autoSpace by iotku for DaVinci Resolve

A DaVinci Resolve script that adjusts clip in-points to ensure cleaner starts by analyzing audio levels. Ideal for resolving issues from transcription-based edits where clips may start mid-word and be jarring.

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Features

• Processes timelines with a single video track
• Fixes clips that start too deep into audio (e.g., in the middle of words) after transcription editing and silence removal
• Automatically adjusts clip start and end points when audio exceeds thresholds based on FFmpeg processing
• Places trimmed clips onto a newly created timeline called <OriginalName>- Autospaced

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Requirements

• DaVinci Resolve with scripting API access

• FFmpeg (for audio volume analysis) installed on your system

  • The script’s ffmpegPath variable is preconfigured for macOS with FFmpeg installed via Homebrew (/opt/homebrew/bin/ffmpeg).

• Lua interpreter (bundled with Resolve scripting environment)

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Installation

macOS:

1. Copy the autoSpace.lua script into:

   /Library/Application Support/Blackmagic Design/DaVinci Resolve/Fusion/Scripts/Utility
   

   • In Finder, press Shift + Command + G, then paste the path above to quickly navigate to the folder.

Windows:

1. Copy the autoSpace.lua script into:

   %ProgramData%\Blackmagic Design\DaVinci Resolve\Fusion\Scripts\Utility
   

   • NOTE: You will need to update ffmpegPath to a relevent windows build of ffmpeg

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Configuration

1. Open the script file and locate the ffmpegPath variable near the top.

2. Set ffmpegPath to the full path of the FFmpeg executable on your system. For example:

   local ffmpegPath = "/opt/homebrew/bin/ffmpeg"

3. Adjust audio thresholds or analysis window durations if desired:

   • AudioThresholdStart (-20 dB by default)
   • AudioThresholdEnd (-30 dB by default)
   • AnalysisSeekTime (0.2 seconds by default)

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Usage

1. Create a timeline containing exactly one video track.
2. Ensure that you have the timeline you wish to process open.
3. Run the autoSpace.lua script via Workspace > Scripts > autoSpace.lua. Avoid adjusting the playback head while the script is running, as this may interfere with clip placement.

The script:

1. Checks for an open project and timeline.
2. Creates a new empty timeline named <CurrentTimelineName>- Autospaced.
3. Iterates through each video clip, analyzes leading/trailing audio levels, and adjusts start/end accordingly.
4. Appends trimmed clips onto new video and audio tracks on the new timeline.

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How It Works

1. Audio Analysis: Uses FFmpeg’s volumedetect filter to obtain max_volume over a short segment at the clip’s start/end.
2. Start Adjustment: If max_volume > AudioThresholdStart, the script steps backward by AnalysisSeekTime until the volume falls below the threshold or reaches previous clip end.
3. End Adjustment: If max_volume > AudioThresholdEnd, the script steps forward similarly, ensuring clips do not overlap.
4. Clip Assembly: Inserts the media from the media pool with adjusted in/out points, and appends each trimmed clip onto the new timeline.

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Known Issues

• There isn't a way to stop the script gracefully before it's finished. (In a pinch you can delete the - Autospaced timeline
• If you switch windows/workspaces during processing clips may get posted without the relevent audio tracks