Blackmagic Design has done it again. Although it has not officially been released yet, the iPad version of the award-winning post-production software DaVinci Resolve is going to be available very soon in the Apple store – For FREE! Read all the details about the DaVinci Resolve for iPad (interface, codecs, features, and future development. 

DaVinci Resolve for iPad

Although we’re between the first to report it, Blackmagic Design today (officially) announced DaVinci Resolve for iPad, so “Creators can extend video workflows in new ways and new places”. The app has been optimized for MultiTouch technology and Apple Pencil and features support for cut and color pages providing access to DaVinci’s award-winning image technology, color finishing tools, and the latest HDR workflows. Furthermore, Blackmagic Cloud support allows creators to collaborate with multiple users around the world.

DaVinci Resolve for iPad does not include the Fairlight audio page or the Fusion visual effects page because their software code has not yet been redesigned for the iPad.

Blackmagic Design

Interface – Compared to the Desktop version

It’s important to mention that the app will initially feature the cut and color pages from DaVinci Resolve and will be similar to the desktop version of DaVinci Resolve. There are some adaptions to the UI based on screen size, such as not having a menu bar, however, the full-color and cut pages are provided.

Until now we focused on adding new types of features to the cut page because the edit page was always available. However, on the iPad, that’s not the case. So we will be working hard to add more editing features to the cut page as soon as possible. These features will include enhanced audio support, keyframing, split edits, and more.

Blackmagic Design

Only Cut and Color pages – No Fairlight, No Fusion, and No Edit

Blackmagic emphasizes that DaVinci Resolve for iPad does not include the Fairlight audio page or the Fusion visual effects page because their software code has not yet been redesigned for the iPad. “We will continue to work on these pages and will include them in the future” BM states. Furthermore, the edit page is not included as it was initially designed for large screens, with a keyboard and mouse. BM says that: “This makes it very difficult to move to the iPad without changing it in a way that would cause problems for professional editors who rely on the edit page for their work. We expect the edit page to remain a desktop-only page”. If so, there’s no plan to add the edit page in the future.

The edit page is not included as it was initially designed for large screens, with a keyboard and mouse.

Blackmagic Design

Enhancing the Cut page, especially for the iPad

According to BM: “The cut page needs more features so it can operate on the iPad when the edit page is not available. Until now we focused on adding new types of features to the cut page because the edit page was always available. However, on the iPad, that’s not the case. So we will be working hard to add more editing features to the cut page as soon as possible. These features will include enhanced audio support, keyframing, split edits, and more. We will release these updates as we add the features”, the company adds. 

Supported file formats include H.264, H.265, Apple ProRes, and Blackmagic RAW, with clips able to be imported from the iPad Pro internal storage and Photos library, or externally connected iCloud and USB-C media disks.

Blackmagic Design

Optimized for Apple Silicon (M1, M2 is better, bigger is better)

As stated in the press release: “With optimized performance for Apple Silicon, DaVinci Resolve delivers 4x faster Ultra HD ProRes render performance on the new iPad Pro with M2. HDR is also supported for customers using a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with the M1 chip. Creators can send a clean feed grading monitor output to an Apple Studio Display, Pro Display XDR, or an AirPlay-compatible display. This lets customers use the external display to quickly create grades on set or color correct clips in post-production directly from their iPad”. Now, the question is if the app will be supported by M1 smaller iPads. From the press release, we can assume that it will. The smaller version of the M1 iPad will not support HDR though. And what about non-M1/M2 chip iPad? Well, from the press release we can assume that the support will be there, however, it’s going to run very slow and with impaired performances. Hence, Apple Silicon iPads are highly recommended, and might be the only option for editing and grading smoothly on the iPad version of Resolve. 

Customers will have the power of Hollywood post-production tools for editing and color correction literally in their hands, creating a whole new generation of creative editors and colorists.

Grant Petty- Blackmagic Design CEO

Compatibility with the Desktop version: No ARRIRAW, No R3D

According to BM: “The new DaVinci Resolve for iPad will open and create standard DaVinci Resolve project files which are compatible with the desktop version of DaVinci Resolve 18. Supported file formats include H.264, H.265, Apple ProRes, and Blackmagic RAW, with clips able to be imported from the iPad Pro internal storage and Photos library, or externally connected iCloud and USB-C media disks”. That means, at least at the beginning there will be no option to edit/grade REDCODE RAW (R3D) files, nor ARRIRAW.

DaVinci Resolve for iPad will be available FREE of charge in Q4 2022 from the Apple iOS App Store. High-end customers who need the features of DaVinci Resolve Studio on the iPad will be able to upgrade via a one-off in-app purchase ($95 USD).

Blackmagic Design

Congrats to Grant

Here’s what Blackmagic Design CEO- Grant Petty, said about the iPad app of Resolve: “DaVinci Resolve for iPad is truly a revolution for post-production. Customers will have the power of Hollywood post-production tools for editing and color correction literally in their hands, creating a whole new generation of creative editors and colorists. Compatibility with DaVinci Resolve 18 and Blackmagic Cloud, means that customers can collaborate on the same timeline with other editors or colorists as well as audio engineers and VFX artists from literally anywhere in the world. I think it will be exciting to try out the new iPad version and I can’t wait to see how our customers use it, their creativity will be mind-blowing”.

DaVinci Resolve for iPad Features

Here’re the key features of the DaVinci Resolve for iPad: 

1. The cut page for editing and the color pages are optimized for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro display.
2. Up to 4x Ultra HD ProRes render performance improvement with the M2 chip.
3. Supports Apple Neural Engine features in DaVinci Resolve Studio for iPad.
4. Compatible with DaVinci Resolve 18 project files.
5. Supports multi-user collaboration via Blackmagic Cloud.
6. Supports H.264, H.265, ProRes, and Blackmagic RAW media files.
7. Supports clips from iPad storage, Photos library, and iCloud.
8. Import clips from external USB-C disks.
9. Works with Apple Pencil, Magic Trackpad, Magic Keyboard, and Smart Keyboard Folio.
10. External monitoring via Apple Studio Display, Pro Display XDR, or an AirPlay display.
11. Supports HDR display on 12.9-inch iPad Pro with the M1 chip.
12. Compatible with iPad OS 16 or newer.

Price and availability

Now for the best part! DaVinci Resolve for iPad will be available FREE of charge in Q4 2022 from the Apple iOS App Store. High-end customers who need the features of DaVinci Resolve Studio on the iPad will be able to upgrade via a one-off in-app purchase. BM states that it expects this update to cost US$95. So there you go. Only $95 USD for a professional edit and grade iPad app. Amazing!

Closing thoughts

It’s interesting that this post-production powerhouse (Resolve) has introduced even before Apple itself releases (if any) the anticipated iPad version of its Final Cut Pro. DaVinci Resolve for iPad looks so promising that it may cannibalize other post-production software that professionals and advanced hobbyist use. This very affordable and powerful app can open up opportunities for others to learn color grading and editing in a fun and intuitive interface (and don’t forget — affordable). Also, it will be intriguing to reveal how the Cut page will be improved on the iPad app, and how (and if) it replaces the Edit page on the Desktop version. As usual, we’ll keep you posted about this fascinating app.