Buss Patching - multiple timelines

All,
New here and first post on this group. Moved over from Premier to Resolve (hopefully 100%) and trying to get a few templates built out. Have watched a lot of videos and mapped things how it seems to work with my flow. 25 Year Pro Tools user so most of my post work will be done there.

What I am trying to figure out is this.
Setup:

1. Working 7.1.4 4k timeline
2. All Footage timeline
3. Keeps Timeline

I am doing that stacked timeline approach that I really like, but what I am seeing is that my Buss routing does not save. I have to go into Fairlight, go to the patching and patch the busses to my Grace m908 controller. This is my ATMOS/Stereo audio controller. Anytime I switch to a different timeline it kills the routing and I have to click everything again to patch.

I have my preferences set to the respected I/O for the Grace (channels 1-12 mapped). I go into each timeline and try to set things up to map according to the speaker array, but it seems to go blank anytime I swap between timelines or stacked timelines.

I am certain this is some dumb setting that I am not aware of, but I would love to be able to have this set and build my template upon this workflow. Then make a Stereo one as well to keep things simple.

Not sure this all makes sense, but I can make a video as well if needed to demonstrate things.

Thanks in advance

Chris

So here is a reference video to demonstrate what I am seeing with my patch bussing

Have a look at the Fairlight Presets Library.
Fairlight menu > Presets Library..,
There you can make and apply all sorts of Presets.
Fairlight Configuration Presets can be used when creating new timelines:
Create New Timeline... > check Use Fairlight Preset

2 tips:
These Fairlight templates might be useful for you:
https://noisypost.com.au/shop/
(Prices is Australian Dollars)

Video on the structure:

There are ChatGPT versions for Fairlight and Davinci Resolve.
They can help you a great deal answering questions.

Thank you guys. I tried to put a video up on here last night but it looks like it did not go through.

I will re-watch the video posted and look into the presets and see where that leads me. I am 100% certain it is operator error, but still seems wonky that the settings get blown away when I simply switch to a new timeline.

Thanks and I will let you know

Chris

So I guess my question is, should the timeline in the same session cancel out my buss routing? Tried everything I can think of, but each time I click on.a different timeline the audio routing has to be redone.

The video I made is posted a few up if you can see that.

Just really odd as I am saving the setup.

thanks again

My IO is usually some kind of blackmagic video IO, plus all my Resolve work has been stereo (but I've done some tests to replicate existing Avid & Premiere Pro 16 channel workflows) - so haven't had to deal with separate audio IO.

So whilst you wait for someone more knowledgeable...

What's the IO set to (p101 of the R19 manual)?

Screenshot_20250406-090328.png (454.08 KiB) Viewed 4457 times

Cos it looks like your monitoring is going to a stereo pair (default desktop?).

Plus I'm interested in how you are planning to edit from the off in immersive - typically I'd be editing stereo or LCR until cut was at least close to locked. Even immersive sources I think I'd be listening to fold down.

But then, the only times I edit immersive (or even 5.1) is when it's going out same day - and it's mostly pass through of as live (or replication of same).

So I guess my question is, should the timeline in the same session cancel out my buss routing? Tried everything I can think of, but each time I click on.a different timeline the audio routing has to be redone.

This is how DaVinci Resolve works. Each timeline has its own setup.
Therefore, (as I wrote before) you can apply a Fairlight Configuration Preset when creating new timelines:
Create new timeline... > Check "Use Fairlight Preset"

So I guess my question is, should the timeline in the same session cancel out my buss routing? Tried everything I can think of, but each time I click on.a different timeline the audio routing has to be redone.

This is how DaVinci Resolve works. Each timeline has its own setup.
Therefore, (as I wrote before) you can apply a Fairlight Configuration Preset when creating new timelines:
Create new timeline... > Check "Use Fairlight Preset"

Christoph,
I understand the timelines and their own configurations. It makes 100% sense, however, what I am not understanding is if I have 3 timelines on a template (All Footage, Selects, and Working). I go to bussing, make sure that is set and then Patching In and Out. As soon as I set that up for the 3 timelines that I am trying to put into the same template for workflow, it cancels the timeline out. I tried this on a new session setup and the same thing is happening. I have gone to preferences and even selected STEREO versus 7.1.4 and the same thing.

I have tried a preset and the same thing.

Again, I am doing the same thing as the video I posted up above.

1. New Session
2. Create a new timeline in a TIMELINE Bin
3. Set the Bussing and outputs. Set the patching
4. Repeat for 2 other timelines based on the same format.

As soon as I swap to one of the other timelines, the audio has to be remapped.

Frustrated on my end, and I REALLY appreciate your comments. Just trying to figure this out.

