Convert MP4 files to something DaVinci Resolve will like.

ResolveHatesMP4.md

DaVinci Resolve hates MP4s

(Or, at least the free version of Resolve does.)

When I edit videos, I typically either use an MP4 or just drop the recorded MKV into Kdenlive without even bothering to remux it in OBS. Although, I have noticed that DaVinci Resolve basically has an aneurysm if given an MP4. "Oh, did you try importing an MP4? Well screw you, I don't know what to do with that so I will give you a blank clip with a blank audio track :D"

Why does it do this instead of just an error message? I don't know. Best guess? Law of conservation of mass or whatever. Anyways, after scouring Resolve's forums, I found this post with my exact issue. The basic fix is simple. Have your input MP4, in this case input.mp4, and run this monstrosity:

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v dnxhd -profile:v dnxhr_sq -c:a pcm_s16le output.mov

I thought this was ugly so I made a BASH script wrapper for it.

#!/bin/bash

# Convert MP4 to MOV for DaVinci Resolve in BASH
# Made by Dusk - https://github.com/XDuskAshes/
# License: The Unlicense

INPUT_FILE=$1
OUTPUT_FILE_NAME=$2

if [ -z "$INPUT_FILE" ]; then
    echo "No input file."
    echo "Syntax: ./convert_for_davinci.sh <input_file> <output_file_name>"
    exit 1
fi

if [ -z "$OUTPUT_FILE_NAME" ]; then
    echo "No output file name."
    echo "Syntax: ./convert_for_davinci.sh <input_file> <output_file_name>"
    exit 1
fi

ffmpeg -i $INPUT_FILE -c:v dnxhd -profile:v dnxhr_sq -c:a pcm_s16le $OUTPUT_FILE_NAME.mov