--- title: "How to use shared markers, bin locking, and chat for team collaboration in DaVinci Resolve" author: "Cutsio Team" date: "2026-05-15" lastmod: "2026-05-15" category: "DaVinci Resolve Advanced Workflows" excerpt: "DaVinci Resolve includes shared markers, automatic bin and timeline locking, and built-in chat for team collaboration. This guide covers how these tools enable multiple artists to work simultaneously without conflicts." tags: ["DaVinci Resolve","Shared Markers","Bin Locking","Collaboration","Chat","Team Workflow","Post Production"] --- ## How do shared markers work for team collaboration in DaVinci Resolve? DaVinci Resolve lets you create private or shared markers. Personal markers are visible only to you, while shared markers can be seen by everyone working in the project. This makes it easy to annotate clips, write notes, and share creative ideas between team members in real time. ![Shared Markers](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/collaboration/shared/shared-main-lg@2x.jpg?_v=1775020181) Shared markers appear on the timeline of every collaborator in the project. When you add a shared marker to a clip or a specific frame, everyone sees it within seconds. The marker includes a color, a label, and a notes field. Team members can respond by adding their own markers nearby or updating the note on an existing marker. The shared marker system is particularly useful for: - **Review feedback**: An editor marks frames that need color correction. The colorist sees the markers on the timeline and addresses each one. - **Scene organization**: An assistant editor marks scene transitions, shot types, or takes. The main editor sees the organization without manual communication. - **Approval workflow**: A producer marks approved takes with green markers and rejected takes with red markers. The editor sees the decisions on the timeline. - **Notes for VFX**: Markers identify frames that need visual effects work, with notes describing the required treatment. ## How does bin and timeline locking prevent conflicts in collaborative projects? DaVinci Resolve uses automatic bin and timeline locking to prevent multiple people from overwriting each other's work. When a user opens a bin or timeline, it becomes read-only for other users until the current user unlocks it. ![Bin Locking](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/collaboration/bin/bin-lg@2x.jpg?_v=1649373535) The locking system works at the bin level, not the individual clip level. One user can organize clips and add metadata in one bin while another user works in a different bin. Timelines are locked individually — two editors cannot edit the same timeline simultaneously, but they can edit different timelines within the same project. When you attempt to open a locked bin or timeline, Resolve notifies you that another user has it open. You can request access, and the current user receives a notification to unlock it. Alternatively, you can open the bin or timeline in read-only mode to review its contents without making changes. This locking system is essential for large collaborative projects where a dozen or more artists work on the same project simultaneously. It prevents the most common collaboration conflict — two people unknowingly overwriting each other's changes. ## How does the built-in chat work in DaVinci Resolve? DaVinci Resolve features built-in chat so team members can discuss shots, review tasks, and share creative ideas without leaving the software. Editors can quickly message assistant editors, audio engineers, colorists, and VFX artists to talk about specific work items. Producers can get status updates and provide direction. ![Built-in Chat](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/collaboration/chat/chat-lg@2x.jpg?_v=1602211983) The chat window is accessible from any page in DaVinci Resolve. It appears as a panel that can be docked or floated. Messages are organized by project and are visible to all collaborators in the project. You can send direct messages to specific team members or broadcast messages to the entire project group. The chat is persistent across sessions. Messages remain visible even after closing and reopening the project. This creates a communication history that new team members can review to catch up on decisions made before they joined. Chat messages can reference specific clips or timeline positions by including timecodes. When a message contains a timecode, other team members can click it to navigate directly to that position in their own timeline. This bridges the gap between "talk about frame 01:23:45" and actually seeing that frame. ## How do individual monitoring and caching settings work for each collaborator? Each user in a collaborative project can generate and manage their own cache files and set their own monitoring preferences. This means each artist optimizes their system's performance independently without affecting other collaborators. ![Individual Monitoring](https://images.blackmagicdesign.com/images/products/davinciresolve/collaboration/monitoring/monitoring-lg@2x.jpg?_v=1649826602) Monitoring preferences include playback resolution, proxy mode, video bit depth, and color management settings. A colorist working on a calibrated HDR monitor can have different display settings from an editor using a standard laptop screen — both working on the same project. Cache files are stored locally per workstation. Each user's system generates and manages its own render cache based on their specific system capabilities and workflow needs. This prevents cache conflicts and ensures each workstation performs optimally. Users can also open collaborative projects in read-only mode. This allows team members to review cuts or copy items without affecting other users. Read-only mode is useful for producers reviewing progress, directors checking cuts, or assistant editors extracting reference materials. ## How do DaVinci Resolve collaboration tools compare to Cutsio's sharing workflow? | Feature | DaVinci Resolve Collaboration | Cutsio | |---|---|---| | Marker sharing | Bidirectional, linked to timeline | N/A (export to Resolve via EDL/XML) | | Real-time chat | Built-in, persistent | N/A | | Bin locking | Automatic, prevents overwrites | N/A | | Media review | Requires Resolve access | Browser-based, shareable link | | External client access | Requires Cloud ID | Shareable link, no account needed | | View tracking | N/A | Notifications when clients watch | | Branded presentation | Blackmagic branding | Custom branding available | Resolve collaboration tools are designed for the internal team — editors, colorists, VFX artists, and sound designers working within the same project. Cutsio is designed for the external review layer — sharing selects with clients who do not have Resolve, gathering feedback through shareable links, and tracking who has watched what.
Cutsio

Share with external clients. No Cloud ID needed.

Cutsio Share links work for anyone with a browser. Add password protection, expiration dates, branded presentation pages, and view tracking. Perfect for the external review layer that Resolve collaboration does not cover.

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## FAQ ### Can shared markers be exported to other applications? Shared markers are stored in the DaVinci Resolve project database. They can be exported through project export features or viewed in Blackmagic Cloud Presentations. ### How do I know which collaborator has a bin locked? The bin header displays the username of the collaborator who currently has it locked. The built-in chat also shows who is currently active in the project. ### Is the built-in chat available in the free version of DaVinci Resolve? Yes. The built-in chat is available in both the free and Studio versions of DaVinci Resolve. ### Can I use shared markers with Blackmagic Cloud Presentations? Yes. Shared markers published to Blackmagic Cloud Presentations appear for reviewers, and reviewer markers sync back to the Resolve project. ### How do I request access to a locked bin in a collaborative project? When you attempt to open a locked bin, Resolve displays a notification with the option to request access. The current user receives a notification and can unlock the bin.

Internal collaboration in Resolve. External review in Cutsio.

Use DaVinci Resolve collaboration for your internal team — shared markers, bin locking, and chat. Use Cutsio Share for external clients who need a simple link with branded presentation and view tracking.

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