# Download YouTube Videos for DaVinci Resolve

Source: https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/guides/download-youtube-for-davinci-resolve/
Published: 2026-09-25
Updated: 2026-09-25
Author: Ema Zamboni, video editor (https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/about/)
Section: Guides (https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/guides/)

**In short:** For DaVinci Resolve on Windows, edit YouTube footage as a DNxHR or ProRes .mov rather than the VP9 or AV1 stream YouTube usually sends. B-ROLL downloads each video, then converts it automatically, picks the lightest tier that preserves the source and keeps resolution and frame rate, and both the free and Studio editions decode the result.

## Why do YouTube files struggle in DaVinci Resolve?

YouTube files struggle in DaVinci Resolve because of the codec inside them. A download of YouTube's best streams is usually VP9 or AV1, long-GOP codecs built for streaming, not for scrubbing a timeline.

The codec choice starts with the download tool. yt-dlp, the command-line tool B-ROLL is built on, ranks formats by resolution and frame rate first, then by codec in the order [AV1, VP9, H.265, H.264](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp#sorting-formats). As of September 2026, that ranking usually ends on AV1 or VP9 video with Opus audio.

A long-GOP codec stores most frames as changes from their neighbors. To show one frame, Resolve decodes a chain of others, which is cheap during playback and expensive when you scrub, play in reverse or trim. The [Apple ProRes white paper](https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/docs/Apple_ProRes.pdf) describes the opposite design: every ProRes frame "is encoded and decoded independently of any other frame". DNxHR works the same way.

Decode support is not the same as smooth editing. Blackmagic's [supported codec list for DaVinci Resolve 20](https://documents.blackmagicdesign.com/SupportNotes/DaVinci_Resolve_20_Supported_Codec_List.pdf) (July 2025) marks AV1 decode on Windows as "Yes, GPU accelerated" and VP9 decode as "Yes", so the files usually open. Whether they play smoothly depends on your graphics card and the frame size.

> **Note: From the editor**
>
> Ema Zamboni cuts YouTube videos in DaVinci Resolve Studio on Windows 11. On that timeline, 4K60 AV1 footage downloaded from YouTube was heavy to play back, and AV1 or VP9 downloads crashed Resolve at times. B-ROLL's automatic ProRes and DNxHR conversion exists to solve that problem.

[Download B-ROLL for Windows](https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/download/): free, Windows 10 and 11 today, macOS and Linux planned. No account, no ads.

## Which format should you download for DaVinci Resolve?

For DaVinci Resolve on Windows, edit YouTube footage as a DNxHR or ProRes .mov rather than the VP9 or AV1 stream. In B-ROLL, that means choosing **DNx** or **ProRes** in the Format menu; the other video options keep YouTube's own streams.

The decision table pairs each stream YouTube delivers with what Blackmagic's Resolve 20 codec list says for Windows, per edition, and the B-ROLL download that fits.

| Source stream | Resolve edition | Recommended download | Why |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| AV1 video, 1080p to 4K | Free and Studio | DNx or ProRes | AV1 decode is listed as GPU accelerated, so playback leans on your graphics card; an intraframe .mov does not |
| VP9 video in MP4 or MKV | Free and Studio | DNx or ProRes | VP9 decodes, but its long-GOP frames make scrubbing and reverse play heavy |
| VP9 or AV1 in a WEBM file | Free and Studio | DNx or ProRes, never WEBM | WebM does not appear in the Resolve 20 list of supported formats |
| 10-bit HDR video | Free and Studio | ProRes, or DNx (B-ROLL picks HQX) | Both keep 10 bits; B-ROLL applies no tone mapping, so the grade happens in Resolve |
| H.264 video in MP4 | Free | DNx or ProRes | The free edition decodes 8-bit H.264 profiles that Windows supports, without GPU acceleration |
| H.264 video in MP4 | Studio | DNx or ProRes for the cut; the MP4 is fine for a reference | Studio adds more H.264 profiles and GPU acceleration |
| Music or voice only | Free and Studio | Audio, WAV | WAV decodes as uncompressed PCM; the list names Opus only inside .mov and .mp4 |

B-ROLL has no codec setting, so its MP4, MKV and WEBM options hold whatever streams yt-dlp picks, usually AV1 or VP9 with Opus audio. The H.264 rows matter only for files you already have. The .mov that B-ROLL converts carries 16-bit PCM audio and keeps the first video track and the first audio track. What the export does, tier by tier, is on [download YouTube videos in ProRes or DNxHR](https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/features/youtube-to-prores-dnxhr/).

