Getting audio out of DaVinci Resolve is straightforward once you know which page to use and which settings to change. Whether you need a single mixed audio file, separate stems for a mixing engineer, or a compressed file for social media, Resolve handles all of it without requiring additional software. This guide walks through every export path in plain steps, with format recommendations and quick fixes for the most common problems.

Audio Export Methods in DaVinci Resolve — A Quick Overview

DaVinci Resolve offers two main paths for exporting audio. Most users will work through the Deliver page, which handles single mixed exports and basic per-clip output. Users who need true stem exports — separate dialogue, music, and SFX files — will work through Fairlight’s bus routing before rendering.

Jump to the section that matches your goal.

Method 1 — Export Audio Only via the Deliver Page

The Deliver page is the fastest way to export a single, mixed audio file from your timeline. This covers the full sequence from opening the page to clicking Render.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open the Deliver page by clicking the rocket icon at the bottom of the DaVinci Resolve window.

2. Choose a starting preset from the left panel. For audio-only export, you can start with any preset — you will override the video settings in the next steps.

3. Locate the Render Settings panel on the left side. At the top, find the “Export Video” and “Export Audio” checkboxes.

4. Uncheck “Export Video” and check “Export Audio.” This is the step most users miss. Leaving “Export Video” checked will produce a video file, not a standalone audio file.

   

5. Click the “Audio” tab within the Render Settings panel to reveal codec and format options.

6. Select your audio format from the Format dropdown (WAV, MP3, AAC, AIFF). See the format table in the next section for guidance.

7. Set your Codec, Bit Depth, and Sample Rate. For professional delivery, use Linear PCM (WAV), 24-bit, 48 kHz.

   

8. Choose your File Destination using the Browse button under the filename field.

   

9. Click “Add to Render Queue” on the left panel.

10. Click “Render All” in the Render Queue panel on the right side. The export will begin immediately.

    

Pro Tip: If your project contains multiple audio tracks but you only want the final mix, make sure all tracks are routed to the Master bus in Fairlight before rendering. Tracks not connected to the Master will be silent in the output.

Audio Format and Codec Settings

Use this table to choose the right format for your destination before rendering.

Sample rate guidance: - 48 kHz is the broadcast and video standard. Use this for any audio that accompanies video. - 44.1 kHz is the music and podcast standard. Use this when the audio stands alone as a music or podcast file.

Bit depth: 24-bit is the professional standard for WAV and AIFF exports. 16-bit is acceptable for final consumer delivery but not recommended for files that will be edited further.

Method 2 — Export Individual Audio Tracks (Stems)

Stem export is the process of rendering each audio element separately — for example, a dialogue track, a music track, and a sound effects track as three distinct files. This is essential when delivering to a mixing engineer, re-purposing audio assets across projects, or archiving a project with all components intact.

DaVinci Resolve offers two ways to accomplish this: the Deliver page’s Individual Source Clips option (quick but limited) and Fairlight’s bus routing (more powerful and flexible).

Using the Deliver Page for Individual Track Export

The Deliver page includes an option to export clips as individual files rather than a single rendered output. This works well when you need the original source clips separated, but note that this method exports the raw source clips, not mixed or processed versions of your tracks.

1. Open the Deliver page.

2. In the Render Settings panel, locate the “Render” dropdown near the top. It defaults to “Single Clip.”

   

3. Change it to “Individual Source Clips.”

   

4. Uncheck “Export Video” and check “Export Audio” as described in Method 1.

5. Select your audio format and codec settings.

6. Choose a file destination folder — Resolve will place each clip as a numbered or named file in this folder.

   

7. Click “Add to Render Queue,” then “Render All.”

   

Each source clip on the timeline will render as a separate audio file. This is useful for sending raw takes back to a client or for archiving individual recordings.

Using Fairlight Buses for True Stem Export

If you need fully mixed stems — where your dialogue track includes all its EQ, compression, and processing applied — you need to use Fairlight’s bus routing system. This method gives you rendered stems that sound exactly like the corresponding elements in your final mix.

Before following these steps, make sure your Fairlight page is open and your tracks are organized (dialogue tracks together, music tracks together, SFX tracks together).

