Blackmagic releases DaVinci Resolve 12.5.1 update

A .1 of a .5, but a lot going on

Blackmagic Design has released version 12.5.1 for DaVinci Resolve and DaVinci Resolve Studio on all supported platforms—Windows, Mac and Linux. And it’s a fairly major upgrade for a .1 of a .5 minor point release.

Most significant for Windows users working with ProRes files is that Resolve no longer requires QuickTime 7 for Windows. That means that Windows users no longer need to install QuickTime player. Resolve employs its own native 64-bit internal ability to read and write .mov clips.

All platforms will see entirely rewritten ResolveFX plug-ins with faster GPU acceleration.

New supported formats include Sony X-OCN, DNxHR 444 alpha channels, UHD H.264 on Windows, Red SDK v.6.2.1, .mts files and others.

Specific to Resolve Studio is improvement in 3D tools, Dolby Vision support, GPU acceleration for certain ResolveFX plug-ins not supported in the standard (free) version and added controls in the ResolveFX Film Grain plug-in.

As Resolve continues to evolve its editing capabilities, new features include improved multicam playback, more versatile selection tools, extraction of timeline markers from AAF import logs and clip selection based upon additional flags and markers.

While complete details of all new features, enhancements and fixes can be found on the Blackmagic Design website, it is most important to note that the 12.5.1 performs an update to the Resolve database. Blackmagic recommends backing up the database before performing the update in case corruption should occur.

“With over 1,000 enhancements and 250 new features, the customer response to DaVinci Resolve 12.5 has been overwhelming. It’s the most exciting and most quickly downloaded version of the software we have ever released. It’s amazing!” said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design in a statement. “This new DaVinci Resolve 12.5.1 update is the direct result of feedback from editors and colorists around the world. It’s incredible to see how quickly editors are making the switch to DaVinci Resolve, and we remain committed to continue building the best editing and color correction software in the world!”

DaVinci Resolve 12.5.1 is a free update for all Resolve users and here’s the full list of tweaks from Blackmagic below.

EDIT IMPROVEMENTS

* Improved 2-up and 4-up, multicam and playback performance when using QuickTime ProRes on Windows
* Added menu items to allow selection of clips based on Flag, Marker and Clip colors on the edit timeline
* Added ability to import and export duration markers using EDL
* Added the ability for clips to snap to their own markers when adjusting In and Out points
* Improved consistency of edit functions when Timeline is in full screen mode
* Added support for box wipe mode for offline reference wipe

COLOR IMPROVEMENTS

* Improved performance for Spatial Noise reduction in Better mode
* Improved listing of attached and timeline mattes in the node graph with support for alphabetical listing
* Added ability to apply grades from a reference wipe using the viewer context menu
* Added ability to align keyframe timelines of color grades using playhead position and wiped still frame
* Next node and previous node operations now loop around the node graph
* The ‘displayed’ node graph now automatically updates when the current still is changed
* Swapping nodes now also swaps the node labels
* Shift Up + Next Still will now append grade from the current still on the advanced control panel (Studio version)
* Added support for left eye and right eye grades for the timeline node graph (Studio version)
* Added ability to convert a mono timeline into stereoscopic 3D (Studio version)
* Added ability to convert a mono clip into stereoscopic 3D (Studio version)
* Added support for sequence and node render caching for stereoscopic clips and timelines (Studio version)
* Added compensation for stereoscopic slip when exporting timecodes in ALE (Studio version)
* Added support copying DolbyVision grades using stills and middle click (Studio version)
* Improved 3D and Qualifier panel layout in dual screen mode
* Improved behavior to stay on the same frame when joining two clips

RESOLVE FX IMPROVEMENTS

* Added ResolveFX Generate Color (GPU accelerated)
* Added ResolveFX Tilt-shift Blur
* Added support for anamorphism in ResolveFX Lens Blur (Studio version)
* GPU acceleration support for ResolveFX Lens Flare (Studio version)
* Ability to adjust Shadows/Midtones/Highlights in ResolveFX Film Grain in all compositing modes (Studio version)
* GPU acceleration support for ResolveFX Emboss, Waviness, Vortex, Ripples, Dent, Mirror
* Improved ResolveFX Scanlines and added various composite modes
* Ability to view the ResolveFX Scanline layer without the background
* Improved border behavior for ResolveFX Gaussian Blur, Directional Blur, Mosaic Blur, Radial Blur and Zoom Blur
* Added support for horizontal/vertical ratio in ResolveFX Glow
* Added support for pan and tilt on ResolveFX Prism Blur
* Improved performance for ResolveFX Light Rays
* Improved performance for ResolveFX JPEG Damage

MEDIA IMPROVEMENTS

* Added new Import Media options to File menu and Media Pool context menu
* Added support for stereoscopic 3D clips in Media Management (Studio version)
* Added ability to create stereo clips with mismatched source resolution (Studio version)
* Added support for display drive names in Media Storage on Windows
* Addressed issues with open file location from Media Pool on Linux
* Added Source Name tag support for filename without extension

CODEC & FORMAT IMPROVEMENTS

* Adds direct support for ProRes decode on Windows so that QuickTime 7 is no longer required
* Improved .mov decode and encode performance on Windows
* Support for UHD H.264 renders on Windows
* Improved .mov decode and encode performance on Linux
* Added support for HEVC (H.265) decode on Linux
* Added support for alpha channel on DNxHR 444
* Added support for the Sony X-OCN format
* Added support for various AAC encode parameters on macOS
* Added support for QuickTime AAC audio encoding on Windows
* Added support for V-Gamut in RCM for improved Panasonic camera image handling
* Added ARRI LogC to Linear and Linear to ARRI LogC LUTs in VFX I/O
* Addressed decoding of last frame in some Panasonic AVCHD clips
* Improved handling of AVCHD .MTS clips

GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS

* Alpha-numerical listing of codecs and format in the Deliver and Media Management pulldowns
* When running DaVinci Resolve in window mode, the macOS dock is now visible
* Improved latency for remote grading (Studio version)
* Improved handling of dissolves and overlapping clips in DolbyVision metadata export (Studio version)
* Improved behaviour when creating render jobs on locations without write permissions
* General performance and stability improvements