Blackmagic Forum

I moved from Mac two years ago to Windows 10 (HP Z840 with 32GB RAM and 2 x XEON 8 Core Processors) and am very glad I did. But I had to let go of Final Cut Pro given that was a Mac only application.

Ever since I have been trying a number of video editors for 4K video including HitFilm, Sony Catalyst and of course Davinci Resolve. For two years I have paid for Sony Catalyst even though it's features are limited and i enhanced it's effects with Ignite.

While I was relatively happy with Sony Catalyst for simple edits, it fails to run at all on my new Dell XPS15 with Core i9 CPU. I have contacted their support and heard zero from them so clearly that app is dead in the water.

So I have settled on DR, however I am wondering if it is worth the upgrade to the paid version knowing only that it has some more effects and what else? Is there a comparison somewhere? And most importantly is the performance better than the free version?

What GPU do you have in the Z840 as Resolve is very GPU based?

In the centre column on this page there is a feature comparison guide.
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/suppor ... and-fusion

stevelees wrote:So I have settled on DR, however I am wondering if it is worth the upgrade to the paid version knowing only that it has some more effects and what else? Is there a comparison somewhere? And most importantly is the performance better than the free version?

Simply try free version and then if you find feature which is missing and you would like to have then you can buy it. It's not that expensive. There is no performance difference itself- there are just some features which are not enabled on free version.

I think the most important feature missing from the free version is noise reduction. Several of the new features added in version 15 are also only available in the paid Studio version, but you could probably live without those. You can buy a separate noise reduction tool, but if you need noise reduction that alone is worth the price of the upgrade.

The complicating factor right now is that if you want to buy the Studio version, you'll be buying version 14; your license will also work with version 15 (currently in beta), but if you already have the free version 15 beta installed on your machine I'm not sure how it works if you buy and install Studio version 14 and then update it to the 15 beta. The free version and Studio versions are separate applications, so maybe it's fine, I haven't tried it yet as I'm waiting until 15 is out of beta before buying the Studio version (which is $400 here in Canada).

Peter Chamberlain wrote:What GPU do you have in the Z840 as Resolve is very GPU based?

In the centre column on this page there is a feature comparison guide.

I have a Quadro P4000 in the Z840, and thanks for the link.

Buy it.

stevelees wrote:wondering if it is worth the upgrade to the paid version knowing only that it has some more effects and what else?

There would be an argument (detached discussion) that the small amount of outlay for a Studio license is not really what motivates the company to continue developing it. You can still spend quite a bit of money adding third-party plugins (easyDCP, Boris...) that don't add much more than some of the FX and export options that are already part of the Resolve Studio feature list.

Ultimately it might come down to knowing what the value of a thing is, rather than its price.

A vast proportion of consumers cannot distinguish between "features" and "benefits." Business owners need to make that judgement when it comes to their profitability and client priorities. If you do not generate revenue from the application, it would be hard to justify making an investment in it. If you do, then you should consider its continued health.

jPo, CSI

For $300 you get a full fledged, professional grade:
Non-linear editing environment
Color grading suite
Digital Audio Workstation
Compositing environment

Try to find an application that offers ONE of those for $300... and that's for a perpetual license.

It's really a no-brainer when you get down to it.

I tried... then I buyed.

Good tools are worth the money you pay for them.

JPOwens wrote:Ultimately it might come down to knowing what the value of a thing is, rather than its price.

I should have made it clearer, it is not a question of money, I have no problem spending the money, my question is what do I gain if anything in performance and features. From reading the comparison list that I was pointed in the direction of, it seems there are gains to be had in file formats etc as well as effects, so yes, I will purchase.

The two things that made me jump to Studio were Noise Reduction and I believe some type of tracking in Fusion I needed. No regrets. And I've primarily been just using a beta product.

Buy...

it's a fantastic bit of kit...

Brad Hurley wrote:...before buying the Studio version (which is $400 here in Canada).

Current Canadian list prices for Resolve 15 Studio Activation card:

Lozeau and Henry's - CAD 404.99
Vistek - CAD 409.99

Factor in another CAD 50-60 for tax/shipping. And 'special order' only i.e. expect 3-4 weeks for delivery 'subject to availability'.

Works out about the same as buying online from B&H in the US at current rate of exchange:

List price - $299
Prepaid Import Duty/Tax (for Quebec) - $44.79
Shipping - free currently.
TOTAL - $344.79 = CAD 450.53 (current exchange rate 1.31)

Does anyone have any idea when Version 15 will be released?

you get:
some very nice GPU accelerated OFX plugin
Full noise reduction
DCP creation (unencripted)
Multiple GPU support

(just to name some...)

I will buy the Fusion 9 dongle: with that you will ALSO get the resolve software studio. (299 USD)
(that's what I did...)

Bryan Worsley wrote:Factor in another CAD 50-60 for tax/shipping. And 'special order' only i.e. expect 3-4 weeks for delivery 'subject to availability'.

I can understand why BMD doesn't open their own web store for Resolve and other software (complicated with different national and provincial/state sales taxes, etc.), but having to buy from their dealers is a barrier or at least a nuisance. I'm pretty sure I can walk into Lozeau's store and buy Resolve 14 Studio right now, without the multi-week wait, but getting there, making the purchase, and getting back home is close to 2 hours round trip for me, whereas if I could just buy a license online and download the current beta of Studio v. 15 from BMD's website it would take about 10 minutes altogether.

People who work on secure non-Internet-connected studio computers need the physical dongle, but the rest of us can use an activation key; it would be great if we could just buy the activation key online, receive it immediately, and use it to unlock a downloaded Studio version of Resolve.

