How to Sync Audio and Video in DaVinci Resolve (CCAT PC) - Two Easy Methods

Updated at: 09/07/2025

Perfectly synced audio and video are crucial for professional-looking projects. This article shows you two simple, effective methods to achieve flawless synchronization in DaVinci Resolve on your PC, even for complex footage. Whether you're a beginner or experienced editor, these easy-to-follow techniques will eliminate audio-video lag and elevate your video production to the next level. Let's get your audio and video in perfect harmony!

Methods: Automatic Audio and Video Synchronization

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Import and Prepare Clips

    • one screen recording with good audio from your wireless microphone, and one high-quality video with poor audio.

  2. Extract Audio from Screen Recording

    • Extract audio from the screen recording and delete the video portion.

  3. Import Video to Timeline

    • Import the high quality video clip to the timeline.

  4. Disable Main Track Magnet

    • Turn off 'main track magnet'.
    Turn off 'main track magnet'.
    Disable Main Track Magnet

  5. Automatic Synchronization

    • Select both audio and video clips.
    • Right-click and select 'Sync audio and video'.

  6. Trim Audio

    • Trim unwanted portions of the audio from the beginning and end.
    • Select both clips, right click, and select 'Delete Left' and 'Delete Right' to remove unnecessary audio sections.
    • Ensure the main audio track is unhighlighted to prevent issues.
    Ensure the main audio track is unhighlighted to prevent issues. Ensure the main audio track is unhighlighted to prevent issues.
    Trim Audio

  7. Clean Up Original Audio

    • Optionally, lower the volume of the original video audio or delete it using the 'extract audio' and 'delete' functions.
    Optionally, lower the volume of the original video audio or delete it using the 'extract audio' and 'delete' functions.
    Clean Up Original Audio

  8. Create Compound Clip

    • Create a compound clip of the audio and video.
    Create a compound clip of the audio and video.
    Create Compound Clip

Tips

  • Ensure the main audio track is unhighlighted to prevent issues.

Methods: Manual Audio and Video Synchronization (Clapping Method)

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prepare the Clips

    • Repeat steps 1-4 from the automatic method.
    Repeat steps 1-4 from the automatic method.
    Prepare the Clips

  2. Optimize for Visual Alignment

    • Adjust track height and audio waveform size for easier visual alignment.
    Adjust track height and audio waveform size for easier visual alignment.
    Optimize for Visual Alignment

  3. Manual Synchronization (Clapping Method)

    • Manually align the audio waveforms, using distinct sounds (like claps) as reference points to match corresponding peaks in both audio tracks.
    • Zoom in on the timeline for precise alignment.
    Zoom in on the timeline for precise alignment. Zoom in on the timeline for precise alignment.
    Manual Synchronization (Clapping Method)

  4. Finalize and Combine

    • Repeat steps 8-11 from the automatic method.

Tips

  • Zoom in on the timeline for precise alignment of the audio waveforms.
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Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Incorrect Clip Placement on Timeline

Reason: Dragging and dropping clips without precisely aligning them to the desired synchronization point can lead to noticeable audio/video delays or overlaps.
Solution: Use the ripple edit tool or meticulously adjust the clip's in and out points to ensure perfect alignment on the timeline.

2. Ignoring Audio/Video Offset in Source Material

Reason: If the source audio and video files were already recorded with a slight offset (e.g., from faulty recording equipment), simply syncing them in DaVinci Resolve won't fix the underlying issue.
Solution: Before syncing, carefully examine source files for any inherent offset, and use external tools or manual editing to correct the offset before importing into DaVinci Resolve.

FAQs

My audio and video are slightly out of sync after importing clips. What's the quickest way to fix this?
The quickest fix is often using DaVinci Resolve's 'Offset' tool. Select the audio track that's out of sync. You'll see a small offset control (usually a horizontal slider or a number field) in the audio track's properties. Adjust this value (usually in milliseconds) until audio and video align. You might need to use your ears and eyes to finely tune it for optimal synchronization.
I've tried the offset tool, but it's not perfectly aligning my audio and video. What other methods can I use?
If the offset tool isn't precise enough, consider using the 'Ripple Edit' or 'Slip Edit' tools. These provide more granular control for adjusting audio and video clips independently. Ripple Edit will shift the surrounding clips to accommodate adjustments, while Slip Edit adjusts a clip's audio/video content without affecting other clips' positions. Experiment with these techniques if simple offset adjustment doesn't resolve the issue completely.