Blackmagic has release a new update to DaVinci Resolve 12.5, which promises enhancements that include Apple ProRes Decode for Windows and a plethora of additional editing tools.
“This new DaVinci Resolve 12.5.1 update is the direct result of feedback from editors and colorists around the world. It’s incredible to see how quickly editors are making the switch to DaVinci Resolve, and we remain committed to continue building the best editing and color correction software in the world.” - Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design.
So what’s coming with the 12.5.1 update? As mentioned above, editors and color graders can now decode Apple ProRes directly from the Windows interface without having to rely on QuickTime. This is an important new feature after Apple quietly killed QuickTime last Spring just before NAB.
Since there will be no further updates to the aging video codec and platform, it has become necessary for software developers to back-engineer the encoding features natively into their own applications. DaVinci Resolve 12.5.1 now uses its own native 64-bit code to read and write .mov files, as well as provide for improved playback performance in H.264.
Speaking of editing… Since Blackmagic has steadily been evolving Resolve from a color grader to a full-on editing suite, they have been adding features that will streamline the post-production workflow straight from the timeline. In this update, users will be able to make selections based on flag, market and clip colors, plus provide a “better” mode for spatial noise reduction. Users will also be able to align timelines according to color grades.
Blackmagic has also added improved codec support with additions that include Sony’s latest X-OCN Raw codec, HEVC (H.265) support in Linux, ARRI Log C and more.
On the color grading front, DaVinci Resolve 12.5.1 gets numerous improvements that include:
- Improved performance for Spatial Noise reduction in Better mode
- Improved listing of attached and timeline mattes in the node graph with support for alphabetical listing
- Added ability to apply grades from a reference wipe using the viewer context menu
- Added ability to align keyframe timelines of color grades using playhead position and wiped still frame
- Next node and previous node operations now loop around the node graph
- The ‘displayed’ node graph now automatically updates when the current still is changed
- Swapping nodes now also swaps the node labels
- Shift Up + Next Still will now append grade from the current still on the advanced control panel (Studio version)
- Added support for left eye and right eye grades for the timeline node graph (Studio version)
- Added ability to convert a mono timeline into stereoscopic 3D (Studio version)
- Added ability to convert a mono clip into stereoscopic 3D (Studio version)
- Added support for sequence and node render caching for stereoscopic clips and timelines (Studio version)
- Added compensation for stereoscopic slip when exporting timecodes in ALE (Studio version)
- Added support copying DolbyVision grades using stills and middle click (Studio version)
- Improved 3D and Qualifier panel layout in dual screen mode
- Improved behavior to stay on the same frame when joining two clips
There’s also a laundry list of Media Management improvements, additional Codec and format improvements, Resolve FX improvements and general housekeeping fixes that include better latency performance in remote grading, better handling of dissolves and overlapping clips for export in Dolby Vision, and improved behaviour when creating render jobs on locations without write permissions. Check out the complete list in the release notes here.
As has become the norm with Blackmagic, a typical “dot upgrade” is so packed with new features and fixes, that it could practically stand up on its own as a new version. Also equally impressive is support for codecs like Sony’s X-OCN that’s just been announced. It shows how quick to react to the rapidly shifting nature of the post-production workflow Blackmagic can be. They made sure support was ready, likely working quietly from a beta, once Sony officially announced X-OCN.
The DaVinci Resolve 12.5.1 update and DaVinci Resolve 12.5.1 Studio update are now available for download from the Blackmagic Design website here.
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