Streamlining DaVinci Resolve Fusion Workflow: Custom Nodes, Presets, and Performance Optimization (DaVinci Resolve 20)

Thom Lyons | Visual+Aid Productions

Repeated Actions [00:25]

• Repetitive tasks in Fusion, such as manually dragging and changing the same nodes, waste significant time.
• The video aims to address two key questions:
  • What tasks are consistently repeated?
  • How can these tasks be automated or made instant?

Changing Node Default Settings [00:55]

• Customizing Node Defaults:
  • Users can modify settings on any node (e.g., changing a background node's color to a brand-specific red or a Text+ node's font and size).
  • To save these changes as the default for that node, right-click on the node and select "Settings > Save Default." [00:55]
  • Subsequently, every new instance of that node will automatically load with the custom default settings.
• Resetting Defaults:
  • To revert a node to its original default settings, right-click on the node and choose "Settings > Reset Default." [01:24]

    

Creating Custom Nodes [01:34]

• Saving Custom Node Presets:
  • Instead of changing the default, users can save a version of a node with specific settings as a new, custom node.
  • Right-click the configured node and select "Settings > Save As..." [01:43]
  • Save the .setting file in the Fusion "Macros" folder to make it appear as an available node within Fusion. [01:54]
  • The location of Fusion folders is provided in the description for both PC and Mac.

    

• Accessing Custom Nodes:
  • Once saved, these custom nodes can be quickly added to the flow by pressing Shift + Spacebar and typing their name in the "Select Tool" pop-up. [02:04]

Custom Groups Of Nodes [02:11]

• Saving Multiple Nodes as a Group:
  • Users can save a collection of interconnected nodes (e.g., a 3D scene setup including a Merge 3D, Camera 3D, and Renderer 3D) as a single, reusable preset.
  • Select all desired nodes (excluding the Media Out node), right-click one, and go to "Settings > Save All As..." [02:29]
  • Name the group (e.g., "Scene 3D") and save it in the same Fusion "Macros" folder. [02:34]

    

• Instant Scene Setup:
  • This allows for the instant addition of complex node structures, pre-connected and with custom settings (e.g., lighting and shadows enabled on the renderer), to the node graph. [02:45]

Improving Computer Performance For Fusion [02:58]

• Playback Performance Controls:
  • Right-clicking in the transport control area (near playback buttons) reveals hidden performance settings that only affect the preview during work, not the final render quality. [03:11]

    

  • High Quality:
    • When enabled, the preview matches the final video quality but may play back slowly with complex composites. [03:32]
    • When disabled, Fusion skips some rendering tasks for faster playback but with reduced visual quality. [03:40]
  • Motion Blur:
    • This acts as a master switch to temporarily disable motion blur across all enabled nodes in the project. [03:46]
    • Disabling it speeds up preview rendering without individually turning off motion blur on each node.
  • Proxy Mode:
    • Lowers the resolution of the image during playback, reducing the number of pixels processed for faster performance. [04:14]
  • Auto Proxy:
    • Automatically reduces image quality when making adjustments (e.g., dragging sliders) to prevent stuttering. Quality snaps back to full when the mouse is released. [04:24]
    • The degree of quality drop for both proxy options can be adjusted in "Fusion > Fusion Settings > General" using sliders. [04:40]

• Caching:
  • Enable caching under the "Playback" menu to store rendered frames for smoother playback. [04:51]
  • It is highly recommended to enable automatic cache deletion in "Resolve Settings > User > Cache Management" to prevent cache files from quickly filling up the hard drive. [04:56]

    

Creating Templates For The Edit Page [05:12]

• Fusion Compositions as Edit Page Templates:
  • DaVinci Resolve includes pre-built templates (transitions, titles, generators, effects) that are essentially Fusion compositions. [05:24]
  • These can be dragged onto the Edit page timeline and have customizable controls exposed in the Inspector, allowing direct editing without entering the Fusion page. [05:35]

    

