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Setting up a Cloud-Based Collaboration Workflow
As internet bandwidth has increased over the years, it has recently become possible to collaborate on a project completely online. While once you needed to be in the same building connected to a fast LAN, and Network Attached Storage (NAS), it is now possible to collaborate in real time from all
around the world using the internet and cloud storage instead. Below are instructions for setting up a completely cloud-based workflow using the tools and settings in DaVinci Resolve 18 or higher.
This sample workflow consists of Editor A, Colorist B, and Audio Engineer C, all in different parts of the world, and wanting to collaborate on the same project at the same time. The ideal is to minimize the amount of media management involved and to not have to send individual project files back and forth.
Set up the Blackmagic Cloud and a Cloud Library
— Users A, B, and C sign up for the Blackmagic cloud service.
— Users A, B, and C log into the cloud in the Project Manger in their own copies of DaVinci Resolve.
— User A creates a new cloud library, and invites Users B and C to share it. Since User A is the editor, they will locate the cloud library’s server nearest themselves.
Set up the Cloud Storage
— Users A, B, and C sign up for a cloud storage provider (Dropbox, iCloud, OneDrive, Google Drive, etc.)
— Users A, B, and C configure their cloud storage so they all can share access to the same cloud- based folder. This folder should be at the top level of the cloud storage. They decide to name the folder Episode 12.
— Users A, B, and C create a file hierarchy system in their shared Episode 12 folder, such as new subfolders for Audio, Proxies, and Graphics.
— Users A, B, and C mount their shared storage folder on their own computers. Editor A adds some logos and still photos to the Graphics folder. Audio Engineer C adds some music and sound effects to the Audio folder. This takes a while to upload and distribute from the cloud, but eventually all users have the same media locally on their computers.
Create the Proxy Media
— Colorist B has the RAW camera masters on a hard drive connected to their system. Since only they need access to the RAW camera files for color grading, they will make low bandwidth proxies for the Editor and Audio Engineer to work with. These files are small enough to upload and store in their cloud storage folder.
— Colorist B creates proxy files of the RAW media in the Blackmagic Proxy Generator application. For more information on using the Blackmagic Proxy Generator, see Chapter 8, “Improving Performance, Proxies, and the Render Cache.”
— Colorist B uploads the proxy files to the Proxies folder in their cloud storage.
Setup the DaVinci Resolve Project and Settings
— Colorist B creates the new project in the cloud library, and sets up its resolution and frame rate, etc.
— Colorist B turns on the File > Multiple User Collaboration setting.
— Users A, B, and C open the project and set their individual file paths to their cloud storage folder “Episode 12” in the Path Mapping section of the Project Settings. For more information on Path Mapping, see Chapter 6, “Project Settings.”
— Colorist B imports the RAW media from their local hard drive into their Media Pool, and links them to the proxies he uploaded to the Episode12/Proxies folder. At this point, Editor A, and Audio Engineer C now have access to the proxy media, while Colorist B can switch back and forth between RAW media and Proxies as needed. If necessary, Colorist B can also decide to upload the RAW media to the shared folder if space and time allow. While the other users are waiting for this media to upload, if they have the “Prefer Camera Originals” setting checked in Playback > Proxy Handling menu, they can continue to edit using the proxies, and as the RAW media files upload, they will automatically replace the proxy files as they come in.
— Editor A imports their still photos to the Media Pool from the Episode 12/Graphics folder. They immediately become available to Users B and C without relinking.
— Audio Engineer C imports their music tracks to the Media Pool from the Episode 12/Audio folder. They immediately become available to Users A and B without relinking.
— As the users continue to add more media into the shared folder and bring it into the Media Pool, there may be a lag as the media is uploaded to the cloud storage, and then downloaded to the other users. During this time the clip will appear as media offline but will relink automatically once the file finishes its download to the local computer.
Continue working in DaVinci Resolve’s Collaborative Workflow
From here, the editor edits, the colorist colors, and the audio engineer handles the sound design all using DaVinci Resolve’s existing collaborative workflow tools. For more information on using these tools, see Chapter 195, “Collaborative Workflow.”