A devoted video modifying keyboard would possibly appear to be overkill for many informal customers, however don’t write it off till you’ve tried Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor. This little gadget packs a lot effectivity, together with the model’s Studio software program, in a single small package deal that it’d simply be definitely worth the cash.
Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve is well the perfect free video editor yow will discover. Seasoned editors would possibly discover the migration a bit robust because the program has some workflow quirks which are simply completely different sufficient to journey up muscle reminiscence, however in my expertise, changing my workflow was nicely definitely worth the transition.
The Speed Editor, one of Blackmagic’s proprietary modifying boards, is a devoted system designed to combine easily with Resolve. It has six units of buttons mapped to capabilities contained in the editor, plus an enormous wheel to wash via clips. If you’ve ever frolicked in an modifying bay, it can look acquainted (if very small). For people thinking about taking pictures indie films and past, a device like this may help.
The $395 sticker worth may appear stunning, however the firm additionally throws in a replica of DaVinci Resolve Studio, which normally prices $295 by itself. While the free model is already greater than sufficient for most individuals, Studio provides a large library of visible results instruments, help for 10-bit video, and the DaVinci Neural Engine to make a quantity of results instruments sooner.
A Portable Editing Bay
The most hanging side of the Speed Editor except for the attention-grabbing dial—extra on that under—is how compact it’s. It’s barely smaller than an iPad (although clearly a lot thicker) however options six units of keys that cowl a stunning quantity of the necessities that almost all video editors want, like fundamental cuts and multicamera controls.
On the rear, it has a single USB-C port for each connecting to an modifying rig and charging. Yes, this modifying board is wi-fi, however there’s neither an influence swap nor any technique of Bluetooth pairing with out connecting it to your pc by way of USB-C first. This is especially annoying in case you edit on a number of gadgets. I take advantage of a Windows desktop and a MacBook Air, each of which have DaVinci Resolve put in. Technically, the board is suitable with each, however swapping them is sufficient of a ache that I’d advise in opposition to making an attempt. The solely means to take action appears to be to unpair the board solely, however even that’s flaky. It would have been good to have a board that helps a number of methods the way in which most wi-fi keyboards do.
While this quirk is disappointing, the Speed Editor is a incredible device for moveable modifying in any other case. It is gentle sufficient to throw in a bag and sits comfortably subsequent to a laptop computer on small espresso store tables, and I used to be even in a position to make use of it whereas modifying on an airplane. The flexibility to take studio modifying bay-level instruments with me anyplace is difficult to understate.
The Dial
Portability apart, the dial is the star of the present right here, and I can’t categorical how significantly better modifying video is once you use it. The machined metallic knob within the center of the system rotates easily however nonetheless permits for very exact controls. You can flick it to ship it spinning (not that it is advisable) and cease it on a dime. A single dimple permits you to transfer the dial with as little as a single finger, and a rubberized rim makes positive you by no means lose your grip on it.
The dial has three modes: Shuttle, Jog, and Scroll, every enabled by buttons simply above the wheel. Each of them has a crimson LED to point which mode you’re at present in. These may be acquainted to veteran video editors with skilled expertise, however for everybody else, right here’s how they work:
Shuttle: In this mode, the dial controls playback pace. This can vary anyplace from 0.25x to 32x, relying on how removed from the preliminary level you flip the dial. This works in each instructions, so you may scrub via the timeline in reverse at as much as 32x.
