DaVinci Resolve Change Sample Rate (Audio Bitrate! 2024)

Featured Change Audio Sample Rate DaVinci Resolve Beginners Approach

When you export audio only files like a wave or mp3 from the “Deliver” page, you will be surprised to see no option available to select desired audio sample rate.

Beginners and newcomers to DaVinci Resolve (versions 18.5, 18, 17, etc.), often find it challenging to change the audio bitrate.

To change audio bitrate (sample rate) in DaVinci Resolve, create a new project. Don’t create any timeline yet. Go to “File” > “Project Settings”. Click on the “Fairlight” link. Choose either “48000” or “441000” against “Audio Sample Rate”, under the “Timeline Sample Rate” section.

Today we’ll see how to change the project timeline audio sample rate and then export in a different sample rate in DaVinci Resolve, step-by-step with pictures.

We’ll also see different work-arounds for changing the audio sample rates when you are in the midst of editing.


Can I Change Timeline Audio Sample Rate in DaVinci Resolve?

You can change the project timeline audio sample rate before creating the first timeline in a project. Once you create a timeline, the sample rate is locked out. You will not be able to change the audio sample rate even if you create new timelines. However, there is a work-around to change the sample rate. (More on that later)

DaVinci Resolve free version lets you choose either 44.100 or 48.000 kHz audio sample rate.

48.000 kHz audio sample rate is the default.

The paid version – DaVinci Resolve Studio – supports the following audio sample rates:

  • 44.1 kHz
  • 48 kHz
  • 96 kHz
  • 192 kHz
DaVinci Resolve Free VersionDaVinci Resolve Studio Version
44.1 kHz44.1 kHz
48 kHz48 kHz
96 kHz
192 kHz
Timeline Sample Rate Available in DaVinci Resolve Free and Studio Versions

Things to note:

On the “Deliver” page, you don’t have the option to select desired sample rate for export.

Whatever sample rate is set before the creation of a new timeline in a project, DaVinci Resolve considers the same for export from the “Deliver” page.

(However, you can change the sample rate during export from the “Fairlight” page. More on that later).


How to Change Audio Sample Rate in DaVinci Resolve Quickly?

  1. Create a new project in DaVinci Resolve.
  2. Don’t create any timeline yet.
  3. Click on the “Project Settings” – bottom right corner gear icon (shortcut “Shift + 9”)
  4. Click on the “Fairlight” link in the “Project Settings” window (found on the left-hand side.)
  5. Choose either “48000” or “441000” against “Audio Sample Rate”, under the “Timeline Sample Rate” section.
  6. Click on the save button.
  7. Now create a new timeline and start your audio and video editing.
  8. Once you create a timeline, the audio frame rate will be locked out.

This is easier said than done.

But what if you are in the midst of a project and would like to change the audio sample rate?

Can I Change Audio Sample Rate in the Middle of a Project?

You can’t change the audio sample rate in the midst of a project (the field will be disabled in the “Project Settings”). However, you can create a new project, then go to “Project Settings” > “Fairlight” > change the sample rate. Then create a timeline and copy-paste the previous project’s clips to this new timeline.

The audio clips’ sample rate (belonging to the previous project) will be re-sampled to the current timeline sample rate!

“Regardless of the Timeline Sample Rate you select, when you import audio files at different sample rates, they will be automatically re-sampled to the Timeline Sample Rate so they play correctly.”

Let’s cover this step-by-step in detail so it’s easy for you to follow. We will change the sample rate from 48 kHz to 44.1 kHz by retaining all the edits.

Not Able To Change Audio Sample Rate in Resolve – Fix (Workaround)

#1) Create a new Project

  • Click on the “Project Manager” home icon from the bottom right corner.
  • Click on the “Create New Project” button. Enter a name and then “Create“.

#2) Update the Required Sample Rate in the “Project Settings”

  • Click on the “Project Settings” gear icon from the bottom right corner.
  • Click on “Fairlight” > choose your required sample rate, say “44100” against the “Audio Sample Rate”, under the “Timeline Sample Rate” section.
  • Click on “Save“.

#3) Create a New Timeline

  • Click on the “Edit” page, then click on the “Media Pool” section from the upper left.
  • Then under the “Clip Name” area, right click > “Timelines” > “Create New Timeline” (shortcut is: “Ctrl + N” or “Cmd + N”).
  • Then again, click on “File” > “Save Project” (or press “Ctrl + S” or “Cmd + S”) to save the change. This is crucial.
  • (If you go to the “Project Settings” > “Fairlight” > “Audio Sample Rate” – it will be locked out.)

#4) Copy the clips from the previous project to the new timeline

  • Click on the “Project Manager” home icon from the bottom right corner.
  • Select your previous project containing all the clips with edits. (If you get a popup “Save Project Changes”, click on “Yes”.)
  • Now, copy all the clips by pressing “Ctrl + a” or “Cmd + a”. The audio sample rate is 48 kHz in this project.

#5) Paste the Clips in the Timeline of the New Project

  • Again click on the “Project Manager” home icon from the bottom right corner. Select your new project.
  • In the new timeline, place your playhead at the start of the timeline.
  • Paste by pressing “Ctrl + v” or “Cmd + v”.
  • All the clips will now be copied successfully. The audio clips will be resampled to the defined sample rate (44.1 kHz) in the new timeline!

(You can double-check the audio sample rate by going to “Project Settings” > “Fairlight” > “Audio Sample Rate”.)

There you go! This is a huge time saver.


Pro Tip!

If you just created a new timeline and didn’t yet start the editing work, then you can delete the timeline, and then change the sample rate to the desired one from the “Project Settings”. Then create a new timeline and then start the work!


Ever wondered why there is no option to select audio sample rate from the “Deliver” page. That’s because Resolve sets the timeline sample rate as the sample rate of the audio for export behind the scenes.

However, you can still change the export audio sample rate.

To change the audio sample rate of your export, you need to click on the “Fairlight” page instead of the “Deliver” page.

This is how you do it step by step.

Change Export Audio Sample Rate in DaVinci Resolve

  1. Click on the “Fairlight” page to change the audio sample rate of your export.
  2. Select the required audio clips from the timeline that needs to be exported.
  3. Right-click on the audio clips and select “Export Audio Files…”.
  4. On the “Export Audio Files” window, locate the “Sample Rate” dropdown.
  5. Choose your desired sample rate, say, “96000” (96 kHz) from the dropdown.
  6. Enter other required details.
  7. Then click on the “Export” button.
  8. The audio file with the required sample rate will be exported!

The sample rate of an exported file shows 96 kHz as expected:

If you face any issues during export, click on the below step-by-step detailed tutorial for more information.


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