DaVinci Resolve 18 introduced a free, built-in AI transcription tool that can automatically transcribe your video timeline, generate subtitles, and export SRT files — all without leaving the editor. Here's how to use it.
Does DaVinci Resolve Have a Transcript Feature?
Yes. DaVinci Resolve 18.0 (released 2022) added an Automatic Transcription tool powered by an on-device AI model. It's available in the free version of DaVinci Resolve — no Studio license required.
The feature:
- Transcribes speech in your video timeline automatically
- Lets you search, edit, and navigate by transcript text
- Generates subtitles (SRT/VTT) from the transcript in one click
- Runs entirely on your machine — no internet, no API key
How to Use DaVinci Resolve's Transcript Feature
Step 1: Open the Transcription Window
1. Open your project in DaVinci Resolve 18+
2. Go to the Edit page (bottom toolbar)
3. Click Workspace in the top menu → Show Transcription (or press Shift+T)
4. The Transcription panel appears on the left side of the timeline
Step 2: Transcribe Your Timeline or Clip
1. In the Transcription panel, click Transcribe
2. Select: Transcribe current timeline or Transcribe selected clips
3. Choose your language (50+ languages supported)
4. Click Transcribe — DaVinci processes the audio
Transcription speed depends on your hardware. A 10-minute video takes approximately 1-3 minutes on a modern computer.
Step 3: Edit the Transcript
Once transcribed, the text appears in the Transcription panel with each spoken word highlighted as the video plays:
- Click any word to jump to that point in the timeline
- Double-click any word to edit it (correct errors)
- Select text to cut or mute that section of the audio
- Use Ctrl+F / Cmd+F to search for any word across the entire timeline
Step 4: Generate Subtitles from the Transcript
1. In the Transcription panel, click the ⋮ menu → Create Subtitles from Transcript
2. Configure subtitle options:
- Characters per line (recommended: 42)
- Subtitle duration
- Language
3. Click Create — subtitles appear as a new subtitle track in your timeline
Step 5: Export as SRT File
1. In the timeline, right-click the subtitle track
2. Select Export Subtitle → choose .srt or .vtt
3. Save the file
The SRT file can be uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo, or used in any video player.
Transcribing YouTube Videos for DaVinci Resolve
If you're editing content from YouTube and need the transcript before editing:
1. Go to VidText AI
2. Paste the YouTube video URL
3. Get the full transcript in under 10 seconds
4. Download as .txt — use as reference while editing
For a properly formatted SRT file to import into DaVinci Resolve, see Video to SRT.
DaVinci Resolve Transcription vs Third-Party Tools
| Tool | Cost | In-Editor | SRT Export | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **DaVinci Resolve built-in** | Free | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Good |
| OpenAI Whisper (CLI) | Free | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | Very high |
| Descript | Free 1hr/mo | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Very high |
| CapCut Auto Captions | Free | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | Good |
DaVinci Resolve wins if you're already editing in Resolve — it keeps your workflow in one app. Whisper wins for raw accuracy, especially with accents or technical content.
Common Issues & Fixes
"Transcribe" button is grayed out:
Make sure you're on DaVinci Resolve 18.0 or later. Update via blackmagicdesign.com.
Transcription is slow:
Resolve uses on-device AI. Performance scales with your CPU/GPU. Closing other apps helps.
Wrong language being transcribed:
In the Transcribe dialog, manually select the correct language from the dropdown rather than using "Detect automatically."