Studio 21.1.1
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EDITING ESSENTIALS

How to remove a gap between clips

DaVinci Resolve Studio 21.1 · Original practical guide

A timeline gap can be closed without manually dragging everything after it. Check whether the space is empty on every relevant track before collapsing it.

Before you begin

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

ACTUAL RESOLVE INTERFACEView full size ↗
Edit page: Media Pool, viewers, and multitrack timeline
Edit page: Media Pool, viewers, and multitrack timeline Reference example from the DaVinci Resolve 21.1 manual, page 28. Software screenshot © Blackmagic Design. The demonstration media and selected settings may differ from your project.

Step by step

  1. Zoom in and select the blank gap between clips on the relevant video or audio track.
  2. Inspect higher video tracks and other audio tracks for material crossing the gap. Decide whether that material should move.
  3. Use the gap’s contextual ripple-delete action, or select the gap and invoke Ripple Delete from the Edit menu.
  4. Play the join and inspect later sync points. If the operation moved only part of the intended sequence, undo and review track participation.

Check your result

The clips meet cleanly and material on other tracks remains correctly synchronized.

If it doesn’t work as expected

Some empty-looking space contains a transparent title or quiet audio. Inspect all tracks before using a broad Delete Gaps operation.

BUILD THE UNDERLYING SKILL

Edit with precision

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

Open module 04 →
← PREVIOUS GUIDERipple trim without leaving a gapNEXT GUIDE →Insert a clip without overwriting the edit

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.