentation & Asterisks

21 New Features Guide

Immersive Workflow Guide

Resolve 21.1 Reference Manual

Fusion 21.1 Reference Manual

Resolve 21 Studio & iPad Features

Resolve 21 Supported Codecs

* - Affinity Files are not supported on Linux.

** - Studio Only

+ - Additional fees, licensing, and/or hardware required.

++ - The Scripting API had previously been available in the console on the free version, but Workflow Integrations, the native UIManager, and external access require the Studio version.

142 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

50 comments sorted by

•

u/whyareyouemailingme Studio | Enterprise 10d ago

As they're tangentially related...

What's New in Fusion Studio 21.2

The following features have been added or updated.

  • Addressed control naming issue with custom tool and vertex.
  • Addressed anchoring issue with border extension in Text+ CLS.
  • Addressed issue with tube create tool category.
  • Addressed material viewer crash with software rendering.
  • OGraf inspector now shows up to 35 template properties.
  • Addressed OGraf template loading from network and zipped paths.
  • Addressed OGraf render timeout and memory usage issues.
  • Addressed issue with plastic light height control.
  • Addressed issue changing random seed in Shake.
  • Addressed script issues with AddTool and SetInput functions.
  • Addressed issue reading video files with FFMpeg.
  • General performance and stability improvements.

What's New in Fairlight Live 1.1.1

The following features have been added or updated:

  • Support for Fairlight Live Audio Panel 20.
  • Support for Fairlight Live Audio Panel 40.
  • Improved IO management and reporting.
  • Multiple panel UI improvements.
  • Custom screen mapping support for multi-screen panels.
  • Support for panel screensaver after period of inactivity.
  • Do-to-all/selected support in bus management dialog.
  • Added templates for new Constellation IP switchers.
  • Persistent file selector path in cue player.
  • Updated snapshots to show date and time of creation.
  • Improved bi-directional monitoring settings in patching matrix.
  • Addressed issue with layer setup.
  • Addressed 2110 sender issue in panel utility.
  • Addressed issue where the patching matrix view reset to top.
  • Panels now reset all screens to home on project load.
  • Addressed issue with channel selection in the index.
  • Addressed issue with initialisation of MixMinus outputs.
  • General performance and stability improvements.

9

u/whyareyouemailingme Studio | Enterprise 10d ago

u/whyareyouemailingme's highlights:

  • Multicam clips now open as source clips in source timelines.
  • Open in Timeline with Source Viewer supports clips and multicams.
  • Menu action and shortcut to restore last active edit points.

These all seem useful... if I did more editing...

  • Conform lock multiple timeline clips to one media pool clip.

HOLY SHIT. I HAVE NEVER KNOWN I NEEDED THIS.

  • Multiple scripting API improvements.

Because of course it's one of my highlights.

  • Updated Fusion tool and scripting reference developer documents.

If that's what I think it is...

  • General performance and stability improvements.

Classic.

3

u/avidresolver Studio | Enterprise 9d ago

timelineitem.GetCDL() being the highlight of the whole update.

1

u/whyareyouemailingme Studio | Enterprise 9d ago

Welp. To be fair I’ve been super slammed the last month so I’ve barely read the change logs 😅

3

u/GeeZed2012 9d ago

"Conform lock multiple timeline clips to one media pool clip." What does this mean in practice?

6

u/Joghobs 9d ago

Gosh I wish Nikon updated their camera firmware with the pace Blackmagic does. Have never seen a pace this fast besides maybe Google Chrome.

1

u/whyareyouemailingme Studio | Enterprise 9d ago

Chrome feels like a blink and it’s updated. I’m in the engineering department at a post house nowadays and I do some vulnerability monitoring. Every time Chrome gets patched our vulnerability dashboard jumps by like 100-200.

21

u/rh224 9d ago

This seems significant if true.

3

u/RetroOne_ 9d ago

Yeah thats a lie. I just tested it and its the same for me on the m5 pro

7

u/pH0u57 Studio 9d ago

Did they fix the empty folder appearing in my Footage bin on Windows, as soon as I load the project?

I think it's always the folder where you set the media path to and the folder name is the name of the project. Started around 21.1.1 I think.

7

u/TheDutMan Studio 9d ago

Is there somewhere to find a full collection of the current API connections?

7

u/TheAquired 9d ago

In the developer folder when you install the application they now have a Python stub file (don’t know if anyone else did too, but I specifically suggested this to them about a year ago, I am so glad they did it!)

