Studio 21.1.1
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EDITING ESSENTIALS

How to insert a clip without overwriting the edit

DaVinci Resolve Studio 21.1 · Original practical guide

Insert adds a source range at the playhead and pushes later material along. Overwrite replaces timeline material for the duration of the incoming range.

Before you begin

Open a practice timeline on the Edit page. Duplicate it before experimenting.

ACTUAL RESOLVE INTERFACEView full size ↗
Edit timeline with clip boundaries and playhead
Edit timeline with clip boundaries and playhead Reference example from the DaVinci Resolve 21.1 manual, page 891. Software screenshot © Blackmagic Design. The demonstration media and selected settings may differ from your project.

Step by step

  1. Double-click the source in the Media Pool. Mark the useful range with I and O in the source viewer.
  2. Position the timeline playhead at the insertion point and set the target video and audio tracks.
  3. Use Insert Clip from the edit controls or source-viewer edit overlay. Watch the later sequence move to accommodate the range.
  4. Play from before the insertion into the following scene. Confirm track locks and selection did not leave sound or titles behind.

Check your result

The new shot appears at the intended point and the previous material still exists after it.

If it doesn’t work as expected

If existing footage disappears, you likely used Overwrite or Replace. Undo, confirm the edit operation, and repeat with Insert.

BUILD THE UNDERLYING SKILL

Edit with precision

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

Open module 04 →
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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.