Audio for DaVinci Resolve. The format it always imports.
Resolve free is picky. Some MP3s come in silent, some M4As don't import at all, some MP4s have "no audio" according to Resolve even though they obviously do. The fix that always works: convert your audio to 48 kHz 16-bit stereo PCM WAV. Drop your file, click convert, drag the WAV into Resolve's media pool. Done.
drop your audio or video file
MP3, M4A, AAC, MP4, MOV, OPUS, WMA — anything Resolve refused. Batch supported.
Common Resolve audio problems this fixes
- "Media offline" on audio tracks even though the file is there — Resolve recognized the file but can't decode the codec. WAV always decodes.
- Imported MP4 has no audio track — usually an AAC variant or AC-3 audio Resolve doesn't ship a decoder for. Convert separately, add as audio track.
- M4A from iPhone Voice Memos imports as silence — voice memos use AAC with HE-AAC profile flags Resolve free sometimes mis-handles. WAV bypasses it.
- MP3 plays but at the wrong speed — sample-rate mismatch between source and project. Pre-converting to 48 kHz prevents this.
- OPUS or OGG file Resolve outright refuses — neither is in Resolve free's built-in decoder set. WAV is.
- WMA from a Windows recorder — Resolve doesn't even list it — convert here, re-import.
Why Resolve has these limits
DaVinci Resolve Studio (the paid version) bundles a much larger codec library because Blackmagic pays the licensing. The free version ships with what they can legally include for free, which leaves out several common consumer audio codecs and codec variants. Converting to PCM WAV — which is unencumbered by patents — sidesteps the licensing entirely.
The Resolve workflow with this tool
- Drop your audio file (or video with troublesome audio) here.
- Click Convert for Resolve. We output 48 kHz / 16-bit / stereo PCM WAV.
- In Resolve: drag the WAV into the Media Pool (or use File → Import).
- If you started with a video, import the video too — Resolve uses the video silently and your converted WAV as the audio track. Sync at the start.
- For a video where you replaced the audio, link the video and audio in the timeline so they stay together (right-click → Link Clips).
FAQ
Should I just upgrade to Resolve Studio?
If you edit professionally and hit codec walls often, yes — Studio is $295 once and includes full codec support, Neural Engine features, and HDR. If you hit a wall once a month, converting to WAV is faster and free.
Will Resolve resample my 44.1 kHz audio when I import it?
Yes, on the fly. It mostly works but introduces a tiny resampling step. Pre-converting to 48 kHz (which this tool does) means Resolve uses the file as-is.
What if my project is at 44.1 kHz, not 48?
Use our 44.1 kHz WAV converter instead. Same idea, different sample rate. Resolve's default is 48, but it supports 44.1 projects too.
Can it handle a 4K MP4 with audio I want to extract?
Yes. Drop the MP4, we'll extract the audio and convert it to WAV. The video is discarded (we don't transcode video). Import the original MP4 alongside the converted WAV in Resolve.
Does my project audio get uploaded?
No. Everything runs in your browser tab.
Is the WAV at 24-bit?
16-bit, which is the standard for finished audio. 24-bit is useful during mixing for headroom. If you need 24-bit specifically (for stems you're handing to a colorist's audio person), let us know — for now we output 16-bit.
Why won't DaVinci Resolve import my MP3 or M4A?
Resolve free has restrictions on certain codecs — particularly AAC inside M4A on some platforms, and MP3 in older versions on Linux. Resolve Studio (paid) has fewer restrictions. The reliable fix: convert to 48 kHz 16-bit WAV, which Resolve always imports regardless of platform or license.
Why 48 kHz specifically?
DaVinci Resolve projects default to 48 kHz, matching the broadcast/video standard. Audio at 44.1 kHz works too, but Resolve will resample on import. Pre-converting to 48 kHz here avoids any resampling artifacts and matches your project sample rate exactly.
What about the MP4 video I imported — Resolve says it has no audio.
Common issue: MP4 file uses an AAC variant Resolve doesn't recognize, or the audio codec is something exotic like AC-3. Use our extract-audio tool to pull the audio out of the MP4 first, convert it to WAV here, then import the audio as a separate track in Resolve alongside the video.
Resolve plays my audio but it's silent — what's wrong?
Usually a sample rate mismatch (project at 48 kHz but Resolve can't resample a particular codec on the fly), or a multi-channel layout Resolve doesn't map. Convert to a plain stereo 48 kHz WAV here and re-import.
Does this work for OpenAtom DaVinci Resolve 18, 19, 20?
Yes — the WAV format is universal across all Resolve versions. You'll get the same Resolve-ready 48 kHz / 16-bit stereo PCM WAV regardless of which version you're on.
Does my file get uploaded?
No. The conversion happens in your browser tab. Your project audio never leaves your machine.