Introduction
Adobe Creative Suite has reigned as the go-to choice for comprehensive content creation since September 2003. Applications like Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and After Effects set the standard, offering a seamless integration that became a defining feature. The suite’s Dynamic Link feature was a significant game-changer, making the workflow incredibly smooth. It seemed nearly unimaginable for any other application to step into its place. On the other hand, DaVinci Resolve has been steadily evolving with each release. The release of DaVinci Resolve version 17 caused a significant buzz in the content creation sphere. Users can now effectively manage an entire project from start to finish within a single application. The interface is notably sleek, well-developed, and considerably less prone to bugs compared to Premiere Pro. Below, we outline the key differences between Resolve and Adobe Suite.
Table of Contents
All-in-One App
Production studio vs Separate apps
Davinci Resolve is split into separate pages. Each focuses on a specific task:
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| Editing: Edit page |
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Key advantages:
• It’s not necessary to manage multiple project files or export assets from one program to be imported into another.
• Changes made on each page are instantly accessible in others.
Node Based VS Layer Based
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Node-based compositing (in Color Page and Fusion Page). Layer-based compositing in the Edit and Cut Page. | Layer-based compositing. |
Key Advantages:
• More powerful and flexible than Layer-based compositing.
• Serial nodes can function just like layers. This helps reduce the learning curve. Work like you used to while you learn about the power of nodes.
• Offers advantages in speed and power once a user has overcome the initial learning curve.
Color Processing
Color management
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Resolve’s color management uses superior maths to color manage clips at the Media Pool level. Can be Scene referred(Native file color space) or Display referred (Screen color space) | Premiere requires the use of LUTs in the timeline to normalize clips. |
Key Advantages:
• Rather than requiring LUTs to be applied in the timeline, Resolve allows clips to be color-managed at the Media Pool level.
• Even before editing or color grading, clips now display properly.
• Proper color management is vastly superior to using LUTs to convert color spaces.
• It’s now possible to Changing the delivery color space with a single click is now possible.
• Managing color space conversions in the background allows you to concentrate on editing.
Color Grading
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Industry-leading tools used for grading Hollywood movies. | Lumetri plugin. |
Key Advantages:
• Color Grading has been at the core of Resolve since version 1, unlike other applications that have been developed primarily for editing and subsequently had color grading functionality added as a plugin.
• Industry leading.
Projects & Files Management
Database VS Project
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Davinci Resolve Projects are stored inside libraries managed by Resolve. Libraries can be stored locally on your computer, on a network server, or in the cloud. | Premiere Projects are saved as files. Users manage where these files are stored. Can be easier to use. |
Key Advantages:
• Configure Resolve to generate backups of Projects stored in a Library.
• Libraries facilitate resource sharing among various projects.
• Enable multiple users to collaborate concurrently on a project within Libraries.
File Format
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Can Export and Import Projects (.drp), Timeline(.drt), and Archive files(.dra), bins(.drb). Can even save grades(.dpx) and fusion compositions(.comp) as files. | Projects only. Timelines cannot be exported independently |
Compatibility with other NLE’s
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Can open edits from other NLEs. Can also export edits to other NLEs | Can only open Premiere edits. Premiere’s best export option is the outdated FCP7 XML. |
Key advantages:
• Resolve can import edits created in Premiere Pro. Resolve can also export edits that can be imported into Premiere Pro. This allows you to transition edits to Resolve, or if needed transition them back to the NLE you began in.
• Resolve can be used as a hub for converting edits from one format to another.
Multi User Collaboration
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Features bin, timeline, and clip locking. Does not require a project to be set up a special way in advance. Simply turn multi-user-collaboration on. Has excellent support for working remotely such as path mapping and mapped mounts. | Team Projects’ works best when editors are on the same network. It is more problematic to use remotely. Does not have a clip or timeline locking. Only features project locking so requires users to create multiple projects in advance (at least one for every person who expects to collaborate simultaneously) and then nest them in a master project. This requires planning ahead of time. In essence, each user works within their project. |
Key advantages:
• .drp .drt and .dra files cannot be opened directly. They need to be loaded into a library first.
• Offers flexibility to export only what is needed or to export everything.
• Resolve’s cloud and collaboration features are much easier to use and do not force users to compartmentalize collaborators.
