> MP4 to DaVinci Resolve
Questions:
“I upgraded my software to the latest version, but DaVinci Resolve 20 can't read some 8K .mp4 footage. How do I solve this problem?”
“Just installed DaVinci Resolve 21 on a new machine. I can see and play the MP4 files in Bridge, but when I try to import, it says there's a file issue and won't import. Do I need to convert these files to a different format, or do I need to add a specific codec to the new machine?”
“I'm working on a project on both my desktop and laptop running Windows 11 and using the latest version of DaVinci Resolve 20. My footage includes a folder of .mp4 files that import fine on my desktop but will not import at all on my laptop. I get the 'unsupported or damaged file' error. I installed VLC on my laptop, which allows me to now view the files, but Premiere Pro will not recognize the clips as valid.”
“How do I fix this? I can't open the file in QuickTime to at least watch the video, and when I import it into DaVinci Resolve, I get the error message saying the codec is missing.”
“An issue that's really annoying and bothers me a lot: Due to a new system setup, I reinstalled DaVinci Resolve and now I'm no longer able to import MP4 files. These files contain screen recordings. This also means a loss of work I had already completed. I found older threads, but they were a few months old. Is there any solution yet?”
...
The MP4 file format seems to be one of DaVinci Resolve's supported native video formats for import. However, the weird thing is that DaVinci Resolve sometimes refuses to import certain MP4 files. The error messages typically say: "File format not supported," "Unsupported format or damaged file," or "Codec missing or unavailable." In other cases, DaVinci Resolve only imports the audio from MP4 files, allowing you to add the video only as an audio track on the timeline rather than a video track — just sound, with no video.
Before diving into all the solutions, we strongly recommend that you check which codec was used in your MP4 video (audio/video), since all the issues related to importing MP4 files into DaVinci Resolve 21, 20, and 19 are caused by codec incompatibility. One way to do this is by using VLC. Open the file in question, right-click on it in the playlist, and you will see something like this:
Then, you should know that MP4 is a video container that can hold various video codecs. Your MP4 file may be encoded with MPEG-4, MPEG-2, x265, H.265, HEVC, 10-bit x264, x264, H.264, AVCHD, AVC, DivX, or XviD, while DaVinci Resolve only natively supports H.264 MP4 (.mp4). Now, we come to the best solution to fix these DaVinci Resolve MP4 issues.
Transcoding is a highly effective solution. If you already have a video converter, you can use it to perform the conversion. If you don't have such a tool or are unable to convert your problematic MP4 files to the desired format with your current converter, you might want to try an easy-to-use yet powerful video converter and decoder — Acrok Video Converter Ultimate (available for both Windows and Mac users). It is capable of handling various MP4 files, regardless of the codecs they contain or which device recorded them. To resolve MP4 or other compatibility issues, we suggest you download and install Acrok MP4 to DaVinci Resolve Converter on your PC or Mac first.
Free download the Ultimate MP4 to DaVinci Resolve Converter now!
100% Safe & Clean 100% Safe & CleanRun the MP4 to DaVinci Resolve Converter and load your source MP4 clips into it. You can import MP4 clips to the program by clicking the "Add File" button or the "Add Folder" icon.
Click the "Format" dropdown list and select "Editing Software > Avid DNxHD Video (*.mov)" as the optimal format for DaVinci Resolve 21, 20, 19, etc. H.264 MP4, H.264 MOV, and ProRes MOV formats are also good choices.
DNxHD Video >>
ProRes Video >>
If the default settings do not meet your requirements, you can click the "Settings" button to enter the "Profile Settings" panel, where you can adjust video size, bitrate, frame rate, sample rate, and audio channels. This video converter also offers useful editing features, such as merging videos, splitting clips, cropping frames, adding effects, and more.
Click the "Convert" button to begin converting your MP4 files to a DaVinci Resolve-supported format for smooth importing and editing. When the conversion is complete, click the "Open" button to locate the exported files.
You are now ready to bring the output files into DaVinci Resolve for further editing. Launch DaVinci Resolve on your computer, and choose "File > Import" to import a file. If you prefer to use keyboard shortcuts, press Command+I (Mac) or Ctrl+I (Windows) to open the standard Import dialog.
If you can't import your MP4 files into DaVinci Resolve for editing, you can diagnose the problem yourself to find a solution quickly and easily. Here are several tips to help you.
1. Test with another MP4 file. If you can add other MP4 files to DaVinci Resolve without issues, it means your problematic MP4 file is likely damaged or corrupted. In that case, you need to convert it to a format supported by DaVinci Resolve or change its codec. A video converter like Acrok Video Converter Ultimate can help you do this.
2. Lower the video resolution. DaVinci Resolve may not support some 4K or higher resolutions. You can try reducing the resolution from 4K to 1080p and then import the file again.
3. Rename the file extension from .MP4 to .MOV directly. This method may damage your original files, so you should make a backup first. However, renaming the extension does not change the actual video codec inside the file. So if DaVinci Resolve does not support the codec, this trick may not work. It is therefore a risky approach to try.
Last but not least, if you are interested in Acrok MP4 to DaVinci Resolve Converter, you can download the program for free and follow the steps above to convert and import MP4 files into DaVinci Resolve 21, 20, 19 and more.
Having problem watching 4K videos? Acrok is able to convert 4K video in format like MP4, MOV, MKV, Blu-ray, DVD and more HD videos. With the design of a built-in video editor, Acrok video converiosn software can also perform excellent editing functions.
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