Video · Software guide
DaVinci Resolve: prepare videos for event playback
Before exporting a video for an event screen, establish how it will be played. This guide refers to the official DaVinci Resolve 21.1 codec list, September 2026. Record the installed build, free or Studio edition, operating system and workstation GPU. Check the decoding and encoding columns separately for the combination you plan to use.
Details for preparing the deliverable
Agree on duration, start and end, single playback or looping, canvas dimensions and content version. If some settings are undecided, identify them and prepare a sample to review with the operator before exporting the full set of files.
| Item | Record |
|---|---|
| Picture | Width × height, exact fps, progressive/interlaced and framing. |
| File | Container, codec/profile, requested quality or bitrate and alpha. |
| Color and sound | Intended space/transfer, range, channels, sample rate and audio map. |
| Control | Name, version, approval and receiving software/workstation. |
Prepare a local output
In a project copy, compare the timeline with the requested deliverable. Check picture, duration, export range and mix before preparing a job in Deliver. The page supports audio/video, video-only or audio-only jobs, added using Add to Render Queue.
Choose a new folder and name to separate original, sample and delivery. Quick Export can also upload to configured accounts: check the destination before starting a local delivery. Keep job parameters with the filename.
Destination specification → project copy → local export → review → playback reception
Why is an option available on another workstation?
Check the exact 21.1 list entry for OS, container and codec, including Encode and edition/GPU notes. Windows H.264, for example, distinguishes OS-supported profiles from additional profiles and GPU acceleration in Studio; Linux conditions differ.
If you need transparency, check Alpha Exports for the selected operating system, container and codec, then inspect edges over light and dark backgrounds. The MOV extension alone does not identify the codec or confirm that alpha was preserved. For DXV preparation and work in Resolume, see the Resolume guide linked below.
Three differences to catch in the sample
If motion changes, compare source, timeline, export and destination frame rates; do not round 29.97 to 30 in the brief. For crushed blacks or a washed-out picture, compare color/range interpretation across applications before changing all media.
If sound is missing, check that audio is included in the export, the selected mix, channel count and order, and monitoring at the destination. Use metadata to compare file settings, then play the full file to check sound, synchronization and possible bad frames.
- Open the export, confirm start/end and review its full duration.
- Inspect fine text, motion, gradients and a clear audiovisual sync reference.
- Test the sample on the destination system and share observations with the person approving the deliverable.
Example: an opening video and a looping background
To prepare an opening video and a looping background, start with the playback operator’s specification. Export a sample of each and review how the opening ends, what appears next and how the end of the loop joins its beginning. Complete these checks before exporting the full batch.
If the destination requests another codec, keep the master and prepare a compatible delivery copy. Additional conversion cannot recover lost detail; compare with the original and keep versions identified.