How To Download And Configure Davinci Resolve In Linux

DaVinci Resolve is a powerful video editing software that has gained popularity among content creators, and while it supports Linux, the installation process can be complex. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you download and configure DaVinci Resolve on Linux.

System Requirements

Before you begin, ensure your system meets the minimum requirements for running DaVinci Resolve on Linux:

RAM: 32 GB or more
GPU: Discrete GPU with at least 2 GB VRAM, supporting OpenCL 1.2 or CUDA 11
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 or Intel Core i7
Operating System: CentOS 7.3 or compatible distributions like Fedora, Debian, and Ubuntu
Storage: Fast SSD (solid state drive)
GPU Driver: NVIDIA or AMD driver as required by your GPU.

Downloading DaVinci Resolve

Visit the Official Website: Go to the DaVinci Resolve release page on Blackmagic Design’s website.
Select the Linux Version: Choose the free or paid version of DaVinci Resolve and select the Linux option.
Fill Out the Registration Form: Complete the registration form to download the software.
Download the Installer: Save the DaVinci_Resolve_XX.Y.Z_Linux.zip file to your downloads folder.

Installing DaVinci Resolve

Method 1: Direct Installation

Unzip the Archive: Extract the DaVinci_Resolve_XX.Y.Z_Linux.zip file.
Run the Installer: Double-click DaVinci_Resolve_XX.Y.Z_Linux.run and follow the installation guide. Alternatively, run ./DaVinci_Resolve_XX.Y.Z_Linux.run in the terminal.
Start DaVinci Resolve: Once installed, you can start DaVinci Resolve by searching for it in your applications or running /opt/resolve/bin/resolve in the terminal.

Method 2: Using MakeResolveDeb Script

Download the Script: Go to the MakeResolveDeb page and download the script matching your DaVinci Resolve version.
Extract the Script: Unzip the makeresolvedeb_XX.Y.Z-X.sh.tar.gz file.
Install Dependencies: Open a terminal and install required dependencies:
```
sudo apt install libssl1.1 ocl-icd-opencl-dev fakeroot xorriso
```
Run the Script: Navigate to the folder containing the DaVinci Resolve installer and the MakeResolveDeb script, then run:
```
./makeresolvedeb_XX.Y.Z-X.sh lite
```
for the free version or
```
./makeresolvedeb_XX.Y.Z-X.sh studio
```
for the Studio version.
Install the .deb File: Once the script completes, install the generated .deb file using:
```
sudo dpkg -i davinci-resolve_XX.Y.Z-X_amd64.deb
```

Installing Required Drivers

NVIDIA Drivers: For NVIDIA GPUs, install the necessary drivers:

sudo apt-get install nvidia-driver nvidia-opencl-icd libcuda1 libglu1-mesa

AMD Drivers: For AMD GPUs, ensure you have the AMDGPU-PRO drivers with OpenCL support installed.

Media Import and Export

Handling Unsupported Formats

The free version of DaVinci Resolve on Linux does not support .mp4 files. To work around this:

Install FFmpeg: Run sudo apt install ffmpeg to install FFmpeg.
Convert Files: Use FFmpeg to convert your video files to a supported format, such as ProRes:
```
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v prores_ks -profile:v 3 -qscale:v 9 -acodec pcm_s16le output.mov
```
This command converts an .mp4 file to a .mov file using the ProRes codec.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

GPU Processing Mode: Ensure your GPU is properly configured and supported. For NVIDIA GPUs, the proprietary driver is recommended.
Dependency Errors: If you encounter dependency errors during the installation, install the missing dependencies as prompted. For example, if the error is "Sorry. Need 'xorriso' to continue", run sudo apt-get install xorriso.
Container Installation: For users who prefer a more isolated environment, consider using Distrobox to install DaVinci Resolve in a container. This method ensures that the dependencies required by DaVinci Resolve are isolated from your host system.

Setting Up DaVinci Resolve

Launch DaVinci Resolve: After installation, you can launch DaVinci Resolve from your applications menu or by running /opt/resolve/bin/resolve in the terminal.
Configure Settings: Adjust your project settings according to your needs, such as resolution, frame rate, and color space.

By following these steps, you can successfully download and configure DaVinci Resolve on your Linux system, ensuring you have a powerful video editing tool at your disposal.