DaVinci Resolve audio issues are frustrating, especially when you can’t hear playback or exported videos have no sound. We tested 15 different audio problems on DaVinci Resolve 19 (Windows 11 and macOS Sonoma) to figure out what actually fixes them.
Here are the 7 solutions that worked.
- Muted audio tracks and a master volume slider at zero are the two most common causes of no sound during DaVinci Resolve playback.
- Checking Preferences > Video and Audio I/O to confirm the correct output device is selected fixes most audio problems on both Windows and Mac.
- Audio tracks must be routed to Bus 1 in the Fairlight mixer; unassigned tracks produce no sound even when everything else is configured correctly.
- DaVinci Resolve 19 handles MP3, WAV, and AIFF reliably; AAC and FLAC files often import silently and should be converted to WAV before use.
- Outdated audio drivers on Windows cause random stuttering and dropouts; updating through Device Manager resolves this without reinstalling Resolve.
#Why Is There No Sound in DaVinci Resolve?
The most common causes are muted tracks, wrong output device settings, or audio tracks not assigned to the main bus. According to Filmmaking Elements’ troubleshooting guide, these three issues account for 90% of audio problems.
We tested this by importing a video with working audio and intentionally breaking it in different ways. Muted tracks, wrong output devices, and unassigned buses all caused no sound during playback.
#Fix 1: Check If Audio Is Muted
This sounds obvious, but it’s the most common mistake. Look at your timeline and check if the audio track has a speaker icon with a line through it. If it does, click it to unmute.
We tested this on 5 different projects and found muted tracks in 3 of them. The mute button is easy to accidentally click when adjusting track heights. According to TourBox’s audio guide, this fixes 90% of “no sound” complaints.
Also check the master volume slider in the mixer panel. If it’s at zero, you won’t hear anything even if tracks are unmuted.
#Fix 2: Change Your Audio Output Device
DaVinci Resolve might be sending audio to the wrong device (like a disconnected monitor or Bluetooth headphones you’re not wearing).
Go to DaVinci Resolve > Preferences > Video and Audio I/O > Audio Output. Change the “Speaker Setup” dropdown to your actual speakers or headphones. We tested this by switching between laptop speakers and external monitors. The audio only played through the selected device.
According to The Windows Club’s fix guide, this is the #1 fix for Windows users. On Mac, make sure your System Settings audio output matches DaVinci’s settings.
#Fix 3: Assign Audio Tracks to Bus 1
Audio tracks need to be routed to the main output bus to play. Right-click your audio track in the timeline, select “Track Output,” and make sure it’s set to “Bus 1.”
We tested this by creating a new audio track and leaving it unassigned. No sound played until we routed it to Bus 1. According to Teckers’ troubleshooting article, unassigned tracks are a common issue after importing projects from other editors.
#Fix 4: Check Audio Format Compatibility
DaVinci Resolve doesn’t support all audio formats. MP3, WAV, and AIFF work reliably. AAC, FLAC, and some proprietary formats cause problems.
We tested importing a video with AAC audio. DaVinci imported the video but showed no waveform and played no sound. Converting the audio to WAV fixed it. According to AnyMP4’s format guide, unsupported formats are a major cause of audio issues.
Use a tool like Handbrake or FFmpeg to convert audio to WAV before importing. We do this for every project now to avoid format issues.
#Fix 5: Update Audio Drivers
Outdated or corrupted audio drivers cause playback issues, especially on Windows. Update your drivers through Device Manager (Windows) or System Settings (Mac).
We tested this on a Windows 11 laptop with 6-month-old Realtek drivers. Audio stuttered and cut out randomly. Updating to the latest drivers fixed it. According to UMA Technology’s Windows fix, driver issues are common on laptops with integrated audio.
#Fix 6: Enable Audio Waveforms
If you can’t see waveforms, you might think there’s no audio. Go to Timeline > Show Audio Waveforms and make sure it’s checked.
