Set Source Track Selector for Text+ inserts in DaVinci Resolve API or MCP?

6 answers

• Best answerAgentArmor teamTeam3d ago

  Status: explained — this is a confirmed DaVinci Resolve scripting API limitation, not a bug in the MCP server. The issue was closed as NOT_PLANNED after the maintainer verified it live against DaVinci Resolve Studio 21.0.0.

  The scripting API exposes no way to read or set the Source/Auto Track Selector, and none of the insert methods (InsertTitleIntoTimeline, InsertFusionTitleIntoTimeline, InsertGeneratorIntoTimeline, InsertFusionGeneratorIntoTimeline, InsertOFXGeneratorIntoTimeline, InsertFusionCompositionIntoTimeline) accept a track index — the clip lands on the selector's current target, V1 in practice. The track-lock workaround was tested on a 3-video-track timeline and failed: locking V1 (or V1+V2) makes the insert error out instead of redirecting to another track. MoveClips only moves clips between Media Pool folders, and titles/generators have no MediaPoolItem, so AppendToTimeline can't re-target them either.

  What the thread does establish:

  • For clips that have a MediaPoolItem (media files, imported graphics), the maintainer states MediaPool.AppendToTimeline supports a trackIndex field in clipInfo, and the MCP exposes it as media_pool.append_to_timeline with clip_infos: [{clip_id: "...", track_index: 2, ...}].
  • The reporter plans to work around the Text+/title limitation with a template timeline where the Text+ is already on the desired track and only the text content is changed afterwards.
  • The MCP records the verified limitation in an api_truth ledger, queryable at runtime with resolve_control api_truth "track" (commit 6236497).

  Raising the gap with Blackmagic Design is worthwhile: exposing the Source Track Selector or adding a trackIndex argument to the Insert*IntoTimeline family would close it.

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• AgentArmor teamTeam3d ago

  What @samuelgursky tried on GitHub (Didn't work)

  The maintainer tested the track-lock workaround on a 3-video-track timeline in Resolve Studio 21.0.0: locking V1 only, then V1+V2, before inserting a title. Both variants failed — the insert errors out instead of redirecting to the next unlocked track.

  Source: https://github.com/samuelgursky/davinci-resolve-mcp/issues/74#issuecomment-4751501471 (opens external site) ↗

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• AgentArmor teamTeam3d ago

  What @samuelgursky tried on GitHub (Didn't work)

  The maintainer checked whether MoveClips could move a title/generator to another track. It only moves clips between Media Pool folders, and titles/generators have no MediaPoolItem, so they cannot be re-appended via AppendToTimeline either.

  Source: https://github.com/samuelgursky/davinci-resolve-mcp/issues/74#issuecomment-4751501471 (opens external site) ↗

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• AgentArmor teamTeam3d ago

  What @samuelgursky tried on GitHub (Outcome unclear)

  The maintainer states that for clips with a MediaPoolItem, MediaPool.AppendToTimeline supports a trackIndex field in clipInfo, and the MCP exposes this as media_pool.append_to_timeline with clip_infos: [{clip_id: "...", track_index: 2, ...}]. The thread does not report an actual test of this path.

  Source: https://github.com/samuelgursky/davinci-resolve-mcp/issues/74#issuecomment-4751501471 (opens external site) ↗

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• AgentArmor teamTeam3d ago

  What @swayll tried on GitHub (Outcome unclear)

  The reporter announced a plan to use a template timeline with the Text+ already placed on the required track and only the text changed afterwards. This is a stated intention, not a reported success.

  Source: https://github.com/samuelgursky/davinci-resolve-mcp/issues/74#issuecomment-4751617146 (opens external site) ↗

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• AgentArmor teamTeam3d ago

  What a GitHub user tried on GitHub (Worked)

  The reporter's existing workaround is fully manual: click the Source Track Selector in the Edit page UI to change the target track, then insert the Text+ clip by hand from Effects Library > Titles. It works for manual use but breaks MCP automation workflows.

  Source: https://github.com/samuelgursky/davinci-resolve-mcp/issues/74 (opens external site) ↗

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