dedicated video Keyboard editing may seem like overkill for most casual users, but don’t worry until you try Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve Speed Editor. This little gadget packs so many efficiencies into one tiny package, including the brand’s Studio software, that it might just be worth the money.
Blackmagic’s DaVinci Resolve is the best free video editor you can find. The program has some workflow quirks enough to trip up your muscle memory, so experienced editors may find the transition a bit difficult, but in my experience converting workflows is It was worth the move.
One of Blackmagic’s exclusive editing boards, the Speed Editor is a dedicated device designed for smooth integration with Resolve. There are 6 sets of buttons mapped to functions within the editor and a giant wheel for scrubbing through clips. If you’ve spent time in the edit bay, it will look familiar (if it’s very small). For those interested in shooting indie films and such, tools like this are useful.
The $395 sticker price may seem shocking, but the company is also throwing in a copy of DaVinci Resolve Studio. While the free version will suffice for most people, Studio adds an extensive library of visual effects tools, support for 10-bit video, and his DaVinci Neural Engine, which speeds up many effects tools.
portable editing bay
Aside from the attention-grabbing dial, the Speed Editor’s most impressive aspect (which we’ll discuss in more detail below) is its compactness. It’s slightly smaller than the iPad (though obviously much thicker), but it packs six sets of keys that cover a surprisingly large number of must-have features most video editors need, including basic cuts and multi-camera controls. I have it.
On the back is a single USB-C port for both connecting to your editing rig and charging. Yes, this editing board is wireless, but it doesn’t have a power switch or a method for Bluetooth pairing without first connecting it to your computer via USB-C. This is especially annoying when editing on multiple devices. I have a Windows desktop and his MacBook Air, both with his DaVinci Resolve installed. Technically, the boards are compatible with both, but swapping them out is a pain, so don’t try. The only way to do so seems to be to completely unpair the boards. I wish there was a board that supported multiple systems like most wireless keyboards do.
This quirk is disappointing, but Speed Editor is a great tool for portable editing. It was light enough to toss in my bag, sit comfortably next to my laptop on a small table in a coffee shop, and even use it while editing on a plane. The flexibility of taking your studio editing bay-level tools anywhere is hard to say the least.
dial
Portability aside, the dial is the star of the show here, and I can’t express how good video editing is with it. The rotates smoothly but allows for very precise control. You can flick to rotate (not necessary) or stop immediately. A single dimple allows you to move the dial with just one finger, and the rubberized lip ensures you never lose your grip.
The dial has three modes, shuttle, jog and scroll, each activated by a button just above the wheel. Each mode has a red LED to indicate which mode you are currently in. These may look familiar to seasoned video editors with professional experience, but for everyone else, here’s how they work.
shuttle: In this mode, the dial controls the playback speed. This will range from 0.25x to 32x depending on how far you turn the dial from the first point. It works in both directions, so you can scrub backwards up to 32 times the timeline.
