Fix Echo/Delay Not Playing After Clip Ends in DaVinci Resolve

When your delay effect cuts off too soon — many editors hit this wall in DaVinci Resolve before discovering— it’s about applying the delay effect to the entire audio track.

Have you ever tried adding an echo or delay effect to the end of your sound clip in DaVinci Resolve timeline, only to find that the delay stops abruptly as soon as your sound clip ends?

You're not alone! Many filmmakers, content creators, and freelance editors have hit this wall, including me — often while working solo, with no one to ask for help when things don’t behave as expected. It’s a small issue that can derail your timeline, leaving you frustrated and stuck on what feels like a simple task!

The common approaches often don't work as expected:

Applying the delay effect directly to the sound clip: This is often the first thing people try, but it results in the delay cutting off at the end of the clip.

Cutting the last part of the clip and applying the effect there: Again, the delay still stops at the end of the sound clip, not continuing as desired.

Copying the last part of the clip to another audio track and applying the delay to the copy: While seemingly clever, this also doesn't solve the problem, as the delay still doesn't play beyond the copied clip's end.

When sound doesn’t just end — it lingers, resonates, and carries emotion beyond the frame.

The secret, as many of us eventually discover, is quite simple and powerful:

Do not apply the delay effect directly to your audio clip. Instead, apply the delay effect to the audio track itself.

By applying the delay effect to the entire audio track, the delay will continue to play on even after your original audio clip has finished. This allows for those beautiful, lingering echoes and trails that truly enhance your sound design. Now you can finally use sound effects the way you wanted, with your echoes continuing exactly as they should!

Need help with your video editing project? Whether you're stuck on audio effects in DaVinci Resolve or need a full post-production solution, I'm here to help.

Visit: www.videoeditorlondon.co.uk Email: londonvideoeditor@gmail.com

I offer expert video editing services for content creators, businesses, and filmmakers — from audio fixes and sound design to full-scale edits across all platforms.