How to Fix Frame Rate Mismatch in DaVinci Resolve

Direct methods for correcting timeline frame rates and handling mixed frame rate footage.

The best way to fix frame rate mismatch in DaVinci Resolve is to lock your timeline playback settings, convert mixed frame rate footage with optical flow, and change individual clip attributes.

Here are the direct methods to fix frame rate mismatch in DaVinci Resolve.

What is the fastest way to lock timeline playback settings?

If you drag a 60fps slow-motion video into a 24fps project and DaVinci Resolve suddenly locks the entire project to 60fps forever, the software automatically assumed the frame rate of the very first clip you imported.

To quickly lock timeline playback settings:

Open DaVinci Resolve and create a brand new, empty project (do not import any footage yet).
Go to the bottom right corner and click the gear icon to open Project Settings.
Select the Master Settings tab on the left.
Locate the Timeline format section at the top.
Click the dropdown menu for Timeline frame rate and select your intended final delivery speed (e.g., 24 or 23.976).
Click Save. DaVinci Resolve permanently locks the timeline to this exact frame rate, completely ignoring the frame rate of any clips you import later.

How do you convert mixed frame rate footage?

If you have a 30fps drone clip in a 24fps timeline and the playback stutters, drops frames, or looks incredibly jerky, DaVinci Resolve is mechanically deleting 6 frames every single second to force the clip to fit.

To convert mixed frame rate footage:

Go to the bottom right corner of DaVinci Resolve and click the gear icon to open Project Settings.
Select the Master Settings tab on the left.
Scroll down to the Frame Interpolation section.
Click the dropdown menu for Retime process and change it from "Nearest" to Optical Flow.
Click Save. DaVinci Resolve will now use advanced AI to intelligently blend and morph the 30fps clip into 24fps, completely eliminating the stuttering playback.

How do you change individual clip attributes for slow motion?

If you shot a video at 120fps but it plays back at normal speed (with audio) on your 24fps timeline, DaVinci Resolve is dropping 96 frames a second instead of playing it back in buttery smooth slow motion.

To change individual clip attributes for slow motion:

Open the Media page (Shift+2) or the Edit page (Shift+4).
Select the 120fps clip in your Media Pool (not on the timeline).
Right-click the clip and choose Clip Attributes.
In the Video tab, locate the Video Frame Rate section.
Change the dropdown menu from 120 to 24.
Click OK. DaVinci Resolve will instantly trick the clip into believing it is a 24fps file, stretching the duration by 500% and creating perfect, artifact-free slow motion.