Blackmagic Design announces DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor, “a new keyboard for DaVinci Resolve's cut page that allows a new and dramatically faster editing solution that’s a combination of integrated hardware and software. This means the editor can work much faster because, unlike a mouse, the DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor has a control for each edit function and can perform multiple tasks at the same time,” according to the announcement.
For a limited time, customers who purchase DaVinci Resolve Studio from a Blackmagic Design reseller will get the DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor included free of charge. DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor is available immediately from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide for US $295.
Traditional edit software uses thousands of clips to organize media, so customers need to repeatedly click and drag clips to edit, slowing work for TVCs, news, promos and training videos. However old tape based linear editing had the advantage of all media being played from a videotape, so customers could fast forward and rewind to see all their shots. Now the cut page has a modern version of the videotape and it’s called the "source tape". Users can now push the source button and use the search dial to scroll through all their media. Plus, the current clip is highlighted live in the bin. After the edit the viewer will stay in the source tape so customers can move to the next shot faster.
Entering in and out points is the most used function in editing, so the speed editor keyboard includes large in and out point buttons that customers can better locate by feel. It’s designed for two handed editing where users are using their right hand for transport control and their left hand is placing in and out points and performing edits. Customers can scroll along with the search dial and place in and out points anywhere wanted. Once the in and out points are set, users can reach their fingers up to the edit function buttons to perform the edit. The in and out points can also be used to focus the source tape. Then customers can change the source tape back to the whole bin by pressing the escape key.
Editing with a keyboard is different to editing with a mouse, so the cut page editing functions have been upgraded to take advantage of the speed of a keyboard. The edit functions are intelligent and use the "smart indicator" in the timeline to work out where to insert, so most of the time customers don't need to place in or out points in the timeline to do an edit. They are located just above the in and out keys, so are easier to locate by feel. “Each time customers edit, the cut page won't waste time switching over to the timeline, allowing customers to stay in the source tape and visually browse, placing clips continuously. That's much faster as customers can just keep throwing clips into the timeline,” the announcement states.
A large search dial is built into the panel to give customers a more accurate way to trim shots. The trim buttons will change the search dial into a trim control and customers simply hold the trim buttons and rotate the search dial. This means customers can select various trim modes with their left hand while adjusting the trim with their right, making it faster and the smart indicator in the timeline lets customers know which edit users are trimming.
“Editing software can be slow at adding transitions to edits because customers have to click and drag effects down into the timeline. However, with the DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor, customers can just press a button to switch them on and off. It’s really fast as customers can scroll down the timeline adding or removing effects. The smart indicator in the timeline will let customers know which edit point will be affected, and customers can move the timeline to move the edit point in focus. The cut key will remove any effect on an edit point in the timeline. Pressing dissolve adds a dissolve to the edit point using the default duration. Pressing the smooth cut button adds a smooth cut so customers can eliminate jump cuts,” the release states.
The DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor eliminates the large QWERTY keyboard for a smaller more portable design, so the function button area includes only the controls customers need for editing. “Some of the enhanced function keys on the DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor are not even available on the full-sized editor keyboard. Plus, some keys have an alternative function where customers can press and hold or double press to get a second function using the same key. That means customers need less keys for a more portable design, but it still retains a lot of editing power. The keys are in a separate group so customers can find the key customers need by feel and operate faster than a regular keyboard,” the release continues.
"We think this is an incredibly exciting product as it has such dramatic workflow ramifications," said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO. "Until now, editing software has been designed to be used with a mouse, however that’s slow as each edit function often takes multiple mouse clicks to do each task. Now with the DaVinci Resolve cut page and the DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor being co-designed, it means they work together for a whole new generation of editing workflow. It's so fast and a lot of fun to use!"
DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor Features
Source tape allows faster clip searching.
Large trim in and out buttons.
New keyboard modes for intelligent editing.
Buttons to allow search dial to live trim.
Buttons to change transition type.
Integrated search dial control.
Keypad for direct timecode entry.
For more information, visit https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/media/release/20201109-02. DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor is available now for US $295, excluding local duties and taxes, from Blackmagic Design resellers worldwide.
