Reduce video size efficiently in DaVinci Resolve

In this tutorial, you will learn how to reduce the size of your video files in DaVinci Resolve without changing the frame rate (FPS) or resolution. Often, your exported videos may be too large, and you want to shrink them without drastically affecting the quality. Here, you will receive clear instructions on adjusting the bitrate of your videos to reduce the size. Let's get started.

Key Takeaways

• The bitrate is crucial for file size.
• Reducing the bitrate can shrink the file size without changing the resolution.
• When working with high-resolution videos, consider changing the resolution to 4k or 1080p to further optimize file size.

Step-by-Step Guide

First, in DaVinci Resolve, go to the video you want to export. If you are working with a video that has a large file size, the first step is to open the export window.

In the export window, you will see several options on the right side. This primarily concerns the quality settings of your video that you can adjust to reduce the file size. Click on the rocket icon in the bottom right to access the export options.

When in the export menu, make sure not to use the "Automatic" option for quality selection. Instead, switch to "Restrict to." This setting allows you to manually control the bitrate.

Now you will see an input field for bitrate. Here you can reduce the bitrate of your video file. A good rule of thumb is to set the bitrate to about half of the current value if you want the quality to remain moderate. For example, you can reduce the bitrate from 80,000 to 40,000.

It is important to note that reducing the bitrate will affect the quality of your video, but if done carefully, it should not be dramatically noticeable. Lowering the bitrate will make the video smaller, and you will find that the export file can be significantly reduced.

If you are working with high-resolution videos like 4K or 8K, it is advisable not to optimize the resolution unless you are willing to make unnecessary compromises in image quality. In most cases, you can keep the resolution if you are only experimenting with the bitrate.

However, if you decide to lower the resolution, I recommend going to 4K or 1080p to further optimize your file. These adjustments will result in a significantly smaller video afterward.

Additionally, it is advisable to regularly check the quality by watching a short video after the adjustments to ensure that the quality is still acceptable and meets your standards.

Once you are satisfied with these settings, you can complete the export of your video. Simply click on the "Export" button, and your edited file will be output in the desired size.

Summary

In this guide, you have learned how to reduce the bitrate in DaVinci Resolve to efficiently shrink the size of your videos without changing the resolution or frame rate. This knowledge allows you to optimize your video work while keeping an eye on quality.