Studio 21.1.1
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TITLES & SUBTITLES

How to import an SRT subtitle file

DaVinci Resolve Studio 21.1 · Original practical guide

An SRT contains caption text and timing, but not a complete visual design. Make sure its time base and start offset match your edited program.

Before you begin

Have a timeline ready and decide where the text should begin and end.

ACTUAL RESOLVE INTERFACEView full size ↗
Subtitle file imported in the Media Pool
Subtitle file imported in the Media Pool Reference example from the DaVinci Resolve 21.1 manual, page 1230. Software screenshot © Blackmagic Design. The demonstration media and selected settings may differ from your project.

Step by step

  1. Import the SRT into the Media Pool using the media-import command or drag it into the pool.
  2. Place the subtitle item on a subtitle track in the target timeline, aligned with the start time used when it was created.
  3. Play the first spoken line and another near the end. Check whether any mismatch is a constant offset or timing drift.
  4. Correct placement or caption timing as needed, then apply a readable track style in the subtitle Inspector.

Check your result

Early and late captions both align with the dialogue and special characters display correctly.

If it doesn’t work as expected

A file made from an earlier edit will not follow new cuts automatically. Compare against the current dialogue rather than shifting every caption by the same guess.

BUILD THE UNDERLYING SKILL

Edit with precision

Go deeper with the course’s explanations, exercises, and knowledge checks.

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Technical reference: DaVinci Resolve 21.1 Reference Manual, Blackmagic Design, September 2026. Screenshot page numbers refer to that manual. Independently written guidance; specific controls may vary by platform and build. Authorship & image credits.