I agree, I can not believe in this day and age we can not simply buy a licence online and start using it. Going through the dealers listed for NSW Australia, half of them do not even offer Resolve. It also seems to make little difference if I buy licence code or dongle, both have to be shipped....very annoying.

Brad Hurley wrote:

Bryan Worsley wrote:I can understand why BMD doesn't open their own web store for Resolve and other software (complicated with different national and provincial/state sales taxes, etc.)

i not understand why...
many other software houses do it, i name you video producer and software Lightwave3d NewTek, Zbrush of Pixologic, i'm in italy but i could bought both softwares (i did it) by web, i reiceved to home box with phisical dongle. When you buy from italy/europe the payment went throught a element5.com in past, recently ecommerce is organized to buy directly.

i know that many dealer in italy not want to sell hardware bmd due the low fee, i'm not agree about it, but it's business. We also in italy pay more than Usa, 20% more due tax, but we do...

Brad Hurley wrote:….I'm pretty sure I can walk into Lozeau's store and buy Resolve 14 Studio right now....

I checked. They don't hold stock. 'Special Order' only. You'll likely get it faster for around the same cost buying from B&H. Poor state of affairs, I know.

Edit: That's assuming you choose the 'Prepaid Import Duty' option. Opt for 'I'll handle it myself' and it could be stuck in Customs for weeks - Canada Border Services scrutinize everything these days and there will certainly be a processing surcharge.

carlomacchiavello wrote:

Brad Hurley wrote:

Bryan Worsley wrote:I can understand why BMD doesn't open their own web store for Resolve and other software (complicated with different national and provincial/state sales taxes, etc.)

I think I'm being quoted as writing something I didn't there.

So, today I went and collected Davinci Resolve 14 (Dongle Version) from local supplier John Barry Group. Great price, easy peasy....

I get home stick the SD card in my computer and nothing....I put it in my laptop, nothing. I then slowly put it back in my main machine and suddenly it appears, very strange.

So I click on install, and it says I must remove the current version 15 before installing, which I did. After installation I run the app and I can no longer see or use the previous installs projects. Great!

So, does anyone know I can now safely install the 15 Beta on top of this install and have both present on the machine?

Steve, lets start with info on what software version you were using, from BMD site or App Store?
Which version of Resolve? V14 is not enough info.
Which OS are you on?
Are you using disk database or PostGres database?

With some more info someone should be able to help.

Peter Chamberlain wrote:Steve, lets start with info on what software version you were using, from BMD site or App Store?
Which version of Resolve? V14 is not enough info.
Which OS are you on?
Are you using disk database or PostGres database?

With some more info someone should be able to help.

Hi Peter, I am using Windows 10 Version 1803, on a HP Z840 with 2 x XEON 8 Core Processors running at 2.1Ghz with 32GB RAM, with content sitting on an ultra fast HP SSD (read and write 3000MBs).

Davinci Resolve version 14.3.0.014. Finally, using a disk database.

If your v15 is seeing the disk database can you install v14.3 again and verify you see it. Then make sure you have a back up of the database folder.

Then re-install v15 Studio using a download from the BMD support web site.

Peter I removed V15 to install V14 and had to create a database, and chose the hard drive option. Are you saying to now try installing V15 again AFTER removing 14?

Steve, you mentioned you had v14 project before you change to v15. Now that you have v14 installed again you should be able to find and run them, assuming you didn't update the database when you updated to v15 as you didnt mention that.

Peter Chamberlain wrote:Steve, you mentioned you had v14 project before you change to v15. Now that you have v14 installed again you should be able to find and run them, assuming you didn't update the database when you updated to v15 as you didnt mention that.

No mate the other way around. I have been try out Resolve with the latest V15 download. I then purchased the software today and that is V14.

Here is a new question....having removed V15 Beta, and installed V14 paid for with dongle in place, if I install V15 Beta again now will it give me access to all the features of the paid version of 15 in the beta download? ( I ask as many of the plugins I would add said I needed the paid version)

Also Peter, is it possible to get an activation key for the version I purchased today? I only had the Dongle option available to me.

If you wanted the activation key you need to order that, it’s the standard part. The dongle is the alternative and there is no way I can swap them so I suggest you go back to John Barry.

Now that I know you didn’t have v14 before you can un install that and install v15 b7. As for your past projects they should be automatically found when you install the new b7 unless you defined another location when you had that installed before, in which case you Nic to find those files manually.

When I purchase the new 4k camera from a vendor, say BH , can I chose the activation mode version on the included resolve studio?

Ric Marty

ricardo marty wrote:When I purchase the new 4k camera from a vendor, say BH , can I chose the activation mode version on the included resolve studio?

The Pocket Cinema Camera 4K Tech Specs page (What's Included section) indicates that a Resolve Studio activation key is supplied with the purchase, and not the dongle.

Peter Chamberlain wrote:If you wanted the activation key you need to order that, it’s the standard part. The dongle is the alternative and there is no way I can swap them so I suggest you go back to John Barry.

Now that I know you didn’t have v14 before you can un install that and install v15 b7. As for your past projects they should be automatically found when you install the new b7 unless you defined another location when you had that installed before, in which case you Nic to find those files manually.

Firstly, they did not have anything else in stock, so it is what it is....

If I delete V14 and install V15 Beta 7, will it now unlock all of the features given that I have the dongle or will I still get a number of plugins that will not work telling me to buy?

stevelees wrote:If I delete V14 and install V15 Beta 7, will it now unlock all of the features given that I have the dongle or will I still get a number of plugins that will not work telling me to buy?

Make sure to install the Studio version of 15, and then it will work.

Where can I download the Studio version from please? The link on the BMD site says DaVinci Resolve 15 Beta, not sure if that is the Studio version or not?

NEVER MIND I FOUND IT!