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How to Fix Audio Not Syncing in DaVinci Resolve

Audio drift and sync issues can ruin an edit. Learn the root causes and how to fix audio not syncing in DaVinci Resolve.

You've lined up the clapboard perfectly at the beginning of your interview, but ten minutes later, the audio is completely out of sync with the video. Audio drift is incredibly frustrating.

Here is how to fix audio not syncing in DaVinci Resolve.

Understanding the Cause: The Framerate/Sample Rate Mismatch

In 99% of cases, audio drift is caused by a mismatch in time bases. Video is measured in frames per second (fps), while audio is measured in samples per second (Hz).

If your camera shot at exactly 24.00 fps, but your audio recorder was set to sync with a 23.976 fps drop-frame timecode, the two files will slowly pull apart over time.

Fix 1: Correcting Variable Frame Rate (VFR) Media

If your footage came from a smartphone (iPhone/Android), a screen recording (OBS), or a Zoom call, it is likely Variable Frame Rate (VFR). VFR means the camera constantly changes the framerate to save space, which destroys audio sync in professional NLEs like Resolve.

The Solution: DaVinci Resolve cannot handle VFR media reliably. You must* transcode the original video files to a Constant Frame Rate (CFR) before editing.

* How to do it: Download a free program like Handbrake. Drop your video file in, set the framerate to a constant number (e.g., 24, 30, or 60), check "Constant Framerate," and export a new file. Import this new file into Resolve, and the sync issues will disappear.

Fix 2: Adjusting Clip Attributes (Framerate Mismatch)

If your video is a constant frame rate, but the audio is still drifting, Resolve might be interpreting the video framerate incorrectly.

  1. Find the problematic video clip in your Media Pool.
  2. Right-click it and select Clip Attributes.
  3. Under the Video tab, look at the "Video Frame Rate."
  4. If it says 24fps but you know you shot at 23.976fps (or vice versa), change it to the correct framerate. This will force Resolve to play the video at the correct speed, bringing it back into sync with the audio.

Fix 3: The Manual "Stretch" (Elastic Wave)

If you cannot transcode the footage and just need to force the audio to fit a specific video clip, you can manually stretch the audio track.

  1. Line up the audio and video perfectly at the very beginning of the clip.
  2. Go to the very end of the clip and find a distinct visual/audio cue (like a clap or a sharp sound).
  3. Select the audio clip in the timeline.
  4. Open the Inspector panel on the top right.
  5. Under the Audio tab, enable Elastic Wave.
  6. You can now add keyframes to the audio waveform and manually stretch or compress sections of the audio to force it to match the video cues. This is a last resort, as it can slightly alter the pitch of the audio if stretched too far.