Can I use my phone as a Stream Deck for DaVinci Resolve?
Yes. SofaDeck turns Resolve's keyboard shortcuts into big phone buttons: J, K, L, I, O, Selection (A), Blade (B), Trim (T), markers (M) and the arrows are free single keys. Page switching (Shift+4 Edit, Shift+6 Color, Shift+8 Deliver), Split clip (Ctrl+B) and adding a serial node (Alt+S) are combos and need Pro. It's buttons only, so it complements a Speed Editor's jog wheel.
- Install SofaDeck on your PC (free)
- Scan the QR code with your phone
- Tap
Works on iPhone & Android — no app needed. Scan the QR code on your PC with the phone's camera and the remote opens in its browser. On Android you can also add the optional Google Play app.
DaVinci Resolve's free version is many people's first editor, and its keyboard layout rewards learning a dozen keys. Putting those on a phone propped by the keyboard gives you a labeled shortcut pad without buying hardware. SofaDeck presses the keys on the PC; Resolve sees ordinary key presses.
Resolve has separate pages (Cut, Edit, Fusion, Color, Fairlight, Deliver), and with SofaDeck Pro you can give each its own phone page and switch with a tap.
Set it up in 5 steps
- Install SofaDeck on the editing PC (Windows or Mac) and pair your phone.
- Add Key buttons for J, K, L, I, O, A, B and M to start.
- Click into Resolve's timeline once so the keys land there.
- With Pro, add page buttons (Shift+4, Shift+6, Shift+8) and Color-page buttons such as Alt+S for a serial node.
- Name buttons after the action, not the key, and keep playback and tools in different colours.
Buttons to add for DaVinci Resolve
| Button | What it sends | What it does | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play / Stop | Key: Space | Plays or stops. | Free |
| J / K / L | Keys: J, K, L | Shuttle back, stop, forward. | Free |
| Mark In / Out | Keys: I, O | I and O set In and Out. | Free |
| Selection mode | Key: A | Normal edit (selection) mode. | Free |
| Blade mode | Key: B | Blade edit mode. | Free |
| Trim mode | Key: T | Trim edit mode. | Free |
| Previous / next edit | Keys: ↑, ↓ | ↑ ↓ move the playhead between edits. | Free |
| Add marker | Key: M | Marker at the playhead. | Free |
| Split clip | Hotkey: Ctrl + B | Cuts the clip at the playhead. | Pro |
| Switch pages | Hotkeys: Shift + 4, Shift + 3, Shift + 5, Shift + 6, Shift + 7, Shift + 8 | Shift+3 Cut, Shift+4 Edit, Shift+5 Fusion, Shift+6 Color, Shift+7 Fairlight, Shift+8 Deliver. | Pro |
| Serial node | Hotkey: Alt + S | Color page: adds a serial node. | Pro |
| Undo | Hotkey: Ctrl + Z | Undo. | Pro |
Resolve's default shortcuts (DaVinci Resolve → Keyboard Customization shows yours). On a Mac, Cmd replaces Ctrl and Option replaces Alt. Free covers one page of 12 buttons (pick the shortcuts you use most) and every single-key shortcut.
Or just say it
Tap the microphone on the phone (or type in the say-or-type bar) and SofaDeck runs the command on the PC. Any button also runs by saying its label. The full voice command list has the rest.
| Say | What happens |
|---|---|
blade / add marker | Runs the button with that label. |
type <words> | Types into the focused field, e.g. a marker note. |
how's my PC doing | CPU, memory and NVIDIA GPU temperature while rendering (Windows). |
What's free and what needs Pro
Everything in the table above is free except Split clip, Switch pages, Serial node, Undo. Pro is from $6.99 once for every phone you pair, with no subscription, and adds unlimited pages, hotkey combos, macros and Smart pages that switch the phone to your DaVinci Resolve page when DaVinci Resolve comes to the front (Windows). SofaDeck also offers a 7-day Pro trial.
Limits, honestly
- Buttons only: no jog wheel, dials or trackballs for grading. Blackmagic's Speed Editor and grading panels do that.
- Keys go to the window in front and to the Resolve panel that has focus.
- No Resolve integration: buttons don't show timecode or change with Resolve's state.
- Wi-Fi adds a short delay; fine for tools and marks, not for playing in time to music.
SofaDeck runs on Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit) and on the Mac (macOS 11 Big Sur or later, on Apple silicon or Intel). The phone needs only a browser: iPhone or Android, no app to install, on the same Wi-Fi as the PC.
Other ways to control DaVinci Resolve from your phone
Blackmagic's DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor (a keyboard with a jog wheel) and its grading panels are made for Resolve and talk to it directly. A Stream Deck or macro pad works too with key mappings. The phone deck is free and good for the shortcuts you use most, and with Live PC stats it doubles as a render monitor.
DaVinci Resolve is a trademark of its owner. SofaDeck is made by Dixon App Studio and isn't affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of DaVinci Resolve. Shortcuts listed are the app's defaults at the time of writing and can change.
Frequently asked questions
Which Resolve shortcuts are free in SofaDeck?
All single keys: Space, J, K, L, I, O, A, B, T, M and the arrows. Combos with Ctrl, Alt or Shift (page switching, Split clip, nodes, Undo) need Pro.
Does it work with the free version of DaVinci Resolve?
Yes. SofaDeck sends key presses, so it works with Resolve free and Studio alike.
Can it monitor a render?
SofaDeck's Live PC stats show CPU, memory, disk and NVIDIA GPU temperature on the phone, refreshed every 2 seconds (Windows).