Editing Tools and Options
Mis-matched files resolution
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Can change timeline resolutions easily. Offers extensive options for resizing mismatched resolution clips. | When changing the timeline resolution, effects and scaling operations must be adjusted. Requires editors to manually resize mismatched resolution files to fill the frame. |
Key advantages:
• It’s easy to work with mismatched resolution files.
• Timeline resolution can easily be changed after editing has begun.
Resolution and scaling
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Resolve gives four distinct options for handling mismatched resolution files (crop, fill, fit, stretch). | Premiere lacks options to scale mismatched resolutions to fill the screen only offering one option, scale to frame size, forcing users to manually scale clips to fill the frame. |
Key Advantages:
• It’s incredibly easy to work with mismatched resolution media.
• Correct scaling is maintained even if you change the resolution of your
Timeline.
Timeline ZOOM
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Resolve features a fixed extent and detail zoom level as well as custom zoom levels and zoom to fit. | Custom zoom levels with a zoom-to-fit option. |
Key Advantage:
• Being able to switch between pre-defined levels of zoom saves lots of clicking!
Editing Tools
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Editing tools are consolidated into 3 editing modes. Changing between selection and trim mode affects whether particular operations ripple or not. | Editing tools are split between 7 different tools. |
Key advantages:
• Fewer tools means fewer hotkeys to remember. Different editing operations are intuitively performed by clicking on different parts of a clip.
• It’s easy to choose between non-ripple and ripple edits by using selection mode or trim edit mode.
Image Stabilization
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In the inspector for every clip. Can use on clips even if their speed has been changed. | Has to be applied as an effect. Cannot be used on clips that are sped up or slowed down. It must be nested first. |
Key advantages:
• Resolve’s stabilizer can be used on clips with applied speed changes.
Slow Motion
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Resolve internal optical flow to enhance slow motion and generate missing frames in Low-frame rate clips. | Premiere is dependent on the frame rate. Need a third-party plugin like Twixtor to get any decent results |
Key advantages:
Resolve provides much cleaner and more realistic speed warps.
Keywording Functionality
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Easy keywording system that remembers previously created keywords and helps with auto-complete Suggestions. Automatic generation of keyword search bins makes it easy to access keyworded clips. | A difficult and complex keyboarding system that is hidden within the interface. No auto-complete. No automatic search bins. |
Key advantages:
• Resolve makes it easy to use keywords to organize and access media. It’s a
great way of managing lots of media.
Dynamic Zoom
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Has Dynamic Zoom | No. |
Key Advantages:
• Dynamic zoom allows you to quickly add camera movement to static shots.
Fade Handles
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Both video and audio clips have fade Handles. | No fade handles. Editors need to manually keyframe or use transitions. |
Key advantages:
• The common task of fading clips is easier with fade handles.
Timecode Handling
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Supports embedded timecode and audio timecode (Linear Timecode) | Only supports embedded timecode. Does not support audio timecode. |
Key Advantages:
• It’s possible to work with files containing Linear Timecode without having to
convert them using a third-party external app.
Audio Mixing and sound design
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Fairlight integrates professional audio tools directly into Resolve. | Premiere has a well-rounded audio toolset. Additional functionality is available via Audition through Dynamic Linking. |
Key advantages:
• Resolve’s audio toolset is comparable to Premiere Pro combined with Adobe Audition, but with the added advantage of being integrated into a single program.
Export and Delivery
Media Encoding
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Resolve’s encoding engine is integrated into the Deliver page. | Premiere’s companion encoding program is called Media Encoder Standalone encoding apps like Media Encoder and Compressor can be simpler for converting files from one format to another because they do not require a project to be open or a timeline to be created. Resolve’s inbuilt toolset excels when managing dailies or exporting archival masters. |
Key advantages:
• Resolve excels at managing dailies for shoots because of its inbuilt color Management, data-burn-in functionality, wide codec compatibility, timecode support, and handling of tags and metadata.
• Resolve can be used to deliver advanced formats like DCPs, Dolby Vision, etc.
• The standalone app Blackmagic Proxy Generator can be used for encoding Proxies.
Data Burn-in
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Lot’s of options | Timecode only |
Key advantages:
• Resolve’s rich meta-data burn-in options are invaluable in a variety of post-production workflows.
