10 DaVinci Resolve Keyboard Shortcuts That Will Save You Hours
If you're editing in DaVinci Resolve, learning a few simple keyboard shortcuts can save you a ton of time. Whether you’re working on a YouTube video, podcast, or client project, these shortcuts will help you move faster, stay organized, and keep your focus on the creative side of editing.
I use these all the time while editing—and they make a huge difference. Let’s dive in.
1. Play/Pause – Spacebar
This one’s basic but essential. Use the spacebar to play and pause your timeline. Don’t waste time clicking the play button with your mouse.
2. Blade Tool – B
Press B to switch to the blade tool, allowing you to make quick cuts wherever your playhead is. Perfect for trimming up rough cuts quickly.
3. Selection Tool – A
After making cuts, hit A to switch back to the regular selection tool so you can move clips around easily.
4. Snap Toggle – N
Toggle snapping on/off with the N key. Snapping makes clips align perfectly with nearby edges. Turn it off when you need precision; turn it on for speed.
5. Ripple Delete – Shift + Delete
Select a clip and use Shift + Delete to remove it and automatically close the gap in your timeline. This keeps your edit tight and clean.
6. Link/Unlink Audio – Cmd + Shift + L (Mac)
Select a clip and press Cmd + Shift + L to unlink the audio from the video. Great for reordering, moving audio, or adjusting sync manually.
7. Insert Edit – F9
Place your playhead where you want a clip to go and press F9 to insert it—shifting the rest of the timeline to make space.
8. Append to End – Shift + F12
Want to quickly stack clips at the end of your timeline? Use Shift + F12 to drop your selected clip at the very end, no matter where your playhead is.
9. Zoom In/Out on Timeline – Option + Scroll
Use Option + Scroll Wheel (Mac) to zoom in and out of your timeline fast. This helps you quickly scan your whole project or get into the details.
10. Add Marker – M
Use M to drop a marker anywhere on the timeline. Great for noting where to add b-roll, fix something later, or leave comments for a second editor.
Final Thoughts
These 10 keyboard shortcuts will help you edit faster and keep your workflow smooth. Master just a few of them, and you'll be amazed at how much time you save.
