Edit a Short in DaVinci Resolve: Import to Export
Vertical timeline setup, dialogue cleanup, B-roll, Transform animation, titles, music and final delivery.
A complete vertical-video workflow without assuming that something must jump every second. Good pacing comes from meaning, visual information changes and controlled audio.
1. Create the project and vertical timeline
Set frame rate and vertical resolution before editing. A common Shorts/Reels format is 1080×1920, but always follow the platform requirement and source media.
2. Import and review the footage
Import media into the Media Pool and review faster than real time when dialogue remains understandable. Mark strong lines and places that need B-roll as you go.
3. Clean dialogue and set the pace
Remove false starts, long technical pauses and repeats, but keep natural breathing room. A Short should feel dense, not anxious. Use trim-to-playhead and ripple operations only when you understand which tracks will move.
4. Use B-roll to add information, not noise
Cutaways are strongest when they explain the line, hide a jump cut or reset attention. Do not add B-roll just to increase shot count. Disable the cutaway audio when it is not part of the story.
5. Transform animation with restraint
A small push-in, crop or reposition can soften a hard jump, but constant zooming on every sentence becomes tiring. For standalone cutaways, keyframe Position/Zoom and use Motion Blur only when it actually improves the move.
6. Titles and captions
Primary text must be readable on a phone and clear of platform UI. Build typographic hierarchy first, then animate. For two-line text, place the line break where the phrase naturally splits.
7. Music and sound design
Dialogue stays in front. Lower music under speech, keep voice levels consistent and use sound effects only for meaningful accents. Too many whooshes and impacts quickly make the edit feel generic.
8. Export and check on a phone
On the Deliver page, confirm vertical resolution, frame rate and codec. H.264/H.265 are common web options, but choose based on platform requirements and compatibility. Watch the rendered file on a phone before publishing.
Key takeaway
A strong Short holds attention through information density, clear dialogue and purposeful visual changes—not through the maximum number of effects.
Related lessons
Your First Edit in DaVinci Resolve 20: Project to Final File
A practical first-project workflow: setup, media, editing, audio, titles and delivery.
Audio Waveforms in DaVinci Resolve: Fix Flat, Missing or Hard-to-Read Displays
Separate real audio problems from display settings and make dialogue waveforms useful again.
How to Create Automatic Subtitles in DaVinci Resolve 20
Built-in speech-to-subtitle workflow: Create Subtitles from Audio, cleanup, timing, styling, vertical video and delivery.
Need help applying this to a real project?
Live 1-on-1 training is currently available in Russian. You can also send a production task for editing or workflow automation.