Seeking Help with Audio Issues in Resolve

Hello Everyone,

I’m new to video editing and have been experimenting with Resolve. I’ve encountered an issue while trying to record a voice-over using my laptop’s microphone. The audio quality is poor, with the recording intermittently cutting out and back in rapidly.

To give you a better idea of the problem, I’ve uploaded a screen recording on YouTube. You can view it here:

Interestingly, I didn’t face this issue when I tried recording with another software, which leads me to believe the problem lies with Resolve.

Could anyone provide some guidance on how to resolve this? I would greatly appreciate any assistance.

Thank you in advance

Please include a system spec in your signature outlining Resolve version, operating system, and hardware config.

Hello Reynaud,

Thank you for your response and for guiding me on how to provide the necessary information. I have updated my signature with these details, but I’ll include them here as well for clarity:

Resolve Version: 18.6.4 build 6
Operating System: Windows 11
Hardware Configuration: Intel® Core™ i7-10750H CPU @ 2.60GHz 2.59 GHz, 16.0 GB RAM, Intel ® UHD Graphics

I hope this information helps in diagnosing the problem I’m facing. I appreciate your time and assistance.

Best regards,
Leo

Can you provide details as to microphone and input device? Is this a Bluetooth headset, for example?

Please outline your system configuration:
Resolve Preferences > System > Video and Audio IO

Which Audio |IO Engine is selected? What is the input device?

What is the Record and Playback buffer size?

You don't have a dedicated GPU, do you?

You don't have a dedicated GPU, do you?

Dear Uli,

No its an integrated GPU (Intel UHD graphics--i dont know what this means exactly).

Can you provide details as to microphone and input device? Is this a Bluetooth headset, for example?

Please outline your system configuration:
Resolve Preferences > System > Video and Audio IO

Which Audio |IO Engine is selected? What is the input device?

What is the Record and Playback buffer size?

Dear Reynaud,

I'm using the built in microphone of my laptop xD. Here is a screenshot of the "system configuration" you asked for in the previous post:

https://postimg.cc/14nNHCWd

I/O engine: System Audio
Playback processing buffer size: Auto. Latency: 10.0 ms
Record buffer size: 5. Latency: 16.3 ms
Input device: Microfoonmatrix (2- Intel® Smart Sound Technology (Intel® SST))
Output device: Speakers (Realtek(R) Audio)

I'm very grateful that you are helping me. Thank you very much.

Leo

Are the drivers for the input device current? Is another input device available to test?

Are the drivers for the input device current? Is another input device available to test?

Hello Reynaud,

The drivers are up to date. I also just tried recording with my headphones and the same issue occurred. When I record with another app I do not get this issue. Therefore we are sure its a problem with Resolve.

Sincerely,
Leo

I'm sorry, but it's the other way round: DR has a problem with your hardware.
The software may be free, but the necessary level of hardware is definitely not.

I'm sorry, but it's the other way round: DR has a problem with your hardware.
The software may be free, but the necessary level of hardware is definitely not.

Yes, but this issue is not happening with other audio recording programs. To imply that davinci resolve won't record audio properly when other software will, simply because the hardware isn't pro-grade, is a disservice to the software. I'm sure there is another issue that is behind this.

I'm sorry, but it's the other way round: DR has a problem with your hardware.
The software may be free, but the necessary level of hardware is definitely not.

Yes, but this issue is not happening with other audio recording programs. To imply that davinci resolve won't record audio properly when other software will, simply because the hardware isn't pro-grade, is a disservice to the software. I'm sure there is another issue that is behind this.

I asked my friend to try record in the same manner as me on his own laptop on DaVinci Resolve and he faced the exact same problem as me. We have the same laptop hardware but different DaVinci Software versions and both only experience this issue in Davinci resolve. Do you know what I can try do to fix this?

Below I will show a clip of the issue again. I just realized how "rhythmically" the recording cuts out and back in and just thought of showing it again in the hope you may get some new ideas.

Thanks,

The other software you mentioned is probably not playing video in a huge 32 bit float space at the same time. What you could try:
- if your video is H.264 or 265, convert it to DNxHD or Cineform
- set your timeline resolution to ‚small‘ HD , 1280 x 720.
Any improvements?

I’m still convinced that your hardware is not up to it.

The other software you mentioned is probably not playing video in a huge 32 bit float space at the same time. What you could try:
- if your video is H.264 or 265, convert it to DNxHD or Cineform
- set your timeline resolution to ‚small‘ HD , 1280 x 720.
Any improvements?

I’m still convinced that your hardware is not up to it.

I tried both suggestions and the same issue occurred. It had the same issue!

Strange that my hardware cant keep up because i have a pretty decent laptop. rendering doesn't even take that long.

Yeah, but DR is heavily relying on a type of GPU you don't have.

These are still shots in the dark without testing one of your samples.

It sounds like your computer is having a hard time running the picture and audio. Resolve does its' picture processing using the GPU while the CPU decodes the codecs. What codec and frame rate are your video clips?
Try this. Click on the top right 3 dots menu and if Show All Video Frames is selected, deselect it.

Show All Video Frames.jpg (30.07 KiB) Viewed 2098 times

Show All Video Frames2.jpg (46.28 KiB) Viewed 2098 times

If playback improves then it points to your computer not being powerful enough.
Also, make sure that the framerate of your timeline matches that of your clips.

Also check your Windows audio settings. In Control Panel/Sound for both Playback and Recording under Properties/Advanced, check that both are set to the highest quality.

It sounds like your computer is having a hard time running the picture and audio. Resolve does its' picture processing using the GPU while the CPU decodes the codecs. What codec and frame rate are your video clips?
Try this. Click on the top right 3 dots menu and if Show All Video Frames is selected, deselect it.

Show All Video Frames.jpg

Show All Video Frames2.jpg

If playback improves then it points to your computer not being powerful enough.
Also, make sure that the framerate of your timeline matches that of your clips.

Video clip codec is DNxHD after another user Uli Plank suggested changing it to this or Cineform from H.265 previously on this forum post.

Also the "show all video frames" was deselected already.

I checked my windows settings for Playback and Recording and they were already on the highest setting.

Below are two screenshots showing my clip attributes and timeline settings. They both seem set on 30 fps.

I'm out of ideas then. But if you could post a sample…

Leonardo, could you confirm that the audio issues persist without video (i.e. audio-only Timelines)?

Please confirm that the issues persist with source media and Timeline running at a frame rate of 25.

If you use an external program you have the same issues?

One simple and free sound recording/editing program is OceanAudio, i use it all the time to convert or extract audio files from video.

If you use an external program you have the same issues?

One simple and free sound recording/editing program is OceanAudio, i use it all the time to convert or extract audio files from video.

Yeah I think it's just easier for me to record in an external program and then add it to the Resolve instead of directly doing voiceovers in it. I've heard that's how most video creators record their voice anyway. In that case there shouldn't be a problem since recording audio files in other programs works flawlessly.

I'm out of ideas then. But if you could post a sample…

What do you mean by posting a sample? I have added youtube videos previously to this forum thread which showcase the issue I am having, is that perhaps what you mean?

Leonardo, could you confirm that the audio issues persist without video (i.e. audio-only Timelines)?

Please confirm that the issues persist with source media and Timeline running at a frame rate of 25.

The issue persists in both cases: 25 fps timeline with 25 fps video clips and audio-only timelines.

What do you mean by posting a sample? I have added youtube videos previously to this forum thread which showcase the issue I am having, is that perhaps what you mean?

No, a piece of your original footage to see the properties in MediaInfo.