  • Opening these templates in Fusion reveals their underlying node structure, providing a valuable learning opportunity to deconstruct and understand their creation. [05:44]

    

    

• Building Custom Edit Page Templates:
  • Create a Fusion composition (e.g., a lower third with animated elements, specific fonts, and colors). [06:01]
  • Select all nodes except the "Media Out" node. [06:18]
  • Right-click and choose "Macro > Create Macro" to open the Macro Editor. [06:23]

The Macro Editor [06:18]

• Exposing Parameters:
  • The Macro Editor panel displays every possible parameter for the selected nodes. [06:24]
  • Users select which parameters (e.g., styled text, size, tracking for text nodes) should be exposed and editable on the Edit page's Inspector. [06:26]
  • It is crucial to label nodes clearly in Fusion to easily identify parameters in the Macro Editor. [06:48]
  • Parameters can be renamed for clarity (e.g., "Styled Text" to "Name" or "Job Title"). [07:00]

    

• Saving Macro for Edit Page:
  • Give the macro a name (e.g., "Lower Third Client X"). [07:22]
  • Use the three-dot menu to select "Save." [07:27]
  • Navigate to the specific folder structure to make the macro appear on the Edit page: Fusion/Templates/Edit/Titles (or Effects, Generators, Transitions as appropriate). [07:37]
  • If these subfolders do not exist, they must be created with exact names. [07:44]
  • A subfolder can be created for organization (e.g., "Client X" within "Titles"). [08:09]
• Saving as Group for Edit Page:
  • Alternatively, choose "Save as Group" from the three-dot menu. [08:14]
  • Save it in the same Edit page templates folder, adding "Group" to the name for distinction. [08:19]

    

Macro Vs Group [08:45]

• Macros (Saved via "Save"):
  • When opened on the Fusion page, a macro appears as a single, compiled node. [09:09]
  • The internal structure of the original nodes is flattened, making it impossible to directly modify individual components or expand the group for editing. [09:12]
• Groups (Saved via "Save as Group"):
  • When opened on the Fusion page, a group appears as a stack of nodes, indicating it's an expandable node group. [09:16]
  • Right-clicking on the group allows users to "Expand Group" or "Ungroup" to reveal and modify the individual nodes within. [09:22]
  • This preserves editability, making "Save as Group" preferable for templates that might require future modifications (e.g., font updates for a client). [09:30]

How To Turn A Macro Into A Group [09:39]

• Manual Text Editing:
  • If a template was saved as a macro but needs to be editable as a group, the .setting file can be manually edited. [09:44]
  • Open the .setting file in a text editor. [09:50]
  • Locate the phrase "Macro Operator" near the top of the code. [09:54]
  • Change "Macro" to "Group", ensuring no space between "Group" and "Operator". [09:57]
  • Save and close the file. [10:04]
  • After restarting Resolve (if necessary), when the modified template is added to the timeline and opened in Fusion, it will appear as an expandable node group, allowing for full editing. [10:06]

    

Why I'll Never Use The Macro Editor Again [10:18]

• Limitations of Built-in Macro Editor:
  • The native Macro Editor in DaVinci Resolve is described as clunky and lacking UI customization. [10:24]
  • The order of controls on the Edit page is dictated by the node selection order, with no user control over arrangement or labels. [10:31]
  • Extensive customization requires manual code editing in a text editor. [10:42]
• Introducing Macro Lab:
  • "Macro Lab" (macrolab.app) by Matt McCool is a free web tool that offers a significantly improved macro creation experience. [10:46]
  • Users build their Fusion composition, copy the nodes to the clipboard, and paste them into Macro Lab (or upload a .setting file). [11:12]
  • Macro Lab provides an intuitive interface to:
    • Easily search for and select controls to expose. [11:25]
    • Reorder controls. [11:29]
    • Add dividers and labels. [11:31]
    • Include custom instructions and URL buttons. [11:32]
  • The tool is continuously being improved.
  • Patrick Stirling is also developing a similar tool called "Macro Machine" to watch out for. [11:42]