How To Separate Audio From Video in DaVinci Resolve

In DaVinci Resolve, whenever you add a clip to the timeline, you’ll notice that the audio and video are automatically linked. This means any edit will affect both parts together by default.  While this makes syncing easier, there are many times when you’ll want to handle the audio separately from the video — to adjust timing, replace it, or simply edit it on its own. So, how to separate audio from video in DaVinci Resolve?

Detaching Audio from Video

When a clip is added to the timeline, audio and video are linked, so any action, like trimming or moving, affects both. But sometimes, you need them to work separately.

How to separate audio from video in DaVinci Resolve? Locate the clip you want to modify, then right-click on it to bring up a context menu. Select Detach Audio — an option to separate the audio from its video counterpart. Once selected, the audio will detach and drop down onto a separate audio track below the video. At this point, you’re free to manipulate the audio independently — whether that means moving, trimming, adjusting volume, or even deleting it altogether — without disturbing the original video.

Unlinking Video and Audio

Sometimes, you may not need to completely detach the audio. Maybe you just want a little flexibility without permanently separating them. This is where unlinking comes in handy. By default, video and audio clips are linked, meaning any move you make affects both. But unlinking gives you the freedom to work with one while keeping them generally associated.

How to separate audio from video in DaVinci Resolve by unlinking them? Above the timeline, you’ll spot a toolbar featuring an icon resembling two interlocked chain links — this is the Linked Selection button. Click on it to turn it off. Now, the video and audio components of your clip can be clicked on and adjusted independently. They remain aligned in terms of timing, but you can move, trim, or adjust either without affecting the other.

If you prefer quick actions, you can use a simple keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Shift+L. By selecting the clip and pressing this key combination, you can swiftly toggle linking on and off, giving you instant control over how you want to work with your media. This shortcut can significantly speed up your workflow, especially when you’re managing multiple clips.

Using the ALT Key for Quick Audio Adjustments

For quick and temporary adjustments to audio in DaVinci Resolve, the (right) ALT key can be a handy shortcut. Holding down this key while clicking on the audio portion of a clip allows you to work with the audio independently from the video without permanently separating or unlinking them.

While you have the audio portion of a clip selected, press and hold the (right) ALT key. This gives you the freedom to select and manipulate just the audio.

With the key pressed, you can click, move, or tweak just the audio track while the video stays exactly where it is. It’s a bit like hitting pause on their bond — letting you make precise adjustments to audio placement or timing without disturbing the video.

You can also trim, delete, or otherwise modify the audio portion independently. But remember, once you release the ALT/Option key, the link is still intact, and any subsequent moves will once again treat the audio and video as a single unit.

This method doesn’t permanently break the connection between audio and video. Instead, it offers a temporary way to work with each separately.