Where to find the frame rate setting

Frame rate in DaVinci Resolve lives in the Project Settings panel, which you reach from the top menu: File > Project Settings. A window opens with several tabs across the top. Click the Master Settings tab. Near the top of that panel, you will see Timeline Frame Rate with a dropdown menu showing your current rate — usually 23.976 fps, 24 fps, 29.97 fps, 30 fps, 50 fps, 59.94 fps, or 60 fps depending on your region and project type.

Click the dropdown and select the frame rate you need. The moment you select it, DaVinci Resolve applies that rate to your entire timeline and all clips within it. You do not need to restart the program or re-import media.

If you are starting a new project, you can also set the frame rate before you add any clips. Open File > New Project, name it, and before you click Create, the frame rate dropdown appears in the new project dialog. Setting it here saves you the step of changing it later.

Key Takeaways

  • Frame rate is set in File > Project Settings > Master Settings > Timeline Frame Rate, and the change applies when ready to your entire timeline.
  • Common rates are 23.976 fps (film), 29.97 fps (NTSC video), 30 fps (web), 50 fps (PAL), and 60 fps (high-speed or gaming footage).
  • Changing the frame rate does not delete or corrupt your clips; it only tells DaVinci Resolve how fast to play them back.
  • If you set the wrong rate before importing clips, you can change it again without losing your edits or media links.

Why frame rate matters for your project

Frame rate is the number of still images shown per second. A higher frame rate (60 fps) plays back smoother and is standard for sports, gaming, or live-action video. A lower frame rate (24 fps) is the cinema standard and gives footage a more deliberate, film-like look. Mismatching your frame rate to your footage can cause playback to stutter or appear unnaturally fast or slow.

Your choice depends on where the footage came from and where it is going. If you are editing video from a smartphone or camera, check what rate that device recorded at — most modern phones shoot at 30 fps or 60 fps. If you are delivering to YouTube, 24 fps, 30 fps, and 60 fps all work fine. If you are delivering to broadcast television in North America, 29.97 fps is the standard. In Europe and most of the rest of the world, 25 fps or 50 fps is standard.

What happens when you change frame rate mid-project

Changing the frame rate after you have already edited does not erase your cuts, transitions, or color grading. DaVinci Resolve straightforward re-interprets the timeline at the new rate. If you change from 30 fps to 60 fps, your clips will play twice as fast unless you also change their speed settings. If you change from 60 fps to 30 fps, they will play half as fast.

For this reason, it is best to set the frame rate before you begin editing. If you discover mid-project that you chose the wrong rate, you can change it back without losing work — but you will need to adjust clip speeds to compensate if the new rate is significantly different from the old one.

If you have already applied speed changes to individual clips (for slow-motion or fast-forward effects), changing the project frame rate will alter how those effects play back. Make a note of any speed adjustments before you change the project rate, so you can correct them afterward if needed.

Matching frame rate to your source footage

Before you set your project frame rate, open the Media Pool in DaVinci Resolve and right-click on one of your source clips. Select Clip Properties. A panel opens showing the frame rate that clip was recorded at. If all your clips are the same rate, set your project to match. If your clips are mixed — some 30 fps, some 60 fps — choose the rate that the majority of your footage uses, then adjust the minority clips individually.

To adjust a single clip's playback speed to match your project frame rate, drag it to the timeline, right-click it, and select Change Clip Speed. A dialog appears. If your clip is 60 fps and your project is 30 fps, set the speed to 50% (half speed). If your clip is 30 fps and your project is 60 fps, set it to 200% (double speed). This keeps the clip in sync with the rest of your timeline without creating a stutter or slow-motion effect.

Frame rate and export settings

When you export your finished video, DaVinci Resolve uses your project frame rate by default. If you go to File > Export > Add to Render Queue and open the export settings, the Frame Rate field will already show your project rate. You can change it here if you need to deliver at a different rate than you edited at — for example, editing at 24 fps but exporting at 30 fps for web platforms.

Changing the export frame rate without changing the project frame rate will speed up or slow down your video. If you export at a higher rate than you edited at, the video plays faster. If you export at a lower rate, it plays slower. This is rarely what you want, so leave the export frame rate matching your project frame rate unless you have a specific reason to change it.

Common frame rates and when to use them

23.976 fps is the film standard and is used for cinema releases and projects meant to look cinematic. 24 fps is the exact film rate and is sometimes used for web content that aims for a film look. 29.97 fps is the North American broadcast television standard (NTSC). 30 fps is common for web video, YouTube, and general-purpose video. 50 fps is the European broadcast standard (PAL). 59.94 fps is the high-frame-rate NTSC standard used for sports and fast-action content. 60 fps is the standard for gaming, high-speed footage, and smooth playback on modern displays.

If you are unsure which rate to use, 30 fps is the safest choice for most online video. It is fast enough to look smooth on modern screens, works on all platforms, and is the default for most consumer cameras and smartphones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change frame rate without losing my edits?

Yes. Changing the project frame rate does not delete clips, cuts, or effects. Your timeline and all edits remain intact. The frame rate change only affects how fast the clips play back, so you may need to adjust individual clip speeds if the new rate is very different from the old one.

What frame rate should I use if my clips are mixed?

Set your project to the frame rate of your majority footage. For clips that do not match, use Change Clip Speed to adjust them individually. If you have 10 clips at 30 fps and 2 at 60 fps, set the project to 30 fps and speed the two 60 fps clips to 50%.

Does changing frame rate affect audio sync?

No. Audio is not frame-rate dependent. Changing the project frame rate will not desync your audio from video. However, if you change individual clip speeds to match a new project frame rate, you must also adjust the audio speed on those clips to keep them in sync.

What happens if I export at a different frame rate than my project?

The video will play faster or slower than intended. If you export at a higher rate than your project, the video speeds up. If you export at a lower rate, it slows down. Always match your export frame rate to your project frame rate unless you intentionally want to change playback speed.

Can I change frame rate on a Mac and a Windows version of DaVinci Resolve the same way?

Yes. The steps are identical on both operating systems. File > Project Settings > Master Settings > Timeline Frame Rate works the same way on Mac, Windows, and Linux.