What Is the Blackmagic Speed Editor?
The Blackmagic Speed Editor is a compact hardware editing controller designed specifically for DaVinci Resolve. It combines a search dial (jog wheel), transport controls, and dedicated function keys in a portable, wireless device that dramatically speeds up the rough cut stage of video editing. Unlike full-size editing keyboards, the Speed Editor focuses on the actions you use most during the cut page workflow — trimming, splitting, transitioning, and navigating your timeline.
Blackmagic released the Speed Editor alongside DaVinci Resolve 17, positioning it as a tool for editors who want tactile, physical control over their edit without the bulk of a full editing panel or the high cost of the DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard. At approximately R6,000–R8,000 in South Africa, the Speed Editor comes bundled with a DaVinci Resolve Studio license (valued at around R5,500 on its own), making it one of the best-value purchases in professional video editing.
Design and Build Quality
The Speed Editor measures 235mm wide and weighs about 500 grams — small enough to fit in a laptop bag. The body is machined aluminium with a matte black finish that feels professional and durable. Every key has a satisfying mechanical click with clear travel, providing the tactile feedback essential for fast editing work.
The search dial dominates the right side of the device. It is a weighted, free-spinning metal wheel with smooth bearings that provides precise shuttle, jog, and scroll control over your timeline. The dial’s inertia is tuned perfectly — a quick flick sends you flying through footage, while gentle turns move frame by frame. This physical control over playback and navigation is where the Speed Editor saves the most time compared to mouse-and-keyboard editing.
The device connects via Bluetooth or USB-C. Bluetooth operation is flawless on macOS and works reliably on Windows 10 and 11. Battery life over Bluetooth lasts approximately 40–50 hours of active use, recharged via the USB-C port. The connection automatically restores when you wake the device from sleep, with no re-pairing required.
Key Layout and Functions
Transport Controls
The bottom row provides essential playback controls: source/timeline toggle, in/out point markers, trim in/out, and transition buttons. These keys work identically to their on-screen equivalents but are significantly faster to use because your hands never leave the device. Setting in and out points while scrubbing with the dial becomes a fluid, physical gesture rather than a click-and-drag operation.
Edit Mode Keys
The top row contains editing mode keys that change how the search dial behaves: Smart Insert, Append, Ripple Overwrite, Close Up, Place on Top, and Source Overwrite. Each mode determines how clips land on your timeline when you press the corresponding key. Smart Insert drops clips at the playhead. Append adds clips to the end. Ripple Overwrite replaces clips while adjusting timeline length. These dedicated keys eliminate the need to remember keyboard shortcuts or dig through menus.
Trim Functions
Trim In and Trim Out keys combined with the search dial provide the Speed Editor’s most powerful feature. Select an edit point, hold Trim In or Trim Out, and roll the dial to extend or shorten a clip while watching the result in real time. This live trimming workflow is dramatically faster than clicking and dragging edit points with a mouse. Professional editors frequently cite this as the single feature that justifies the entire purchase.
Speed Editor vs Mouse-and-Keyboard Editing
For rough cuts and assembly edits, the Speed Editor consistently outperforms mouse-and-keyboard workflows. The combination of physical dial scrubbing and dedicated function keys eliminates the two biggest time sinks in traditional editing: hunting for the right frame (dial scrub is faster than dragging a playhead) and switching between tools (dedicated keys are faster than keyboard shortcuts or mode menus).
In timed comparisons, editors typically report 30–50% faster rough cut completion when using the Speed Editor versus mouse and keyboard alone. The advantage is most pronounced on projects with large amounts of source footage — documentaries, event videos, multi-camera shoots, and long-form YouTube content where you spend significant time reviewing and selecting takes.
For fine detail work — colour grading, motion graphics, audio mixing — the Speed Editor offers limited benefit. These tasks require precision mouse control and specialised panels (like the DaVinci Resolve Micro Panel for colour work). The Speed Editor is not a replacement for your mouse and keyboard; it is a supplement that accelerates the specific task of building your edit.