## How do you download YouTube footage for Resolve with B-ROLL?

B-ROLL downloads the best streams for your Quality setting into an MKV master, then ffmpeg converts that master into a ProRes or DNxHR .mov with the same name. The conversion is a second step, so a download is done only when the card reads done.

B-ROLL keeps the source resolution and frame rate, so a 4K60 upload stays 4K60 in the .mov. The Quality menu (**Best**, **4K**, **1080p**, **720p**, **480p**) caps the height instead: pick **1080p** when the Resolve timeline is 1080p and a 4K master would only cost disk space.

The tier is automatic. B-ROLL measures the source bitrate on the MKV master and picks the lightest ProRes or DNxHR tier that still preserves the source, and it logs the tier and an estimated size. A 10-bit source converted to DNx always gets DNxHR HQX. The rule and its worked examples are explained in [how B-ROLL picks a ProRes or DNxHR tier automatically](https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/blog/how-codec-tier-auto-pick-works/).

The conversion uses every CPU core and runs one file at a time in its own queue. The next download starts while the previous file converts, so a queue of b-roll keeps moving. If the conversion fails, B-ROLL keeps the MKV master and logs "DNx transcode failed; keeping the MKV."

For a cutaway from a long talk, **Only a part: ask me which each time** in Advanced options downloads just the range you mark, and every B-ROLL format works with parts. The preview player uses J, K and L to shuttle and I and O to mark, the keys a Resolve editor already knows; it needs VLC media player installed, and without it you type Start and End times. More jobs like this one are collected in the [YouTube footage from download to timeline guides](https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/guides/).

## DNxHR or ProRes: which runs better in Resolve on Windows?

DNxHR and ProRes get the same status in Blackmagic's Resolve 20 list for Windows: decode yes, encode yes. Both are intraframe, so the choice for a Windows Resolve project comes down to bit depth, disk space and where the files go next.

B-ROLL's two options differ in bit depth. B-ROLL's ProRes is always 10-bit 4:2:2. Its DNxHR is 8-bit 4:2:2 (LB, SQ or HQ) for an 8-bit source and HQX at 10-bit only when the source is 10-bit, so an ordinary YouTube upload is stored at the bit depth it arrived with.

Published data rates at the top tiers are close. The [Apple ProRes white paper](https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/docs/Apple_ProRes.pdf) gives ProRes 422 HQ a target of 220 Mbps at 1920 x 1080 and 29.97 fps. [Avid's DNxHR table](https://kb.avid.com/pkb/articles/en_US/White_Paper/DNxHR-Codec-Bandwidth-Specifications) gives DNxHR HQ 25.99 MB/s at the same frame size and rate, which is 207.9 Mbps (25.99 x 8).

The verdict for Resolve on Windows: pick **DNx** when the project stays on Windows, and **ProRes** when the files may travel to a Mac, a colorist or Final Cut Pro. B-ROLL makes its ProRes with ffmpeg's encoders, so the files are ProRes-compatible rather than made by Apple's own encoder. The full comparison, including the Final Cut Pro route, is in [ProRes vs DNxHR for editing](https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/formats/prores-vs-dnxhr/).

## How do you bring B-ROLL files into the Resolve media pool?

Import B-ROLL's .mov files with Resolve's Import Media command: right-click anywhere in the Media Pool, choose Import Media, select the files and click Open. B-ROLL does not import into Resolve by itself; a finished card offers **Open file** and **Open folder**.

Set the timeline frame rate before the first import. The [DaVinci Resolve 21 Reference Manual](https://documents.blackmagicdesign.com/UserManuals/DaVinci_Resolve_21_Reference_Manual.pdf) says that the first import into an empty Media Pool prompts you when the media's frame rate differs from the project's, and that the setting cannot be changed once files are in the Media Pool. Clicking Change for a 60 fps YouTube clip in a project meant for 25 fps interviews sets the whole project to 60 fps.

