DiVinci :: The Purpose of Multiple Timelines
Here are three excellent YouTube videos that clearly explain the purpose and benefits of using multiple timelines in DaVinci Resolve:
How to Use Multiple Timelines in Davinci Resolve 16 (And Why It’s Such a Good Idea)
What you'll learn:
- How to create, manage, and switch between multiple timelines in a single project.
- Why using multiple timelines improves organization, enables different versions or edits side-by-side, and boosts editing efficiency.
Edit Faster with Stacked Timelines in DaVinci Resolve 18
What you'll learn:
- How to use stacked (dual) timelines to view and edit two timelines simultaneously.
- The significant workflow advantage this brings when navigating large or complex projects, allowing for quick jumps, comparisons, and edits across sections.
One PROJECT - Multiple TIMELINES // DaVinci Resolve 19
What you'll learn:
- A step‑by‑step guide to managing multiple timelines within a single project.
- How to maintain different versions (e.g., different cuts, aspect ratios, or storytelling approaches) in one place, making your project more organized and flexible.
Why Multiple Timelines Are a Game-Changer
- Alternative Versions & Edits: Easily maintain different cuts—for example, a 60‑second version and a 30‑second version—without duplicating the entire project (Blackmagic Design Forum, YouTube).
- Improved Organization: Segment your project by scenes, sections, or themes to stay tidy and focused. As one editor on the Resolve forums put it: “you can easily duplicate them, you can work in steps and keep the earlier ones as backups: e.g. version 1, version 2; assembly cut; …” (Reddit).
- Faster Navigation & Editing: With features like stacked timelines, you can view both an overview and a detailed section simultaneously, speeding up edits and context switching (YouTube).
- Parallel Workflows: Work on different deliverables (such as vertical vs. horizontal versions, or social cuts vs. broadcast cuts) in one project, simplifying media management and version control.
Recommended Viewing Order
| Step | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| 1. Start with "How to Use Multiple Timelines in Resolve 16" | Gives foundational understanding of why and how to create multiple timelines effectively. |
| 2. Watch "Edit Faster with Stacked Timelines in Resolve 18" | Shows how to work with multiple timelines simultaneously—a powerful acceleration to your workflow. |
| 3. View "One Project – Multiple Timelines in Resolve 19" | Brings it all together in the latest version, with project organization strategies and version control in a single project. |
Let me know if you'd like help applying any of these techniques in your current DaVinci Resolve workflow—or a custom breakdown for Resolve 20 Studio!