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Final Cut Pro to DaVinci Resolve XML Workflow

Master the industry-standard round-trip workflow: editing in Final Cut Pro and color grading in DaVinci Resolve using FCPXML.

The combination of Final Cut Pro's blazing-fast editing speed and DaVinci Resolve's unmatched color grading tools makes for a powerhouse post-production pipeline. However, bridging the gap between them requires a precise "round-trip" XML workflow.

Here is the step-by-step Final Cut Pro to DaVinci Resolve XML workflow.

Phase 1: The FCP Prep

  1. Picture Lock: Finish your edit in Final Cut Pro.
  2. Duplicate: Duplicate your Project and name it [Project Name]_Resolve_Prep.
  3. Clean Up: On the prep timeline, flatten compound clips, remove all transitions (except simple cross-dissolves), and disable tracks containing titles or complex graphics.
  4. Export FCPXML: Go to File > Export XML.... Choose a stable version (like 1.10 or 1.11) and save the file.
  5. Export Reference: Export a low-res MP4 of your master timeline to serve as a visual guide for the colorist.

Phase 2: The Resolve Import

  1. Media First: Open DaVinci Resolve. Import all your original, high-resolution camera media into the Media Pool.
  2. Import XML: Go to File > Import > Timeline... and select your .fcpxml file.
  3. Settings: In the load menu, uncheck "Automatically import source clips" and ensure "Link to source camera files" is checked.
  4. Verify: Import your low-res reference MP4, place it on a video track above your imported timeline, set the composite mode to "Difference," and verify that every cut matches perfectly.

Phase 3: Color and Export from Resolve

  1. Grade: Perform your color grading on the Color Page.
  2. The Deliver Page: Go to the Deliver page. In the Render Settings at the top left, select the "Final Cut Pro" preset.
  3. Render Settings: This preset will render every clip individually (not as a single video) using a high-quality codec like ProRes 422 HQ. It will also generate a new FCPXML file that points to these newly colored clips. Click "Add to Render Queue" and "Render All."

Phase 4: The Return to FCP

  1. Import XML to FCP: Open Final Cut Pro. Go to File > Import > XML... and select the new XML file that Resolve just generated.
  2. The New Timeline: FCP will create a brand new Project. This timeline will look exactly like your prepped timeline, but every clip will be linked to the newly color-graded ProRes files.
  3. Final Polish: Copy your titles, graphics, and audio from your original master timeline and paste them onto this new, colored timeline. Export your final master!