Check each clip before you cut. Resolve's Metadata panel on the Media page shows the clip's codec, resolution and frame rate, and the B-ROLL card shows the real bitrate and resolution of the finished file. What those two numbers tell you is on [see the real bitrate and resolution of YouTube files](https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/features/real-bitrate-and-resolution/).

File names help the bins. Full videos keep the YouTube title, and parts are named `Title [mm-ss to mm-ss].mov`, so the Media Pool shows each range at a glance. The name carries minutes and seconds only, so a part that starts after the first hour shows the minute within that hour.

Resolve's proxies and optimized media attack the same playback problem from inside the project; [proxies vs transcoding for YouTube footage](https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/formats/proxies-vs-transcoding-youtube/) weighs the two routes for downloaded footage. For captions, choose SRT in B-ROLL's Subtitles menu and bring the file in with the steps in [import YouTube subtitles into DaVinci Resolve](https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/guides/youtube-subtitles-in-davinci-resolve/).

## How do you keep credits with the clips in the media pool?

B-ROLL writes a `.credits.txt` next to every download and appends the same block to a running `credits.txt` in the same download folder. For DNx and ProRes, the file is written after the conversion, and **Save credits** is on by default in Advanced options.

The .credits.txt matters more for a .mov than for an MP4. B-ROLL embeds title, uploader, date and link only into MP4, MKV, WEBM and audio files, so a DNxHR or ProRes file carries no creator details of its own. Each file lists the title, creator, channel, source link, upload date and license, then a ready-made credit line:

```text
Title:     Harbor at Dawn, Drone Footage
Creator:   Example Channel
Channel:   https://www.youtube.com/@examplechannel
Source:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXXXXXXXXXX
Uploaded:  2025-05-17
License:   Standard YouTube License

Credit (copy-paste):
"Harbor at Dawn, Drone Footage" by Example Channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXXXXXXXXXX
```

The app writes a long dash before the link; the example uses a hyphen. To keep the credit inside the Resolve project, select the clip and paste that line into the Comments field of the Metadata panel on the Media page. The comment then travels with the clip in the project, and the Media Pool list view can show it as a column, even when the text file stays in the download folder.

Treat the License line as a starting point. B-ROLL writes whatever yt-dlp reports and falls back to "Standard YouTube License" when nothing is reported, so check the license on the video page; the file is a convenience, not proof of rights. If the metadata lookup fails, no credits file is written for that download.

> **Careful:** Download only footage you have the right to use: your own uploads, Creative Commons, licensed or permitted material.

## What if a YouTube clip is choppy or offline in Resolve?

A choppy or offline YouTube clip in Resolve traces back to the codec (AV1 or VP9), a moved file, a failed DNxHR or ProRes conversion, or the download itself. Check them in that order, because the codec is the cause you can see first.

- **Choppy playback.** Cause: the clip is an MP4, MKV or WEBM with AV1 or VP9 inside. Fix: choose **DNx** or **ProRes** and press ↻ on the finished card, which downloads the video again with the current settings and overwrites the file. The full diagnosis, including how to check the codec inside Resolve, is in [YouTube video choppy in DaVinci Resolve: the AV1 and VP9 fix](https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/troubleshooting/av1-choppy-davinci-resolve/).
- **Media Offline.** Cause: the file was moved or renamed after import, or Resolve cannot decode it. Fix: use Relink Selected Clips for a moved file, or convert an undecodable one. The two causes are separated in [DaVinci Resolve Media Offline on a YouTube video](https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/troubleshooting/resolve-media-offline-youtube/).
- **An MKV where the .mov should be.** Cause: the conversion failed, and the log says "DNx transcode failed; keeping the MKV." Fix: download the video again with the same settings instead of importing the master.
- **"Sign in to confirm you're not a bot."** Cause: as of September 2026, YouTube asks some downloads for a signed-in session. Fix: export a fresh cookies.txt from a browser signed in to your own YouTube account and load it in B-ROLL's Settings. Cookies expire, so when the message returns, export again; that is what fixed it on Ema's own machine.
- **A clip deep inside a long video stalls.** Cause: seeking far into one large stream could hang for minutes. Fix: B-ROLL requests YouTube's HLS streams for parts, which cleared those stalls; the stream picked for a part can therefore differ from a full download of the same video.

