File Import SDK for DaVinci Resolve?

Hi,

I have a new media file type I'd like to be able to import into DaVinci Resolve. I have written importers for Media Composer and Premiere using their SDKs. How can I do this for Resolve please? I have seen the SDKs that ship with Resolve (the Python Scripting looks very powerful & I used to code Lua in Fusion when it was a separate product, I have also coded OpenFX in the past), but try as I might I cannot find a way to code a new file importer?

I will be at NAB next week so I can pop into the dev support folks at the Blackmagic stand to discuss if that helps?

Cheers,

James.

Resolve has a public Export SDK but there isn't one for import. Unless you can convince them at the booth.

As a follow up I talked to Daniel Koch this morning at NAB. He said there is already a way to support importing new file formats in Resolve, by making an OpenFX generator plugin, with zero inputs and one output, that opens a filepath.

I think that's Daniel? I suppose that would work for Fusion and for the Fusion page in Resolve, but I have a feeling it's not what people expect for Resolve. How would it work on the Media page for instance? Perhaps there's some magic already implemented for it.

I am so sorry - Daniel Koch, not David, please excuse me. I do not know Resolve well enough to comment, but if there are any other ways to offer a media import from a file (we actually are using HTTPS to stream the media over a WAN under the hood, the file we open contains the host URL and some other JSON), I would love to find them. Thanks.

I'd be interested too. What's the new format you want to import ? If it's for your own internal company needs, that OpenFX workaround could do the trick

Hi Antoine,

We have our own internal format - that just contains JSON, containing URLs. We use the URLs to stream compressed frames (and audio) over HTTPS from our cloud hosted servers. We are doing this with Media Composer and Premiere - and it works really well with HD and even 4K camera files. For clarity, we intend this technique to be for sale as a product that integrates with these editors.

I got the impression from Roger's comment that the OpenFX route would only work in Fusion, not the main editor / media page? Any info would be most helpful! Thanks.

Cheers,

James.

It will work wherever you can use OpenFX in Resolve, but I do think it might not be as useful as users would expect as you won’t be able to do anything on the Media page. That includes things like syncing clips and managing metadata before a clip is added to a timeline.

I suppose they could be individual adjustment clips or compound clips, but still, that’s a workaround at best.