Hey there, creative gang! Kick off 2025 with the latest in tech and editing tips!

From upcoming CES monitor reveals and massive storage upgrades to metadata hacks and new Blackmagic courses, there’s something for everyone—plus a quick tip to streamline your DaVinci Resolve projects.

CES 2025 all new OLED Monitors

As CES 2025 approaches, there’s been a steady flow of exciting announcements about next-gen monitors. Brands are pushing boundaries, delivering higher refresh rates, better color accuracy, and innovative designs.

ASUS kicked things off with the ROG Swift OLED PG27UCDM, a 26.5-inch 4K display with a 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time. It features fourth-gen QD-OLED tech, setting a high bar for competitors.

Samsung followed up with a show-stopping lineup, including the Odyssey OLED G60SF boasting a 500Hz refresh rate and the Odyssey 3D (G90XF), which offers glasses-free 3D using AI. Their largest offering, the 37-inch ViewFinity S8, combines a 99% sRGB gamut with smart AI features like 4K AI Upscaling Pro.

Not to be outdone, LG revealed the 45GX990A and 45GX950A—45-inch 5K2K monitors with customizable aspect ratios and bendable OLED displays that shift between flat and curved. As CES draws nearer, expect even more exciting updates on cutting-edge displays!

Now That More HAMR Hard Drives Are Being Released, It Might Be Time for an Upgrade

Something worth keeping an eye on if you’re managing storage on a NAS system. Seagate just dropped a massive 32TB hard drive that could be a great option for post-production storage. With HAMR technology (basically a new way to pack more data onto drives) hitting the market, we’re likely to see storage capacities jump up pretty quickly from here. While it’s not going to match the speed of your SSDs since it’s still a spinning disk drive, it offers way more bang for your buck in terms of pure storage space.

The best part is you can just plug these into your existing setup – no need to overhaul your whole system. For those of you juggling countless drives full of footage and project files, this could be a great way to consolidate your storage, cut down on the number of drives you’re managing, and maybe even save some money on power bills in the long run. With both Seagate and Western Digital pushing these larger capacities, it might be worth considering an upgrade to simplify your storage situation, especially if you’re running out of space for all those massive video files.

Streamline Your Edits Use Metadata

Organizing your footage with metadata at the start of a project can dramatically streamline your editing process and boost creativity. By tagging clips with scene names, keywords, and color codes, you make it easier to identify key moments, categorize footage, and focus on the best material. This upfront effort not only helps you stay organized but also ensures you have a clear overview of your footage, allowing you to jump straight into editing without wasting time searching through files.

Creating subclips, using Smart Bins, and grouping selects into a dedicated folder simplifies the workflow further by narrowing your focus to the most relevant clips. These steps save time during the edit and make it easier to locate footage for future projects, like highlight reels or revisions. By investing a little time in organization, you can unleash your creativity more effectively and set the foundation for a smooth, stress-free editing experience. (Good video on the subject)

The New Blackmagic Course Curriculum.

If you’re itching to level up your DaVinci Resolve skills, here’s exciting news: Blackmagic’s updated course curriculum for Edit, Color, Fusion, and Fairlight is dropping in the first quarter. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your expertise, this is the perfect opportunity to learn directly from the pros. Keep an eye out for these courses. I’ll be posting them available on the site soon.

I’m also gauging interest in a development course focused on DaVinci Resolve and Fusion APIs. It would dive into scripting, automation, and customization for those ready to get technical. If that sounds like your cup of tea, shoot me an email! Your feedback will help shape whether this idea becomes a reality.

Setup and or update your project settings. Tip for the New Year!

Start 2025 off right by setting up or updating your default project settings in DaVinci Resolve! This quick tweak ensures every new project starts with your preferred resolution, frame rate, and color management—saving you time all year long.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Open DaVinci Resolve
   • Launch the software and go to the Project Manager screen. This is the screen where you select or create projects.
2. Access Project Settings
   • Open an existing project or create a new one.
   • In the main interface, click the gear icon (⚙️) at the bottom-right corner of the screen. This opens the Project Settings window.
3. Adjust the Settings
   In the Project Settings window, configure your preferences. Here are some common settings to consider:
   • Master Settings:
     • Timeline resolution (e.g., 1920×1080, 3840×2160)
     • Frame rate (e.g., 24fps, 30fps)
     • Video monitoring settings
   • Color Management:
     • Set up the color science (e.g., DaVinci YRGB or DaVinci YRGB Color Managed)
     • Input/output color spaces
   • Fairlight:
     • Configure audio settings, including sample rate (e.g., 48kHz) and output bus format.
   • General Options:
     • Autosave settings
     • Timeline preferences (e.g., default audio track type, duration of stills, and transitions)
4. Save as Default
   • Once you’ve configured the settings to your preference, click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of the Project Settings window.
   • Select Save as Default Settings.
5. Create New Projects with Default Settings
   • When you create a new project from the Project Manager, it will automatically inherit the default settings you configured.

Tips:

• If you work on different types of projects (e.g., 4K vs. HD), consider creating project templates. Save projects with specific settings and duplicate them when starting a new project.
• Periodically review your default settings as your workflow or hardware changes (e.g., new monitor or camera).

By setting up default project settings, you can streamline your workflow and ensure consistency across projects.

Keep creating, stay curious, and never stop pushing your creative boundaries!

Stay creative,
Justin R.