Again, thanks
Chris

My IO is usually some kind of blackmagic video IO, plus all my Resolve work has been stereo (but I've done some tests to replicate existing Avid & Premiere Pro 16 channel workflows) - so haven't had to deal with separate audio IO.

So whilst you wait for someone more knowledgeable...

What's the IO set to (p101 of the R19 manual)?

Screenshot_20250406-090328.png

Cos it looks like your monitoring is going to a stereo pair (default desktop?).

Trevor,
I have tried both stereo and 7.1.4 with the setup and mapped it to my Grace m908 (very simple honestly). The bussing on the PATCH section is what changes each time.

I work 90% of my day in Pro Tools and have a Dolby Accredited room out here in Colorado Springs. I can easily do my stuff there, I was just trying to setup a few templates for messing around with both stereo and ATMOS in Davinci. I will not replace my post work from Pro Tools, as it is much easier for me to use. I just want the option to work in Davinci and I like to learn new things.

The strange thing is I am watching all these seasoned users show their workflow and I am trying to adapt the (All Footage, Selects and Working) timeline idea that essentially stacks it out for simple edits, but the patch I/O is not staying each time I move to another timeline. I am certain this is OPERATOR Error on my end, but just reaching out.

The video shows exactly what happens each time. Even on the Studio Beta 20 it does it.

Thanks again
Chris

Sorry, I somehow completely missed the video you posted and misunderstood the problem you are having.

Chris, I don't know if this was setup intentional (for the video), but in your video your vertical volume (left of the label DIM, on top of the mixer) is all the the way down. That is the main volume slider.

Chris, I don't know if this was setup intentional (for the video), but in your video your vertical volume (left of the label DIM, on top of the mixer) is all the the way down. That is the main volume slider.

Robert,
Thanks, yes I understand that. It was intentional as the video itself was thourgh my Podcast DUO thing. Volume and all of that work fine. FWIW, I mix records for a living so well aware of faders. I was a graphics guy in college, but went the audio route. It is just strange to me that the mapping (buss I/O) seems to change each time I swap to a different timeline.

Not a show stopper as I can just setup one timeline and seemingly work from there, but it sucks. I like the multiple timeline thing to edit, chop, move, etc but if it is not gonna stick, it is not gonna stick.

Chris

Sorry, I somehow completely missed the video you posted and misunderstood the problem you are having.

No worries, thanks for at least checking it out.

Chris, I am not an expert on Dolby Atmos, I normally mix in 5.1 - but I also played around with Ambisonics and Atmos. So I don't know if this could be the issue: but normally you have to patch the bus out to the Dolby Atmos send - like shown here at 14:14:

Chris, I am not an expert on Dolby Atmos, I normally mix in 5.1 - but I also played around with Ambisonics and Atmos. So I don't know if this could be the issue: but normally you have to patch the bus out to the Dolby Atmos send - like shown here at 14:14:

Robert,
Thanks again for the reply. I will look into thei one as well. I tried to get the mapping into my External Dolby Renderer and it was a little wonky. Honestly I think if I am working the post work, I will stay in my Pro Tools Atmos environment. I just resetup a template that will allow all the deliverables with one pass and at a 7.1.4, 5.1 and 2.0 format. I mainly MIX audio for stereo and ATMOS, so busy there. I am really just trying to use Davinci for the video work that I do and to learn something new. I have been a Adobe guy for 20 years and know that, but got rid of my license stuff for now.

What I am really trying to figure is why my timeline swap within a new session blows out the audio outout routing. I am more than likely over-thinking the workflow, but I really liked the stacked timeline feature for moving edits. It was really based on this video:

All ears on the approach if people think it is a waste. I liked the workflow.

Thanks again


Chris

I have tried to replicate your issue, but can't (also due to not having the same hardware as you do).

The workflow you are trying to do is good, nothing wrong with that.

There must be something other being the issue here.

We have an audio expert user here on the forum, Reynaud Venter.
He is basically a human Fairlight encyclopedia.
Haven't seen him online for some time, hopefully he will chime in when he's back.

Found this answer from Reynaud in 2022 to a bit similar problem:

viewtopic.php?p=893276#p893276

I have tried to replicate your issue, but can't (also due to not having the same hardware as you do).

The workflow you are trying to do is good, nothing wrong with that.

There must be something other being the issue here.

We have an audio expert user here on the forum, Reynaud Venter.
He is basically a human Fairlight encyclopedia.
Haven't seen him online for some time, hopefully he will chime in when he's back.

Found this answer from Reynaud in 2022 to a bit similar problem:

viewtopic.php?p=893276#p893276

Robert,
First off, thanks for trying to take the time and replicate the issue. I appreciate that a lot. I will check that link out and see if it will help. Thanks agian for that. I am mainly a mix/mastering guy, but like to dabble with video and do a lot of post work. I really appreciate the help and will let you know if things get figured out.