How to fade audio in DaVinci Resolve

The essential answer

You fade audio in DaVinci Resolve by changing a clip’s volume over time on the timeline. Drag the fade handles at the top corners of an audio clip for a fade-in or fade-out, type a fade length in the Inspector when that panel offers it, drop an audio transition on a cut to crossfade two clips, or draw volume automation on the Fairlight page for a custom curve.

A fade is an envelope on media already in the project. It leaves the original recording, microphone or camera permissions, and call or capture quality unchanged. “Fade” here means easing one clip from or to silence, or blending two clips together. It is separate from lowering the whole track fader and from fixing a quiet or clipped recording.

What you need before you start

Work in a project that already has audio on a timeline. Linked video-plus-audio clips count; you fade the audio portion the same way. Use the Edit page for handles, Inspector durations, and transitions. Use the Fairlight page when you need a drawn volume line. Listen on speakers or headphones so you can judge the result by ear.

• A timeline with at least one audio clip, or a video clip with attached audio
• Enough clip length for the fade you want; a handle needs space inside the clip
• Playback through an output you can hear
• Willingness to match control names to your version; Free and Studio layouts, and year-to-year updates, can move labels

Fade a clip in or out on the Edit page

Timeline handles are the fastest method for a single fade-in or fade-out.

• Open the Edit page and show the timeline that holds the clip.
• Zoom in until the start and end of the audio are easy to see.
• Move the pointer to the upper-left corner of the clip for a fade-in, or the upper-right corner for a fade-out, until a fade handle appears.
• Drag the handle toward the middle of the clip. A longer drag makes a longer fade.
• Play from a few seconds before the fade.

It worked when the fade overlay or waveform tapers and you hear a smooth rise or fall instead of a sudden start or cut. If no handle appears, zoom in further and confirm you are pointing at audio (including the audio of a linked clip) rather than a video-only segment. This check confirms the envelope on that clip. Recording quality, output routing, and any compressor or limiter later in the path still need their own checks.

Set fade length in the Inspector

Many recent versions let you type Fade In and Fade Out durations after you select the clip and open the Inspector’s Audio section (the Inspector control sits in the upper-right of the interface when the panel is hidden). Enter the length you want and play the clip. Matching handles should appear on the timeline. If those fields are missing, your version may keep fades on the timeline and Fairlight page only; use the handles in the previous section.

Crossfade from one clip to another

Use a crossfade when one sound should blend into the next rather than dip to silence.

• Place the two clips on the same track so they meet or slightly overlap at the join.
• Open the Effects Library and find Audio Transitions (often under Toolbox).
• Drag a Cross Fade onto the edit point. Resolve commonly includes more than one style, including 0 dB and -3 dB variants; those change how loud the overlap is.
• Drag the edges of the transition to change its length.
• Play across the join.

It worked when both clips are audible in the overlap and the join has no click or gap. If the transition will not stick to the cut, put both clips on the same track and leave enough extra media (handles) beyond the edit to build the blend. No input-level target was supplied for this setup. A fade still starts from whatever level the clip already has, so set clip or track level first if the sound is too loud, too quiet, or already clipping.

Choose a fade shape

After a fade exists, right-click the fade region on the Edit-page clip and pick a curve type when the menu appears. Linear changes level at a steady rate on the meter. Curved or equal-power styles are often used on crossfades so the blend stays even through the middle. On Fairlight you can reshape the volume line with keyframes. Choose the shape by listening at a comfortable playback volume.

Use Fairlight for custom volume curves

• Open the Fairlight page.
• Select the track and clip.
• Show volume automation for the clip or track if it is hidden.
• Add keyframes and drag the volume line down toward silence at the start or end, or shape a blend across a transition.
• Play the same region.

It worked when the automation curve matches the move you made and playback follows that curve. Confirm you edited the volume parameter, the track is audible, and you are listening to the monitored output. Track automation can combine with clip fades, so look at both if the sound is quieter or louder than the line you drew.

Methods at a glance

Method	Where you work	What it is for
Fade handles	Edit timeline corners	Quick fade-in or fade-out on one clip
Inspector durations	Clip Inspector, Audio section	Numeric fade length when the fields exist
Audio transition	Edit point between two clips	Crossfade from one sound into another
Volume automation	Fairlight page	Custom curves and precise timing

How you know it worked

Play the faded region and watch the clip. A successful fade-in or fade-out shows a taper on the clip and a smooth change to or from silence. A successful crossfade plays through the join with both sounds overlapping and no hole at the cut. If the picture shows a fade and the speakers still pop, inspect the cut, an overlapping clip, or another clip on a louder track. Exact keyboard shortcuts depend on your keymap and operating system; if a shortcut does nothing, use the on-screen handles or the Effects Library.

Limits and the next step

Control names, transition presets, and whether the Inspector shows fade fields depend on your DaVinci Resolve version and layout. When a control described here is absent, start with timeline fade handles, then the Effects Library’s audio transitions, then Fairlight volume automation. This workflow edits timeline audio only. It does not test a microphone, grant browser or operating-system capture permission, or change a video-call or photo background. If the fade looks correct and still sounds wrong after you re-listen, the next check is clip level, track mute or solo, and any dynamics processing on the track or bus.