How to Sync Audio and Video in DaVinci Resolve

Before you start

DaVinci Resolve can align clips from separate capture sources, such as a camera recording and an external audio recorder. The process runs locally on your computer and does not require an online service. You need clips that contain either matching timecode or matching reference audio. If the clips have different frame rates, Resolve can still synchronize them, but you should verify the timeline frame rate before editing.

Prepare the media by importing both the video and the separately recorded audio into the same bin. Keep the original recording format and sample rate intact during import. If an audio recorder captured a guide track on the camera, that shared sound is useful for waveform alignment when no timecode is available.

Step-by-step instructions

• Open the Edit page and place the video clip on a video track.
• Place the separately recorded audio clip on an audio track below the camera audio.
• Select both clips in the timeline.
• Right-click one of the selected clips and choose Auto Align Clips, then select Based on Timecode or Based on Audio Waveform.
• Leave the camera audio in the timeline until alignment finishes if you used waveform matching.
• After the clips align, mute or remove the unwanted reference audio track if it is not needed in the mix.

Timecode alignment is usually the most accurate method when the input devices share the same timecode source. Waveform alignment compares the audio recorded by the camera with the audio from the external recorder. For waveform alignment to work well, both audio recordings should contain the same audible event and not be dominated by continuous background noise.

If automatic alignment is not available for your media, use manual markers. Find a sharp visual and audible event, such as a clap or a door closing, then place a marker on the frame where it occurs and on the matching audio waveform. Drag one clip so both markers line up in the timeline.

Check the output

Play the timeline while watching lip movement and listening for clear contact sounds. Confirm that short transients, such as a handclap or a footstep, appear at the same moment on screen and in the audio. Check the beginning and the end of a longer take, because a small frame rate mismatch can produce drift that is not visible at the start.

During export, keep the timeline frame rate consistent with the source video. If you change the playback speed or frame rate, audio and video can drift again. Export a short test range at the original resolution and listen to it in a separate player to confirm that the synchronization survives the encoding stage.

Common problems and next steps

If the audio starts in sync but drifts later, check whether the video and audio sources recorded at different frame rates or sample rates. A mismatched capture source can create a gradual offset. Place both clips into a timeline that matches the intended delivery frame rate and use Resolve to interpret the clip frame rate correctly before syncing again.

If waveform alignment gives a poor result, try a short section with a clear transient instead of the whole clip. Reduce the selected range to the moment of a loud, isolated sound and repeat the alignment. If the camera audio was too quiet, check the input level of the original recording before relying on waveform matching.

When using audio from an output device or a phone recording, check that the playback speed is consistent. Variable recording speed can prevent reliable synchronization. In that case, realign the audio at several points or use a dedicated audio editing step to correct the speed before returning to Resolve.

After synchronization, avoid accidental changes by locking the aligned clips. If you need to replace the camera audio with the recorder audio, make the switch after alignment and without moving either clip. A higher export bitrate does not fix synchronization, so correct timing problems before adjusting the encoding settings.