Blackmagic, going for the replay market with DaVinci Resolve Replay

The new DaVinci Resolve Replay system from Blackmagic Design, based on the union of HyperDeck units with DaVinci Resolve post-production software, seeks to offer a new approach to the field of replays of all types of live productions.

DaVinci Resolve Replay uses multiple units HyperDeck to record to shared storage devices that, in turn, connect to DaVinci Resolve, which is used as playback engine. This workflow presented at NAB 2024 allows you to take advantage of the extraordinary tools that the program offers in terms of editing, collaboration, visual effects, grading and audio post-production. In turn, repetitions can become promotions, opening sequences or social media posts.

Through DaVinci Resolve Replay, operators have the possibility of import camera angles interesting from a timeline to edit, grade and apply visual effects. This material can then be shared on social networks “in a matter of seconds.” Furthermore, with Blackmagic Cloud, it is possible to use more than one computer with DaVinci Resolve for the same job.

The launch of DaVinci Resolve Replay comes with the keyboard DaVinci Resolve Replay Editor, a physical control panel that combines features for replays and multi-camera editing. The system allows the same operator to work on replays while importing them into the timeline using keyboard editing tools. Regarding its design, Blackmagic has taken care that the buttons are properly spaced with the purpose that users can locate them intuitively. The panel can be connected via Bluetooth or a USB port, and its internal battery lasts for hours.

Grant Petty, executive director of Blackmagic Design, values ​​the new workflow of DaVinci Resolve replays: "Over the years, we've continued to work on adding tools for broadcasters to DaVinci Resolve, such as Fusion effects and Fairlight audio. We want these organizations to have access to the same high-end features as the digital cinema industry, so now we've added a new way to create live replays. This may be the craziest thing we've added to DaVinci Resolve; I can't wait to appreciate the creativity with which they stations will use Blackmagic Replay, in order to generate live replays instantly.”

How DaVinci Resolve Replay works

DaVinci Resolve allows operators to perform repetitions in a few steps. By pressing a point of interest button, users may be able to automatically create a replay by watching the incoming signal. Additionally, by using this button, operators can switch from source viewing mode to playback mode, where different angles can be viewed simultaneously. They then have the opportunity to go back and select a camera, so that users are ready to play back images by simply pressing the RUN button.

Because this solution is integrated into DaVinci Resolve, operators can organize different specific views by loading them in a tray. For example, if you want to capture feeds from eight cameras, but only repeat images from four of them, you only need to load those four into the tray. Different users can load different cameras and perform custom replays from each workstation. DaVinci Resolve generates simultaneous display of fonts based on the files available in the tray. However, when it comes to shared projects, it is possible to create different folders in the same project with different cameras loaded.

On the other hand, the capture function Sequencing provides the opportunity for operators to play multiple camera angles during the same replay, allowing a single system with DaVinci Resolve to handle complex replays. When the first on-air camera angle is played by using the RUN button, the view changes to a simultaneous display, even though the transmitted signal corresponds to the selected camera. This allows the people responsible for replays evaluate what is being broadcast live and look for the next angle. Then, simply press the time, second camera and playback buttons to go back a certain number of seconds before the point of interest and continue playback, even with transitions and live.

Automation and transitions

Live productions often employ complex automation for animated transitions. However, DaVinci Resolve includes automatic animated transitions that seek to streamline these processes that can be deployed by pressing the buttons RUN y DUMP- The alpha channel will be added to the animated transition in the composition transmitted via the SDI output of the hardware.

By pressing the button RUN, the animated transition starts, and then the clip plays. On the other hand, the button DUMP allows you to play the animated transition again, and then stops playback. This function may be slightly delayed if an edit has just been performed; however, pressing the button twice stops playback immediately.