Beginners and newcomers to DaVinci Resolve (versions 18.5, 18, 17, etc.) face challenges in ripple deleting clips and gaps inside a timeline.
Ripple delete in DaVinci Resolve does two operations in a single click. It deletes a clip and then moves the rest of the timeline left to fill the gap. It has a ripple-like effect and affects the whole timeline – hence the name.
To ripple delete in DaVinci Resolve, select the clip, right-click, and select “Ripple Delete”. The shortcut for ripple delete is the delete key (Windows) and “Forward Delete” (MacOS).
Ripple delete is also used to remove empty space between clips.
Let’s explore the ripple delete of a clip (and gap) operation in DaVinci Resolve in detail – step-by-step with pictures.
- How to Ripple Delete in DaVinci Resolve?
- Difference Between Ripple Delete and Delete in DaVinci Resolve
- How to Ripple Delete Empty Space in DaVinci Resolve?
- How to Ripple Delete a Gap Without Moving Clips from Other Tracks?
- How to Ripple Delete a Range of Clips in a Timeline in DaVinci Resolve?
- Turn Off Ripple Delete in DaVinci Resolve
- Ripple Cut in DaVinci Resolve
How to Ripple Delete in DaVinci Resolve?
- Go to the “Edit” page and then to the timeline.
- Select the clip and right-click.
- Choose “Ripple Delete” (the shortcut is the delete key in Windows, forward delete in MacOS).
- Ripple deleting clips will delete the clips and then close the gaps immediately.
Hence, before ripple deleting, the first step should always be to disable “Auto Track Selector” for tracks that you don’t want to be affected. (Scroll down for more information).
Difference Between Ripple Delete and Delete in DaVinci Resolve
In MacOS, the ripple delete operation deletes a clip and then moves the rest of the timeline left to fill the gap (using the Forward Delete key). The delete operation deletes a clip and leaves a gap. In Windows, the delete key performs the ripple delete. The backspace key deletes a clip and leaves a gap.
In Windows, before pressing the delete key – you should know that pressing the delete key will ripple delete and move the entire timeline to the left.
If in doubt, always hit the backspace key.
The delete operation that deletes a clip and leaves a gap is also called “Lift Edit“.
How to Ripple Delete Empty Space in DaVinci Resolve?
To ripple delete an empty space or gap, first, click on the gap (the gap will be highlighted) between the clips. Right-click and select “Ripple Delete” or press the delete key in Windows or Forward Delete in MacOS.
This operation will move the right side clips to the left (to close the gap) from the same track as well as other tracks.
If you don’t want to affect clips from other tracks, then read the next section.
Related Article:
If you want to learn more about dealing with deleting gaps and clips in Resolve, then I highly recommend the below detailed guide:
How to Ripple Delete a Gap Without Moving Clips from Other Tracks?
To ripple delete a gap without moving other clips of other tracks, first, disable other tracks’ “Auto track Selector” and “Ripple Delete” the gap.
- Disable the “Auto Track Selector” icon by clicking on it, for tracks that you don’t want to be affected.
- Right-click and select “Ripple Delete”. Or press delete key ( “Shift + Backspace” also works)
From the above image, you can see that both V2 and A2 tracks are disabled.
When you “Ripple Delete” a gap at V1 or A1, it will not move the clips at tracks V2 and A2. The clips after the gap at A1 and V1 will move towards the left to close the gap.
Ripple Delete is Not Working in DaVinci Resolve?
When you select a clip or gap, ripple delete it, and expect other clips from other tracks to move, but they don’t, then it feels like ripple delete is not working.
But taking a closer look will reveal the actual issue.
Check the “Auto Track Selector” icon for the other tracks. If it is disabled, then the clips of those tracks won’t move toward the left.
Click on the “Auto Track Selector” icon to enable it, for all the required tracks, and then again ripple delete the clip or gap. Now all the clips to the right of the deleted clip or gap will move towards the left.
Instead of ripple deleting clips as a whole, you want to delete a part or range of clips across the timeline (including audio & video), then:
How to Ripple Delete a Range of Clips in a Timeline in DaVinci Resolve?
- Go to the “Edit” page > timeline.
- Place an In point (press “i”) and an out point (press “o”) in the timeline to select a range.
- (If the range is not highlighted, then press “Ctrl + Shift + A” to highlight the range.)
- Disable “Auto Track Selector” for tracks that you don’t want to be affected.
- Press the delete key to ripple delete.
Turn Off Ripple Delete in DaVinci Resolve
The best way to turn off ripple delete in DaVinci Resolve is not to use the “Delete” button (or Forward Delete in MacOS). Instead, use the backspace key and/or disable the auto track selector for tracks that you don’t want to move.
Ripple Cut in DaVinci Resolve
Ripple delete and ripple cut are different.
Ripple cut removes a clip from the timeline and stores it in memory. This operation moves all the clips to the left on tracks that are Auto Select enabled. The shortcut for ripple cut is “Ctrl + Shift + X” in Windows, and “Cmd + Shift + X” in MacOS.
