To edit drone footage in DaVinci Resolve: create a project and set the timeline to the resolution and frame rate you filmed, import clips on the Media page, cut them to music on the Cut or Edit page, grade on the Color page (balance on node 1, apply DJI's D-Log M to Rec.709 LUT on node 2), then export from the Deliver page as H.264 or H.265 MP4. Resolve is free; Blackmagic's paid Studio version ($295) adds 10-bit and high-frame-rate support.
Free vs Studio for drone footage
Blackmagic says the free DaVinci Resolve works with "virtually all 8-bit video formats at up to 60fps" in resolutions up to Ultra HD (3840 × 2160). Studio adds 10-bit video up to 120fps and above 4K, plus AI noise reduction, film grain and more. Many DJI modes are 10-bit H.265 (D-Log M, HLG, and Normal 4K on some newer drones), and 4K/100 or 120fps slow motion is above 60fps. If those clips won't import or play smoothly in the free version, that's the reason. Blackmagic's current version is DaVinci Resolve 21.
1. Project settings
Open File > Project Settings > Master Settings. Set Timeline resolution (3840 × 2160 for 4K) and Timeline frame rate to what you shot most of your footage at (often 24, 25 or 30). Set this before adding clips; the frame rate is hard to change later.
2. Import
On the Media page, browse to your copied DCIM folder and drag clips into the Media Pool. If playback stutters, right-click the clips and generate proxy media to edit lighter files.
3. Cut
- Cut page: fast for simple edits.
- Edit page: a traditional timeline with more control.
Drop your music track first, then lay drone clips over it. Trim each shot to 3 to 6 seconds of smooth movement. Mute the drone audio track (it's just propeller noise).
4. Color with the DJI LUT
- Download your drone's free D-Log M to Rec.709 LUT from its DJI downloads page.
- In Project Settings > Color Management > Lookup Tables, click Open LUT Folder, copy the .cube file in, then Update Lists.
- On the Color page, use node 1 to set exposure and white balance.
- Add node 2 (Alt/Option+S), right-click it, choose LUT, and pick your drone's LUT.
- Add a third node for any creative look or saturation tweaks.
Use the LUT built for your exact drone. Model guides: Mini 4 Pro, Air 3S, Mavic 4 Pro. For HLG, use a Color Space Transform from Rec.2100 HLG to Rec.709 instead of a DJI LUT.
Normal-color footage needs no LUT. Just balance and add contrast.
5. Slow motion and speed
If you shot 4K at 100 or 120fps and your timeline is 24 to 30fps, right-click the clip, choose Change Clip Speed, and set the speed (25% for 100fps footage in a 25fps timeline). For speed ramps, use Retime Controls. Optical Flow retiming (and Studio's Speed Warp) can smooth slow-downs of normal frame rate clips, but true high-frame-rate footage looks better.
6. Stabilization
Gimbal footage rarely needs it. If a clip has wind jitter, use the stabilization tools in the Edit page Inspector or the Color page Tracker, and keep strength low; stabilizing crops the frame. For FPV footage, Gyroflow is better.
7. Export
On the Deliver page, choose the YouTube preset or Custom:
- Format: MP4. Codec: H.264 for compatibility, H.265 for smaller files.
- Resolution and frame rate: match the timeline.
- Click Add to Render Queue, then Render All.
For Instagram Reels or TikTok, make a separate 1080 × 1920 vertical timeline.
Common Resolve problems
- Media offline or no video, only audio: usually the 10-bit or H.265 limit in the free version, or a missing HEVC decoder on Windows.
- Slow playback: use proxies and set playback resolution to Half or Quarter.
New to editing? Start with how to edit drone footage. Shooting D-Log M? The DJI Mini 4 Pro and Air 3S both record 10-bit.
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