DaVinci Resolve 20: How to Cut Clips Efficiently - Step-by-Step Guide

So you've got hours of footage and need to trim it down to something watchable? Cutting clips in DaVinci Resolve 20 feels overwhelming when you're staring at that interface for the first time. I remember my first project taking three times longer than it should have because I kept making messy cuts. Let's fix that for you.

Getting Your Workspace Ready

Before we dive into davinci resolve 20 how to cut clips, let's get organized. Messy projects waste more time than bad editing.

Setting Up Your First Project

When you launch Resolve, you'll see the project manager. Hit "New Project" and name it something sane like "Wedding_Edit" instead of "Untitled1". First mistake I made? Not setting my resolution properly. Go to File > Project Settings > Master Settings and match your camera specs:

Import footage through the Media Pool – just drag from Finder/Explorer. Pro tip: Create bins! Right-click > New Bin and sort by scene or camera angle. Saves headaches later.

Essential Cutting Tools Demystified

Cutting clips in DaVinci Resolve 20 isn't rocket science once you know which blade to use. Here's what actually works:

The Razor Blade (And Why It's Overused)

Newbies always grab the Blade Tool (keyboard shortcut: B). It's straightforward - click where you want to split a clip. But here's the catch: It leaves gaps everywhere. You'll spend more time closing gaps than editing. Honestly, I rarely use it except for rough cuts.

Smart Editing with the Trim Tool

This changed my workflow. Press T to activate Trim Edit Mode. Now you can:

• Drag clip edges to adjust in/out points
• Roll edits (move cut point between clips)
• Slip footage (change content without moving cut points)

This is where cutting clips in davinci resolve 20 gets efficient. Try trimming while playing footage - it snaps to beats naturally.

Keyboard Shortcuts That Save Lives

Memorize these to actually enjoy editing:

Professional Cutting Workflows

Want Hollywood-level efficiency? These workflows separate amateurs from pros.

Three-Point Editing (My Daily Driver)

This method solves clip placement in seconds:

1. In Viewer, set IN point where clip should start
2. Set OUT point where it should end
3. On timeline, set IN point at desired placement
4. Click "Overwrite" or "Insert" (more on this below)

Why this rocks: You control exact duration and placement with surgical precision. Forget dragging clips manually.

J-Cuts and L-Cuts for Natural Flow

Basic cuts feel amateur. Want that documentary flow? Here's how:

• J-Cut: Audio starts BEFORE video (creates anticipation)
• L-Cut: Audio continues AFTER video change (smooth transitions)

Create them by extending audio tracks beyond the video cut point. Essential for conversation scenes. Makes your edits invisible.

Advanced Techniques You'll Actually Use

Once you've nailed the basics, these techniques will level up your davinci resolve 20 clip cutting game.

Ripple Editing Done Right

Ripple delete is great, but try full ripple editing:

1. Enable "Ripple" mode (chain icon on timeline)
2. Trim a clip on the timeline
3. All subsequent clips automatically shift

Perfect for tightening sequences without manual dragging. But warning: Can mess up sync if you have layered audio!

Multicam Editing Simplified

Got multiple cameras? Here's the cheat code:

1. Select all camera angles in Media Pool
2. Right-click > Create Multicam Clip
3. Sync by audio or timecode
4. Drop multicam clip on timeline
5. Cut between angles using numeric keys while playing

This saved my last live event edit. Cuts that used to take hours became real-time.

Common Mistakes & Fixes

We've all been here. Save yourself the frustration:

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts Cheat Sheet

Print this and tape it to your monitor:

Real Answers to Actual User Questions

Why Your Cuts Feel Awkward (And How to Fix)

Technical cutting is one thing, but making edits feel natural is art. Here's what I've learned:

• Cut on motion: People accept cuts during movement (turning head, standing up)
• Match eyelines: When cutting between people, keep gaze direction consistent
• Vary shot sizes: Cut from wide to close-up, not medium to similar medium
• Silence is powerful: Sometimes NOT cutting creates more impact

Remember that time you watched a scene and thought "something feels off"? Probably violated one of these.

Hardware That Actually Helps

Don't fight your tools. After testing dozens of setups:

Should You Upgrade From Older Resolve Versions?

Still on Resolve 18? The cutting improvements in v20 are worth it:

• New "Cut Page" optimized for fast editing (great for YouTubers)
• AI-powered audio syncing (saves hours on multicam)
• Enhanced trim responsiveness (less timeline lag)
• Source Tape mode (edit entire cards like documentary pros)

That said, if you're mid-project, finish first. Upgrading mid-edit once corrupted my project cache. Not fun.

Practice Exercise: Cut a Conversation Scene

Let's apply everything. Download sample dialogue scene (many free options at Mixkit.co). Try:

1. Edit entire conversation without cutting (single shots)
2. Now cut every speech change with basic cuts
3. Finally, use J-cuts/L-cuts with reaction shots

Compare the three versions. See how cutting technique transforms storytelling? That's the magic of how to cut clips in davinci resolve 20.

Cutting clips feels daunting initially, but becomes second nature. The trick? Stop overcomplicating it. Grab your footage and start making bad cuts first. You'll develop instinct faster than watching tutorials. What's the weirdest cutting problem you've faced?