MediaIn Node

MediaIn is the entry point for all footage in Fusion. A Fusion composition always starts with at least one MediaIn and ends with at least one MediaOut. You can have several MediaIns (e.g. shot A + shot B + a graphic background for compositing).

MediaIn automatically handles Resolve color spaces (Color Management, ACES), the footage's audio sync, loops, reverse and time offsets. More "built into Resolve" than a classic Loader.

• Created automatically when you send a clip from the timeline to the Fusion page.
• Drag from the Media Pool into the Node Editor.
• Drag from an OS window (a system file straight into the Node Editor).
• Effects Library: Tools > I/O > MediaIn (less common).

MediaIn (Fusion page)

Used in the Resolve Fusion page. Integrated with the timeline, the Media Pool and Resolve color management. Supports almost every video/image format.

Loader (Fusion Studio)

Used in standalone Fusion Studio. Reads from disk. In the Resolve Fusion page, the Loader exists but is limited to EXR only.

Rule: in Resolve → MediaIn (except for EXRs, where the Loader can be preferable). In Fusion Studio → always Loader.

1. Playhead on a clip + Fusion page - the MediaIn of the current clip appears automatically.
2. Drag Media Pool → Node Editor - a dedicated MediaIn is created for the dragged clip.
3. Drag an OS file → Node Editor - a MediaIn pointing directly to the external file.
4. PSD import - creates one MediaIn per PSD layer (very useful for motion design from Photoshop).

• Effect Mask (blue) - optional. Applies a mask to the imported footage (polylines, shapes, paint, bitmaps).

No main input - MediaIn generates the footage itself from its source.

Basic composition:
MediaIn → [effects] → MediaOut

Multiple shots:
MediaIn_A → Merge FG
MediaIn_B → Merge BG
            ↓
         MediaOut

Multilayer PSD import:
PSD → Fusion creates automatically
MediaIn_Layer1 → Merge
MediaIn_Layer2 → Merge ← as FG
MediaIn_Layer3 → Merge ← as FG
→ MediaOut

Global In / Out

Sets where the clip starts and ends in the composition. Only for Media Pool clips (not for timeline clips, where the Edit page handles timing).

Process Mode

How fields are processed:

• Full frames: progressive (the modern standard).
• NTSC / PAL Fields: for interlaced content.
• Reversed options: swap the fields when there is a capture problem.

Trim In / Out

Removes frames from the start or end of the clip with an offset. Non-destructive.

Hold First / Last Frame

Extends the clip by repeating the first or last frame N times. Useful to artificially lengthen a short clip.

Reverse

Reverse playback - plays the footage backward.

Loop

Loops the footage until the end of the project. Useful for short clips used as a background.

Source Color Space

Color space of the source: Auto (detected by Resolve) or manual (Rec.709, sRGB, Rec.2020, DCI-P3, ACES, etc.).

Source Gamma Space

Gamma curve: Auto, manual, log encoding (to decode camera log), or Linear removal.

The audio of Media Pool clips is muted by default in Fusion. The Audio tab lets you:

• Select specific audio tracks.
• Adjust the Sound Offset to sync audio and video.
• Unmute to preview the audio while working in the Fusion page.

Important: after any audio change, you need to click Purge Audio Cache for the changes to take effect.

• Input of a composition - the automatic starting point of a Fusion comp from a timeline clip.
• Multi-source import - several MediaIns to composite several shots (A-roll, B-roll, backgrounds).
• Still image or logo - a PNG/JPG image imported directly by dragging from the OS for motion design.
• Multilayer PSD for motion design - a Photoshop file → Fusion automatically creates one MediaIn per layer. Perfect for animating each layer separately.
• Referenced external clip - dragging from an OS window lets you use a file without importing it into the Media Pool.
• Reverse / Loop for effects - a short clip in Loop for a permanent background, Reverse for special transitions.
• Hold Frame for a freeze - extend a specific frame for stylized freeze frames.

• Auto Color Space - leave it on Auto in most cases. Resolve handles detection well. Go manual only if you see a problem or for a specific ACES workflow.
• Multiple MediaIns = multiple sources - if you want to composite several sources, do not stack the drags into the same MediaIn. Create several MediaIns for the distinct sources.
• Name your MediaIns - in a comp with 5+ sources, renaming each MediaIn (BG_Plate, FG_Character, Sky_Replace) keeps the graph readable.
• Global In/Out for Media Pool clips - if you bring a Media Pool clip into a standalone Fusion comp, Global In/Out controls how many frames of the clip are used.
• PSD import = a clean workflow - prefer PSDs that are well organized into named layers. The layer names become the MediaIn names, very handy for multilayer comps.
• Purge Audio Cache is required after an audio change - otherwise the audio you hear does not reflect the current settings.
• For heavy footage (high-res EXR), prefer a dedicated Loader rather than MediaIn - it performs better on scientific formats.