In this guide
On the Edit page, drag an audio clip's upper-right fade handle inward to fade out, or its upper-left handle inward to fade in. For a transition between two clips use an audio crossfade; for a level change within a clip use keyframes. Listen in context and check the export.
To fade audio out in DaVinci Resolve, open the Edit page, hover over the audio clip and drag its upper-right fade handle inward. Drag the upper-left handle inward for a fade-in. Listen across the change and adjust its duration. Blackmagic's Resolve 20 beginner guide covers clip fades and audio transitions; its earlier beginner guide illustrates the corner handles.
A fade at a clip edge, a crossfade between clips and lowering music under dialogue are different tasks. Choose the control for the change you need, and keep an editable project copy before making extensive changes.
Fade out an audio clip on the Edit page
- Find the audio clip. Open the timeline on the Edit page. Zoom in or expand the audio track so the end of the clip is easy to see. If audio is linked to video, make sure you are adjusting the audio clip rather than a video fade.
- Reveal the fade handle. Move the pointer over the upper-right corner of the audio clip. The handle controls the fade at that edge.
- Drag inward. Pull the handle toward the center of the clip. The fade begins at the handle and reaches the clip edge; dragging farther creates a longer fade.
- Listen through the ending. Start playback before the fade and continue into the next sound or silence. Adjust the handle if a word disappears too early or music stops abruptly.
- Refine the curve if needed. Resolve's guide describes a control on the fade curve for changing its shape. Compare the result by ear, since equal durations can sound different with different curves.
To reduce or remove the fade, drag the handle back toward the clip edge. This changes that clip's volume envelope, not the source recording on disk. A visual fade to black is a separate video adjustment and does not automatically fade every audio track.
Fade in at the start
Hover over the upper-left corner of the audio clip and drag the fade handle to the right. A short fade can soften an abrupt edit, while a longer fade can introduce music gradually. Listen for the first consonant or musical attack: a fade that starts too early or lasts too long can hide the very sound you want.
If you cannot find the handle, zoom in, increase track height and confirm that you are hovering over the audio clip on the Edit page. The Fairlight page also has fade handles, though its layout differs. Blackmagic describes Fairlight's controls in its Fairlight overview.
Crossfade between two audio clips
A crossfade overlaps the transition between an outgoing and incoming clip; it is useful when a hard cut changes background ambience or music suddenly. On the Edit page, select the edit point between adjacent audio clips and choose Timeline → Add Audio Only Transition. Select the transition and open the Inspector to adjust its type and settings. The Resolve 20 guide demonstrates this workflow.
Resolve offers Cross Fade 0 dB, +3 dB and −3 dB options. Blackmagic notes that the 0 dB crossfade can dip in the middle and describes +3 dB as a constant-power style commonly used for music and effects. Listen to the specific sources: correlated material can sound louder through an overlap, while different room tones or speech may need a different duration or edit.
If a transition cannot extend as expected, inspect the available source material around the edit and the clip placement. Do not trim away a word merely to accommodate a longer fade. If the click is inside the source rather than at the boundary, a crossfade at the edit may not fix it; see how to troubleshoot cut clicks.
Lower music only while someone speaks
An edge fade changes the start or end of a clip. To lower the middle of a music clip during narration and raise it afterward, use volume keyframes or automation. Add points around the spoken section, adjust the music level between them, and listen through the entrance, quietest phrase and return. Blackmagic's Resolve 20 beginner guide demonstrates keyframes for this kind of music ducking.
Keep enough transition time for the level change to sound natural without masking the first or last word. If music and speech are already mixed into one audio clip, lowering that clip lowers both; independent control requires separate tracks or a separate isolation attempt with possible artifacts. The audio ducking guide explains the difference.
Fade a standalone file outside Resolve
The free Saturalabs audio fade tool applies adjustable fade-in and fade-out lengths to the outer edges of a supported short MP3 or WAV locally. Preview and download the result, then import it into Resolve if needed. It does not crossfade timeline clips or edit the project. Keep the source: MP3 output is a new lossy encode and may add delay or padding.
Common questions
Why can I still hear audio after fading one clip?
Another track or overlapping clip may still be audible. Check the mixer, clip boundaries and any duplicate soundtrack before changing the fade.
Why does my crossfade sound quieter in the middle?
The fade shape and relationship between the two sources affect the combined level. Compare a different transition type or duration and listen in context; no setting guarantees a perfect result.
Does a fade fix background noise?
It lowers the entire clip at the faded edge, including wanted speech and music. It does not selectively remove noise during the rest of the recording. For dialogue cleanup, see background noise in DaVinci Resolve.