How to Delete Audio and Keep Video in DaVinci Resolve (3 Methods)

Removing audio from a clip without touching the video is one of the most common tasks in DaVinci Resolve — but the timeline’s linked-clip model trips up a lot of editors the first time. Whether you’re clearing out bad on-camera audio before adding a voiceover, stripping ambient sound from b-roll, or cleaning up an entire track, this guide covers three reliable methods and a batch workflow so you can get it done fast.

Mute vs. Delete — Know What You Actually Need

Before diving into steps, it helps to confirm which action you actually need. These two options are not the same thing.

Deleting audio from the timeline is non-destructive. Your original source file on disk is never touched — only the edit is affected. If muting is all you need, click the speaker icon on the clip or track header. If you want the audio gone from the timeline, continue to the methods below.

Method 1 — Unlink the Clip, Then Delete the Audio

This is the most universal method and works on any clip type in the Edit page. When a clip is linked, the audio and video components move and select together. Unlinking breaks that connection so you can target the audio independently.

1. In the Edit page timeline, right-click the clip you want to edit.

2. Select Link/Unlink Clips from the context menu. The clip will show a small indicator confirming it is now unlinked.

   

3. Click directly on the audio waveform (the lower portion of the clip) to select only the audio component.

4. Press Delete (Windows) or Backspace (Mac) to remove it. The video portion stays in place.

   

Note: If you want to re-link the clip later, right-click the video component and select Link/Unlink Clips again after selecting both components.

Select Only the Audio Component Without Unlinking (Alt+Click Shortcut)

For a faster single-clip fix, you can skip the unlinking step entirely using a keyboard shortcut.

Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) and click on the audio portion of the clip. This selects only the audio component while leaving the video component untouched, even though the clip is still technically linked. Then press Delete or Backspace to remove it.

This shortcut is ideal for quick, one-off deletions where you do not need to unlink the clip permanently.

Method 2 — Right-Click and Delete the Audio Component Directly

For single clips, the right-click context menu offers a more direct path. This method skips the need to manually select the audio waveform after unlinking.

1. In the Edit page timeline, right-click directly on the clip.

2. In the context menu, look for Delete Audio or an option referencing the audio stream or component. The exact label can vary slightly depending on your version of Resolve.

3. Select the option to remove the audio. The video component remains on the timeline.

Version Note: The exact menu label differs across Resolve 17, 18, and 19. In some versions, this appears as a direct “Delete Audio” option. In others, you may need to select the audio component from a submenu. If you do not see the option, use Method 1 as a reliable fallback.

This method is best for single-clip edits where speed matters and you do not need to modify multiple clips at once.

Method 3 — Delete or Disable the Entire Audio Track

When you want to remove audio from every clip on a given timeline track — such as the entire A1 track — you do not need to touch individual clips at all. Track-level removal is the cleanest bulk option.

1. Locate the track header on the left side of the timeline (labeled A1, A2, etc.).

2. Right-click the track header.

3. Select Delete Track to remove the track and all its audio content from the timeline.

   

Alternatively, if you want to disable the track without permanently deleting it, click the speaker/mute icon on the track header. This silences the entire track during playback but keeps all the audio data intact.

Use Case: This method is the go-to approach when you are replacing all on-camera audio with a music bed or voiceover track. Deleting A1 entirely clears the timeline for the new audio without any clip-by-clip work.

How to Delete Audio from Multiple Clips at Once

Repeating Method 1 for every clip in a longer timeline is tedious. Here is a faster batch workflow for removing audio from multiple clips simultaneously.

Option A — Alt+Click batch selection:

1. Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) and click on the audio portion of the first clip to isolate the audio selection.

2. Hold Shift and continue Alt+clicking additional clips to add them to the selection.

   

3. Press Delete or Backspace to remove all selected audio components at once.

   

Option B — Track deletion (cleanest for full-track removal):

If all the clips whose audio you want to remove are on the same track, use Method 3 above. Deleting the entire track is faster and more reliable than selecting clips individually.

For selective multi-clip removal across different tracks, Option A gives you the most control without dismantling your track structure.

FAQ

Will deleting audio from the timeline affect my original video file?

No. DaVinci Resolve operates non-destructively. When you delete audio from the timeline, you are only modifying the edit — the source media file on your drive remains completely untouched. You can always re-import the original clip and its audio will still be there.

Why can’t I click on just the audio to select it?

Your clip is most likely linked, which causes the audio and video components to select together. Hold Alt (Windows) or Option (Mac) while clicking the audio waveform to isolate the audio component without unlinking. If that does not work, right-click the clip and choose Link/Unlink Clips first.

Can I delete audio in the Cut page the same way?

The Cut page has more limited clip-level editing controls compared to the Edit page. For the most reliable results using any of the three methods in this guide, switch to the Edit page. The workflow there gives you full access to clip unlinking, right-click component options, and track header controls.

Next Steps

For a quick single-clip fix, Method 2 (right-click delete) is the fastest route. For stripping audio across an entire project track, Method 3 handles it cleanest. For selective removal across specific clips, Method 1 with the Alt+click shortcut gives you the most control. Once your original audio is cleared, you are ready to lay down a fresh voiceover or music track — check out our guide on how to add music in DaVinci Resolve to pick up from here.