Setting Up the Speed Editor
Initial Pairing
Setting up the Speed Editor takes under two minutes. On macOS, open System Preferences > Bluetooth, press any key on the Speed Editor to wake it, and pair when it appears. On Windows, use Settings > Bluetooth & Devices. Once paired, launch DaVinci Resolve — the Speed Editor is automatically recognised with no additional driver installation or configuration required.
Optimising Your Workflow
The Speed Editor is designed for DaVinci Resolve’s Cut page, which provides a streamlined editing interface focused on speed. If you normally work on the Edit page, switch to the Cut page to take full advantage of the Speed Editor’s features. The Cut page’s dual timeline (full timeline at top, zoomed view at bottom) pairs perfectly with the dial’s scrub and zoom behaviour.
Position the Speed Editor to the right of your keyboard, angled so the dial falls naturally under your right hand. Your left hand stays on the keyboard for shortcuts you still need (undo, copy, paste), while your right hand operates the Speed Editor for navigation, marking, and trimming. This two-handed workflow becomes intuitive within a few editing sessions.
Who Should Buy the Speed Editor?
The Speed Editor makes the most sense for editors who process large volumes of footage regularly. If you are a YouTube creator editing weekly videos, a wedding videographer assembling multi-hour shoots, or a documentary editor working through hours of interviews, the time savings compound quickly. At the R6,000–R8,000 price point — which includes a DaVinci Resolve Studio license — the hardware is essentially free if you were planning to buy Resolve Studio anyway.
It is less essential for editors who primarily work in Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro, since the Speed Editor is designed exclusively for DaVinci Resolve. Basic compatibility with other NLEs exists through third-party mapping tools, but the experience is significantly diminished compared to native Resolve integration.
Speed Editor vs DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard
Blackmagic also offers the full-size DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard — a complete QWERTY keyboard with integrated search dial, dedicated editing keys, and metal construction. At approximately R55,000–R65,000 in South Africa, it is a professional-grade tool aimed at full-time editors. The Editor Keyboard includes everything the Speed Editor does, plus a complete typing keyboard, more function keys, and a larger, more refined search dial.
For most content creators and independent editors, the Speed Editor provides 80% of the Editor Keyboard’s editing acceleration at 10% of the cost. The Editor Keyboard is justified for editors who spend 6+ hours daily in the DaVinci Resolve timeline and want a single device that replaces both their keyboard and editing controller.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Blackmagic Speed Editor work with software other than DaVinci Resolve?
The Speed Editor is designed exclusively for DaVinci Resolve and works natively only with this software. Third-party tools like Loupedeck and MIDI mapping software can translate Speed Editor inputs to other applications (Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro), but the experience is limited and lacks the deep integration that makes the Speed Editor powerful in Resolve.
Is the Speed Editor worth buying if I already have DaVinci Resolve Studio?
Yes. Even without the bundled license value, the Speed Editor’s hardware acceleration of the editing process justifies its cost within a few projects if you edit regularly. The physical search dial and dedicated trim keys provide a qualitative improvement in editing speed and precision that keyboard shortcuts alone cannot match.
Can I use the Speed Editor wirelessly on a laptop while travelling?
Absolutely. The Bluetooth connection and compact size make the Speed Editor an excellent travel editing companion. It pairs reliably with MacBook Pro and Windows laptops running DaVinci Resolve. The 40+ hour battery life means you rarely need to charge during a trip. Many editors carry it in their laptop bag as standard equipment.
Does the Speed Editor work with DaVinci Resolve free version?
Yes, the Speed Editor works with both the free and Studio versions of DaVinci Resolve. However, since the Speed Editor purchase includes a DaVinci Resolve Studio license, most buyers will be using the Studio version. The hardware functionality is identical regardless of which version you run.
What is the learning curve for the Speed Editor?
Most editors become comfortable with the basic dial scrub and mark in/out workflow within 30–60 minutes. Full proficiency with all edit modes and trim functions typically takes 3–5 editing sessions. Blackmagic provides tutorial videos on their website, and the DaVinci Resolve training certification (free) includes Speed Editor-specific lessons. The key layout is intuitive enough that you can start using it productively on your first project.
