How to Add Subtitles in DaVinci Resolve: Crash Course

In today's digital age, subtitles have become more important than ever for video content. They enhance accessibility, increase viewer engagement, and even improve your video’s ranking. 

If you're working with DaVinci Resolve, adding captions in davinci resolve is a task you can master with ease. Let us walk you through everything you need about adding subtitles in DaVinci Resolve, making the process efficient, and enjoyable.

Why Subtitles Are King

Before the how-to, let’s quickly discuss the why it’s a game-changer for your content:

• Accessibility: Subtitles ensure that your videos are accessible to a broader audience, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Global Reach: They make it easier for non-native speakers to understand your content, effectively expanding your audience globally.
• Viewer Engagement: According to recent studies, 85% of Facebook videos are watched without sound. Subtitles are essential to maintain viewer attention in such cases. This is one reason why is everyone using subtitles these days.
• SEO Boost: Subtitles can be indexed by search engines, improving your content's discoverability.

With these benefits in mind, learn how to add subtitles to your videos in DaVinci Resolve.

Step 1: Setting Up The Project

Adding subtitles first needs setting up your project correctly:

1. Launch DaVinci Resolve: Open the software and load the project to which you want to add subtitles.
2. Import Your Media: Drag and drop your video file into the media pool, where all your clips, audio, and other assets live.

Step 2: Creating or Importing Subtitles

Depending on whether you already have a subtitle file, you have two options: importing an existing subtitle file (like an SRT) or creating subtitles directly within DaVinci Resolve.

Option 1: Importing Subtitles

• Drag and Drop: If you have an SRT file, simply drag it into the timeline. DaVinci Resolve will automatically sync the subtitles with your video.
• Adjust Settings: Head to the Inspector Panel to perfect the subtitles' appearance—fonts, sizes, and positioning can all be customized.

Option 2: Creating Subtitles from Scratch

1. Add a Subtitle Track: Right-click on the timeline and select “Add Subtitles Track.”
2. Add Subtitles: Right-click on the subtitle track and select “Add New Caption.” Enter your text and position it in the timeline to sync with the video.

Step 3: Customizing Your Subtitles

One of the best features of DaVinci Resolve is the level of customization it offers for subtitles:

• Font and Style: Use the Inspector Panel to choose your preferred font, size, and style. Secure that your subtitles are clear and legible against your video’s background.  This process is similar to creating a youtube video text overlay.
• Positioning: Subtitles are usually placed at the bottom of the screen, but you can move them to any desired position.
• Color: Choose a color that complements your video. White or yellow are standard, but DaVinci Resolve lets you get creative.

Subtitles Should Be:

• Clear and Readable: Make sure the font size and color are easily read.

• Synchronized: Subtitles should match the timing of your audio precisely.

• Consistent: Keep style, positioning, and format consistent throughout the video.

Step 4: Syncing and Timing

• Play the Video: Play your video and pause where you want the subtitle to appear. Adjust the subtitle clip precisely on the timeline.
• Fine-Tune: Use the trim tool to adjust the duration of the subtitle clip, ensuring that it appears on screen for the correct amount of time.

DaVinci Resolve’s intuitive timeline makes the process organic, allowing for quick adjustments.

Step 5: Exporting Your Video with Subtitles

1. Go to Deliver Page: Click on the “Deliver” tab at the bottom of the interface.
2. Select Export Settings: Choose the appropriate format, like MP4 or MOV, and check the “Export Subtitles” box under the subtitles settings.
3. Burn-in or Separate File: Decide whether to burn the subtitles into the video or export them separately. Burn-in is ideal for platforms like YouTube that don’t support external subtitle files.

Add your video to the render queue and hit “Start Render.”

Integrating Gling.ai

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While DaVinci Resolve offers robust subtitle tools, sometimes you may need some extra help, especially if you’re handling large amounts of content or need automated solutions. That’s where Gling.ai comes in.

What is Gling?

Gling is an advanced AI-powered tool that simplifies creating and editing subtitles. It’s perfect for creators who need to quickly generate precise and polished subtitles without the hassle. It's one of the most efficient ai tools for video editing available.

How Gling.ai Complements DaVinci Resolve

• Automated Subtitles: Gling.ai can automatically generate subtitles for your videos, which you can then fine-tune in DaVinci Resolve.
• Efficiency: Using Gling.ai to generate a base subtitle file saves tons of time on manual entry and allows you to focus on customization in DaVinci Resolve.
• Accuracy: The AI engine in Gling.ai is accurate, reducing the need for edits.

You can easily import Gling. Ai-generated subtitle files into DaVinci Resolve and continue with your customization process.

Subtitling Checklist for DaVinci Resolve

• Set Up Your Project: Import your video and prepare everything in the media pool.

• Create or Import Subtitles: Either drag in an SRT file or create subtitles from scratch.

• Customize: Adjust font, style, position, and color to match your video’s needs.

• Sync and Time: Play through your video, perfectly aligning subtitles with the audio.

• Review: Double-check everything for clarity, readability, and timing.

• Export Correctly: Choose the proper export settings, deciding whether to burn in subtitles or keep them a separate file.

• Consider Using Gling.ai For automated subtitle generation that saves time and effort.

Conclusion: Doin’ It Well

Adding subtitles to your videos in DaVinci Resolve isn't just plastering some letters on the image—it's about making your story pop, and immediately reap the benefits. With this cheat-sheet, you’ll be generating slick, professional-quality subtitles that’ll give your videos that extra edge, making them accessible no matter the language or location. 

Here’s a pro tip: DaVinci Resolve’s built-in tools for subtitle generating are already pretty awesome, but if you really want to up your game, consider mixing in a specialized tool like Gling.ai. It’s like adding rocket fuel to your workflow, letting you focus on the fun, creative stuff while cutting down exposure to the nitty-gritty technical details.