We’ve recently been exploring DaVinci Resolve as an alternative video editor with audio support. We take a look at one feature Voice Isolation, included with the paid version. We put it to the test to see how it stacks up against an industry leader in realtime dialogue cleaning.

DaVinci Resolve Voice Isolation

DaVinci Resolve Voice Isolation is a plugin that is included with DaVinci Resolve Studio, the paid for version of Resolve. It uses an AI powered neural engine to isolate the dialogue from any noise of ambience. Operation is a simple knob with which you apply more or less.

DaVinci Resolve Voice Isolation Tested

To see how good this free plugin is, we ran a number of tests and compared the results with a similar industry leading plugin, Waves Clarity VX. A simple one knob plugin for cleaning up dialogue.

We recorded with a Shure SM7B and then introduced a number of environments as noise. These include a real air conditioning unit and sound effects libraries of a park, train station, sports stadium and music concert.

In each case we applied the treatment at 100%.

You can watch the video below and/or download the WAV file if you prefer.

Observations

In most cases both performed remarkably well. The one exception was the park example where both seemed a little confused by some of the background elements, in some cases identifying errant voices with the one that needed to cleaned.

On the whole, the version included with DaVinci Resolve gives good results and is certainly on a par with the paid for Waves Clarity VX example.

You can read more about alternative budget options for this task; Low Cost Noise Reduction Tools Shoot Out - Results

You can read more about alternative professional options for this task; Low Cost Noise Reduction Tools Shoot Out - Results

Let us know in the comments what you think.