## How to get a YouTube video into the DaVinci Resolve media pool with B-ROLL

1. **Choose DNx or ProRes.** In B-ROLL, set the Video / Audio switch to Video and choose DNx or ProRes in the Format menu. Both are marked slow because a conversion runs after the download.
2. **Set the quality cap.** Choose Best in the Quality menu, or 1080p when the Resolve timeline is 1080p and you want smaller files.
3. **Mark a part if you need one.** For a section only, open Advanced options (the three-dot button next to Subtitles) and choose Only a part: ask me which each time. With VLC installed, the preview player opens so you can press I and O.
4. **Paste the link and download.** Paste the YouTube watch link and press Enter or Paste & Download. The card goes from downloading to converting to done, and a credits file is written next to the .mov.
5. **Open the download folder.** Right-click the finished card and choose Open folder. File Explorer opens with the .mov selected.
6. **Import the .mov into Resolve.** In DaVinci Resolve, right-click anywhere in the Media Pool, choose Import Media, select the .mov and click Open. If Resolve asks to change an empty project's frame rate to match the clip, click Change only when the project should run at the clip's frame rate.

## Frequently asked questions

Q: Is there a YouTube downloader plugin for Resolve?
A: No. DaVinci Resolve's YouTube integration renders and uploads your finished video; it does not download from YouTube. Community scripts that call yt-dlp from inside Resolve exist, but they usually import the stream as YouTube sent it, often VP9 or AV1. B-ROLL is a separate Windows app that hands you a DNxHR or ProRes .mov to import with Import Media.

Q: Why does Resolve show Media Offline for a YouTube file?
A: Media Offline means Resolve cannot use the file it has on record: either the file moved or was renamed after import, or Resolve cannot decode the video inside it. Relink the clip in the first case and convert it to DNxHR or ProRes in the second. The quick test for each cause is in [DaVinci Resolve Media Offline on a YouTube video](https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/troubleshooting/resolve-media-offline-youtube/).

Q: How big are DNxHR files in a Resolve project?
A: DNxHR SQ at 1920 x 1080 and 29.97 fps runs 17.21 MB per second in Avid's specification, so one minute takes 1,033 MB (17.21 x 60). At 3840 x 2160 and 29.97 fps, SQ runs 68.84 MB per second, or 4,130 MB per minute. B-ROLL picks the tier for each video, and its log prints the estimated size of every conversion.

Q: Can I import the video's subtitles into Resolve?
A: Yes. Choose SRT in B-ROLL's Subtitles menu, then right-click in Resolve's Media Pool and choose Import Subtitle; the file arrives as a subtitle clip you edit onto a subtitle track. B-ROLL's subtitles always cover the whole video, so a trimmed clip needs its subtitles shifted. The full procedure is in [import YouTube subtitles into DaVinci Resolve](https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/guides/youtube-subtitles-in-davinci-resolve/).

## Sources

1. [Blackmagic Design: DaVinci Resolve 20 supported formats and codecs (PDF, July 2025)](https://documents.blackmagicdesign.com/SupportNotes/DaVinci_Resolve_20_Supported_Codec_List.pdf)
2. [Blackmagic Design: DaVinci Resolve 21 Reference Manual (PDF)](https://documents.blackmagicdesign.com/UserManuals/DaVinci_Resolve_21_Reference_Manual.pdf)
3. [Apple ProRes white paper (April 2022)](https://www.apple.com/final-cut-pro/docs/Apple_ProRes.pdf)
4. [Avid Knowledge Base: DNxHR Codec Bandwidth Specifications](https://kb.avid.com/pkb/articles/en_US/White_Paper/DNxHR-Codec-Bandwidth-Specifications)
5. [yt-dlp README: sorting formats](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp#sorting-formats)

---

B-ROLL is a free, donation-supported desktop YouTube downloader for video editors: it downloads videos, clips, playlists and channels, converts them automatically into edit-ready ProRes or DNxHR (or saves MP4, MKV, WEBM or audio), and includes built-in trimming, subtitles and automatic creator credit files. Part of [Guides: YouTube Footage from Download to Timeline](https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/guides/) on the B-ROLL website. Download B-ROLL, free for Windows 10 and 11 (macOS and Linux planned): https://b-roll-6hk.pages.dev/download/