Before Apple’s release of spatial video editing capabilities in an update for Final Cut Pro, Blackmagic Design was quick to introduce DaVinci Resolve 19.1. This update, accessible for download via the Mac App Store, allows for spatial photo decoding and MV HEVC spatial video encoding on Mac systems.
This means that users can seamlessly edit and deliver spatial videos tailored for Apple Vision Pro, a feature that has yet to be integrated into any mainstream non-linear editing software.
Spatial video delivery is supported on both DaVinci Resolve 19.1 and DaVinci Resolve Studio 19.1. To get started, I added a spatial video and corresponding photo, both captured on my iPhone 16 Pro Max, to a timeline in DaVinci Resolve.
For spatial video encoding, opt for Quicktime as your deliverable format and select H.265 as the codec. After adjusting the Render Stereoscopic 3D setting to both eyes, choose MV-HEVC from the dropdown menu. Following that, simply add your project to the render queue and export as you normally would.
After Airdropping the final video to the Apple Vision Pro, I was able to effortlessly play it back with spatial features intact. It is worth mentioning that DaVinci Resolve also accommodates spatial photo decoding, enabling users to integrate spatial photos into their project timelines alongside video content.
The workflow for editing spatial video is intuitive, mirroring the process of working with regular 2D videos. During my test, I successfully applied a simple zoom effect through keyframes to both the photo and video, which rendered perfectly in spatial format when viewed on Apple’s headset. For anyone interested in editing spatial content for the Apple Vision Pro, DaVinci Resolve 19.1 is more than capable.
As for Final Cut Pro, there are strong expectations for the introduction of spatial video editing capabilities, along with innovative features like AI-assisted captions, set to be announced this week. Based on historical patterns, we might hear news about the update as early as tomorrow, coinciding with the commencement of the annual Final Cut Pro Creative Summit. Apple has invited participants to their campus for an exclusive preview of upcoming features in their professional application suite. We’ll be on standby to provide you with all the information as soon as it’s released.
In the meantime, what are your thoughts on spatial video editing? Is it an area that piques your interest? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments below.
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