AI Super Scale in DaVinci Resolve: Best Practices & Performance Guide

Mastering AI Super Scale in DaVinci Resolve: A Professional's Guide

AI Super Scale has revolutionized how video editors handle resolution mismatches in post-production. This neural engine-powered feature in DaVinci Resolve Studio enables professionals to upscale lower-resolution footage to match higher-resolution projects with remarkable quality. Understanding how to leverage this technology effectively can significantly improve your workflow while maintaining visual fidelity1.

How AI Super Scale Works

Unlike traditional upscaling methods that simply stretch pixels, DaVinci Resolve's AI Super Scale uses the DaVinci Neural Engine to analyze footage and generate new, intelligent pixels that preserve detail and reduce artifacts. When enabled through the Inspector panel, this feature creates authentic detail rather than merely interpolating existing information2.

Available only in DaVinci Resolve Studio (not the free version), Super Scale offers three upscaling options: 2x, 3x, and 4x. The 2025 update expanded capabilities with enhanced 3x and 4x algorithms that deliver superior results for archival footage and mixed-resolution projects3.

Upscaling Solution	Max Upscale Factor	Processing Speed (Minutes per Minute of Footage)	Detail Preservation Score (1-10)	System Requirements
DaVinci Resolve Super Scale (2x)	2x	3.2	8.5	NVIDIA RTX 3060+ or equivalent
DaVinci Resolve Super Scale (4x)	4x	12.7	7.2	NVIDIA RTX 4080+ recommended
Topaz Video AI	4x	8.4	9.1	NVIDIA RTX 3070+ recommended
Aiarty Video Enhancer	4x	5.1	8.8	NVIDIA RTX 3060+ or AMD equivalent

Table data source: 3, 4, 5

The table reveals a clear performance-quality trade-off: while 4x upscaling offers the highest resolution output, it comes with significantly longer processing times and slightly lower detail preservation compared to 2x. Third-party solutions like Topaz Video AI demonstrate superior detail preservation but require specialized hardware optimization6.

Optimal Workflow Implementation

To maximize results with AI Super Scale, follow this professional workflow:

1. Create a new project with timeline resolution matching your target output (e.g., 3840x2160 for 4K)
2. Import lower-resolution footage requiring upscaling
3. Open the Inspector panel and enable Super Scale
4. Select appropriate upscaling factor (2x recommended for most applications)
5. Adjust Sharpness (typically 15-25) and Noise (5-15) sliders for optimal balance
6. Use optimized media for smoother playback during editing
7. Disable Super Scale before final render if using optimized media to prevent double-processing

For projects with mixed resolutions, consider creating sub-clips for targeted upscaling rather than applying Super Scale to entire long-form content. This approach minimizes performance impact while maintaining quality where needed7.

Performance Considerations and Limitations

AI Super Scale places significant demands on system resources. Users report performance degradation when applying Super Scale to entire long-form content, particularly on systems without high-end GPUs6. The M2 Max Mac Studio with 64GB RAM still experiences playback issues when Super Scale is active, demonstrating that even powerful systems face challenges with this resource-intensive feature.

Key limitations to consider:

• Not suitable for already heavily compressed media
• Applies to entire clips rather than selective sections (without workarounds)
• May introduce artifacts if sharpness is over-adjusted
• Requires Studio version (not available in free edition)

When to Consider Alternative Solutions

While DaVinci Resolve's built-in Super Scale offers seamless integration, third-party solutions provide advantages in specific scenarios:

• Batch processing needs: Tools like VideoProc Converter AI handle multiple files simultaneously
• Specialized content: Aiarty's moDetail-HQ model excels with architectural details and textures
• Apple Silicon optimization: Topaz Video AI shows better performance on M-series Macs
• Advanced noise reduction: Dedicated AI tools offer more granular control for problematic footage

For most professional workflows, using DaVinci Resolve's Super Scale for 2x upscaling provides the best balance of quality, performance, and integration. Reserve 3x and 4x upscaling for specific archival restoration projects where source quality justifies the performance trade-off8.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use AI Super Scale in the free version of DaVinci Resolve?

No, AI Super Scale is exclusively available in DaVinci Resolve Studio, the paid version of the software. The free version lacks all Neural Engine-powered features1.

Why does 2x Super Scale generally produce better results than 4x?

Higher upscaling factors (3x and 4x) require the AI to generate more "new" pixels, increasing the risk of artifacts and reduced detail accuracy. The 2x option maintains a better balance between quality improvement and computational accuracy8.

How can I reduce the performance impact of Super Scale during editing?

Create optimized media versions with Super Scale applied, then disable the effect during editing. This bakes the upscaling into proxy files while preserving the original effect for final rendering7.

Does Super Scale work with all video formats?

Super Scale works best with high-quality source material like ProRes or uncompressed footage. Highly compressed formats (H.264/H.265) with existing artifacts produce suboptimal results as the AI has less authentic information to work with9.

Can I apply Super Scale to specific sections of a clip?

Directly, no—Super Scale applies to entire clips. However, you can create sub-clips or duplicate media pool instances to apply scaling selectively to specific portions of your timeline6.