DaVinci Resolve is a powerful video editing software with advanced audio editing capabilities. One of the most common tasks in video editing is separating audio from video to edit sound independently, remove unwanted noise, or replace audio tracks.
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How to Separate Audio from Video in DaVinci Resolve 20
The fastest way to detach audio from a video clip is by unlinking it in the Edit tab.
Method 1: Unlink and Delete Audio from Video
1️⃣ Open DaVinci Resolve and go to the Edit tab.
2️⃣ Drag your video onto the Timeline.
3️⃣ Right-click the video clip and select Unlink.
4️⃣ Click on the audio track (green waveform) and press Delete if you want to remove it.
📌 Pro Tip: If you want to keep the audio but edit it separately, simply unlink without deleting.
Method 2: Mute Audio Instead of Deleting
If you want to keep the audio track but silence it, use the Mute option:
1️⃣ Right-click the audio clip in the timeline.
2️⃣ Select Mute Clip.
3️⃣ The audio track will remain but won’t play in the final edit.
📌 Pro Tip: This method is useful if you’re planning to add background music or voiceovers later.
How to Edit Audio Separately in DaVinci Resolve (Fairlight Page)
Once the audio is separated, you can edit, enhance, or replace it using Fairlight, DaVinci Resolve’s dedicated audio editing tool.
Step 1: Open the Fairlight Page
1️⃣ Click the Fairlight tab (bottom menu).
2️⃣ Locate the audio track at the bottom of the screen.
3️⃣ Use the Waveform display to see the audio visually.
Step 2: Adjust Audio Levels and Effects
1️⃣ Click the Inspector panel (top-right).
2️⃣ Adjust volume, balance, and panning to refine the audio.
3️⃣ Use the Equalizer (EQ) tool to remove unwanted frequencies.
📌 Pro Tip: Use Noise Reduction in Fairlight to clean up background noise.
Step 3: Replace Audio with a New Soundtrack
1️⃣ Go to the Media Pool and import your new audio file.
2️⃣ Drag it onto the Timeline, aligning it with the video.
3️⃣ Adjust the sync and timing to match the visuals.
📌 Pro Tip: If your new audio is out of sync, use the Waveform Display to align it with the original track.
Best Practices
✔ Keep a backup of the original audio track in case you need to restore it.
✔ Use Normalize Audio to maintain consistent sound levels.
✔ Apply Fade In/Fade Out to smooth out transitions between audio clips.
✔ Check sync alignment when replacing dialogue or adding external audio.
✔ Use keyframes for precise volume control in dynamic edits.
📌 Pro Tip: Mastering Fairlight audio tools will significantly improve the sound quality of your videos.
Why?
Separating audio from video allows you to:
✔ Remove background noise while keeping the visuals.
✔ Replace bad audio with better recordings or music.
✔ Adjust audio levels independently for better sound mixing.
✔ Sync new voiceovers or external audio sources.
📌 Pro Tip: Detaching audio is useful for interviews, podcasts, vlogs, and cinematic productions where clean sound is crucial.
If you need to completely silence a clip instead of separating or editing its audio, here’s a simple guide on how to remove sound from video in DaVinci Resolve to mute or delete audio tracks instantly.
And if you're adjusting your framing or working with audio replacement, you may also want to learn how to zoom in and out in DaVinci Resolve for cleaner, more precise edits.
FAQ
How do I separate audio from video in DaVinci Resolve?
To separate audio from video in DaVinci Resolve, go to the Edit tab, right-click the video clip, and select Unlink. This will detach the audio track, allowing you to edit or delete it separately.
How do I add effects to audio after separating it from video?
Use the Fairlight page to apply EQ, compression, reverb, and noise reduction to improve the quality of your separated audio.
Can I separate multiple audio tracks from a video file in DaVinci Resolve?
Yes, if your video has multiple audio channels, you can unlink and edit each track separately in the Fairlight page, where you can adjust levels and effects for individual tracks.
How do I export a video without audio after separating the sound?
In the Deliver page, go to Audio Settings and uncheck Export Audio before rendering. This will export a silent video.
What’s the best way to clean up background noise in separated audio?
Use the Noise Reduction tool in the Fairlight page to remove unwanted background sounds after separating the audio.
Can I automatically sync external audio with my video in DaVinci Resolve?
Yes, use the Auto Sync Audio function in the Media Pool to automatically match external audio with video based on waveforms.