1. Open the Fairlight page by clicking the musical note icon at the bottom of Resolve.

2. Open the Mixer panel if it is not already visible (Fairlight > Mixer).

   

3. In the Mixer, locate the bus outputs. By default, all tracks route to the Main (Master) bus. You will create additional buses for each stem.

   

4. Click the “+” button in the Bus section to add new buses — for example, one named “Dialogue,” one named “Music,” one named “SFX.”

5. For each audio track, click its Output routing selector in the Mixer and assign it to the appropriate bus (e.g., assign all dialogue tracks to the Dialogue bus).

   

6. Once tracks are routed, go to the Deliver page.

   

7. In Render Settings, set Render to “Single Clip” and select your format.

8. Under the Audio tab, look for the “Source” or “Bus” selector and choose your first bus (e.g., Dialogue).

   

9. Add to the Render Queue, then repeat steps 8–9 for each bus, changing the filename for each.

   

10. Click “Render All” when all bus exports are queued.

Note: Bus routing in Fairlight is a one-time setup per project. Once your buses are assigned, you can re-render stems at any point without redoing the routing.

Exporting Audio from the Fairlight Page

Users who are already working inside Fairlight can export audio directly from that page without switching to Deliver. This is useful for quick mono or stereo bounces during a mixing session.

Fairlight offers two paths: File > Export Audio and Bounce to Disk.

Steps using File > Export Audio:

1. Open the Fairlight page.

   

2. Go to File > Export Audio from the top menu bar.

3. In the dialog that opens, choose your file format, bit depth, and sample rate.

4. Select the bus or output you want to export.

   

5. Choose a save location and click Export.

   

Steps using Bounce to Disk:

1. In the Fairlight page, navigate to Fairlight > Bounce to Disk in the top menu.

2. Select the tracks or buses you want to bounce.

3. Set your format options and destination folder.

   

4. Click OK to begin the render.

Use the Fairlight page export methods when you want a fast bounce during mixing. Use the Deliver page when you need repeatable, queue-based rendering for final delivery.

Troubleshooting Common Audio Export Issues

• Exported audio file is silent – You likely did not select an audio codec, or the tracks are not routed to the Master bus. Check the Audio tab in Render Settings and confirm codec is not set to “None.” In Fairlight, verify all tracks connect to the Main bus.

• Audio is out of sync with reference video – A frame rate or sample rate mismatch is the most common cause. Confirm your timeline sample rate (Fairlight > Project Settings) matches your export settings. Also check that your project frame rate matches the video file you are comparing against.

• Only one audio channel exported (mono instead of stereo) – Check the channel mapping in the Audio tab on the Deliver page. Make sure the output is set to Stereo, not Mono. Also verify the source track in Fairlight is not set to a mono channel.

• Certain tracks are missing from the exported file – Muted tracks will not appear in the export. Also check that every track is routed to the Master bus. Tracks routed only to a sub-bus will not appear in a Master bus render.

FAQ

Q: Can I export audio from DaVinci Resolve Free (not Studio)?

Yes. Audio export via the Deliver page is fully available in the free version of DaVinci Resolve. There are no format restrictions on audio export between the free and Studio editions. All formats including WAV, AIFF, MP3, and AAC are accessible without a paid license.

Q: How do I export audio without video in DaVinci Resolve?

On the Deliver page, uncheck “Export Video” and check “Export Audio” in the Render Settings panel. Then select your audio format and codec under the Audio tab. Add to the Render Queue and click Render All. The output will be an audio file with no video container.

Q: What is the best audio format to export from DaVinci Resolve?

WAV at 24-bit and 48 kHz is the professional standard for video delivery and client handoff. It is lossless and widely compatible with all DAWs and video platforms. Use MP3 or AAC only when file size is a priority, such as for web publishing or podcast distribution.

Q: How do I export just the music track separately from dialogue?

Use Fairlight’s bus routing to assign your music tracks to a dedicated Music bus, separate from your dialogue and SFX tracks. Then use Bounce to Disk or the Deliver page’s bus selector to render that bus as a standalone file.

Conclusion

For most users, the Deliver page audio-only export covers everything you need. For stem delivery or DAW handoff, set up Fairlight buses first and render each bus as a separate file. As a general practice, always keep a WAV master export before converting to any compressed format — compressed files cannot be recovered to full quality later. For related workflows, see our guides on how to sync audio in DaVinci Resolve and how to mix audio in the Fairlight page.