How To Make YouTube Shorts Using DaVinci Resolve

Introduction

Getting your short videos ready for YouTube Shorts using DaVinci Resolve can be kind of frustrating, especially if you’re not used to the whole vertical format thing or the weird export settings. It’s not exactly intuitive, and some settings sneakily default back to landscape or HD resolution, which messes up your Shorts. So, this walkthrough should help you get that perfect 9:16 aspect ratio, import clips smoothly, slap on some audio (maybe even text-to-speech like luvvoice.com), do quick trims for under 60 seconds, and then export it looking legit for mobile viewers. Basically, you’ll get a short that doesn’t get rejected or look weird on your phone.

How to Fix and Create YouTube Shorts in DaVinci Resolve

Set up your project with the right aspect ratio and resolution

This is often where people get stuck — the default project doesn’t match the vertical aspect needed for Shorts, so your video ends up tiny in the middle with black bars all around. On some setups, creating a custom resolution and aspect ratio is the only way to get it right.

• Open DaVinci Resolve, and go to File > Project Settings (bottom right gear icon).
• Under the Master Settings tab, find Timeline Resolution. Change it from the default (like 1920×1080) to 1080x1920 (that’s portrait mode for 9:16). This forces the timeline to work vertically, which actually makes editing easier because everything will be in the right orientation.
• If you see an option for Use Vertical Resolution, make sure to check that if it exists. Save your settings and confirm.

This fix helped me avoid weird resizing issues later on. And on one machine it failed the first time, then worked after a restart. Windows loves to reset settings or load the default if you don’t explicitly change them.

Import your footage and match your settings

When importing clips, check if they maintain the correct orientation. If they default to landscape, manually rotate or reposition them on the canvas. Sometimes, importing from phone footage means skewed orientation; you’ll need to fix that.

• Right-click in the Media Pool > Import Media. Select your clips.
• If prompted about frame rate mismatch, click Change. Usually, it helps to set the timeline frame rate to match the footage in Project Settings.
• Drag videos onto the timeline. If your clip plays sideways, select it, go to the inspector panel (top right), and manually rotate to upright — usually 90° or -90°, depending on the footage.

Resize and position clips properly for vertical display

Once your clips are imported, it’s time to make sure they look right in a vertical frame. Sometimes, after setting the resolution, the footage isn’t automatically scaled — which leads to black bars or awkward cropping.

• Select the clip on the timeline. In the inspector, look for the Zoom or Transform controls.
• Zoom in until the important part of the video fills the vertical frame. You might also need to reposition with Position X & Y sliders so that your subject is centered.

Adding audio and text-to-voice — a little trick to spice up your Shorts

Enhancing your clip with voice-over is a game-changer. Instead of recording your own, text-to-speech services like luvvoice.com work well. It’s kind of weird, but if you generate decent audio, it makes your Shorts feel more polished.

• Enter your script on the luvvoice.com site, pick a voice, and generate the audio file.
• Import the MP3 into DaVinci Resolve (drag it into Media Pool).
• Place it on the audio track and align it with your video. You might need to trim or stretch clips a little to sync perfectly.

Trim, cut, and keep it under 60 seconds

This is the part where you cut out all the fluff. For Shorts, shorter is usually better, around or under 60 seconds. Use the Blade Tool (B) to split clips, then delete what you don’t need. Don’t forget that the last thing you want is your video getting rejected because it’s over time or cut awkwardly.

• Position the playhead where you want to cut.
• Press B to activate the Blade Tool, then click on the clip to split.
• Select unwanted parts and hit Delete. Repeat until it’s tight and punchy.

Adjust audio length and sync

Make sure your voice-over or audio track matches your trimmed video — otherwise, it’ll sound off or cut off prematurely. Drag the edges of your audio in the timeline to fit the clip length. Sometimes, you’ll need to fade in/out or lower volume so it’s not harsh.

Export with the right settings for Shorts

This part can be a pain because DaVinci Resolve’s default export usually defaults to landscape horizontal video. So, double-check everything’s set properly before rendering.

• Switch to the Deliver tab at the bottom.
• Name your file.
• Click Browse to select where to save it.
• Set the format to MP4. Don’t go for MOV or whatever — MP4 plays better on YouTube and phones.
• For resolution, make sure it’s 1080x1920. Sometimes, Resolve reverts to default; double-check that you didn’t end up with 1920×1080 or something weird.
• Under the codec options, select H.264 if you can. It’s the most compatible.
• Click Add to Render Queue, then hit Start Render. Wait for the progress bar to finish.

Extra tips & pitfalls to watch out for

Honestly, the biggest headaches come from resolution mismatches or forgetting to resize the footage. Always check if your export is the right size before rendering. Also, keep an eye on frame rate and audio sync issues — they happen more often than you’d expect, especially if you import media from different sources.

On some setups, exporting with the correct specs doesn’t work the first time, or the preview looks strange. Trust me, a restart or rechecking your settings fixes most of that.

Summing up

Slapping together Shorts in DaVinci Resolve isn’t rocket science, but it needs a bit more attention to resolution and aspect ratio than you’d think. Playing around with project settings, cropping, and exporting carefully makes a big difference. Once you get the hang of it, creating those quick, engaging videos becomes much smoother.