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Best Settings for YouTube Shorts in DaVinci Resolve

Make your YouTube Shorts Look Sharp

Short-form content is everywhere, and 3 popular platforms get all the attention – YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

Let’s focus on YouTube for now.

YouTube won’t tell you how much it compresses videos you upload to it’s platform. This means the video quality will suffer if you export your YouTube Shorts with incorrect settings.

Knowing the best settings for your next video in DaVinci Resolve is important to ensure your videos look crisp on YouTube.

In this step-by-step tutorial, I will cover the technical requirements for short-form content, the best project settings for YouTube Shorts in DaVinci Resolve, and the best export settings.

Technical Requirements for YouTube Shorts

Standard 16 x 9 aspect ratio compared with 9 x 16 aspect ratio

It is important to follow these requirements to ensure that your video maintains optimal quality after YouTube’s optimization process.

  • Video Length: Up to 60 seconds
  • Frame Rate: 30 fps
  • Resolution: 1080×1920
  • Codec: H.264

Part I: Change Project Settings

Step 1: Go to File > Project Settings.

Alternatively, you can open Project Setting with the shortcut Shift + 9.

Step 2: Change Timeline Resolution to 1080 x 1920.

Step 3: Select 30 frames per second and click Save.

It’s recommended that videos should have at least 30 FPS and a resolution of at least 720 pixels.

Now you can start editing your video.

Once your video is ready, you will need to export it. 

Now, let’s get into the best render/export settings for short-form content in DaVinci Resolve.

Part II: Export Settings

Step 1: Go to the Delivery page.

Alternatively, you can open the Delivery page with the shortcut Shift + 8.

70 Easy DaVinci Resolve Shortcuts You Can’t Afford to Miss.

Delivery Page

Step 2: Select Custom Export

Step 3: For the Format, select MP4

Step 4: For the Codec, select H.264

Step 5: Set the Resolution to 1080 by 1920.

Step 6: Set the frame rate to 30 fps or higher.

Step 7: Set Bitrate to 5500 kb/s.

The bitrate is one of the most important settings as it determines the sharpness of your video once uploaded to the platform.

If your video has a different resolution or higher frame rate, you must increase the bitrate.

In the table below, identify the appropriate bitrate for your video.

Frame RateBitrate
60 fps6200 kb/s
30 fps5500 kb/s
25 fps5000 kb/s

Step 8: Click Add to Render Queue. Select where you want your video to be saved.

Step 9: Click Render All.

Knowing the best settings for YouTube Shorts in DaVinci Resolve is crucial. Usually, big platforms like YouTube compress videos to fit their technical requirements, thus, making your video look worse if it doesn’t have proper settings.

By following this step-by-step tutorial, you can be sure that your videos are optimized for each platform’s technical requirements.

Remember to set the appropriate resolution I discussed earlier, frame rate, codec, and adjust the bitrate.

A potential problem that may arise is a difference in color between the rendered video and the video in the timeline.

You can fix this issue by changing 2 Export Settings to Match Colors in DaVinci Resolve Timeline.

Also, if you’re publishing to YouTube, you should also post your content on other platforms. Check out our tutorials on the best DaVinci Resolve export settings for TikTok and also Instagram.

Frequently Asked Questions

What resolution do I need to use for YouTube Shorts?

For YouTube Shorts, your videos must have a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels.

What is the best export format for YouTube Shorts?

For YouTube Shorts, it’s recommended to export your final video in MP4 format with a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels and a frame rate of 30fps.

What is the recommended length for Youtube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts can be up to 60 seconds long. However, keeping your videos between 15 to 30 seconds can result in better engagement.

How can I adjust the aspect ratio of my video for YouTube Shorts in DaVinci Resolve?

To get the vertical aspect ratio of YouTube Shorts in DaVinci Resolve, go to “Project Settings” and select the “Master Settings” tab. Under “Timeline Resolution,” select “Custom” and enter the resolution of 1080×1920 to have the vertical aspect ratio required for Shorts.

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