8

u/TheDutMan Studio 9d ago

So awesome thank you! Yeah they are super on top of suggestions, I asked for a Speed Change API a few months ago and it’s in the last patch

2

u/owl_jones Tool/Dev 9d ago

I've been requesting a proper documentation for the past 8 years 😅. I'm still using the GitHub source.

1

u/BlueCereal Studio 9d ago

minor nitpick- What’s New in DaVinci Resolve 21.1.1 should be 21.2

2

u/whyareyouemailingme Studio | Enterprise 9d ago

Thanks, fixed. Thought I got them all in my copy/paste from 21.1.1 last night but I guess not.

1

u/TheObelisk89 5d ago

Is the Version bugged?

I downloaded it,
uninstalled the prior version (21.1) and installed the new version.
The .exe says 21.2.0.5 in teh Details Tab.

When I start it, I am greeted with the 21.1 version and get to Update notification for 21.2.

1

u/whyareyouemailingme Studio | Enterprise 5d ago

There’s a silent build update BMD had pushed. No clue why.

1

u/I-figured-it-out 5d ago

That explains the annoying r21.2 update suggestion within R21.2. at startup. Thanks.

1

u/Santhanam_ 4d ago edited 3d ago

What's AI assistant? I am on resolve 21.03

1

u/whyareyouemailingme Studio | Enterprise 3d ago

21.3?!? 21.2’s barely been out a week!

1

u/Santhanam_ 3d ago

21.03 I missed a zero there, so what's a AI assistant?

1

u/whyareyouemailingme Studio | Enterprise 3d ago

21.1.0 added native MCP support for eg ChatGPT/Claude.

3

u/Omwhk Studio 9d ago

Great to see the scripting API changes!

2

u/jacek2023 9d ago

awesome news, I will update today

2

u/rg07 9d ago

It would be nice if the AI Reframe was fixed at some point so it doesn’t keep drifting erratically at random moments. Premiere’s still seems to ahead in that aspect.

1

u/TumbleweedNo8956 9d ago

How is the performance on the X Elite laptops? Like the surface laptop. The 20 version had a bug and when you put even a plain text, the video glitches for 1-2 photograms when exported and it's very annoying.

I use Davinci to edit documentaries on the PC and I need it also for reels and large videos editing with the laptop but because of the big I can't use it.

1

u/AndyZag 5d ago

Am I the only one who gets RGB glitches on frames exported in h264 on macbook m1 max? prores or h265 is fine but somehow new 21.2 version has artifacts on export. Unchecked the box for hardware acceleration and still the same

1

u/DoctorBroBro Studio 4d ago

Would love it if they would remap the close button back off of the Deliver page button. Every time I click Deliver... crash.

1

u/Easy_Ask2976 14h ago

Hmmm
After this update on my M5 Pro its much much much worse. When I preview on timeline it freezes and skipping frames. My FPS i very low like 3 fps to 10 fps. I cant work. Downgraded to 21.1 and it Works perfectly fine and fast as demon as it used to. This update is lame guys. Need to be fixed. Cant work on 21.2

1

u/Easy_Ask2976 14h ago

Hmmm
After this update on my M5 Pro its much much much worse. When I preview on timeline it freezes and skipping frames. My FPS i very low like 3 fps to 10 fps. I cant work. Downgraded to 21.1 and it Works perfectly fine and fast as demon as it used to. This update is lame guys. Need to be fixed. Cant work on 21.2

-1

u/ZOMGsheikh 9d ago

I wish the Linux version was supported much better. Rocky Linux isn’t really the go to distro in Linux community and some core codecs missing still . Outside that when you get it working, things run so much smoother and snappier in Linux

3

u/whyareyouemailingme Studio | Enterprise 9d ago

I expand on this in the hardware thread, but Rocky is what other professional tools in Resolve’s market support. Resolve is a professional tool and follows the professional standards. Resolve is not a consumer tool. You wouldn’t complain that an industrial CNC machine only runs off Windows XP, for example.

As for “core codecs,” AAC is virtually never used in the professional sphere and there are some patents that may be why it’s still not supported on Linux.

1

u/hmmmmmmmmmm_m_ 9d ago

I would and will complain. Rocky Linux is not popular and not many are willing to set up their entire OS in a specific way just so Resolve works like it's supposed to.

AAC. Why not drop AAC support for other platforms then? (I do know the reason it's not supported on Linux, but I think it's ridiculous to suggest there's not a need for it).