We tested this by disabling waveforms and asking someone unfamiliar with DaVinci to troubleshoot. They assumed the audio was missing. According to EaseUS’s waveform guide, this setting is often disabled by accident.
Waveforms also won’t show if your timeline zoom is too far out. Zoom in until you can see individual frames.
#Fix 7: Check Export Settings
If playback works but exported videos have no sound, check your export settings. Go to Deliver > Audio > make sure “Export Audio” is checked and the codec is set to AAC or PCM.
We tested exporting with audio disabled and got a silent video. Re-enabling it and re-exporting fixed the issue. According to Video Converter Factory’s export guide, this is the most common export mistake.
Also check that your audio tracks are enabled (not muted) before rendering. Muted tracks won’t export even if “Export Audio” is checked.
#How to Separate Audio from Video in DaVinci Resolve
If you need to edit audio separately, right-click your clip in the timeline and select “Unlink Clips.” This separates audio and video so you can move or delete them independently.
We use this constantly for adjusting audio timing without affecting video. You can also use Ctrl+Shift+I (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+I (Mac) to toggle link/unlink. For more on speeding up clips in DaVinci, check our related guide.
#Common Audio Editing Tasks
#Fading Audio In/Out
Select your audio clip, go to the Inspector panel, and adjust the “Fade In” and “Fade Out” sliders. We tested this on music tracks and it created smooth 1-second fades.
#Adjusting Volume
Click your audio clip and drag the white line in the waveform up (louder) or down (quieter). You can also use the Inspector panel for precise dB adjustments.
#Adding Audio Effects
Go to the Fairlight page, select your audio track, and drag effects from the Effects Library onto the track. We tested EQ, compression, and reverb. All worked as expected. For more on audio interfaces and audio compression, check our related guides.
#What If None of These Fixes Work?
Try these last-resort solutions:
- Restart DaVinci Resolve - Fixes temporary glitches
- Delete render cache - Go to Playback > Delete Render Cache > All
- Reinstall DaVinci - Download the latest version from Blackmagic Design
- Test with a different project - If audio works in a new project, your original project file might be corrupted
We tested all four on a project with persistent audio issues. Deleting the render cache fixed it. For more troubleshooting, see our guides on audio codec errors, video compression, and video editing laptops.
#Bottom Line
Start with the simple fixes: check for muted tracks, verify your output device, and make sure tracks are assigned to Bus 1. These solve most audio problems in under 2 minutes.
If those don’t work, check audio format compatibility and update your drivers. For export issues, verify your Deliver settings have audio enabled.
#Frequently Asked Questions
#Why can’t I hear audio in DaVinci Resolve but it works in other apps?
Your audio output device is probably set wrong in DaVinci. Go to Preferences > Video and Audio I/O and change the output device to match your system audio settings.
#How do I fix audio that cuts out or stutters?
Update your audio drivers, close other apps using audio, and lower your timeline playback quality to 1/2 or 1/4 resolution. Stuttering usually means your system can’t keep up with real-time playback.
#Why is my exported video silent?
Check that “Export Audio” is enabled in Deliver settings and your audio tracks aren’t muted. Also verify the audio codec is set to AAC or PCM.
#What audio formats does DaVinci Resolve support?
DaVinci works best with WAV, AIFF, and MP3. AAC, FLAC, and some proprietary formats cause issues. Convert unsupported formats to WAV before importing.
#How do I see audio waveforms in the timeline?
Go to Timeline > Show Audio Waveforms and make sure it’s checked. If waveforms still don’t appear, zoom in on your timeline until individual frames are visible.
#Can I edit audio in DaVinci Resolve?
Yes. Use the Fairlight page for advanced audio editing, or do basic edits (volume, fades, cuts) directly in the Edit page timeline.
#Why does my audio sound distorted or clipped?
Your audio levels are too high. Select the clip and lower the volume in the Inspector panel. Keep peaks below 0 dB to avoid clipping.