SOP: Cut Sermon Recordings in DaVinci Resolve, Export, and Upload to YouTube

Original LOOM link: https://www.loom.com/share/e92bc8a679d24c5e83834e5d0d49b92b

Objective

This SOP explains how to take a sermon recording from the ATEM SSD, edit it in DaVinci Resolve, apply basic audio and color cleanup, export the final video, and upload it to YouTube and the church website. The goal is to produce a clean, consistent sermon video efficiently each week.

Key Steps

 

1. Open the sermon project and confirm the source files 1:00

  • Insert or access the SSD from the ATEM Mini switcher.

  • Open the .DRP DaVinci Resolve project file for the sermon.

  • Confirm the project contains the multi-cam timeline with all camera ISOs, computer graphics, and audio sources.

  • Verify the project loads correctly before making edits.

 

2. Go to the Edit page and set the timeline to start at zero 2:02

  • Switch to the Edit page, which is the preferred workspace for sermon editing.

  • Review the layout: media bin, viewer, inspector/effects, and timeline.

  • Right-click the timeline settings and change the timecode from time-of-day to start at 00:00:00.

  • Use Command + and Command - to zoom in and out as needed.

 

3. Trim the beginning and insert the opening bumper 4:17

  • Find the sermon bumper or opening transition point.

  • Use Command + Option + Y to select all clips before the playhead.

  • Delete the unwanted pre-roll material.

  • Import the bumper media using Import Media or Command + I.

  • Position the bumper so it fills the opening cleanly and aligns with the sermon start.

 

4. Clean up the transition with a blade cut and crossfade 5:10

  • Use Command + B to blade the clip at the playhead where the transition should happen.

  • Delete any extra lead-in or unwanted audio/video.

  • Use the empty space at the bottom of the timeline as a guide for the crossfade.

  • Unlink clips with Command + Option + L if you need to adjust video without disturbing audio spacing.

  • Add a short crossfade and preview the transition to make sure it feels natural.

 

5. Adjust audio levels and apply voice processing 7:22

  • Open the Audio tab to access audio tools.

  • Enable the track effects used for sermon voice cleanup, such as: 

    • Voice ISO

    • Dialogue Leveler

  • Set the dialogue leveler to a low percentage and add a small amount of gain if needed.

  • Apply the preferred compression preset and add makeup gain carefully.

  • Use the compressor controls to shape the sound: 

    • Threshold

    • Ratio

    • Attack

    • Release

  • Aim for consistent levels around roughly -10 dB during normal speech.

  • Apply the preset EQ used for the speaker’s voice and adjust low-end, midrange, and sibilance cuts as needed.

 

6. Fine-tune the sermon edit by cutting on natural motion and sentence breaks 12:02

  • Edit audio first so the timeline is easier to manage.

  • Click off the clip and relink video/audio if needed so they stay together.

  • Move through the timeline cut by cut.

  • Prefer cuts that feel natural and conversational.

  • Cut on body movement, such as a shoulder turn, or at the end of a sentence.

  • Avoid awkward cuts that interrupt eye contact or emotional emphasis.

  • Use the wide shot as a utility shot and the close shot to create a more personal connection with the speaker.

 

7. Trim the ending and set the final out point 17:18

  • Go to the end of the sermon and locate the closing worship or final speaker segment.

  • Leave enough tail for a clean ending, but remove unwanted audio such as kick drum or dead space.

  • Use Command + B to blade the end section.

  • Use Command + Option + X to select everything after the playhead and delete it.

  • Unlink clips if needed with Command + L.

  • Set the final out point once the ending feels complete and clean.

  • Confirm the timeline duration is correct and no extra blank material remains.

 

8. Apply basic color correction in the Color page 19:44

  • Confirm video and audio are active and nothing is muted or disabled.

  • Move to the Color page.

  • Keep most of the look in-camera and use color correction only for light cleanup.

  • Set scopes to a waveform view focused on luma.

  • Use the waveform to check skin tone, shirt color, highlights, and shadows.

  • Add a small amount of contrast and saturation if needed.

  • Avoid pushing contrast too far, since it may clip during export.

  • Prefer curve adjustments over heavy contrast changes when possible.

 

9. Export the final sermon video from DaVinci Resolve 24:31

  • Move to the Deliver/Export page.

  • Name the file to match the final YouTube and website title.

  • Choose QuickTime format.

  • Select H.265 encoding.

  • Use the auto encoder option unless there is a specific reason to choose native.

  • Keep the export settings simple and avoid unnecessary extra options.

  • Browse to the sermon recording folder on the SSD and save the file there.

  • Add the job to the render queue.

  • Click Render All to begin exporting.

 

10. Verify render time and confirm the export completed successfully 26:52

  • Monitor the render process until it finishes.

  • Expect faster render times on M-series Macs and longer times on older Intel systems.

  • Confirm the export completes without errors.

  • Once finished, close DaVinci Resolve if needed and move to the upload step.

 

11. Upload the sermon video to YouTube Studio 27:55

  • Open YouTube Studio.

  • Start a new upload and select the exported sermon file.

  • Enter the title and metadata to match the final naming convention.

  • Upload a thumbnail from the Downloads folder or the current series asset folder.

  • Add the video to the correct playlist if applicable.

  • Set the visibility to Public for a real upload, or Private if the file is only a test or failed export.

  • Wait for YouTube’s initial checks to complete.

 

12. Publish or schedule the sermon on the church website 29:40

  • Copy the shareable YouTube link.

  • Open the church website in Squarespace.

  • Go to the sermon/blog page under the website pages.

  • Paste the YouTube link into the sermon post.

  • Add or confirm the correct thumbnail/icon so the preview displays properly.

  • Choose whether to: 

    • Publish immediately

    • Save as draft

    • Schedule for later

  • Save the page and verify the sermon appears correctly on the site.

Cautionary Notes

  • Do not leave the timeline starting at time-of-day if you need accurate sermon duration tracking.

  • Be careful not to delete audio you still need when trimming the opening or ending.

  • Avoid over-compressing or over-EQing the speaker’s voice; the goal is natural, balanced audio.

  • Watch for clipping in the color page if you increase contrast too aggressively.

  • Make sure the final export is saved in the correct sermon folder so it is easy to find for upload.

  • Confirm the YouTube visibility setting before publishing.

  • If the upload is only a test or the file is incorrect, set it to Private and remove it afterward.

Tips for Efficiency

  • Use keyboard shortcuts frequently: 

    • Command + I for import

    • Command + B for blade

    • Command + Option + Y to select clips before the playhead

    • Command + Option + X to select clips after the playhead

    • Command + Option + L to link/unlink clips

    • Command + / - to zoom the timeline

  • Edit audio first, then video, then color, then export.

  • Keep most of the visual look in-camera so color correction stays quick.

  • Use the waveform and scopes to make fast, objective decisions instead of relying only on appearance.

  • Save export files directly into the sermon recording folder to reduce file searching later.

  • Batch renders in DaVinci Resolve when possible so multiple exports can run together.

  • Reuse the same compression, EQ, and export presets each week for consistency.

Link to Loom

https://loom.com/share/e92bc8a679d24c5e83834e5d0d49b92b