Blackmagic Reveals DaVinci Resolve 18, Blackmagic Cloud

Resident wizard Grant Petty and the team at Blackmagic Design dropped the gauntlet on the industry today with the announcement of DaVinci Resolve 18 and a lineup of Blackmagic Cloud Store products.

The livestream, originally billed as a DaVinci Resolve update, had users speculating on the launch of DaVinci Resolve 18 and what the software would include. It’s safe to say everyone was floored by what the company actually announced.

DaVinci Resolve 18

The highlight of DaVinci Resolve 18 is a major new cloud collaboration update that allows multiple editors, colorists, VFX artists and audio engineers to work on the same project, on the same timeline, at the same time – from anywhere in the world.

DaVinci Resolve 18 is the first release to support the new Blackmagic Cloud for hosting and sharing projects. It also features a new DaVinci proxy workflow that automatically creates proxies from files linked to camera originals, resulting in a faster editing workflow. There are also new Resolve FX, including ultra beauty and 3D depth map, improved subtitling for editors, GPU accelerated Fusion paint and real time title template playback, Fairlight fixed to FlexBus conversion and more.

Key DaVinci Resolve 18 features

• Support for Blackmagic Cloud to host and manage cloud based project libraries.
• New Blackmagic Proxy Generator App automatically creates and manages proxies.
• Ability to choose between working with proxies or camera original files.
• Support for intelligent path mapping to relink files automatically.
• Improved project library performance for private server.
• New object mask recognizes and tracks movement of thousands of objects automatically.
• A New depth map generates 3D depth matte of a scene in DaVinci Resolve Studio.
• New surface tracker for tracking warped surfaces in DaVinci Resolve Studio.
• Refined ultra beauty tool in Resolve FX beauty for advanced corrective work.
• Expanded subtitle support for TTML and XML timed texts, and embedded MXF/IMF.
• Support for reversing shape, iris and wipe transitions in the edit page.
• New 5×5 multicam enables viewing of up to 25 simultaneous different angles.
• Faster GPU accelerated paint tool with smoother strokes.
• Support for live previews when using the Text+ color picker.
• Ability to convert historical fixed bus projects to FlexBus in project settings.
• Improved Dolby Atmos immersive mixing, including Binaural monitoring.
• Decomposition of nested timelines with all track data including FX and automation.
• Innovative space view scope in Fairlight shows position and relationship in 3D space.

DaVinci Resolve 18 public beta is now available from Blackmagic Design.

Blackmagic Cloud Store

A surprise addition to the release livestream was the announcement of the Blackmagic Cloud Store – a high performance network storage solution. It’s specifically designed to meet the requirements of the television and high end film industry.

The Blackmagic Cloud Store features four 10G Ethernet connections and a parallel memory core. This technology is capable of maximum transport speeds on each port at the same time. Blackmagic even confirms it can handle 12K Blackmagic RAW files. The Blackmagic Cloud Store even allows users to setup a local cache via Dropbox to sync multiple drives or as a backup solution.

Blackmagic Cloud Store Features:

• Elegant design with whisper quiet cooling.
• Features 20 TB, 80 TB and 320 TB models.
• Extremely high performance RAID 5 flash memory.
• Sync to Dropbox.
• Includes HDMI monitoring output with live storage status.
• Includes four 10G Ethernet ports with built in switch.
• Supports Ethernet over USB-C connection to computers.
• USB-C ports allow local ingest and backup of files.
• No subscriptions, no licenses and no user data tracking.
• Includes software utility for Mac and Windows platforms.

One of the most exciting features of this technology is the HDMI monitoring output. Users can view the live status of the Blackmagic Cloud Store by connecting to a TV or monitor. This gives a graphic representation of the memory core and where activity is happening with connected users.

Additionally, the Blackmagic Cloud Store has a USB-C to Ethernet adapter built in to the system. This is extremely helpful for users working off of thin laptop computers that do not include an Ethernet connection. With the Blackmagic Cloud Store, users can access files quickly without extra steps.

The Blackmagic Cloud Store will be available in the next few months starting at $9,595. Users can select between a 20 TB, 80 TB and 320 TB models based on their own storage needs.

Security Benefits of Blackmagic Cloud Store

A final big advantage of the Blackmagic Cloud Store is the privacy. This is a private storage system completely controlled by users. You don’t have to purchase a specific subscription or pay monthly licensing fees. Blackmagic also confirms they are not tracking usage or data, allowing customers to run a private network and maintain necessary security boundaries.

Additional Blackmagic Cloud Store Options

Even if you aren’t working in a film house or with a large production team, there’s still a Blackmagic Cloud Store option for you. The company also unveiled the Blackmagic Cloud Store Mini and Blackmagic Cloud Pod.

About the Blackmagic Cloud Store Mini

The Blackmagic Cloud Store Mini is the perfect network storage solution for users of any capacity. If you have to share large media files between multiple users for editing, color correction, audio or VFX work, this a great option.

While the Blackmagic Cloud Store Mini features many similar features of the Blackmagic Cloud Store , there are a few distinctions. The Mini features a compact rack mount design that’s portable and quiet. It contains 4 flash memory cards internally. It also includes one 10G Ethernet port and one 1G Ethernet port operating as a two port network switch.

Like the Blackmagic Cloud Store, the Mini allows multiple users to collaborate on video editing software and can even handle those massive 12K Blackmagic RAW files. Users can also take advantage of HDMI monitoring.

Blackmagic Cloud Store Mini Features

• Compact rack mount design with quiet cooling.
• Four internal M.2 flash memory cards for 8 TB capacity.
• RAID 0 memory configuration for high performance.
• Sync to Dropbox.
• Includes HDMI monitoring output with live storage status.
• Includes fast 10G Ethernet and 1G Ethernet ports.
• Supports Ethernet over USB-C connection to computers.
• USB-C ports allow local backup of files.
• No subscriptions, no licenses and no user data tracking.

The Blackmagic Cloud Store Mini (8 TB) is available now for $2,995.

About the Blackmagic Cloud Pod

The most affordable option of the Blackmagic Cloud products is the Blackmagic Cloud Pod – a device that uses USB-C flash disks as network storage. This is a great option to take advantage of the Blackmagic Cloud and allow multiple users to access footage.

Blackmagic Cloud Pod Features:

• Compact pod design that connects 2 external USB-C disks.
• Hardware acceleration for high performance.
• Sync to Dropbox.
• Includes HDMI monitoring output with live storage status.
• Includes high speed 10G Ethernet port.
• No subscriptions, no licenses and no user data tracking.
• Includes software utility for Mac and Windows platforms.

The Blackmagic Cloud Pod is available now for $395.

Additional Announcements

Petty began the livestream with an overview of the new HyperDeck Shuttle HD – a new recorder/player designed for desktop use as an on demand media player. The model supports recording and playback for ProRes, DNx and H.264 files and PCM or AAC audio. It’s features a unique design with a large metal search dial and traditional broadcast deck controls to make it quick and simple when searching through media. There’s even a built-in teleprompter.

The HyperDeck Shuttle HD is available now for $495.

Petty also teased the upcoming release of the HyperDeck Extreme 4K HDR. This new broadcast deck with advanced H.265 recording features a touch screen interface with built-in scopes and HDR screen. It combines the trusted reliability of the HyperDeck with new innovations, including space saving H.265 files, optional internal cache, 3D LUTs and HDR support.

The HyperDeck Extreme 4K HDR is expected to release later this month and will retail for $2,995.