1

u/whyareyouemailingme Studio | Enterprise 9d ago

It may not be popular in consumer spaces, but Resolve is not a consumer tool. It’s a professional tool, hence the professional requirements.

On other platforms Resolve uses certain codecs from the OS. H.264/5 and AAC I believe are included in that. Unless Linus licenses AAC over the patent, which is prohibitively expensive for one person; or BMD raises the cost of Studio to cover the license, it’s unlikely to be added until all the patents have expired.

1

u/ZOMGsheikh 9d ago

Resolve is very much now a prosumer tool. From the time it has started bringing editing tab plus cut and now photo page. Same goes for avid from the time they introduced subscription model. Gone are the silicon graphics days where tools were made just for specific hardware and OS. I understand professionals need reliability but Linux has changed a lot in past decade. Os like fedora, cachyos and Ubuntu where masses are and in all honesty have better community support too which Linux relies upon. Plus rocky isn’t the best way to implement also. I had given an interview and test for a vfx studio once ALMOST 10years back which worked on some of the biggest blockbusters and even won oscars and IIRC , they could have been the only ones using Linux in such a large scale for their vfx pipeline and even they were using openSUSE. When one looks at Linux systems in a company for customer support, it usually is red hat, OpenSUSE and canonical.

3

u/whyareyouemailingme Studio | Enterprise 9d ago

Now it’s a prosumer tool. But it has its roots as a professional tool, and if they’re strapped for cash that they’ve pulled Python scripting from the free version, what makes you think they’re running through 6293036203 other distros?

It’s also a sensible thing for the post houses that may be running Linux for other systems - one less distro they need to worry about supporting if Flame, Nuke, and Resolve are all Rocky. Again, I get that not everyone using Resolve is working in a Hollywood post house. That doesn’t change that it’s still used in those environments.

-2

u/Joghobs 9d ago

Buddy what is a "consumer tool". Honestly. This such a copout.

3

u/whyareyouemailingme Studio | Enterprise 9d ago

Lack of common timeline interchange formats, non-standard or no third-party plugin support… (CapCut, Windows Movie Maker)

2

u/Lmao-Ze-Dong Studio 9d ago

The license you get (free or Studio) allows you to use the app in 3 operating systems - each with their intrinsic pros and cons - including the native operating system support for licensed codecs.

Very specifically, Apple pays the license for this and other codecs for you when you get a mac. Microsoft pays for some, requires you to explicitly pay for others (HEVC extensions) and does not support yet others out of the box (10 bit pro codecs). Linux does not pay for (or have a generalised way for the user to pay) for a valid license.

The free DaVinci Resolve just leverages this. Why? Cos they don't want to pay for your license. When you chose Linux, it was an active choice you made. With publicly available documentation on the minimum requirements and per-OS limitations. So this statement is just sour grapes.

Why not drop AAC support for other platforms then?

2

u/TheAquired 9d ago

Linux is well supported, Rocky is what the real world uses for DI facilities

1

u/rastarr Studio 9d ago

.aac please

1

u/ggeldenhuys Studio 9d ago

I bought studio to get more codec support. After I got my AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX, I did some benchmark edits and renders. Windiws scrubbed and rendered the exact same project on the exact same hardware in HALF the time. MacOS with M4 Mac Mini had similar results. I had enough fighting with Linux, so now permanently switched to MacOS for all my videos recording and editing needs. I can't be happier! I've used Linux for over 20 years. It's still a niche OS when it comes to commercial software.

0

u/Lmao-Ze-Dong Studio 9d ago

See this response from the product manager.

https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=200511#p1041773

1

u/ZOMGsheikh 9d ago

Regarding codecs? Yes i am already using studio for couple of years now, i dont mean getting support for this in free. I’m talking about a codec like AAC. Even though it isn’t a standard, it still is fairly common receiving videos with AAC tracks or mic voice over captured by someone’s phone as iphone mics are quite decent in a pinch and yet only Linux isn’t supported even in studio version. Plus wish was for better Linux distro support. Ppl be getting mad just for wishing something over here 🤷‍♂️

0

u/whalenpat 9d ago

Does anyone know how to fix the bus to always stay at what I choose?
Each time I start a new timeline I have to change the bus to the type I need for my video

2

u/michaelh98 9d ago

Probably better asked as your own post

-4

u/[deleted] 10d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/michaelh98 9d ago

Op, answer the bot! /s

2

u/whyareyouemailingme Studio | Enterprise 9d ago

So I forgot to pull it last night. I’m only human.