Cutcrow vs DaVinci Resolve's MCP
Updated 29 October 2026
Both let an AI agent such as Claude Code or Codex work on your video edits. They're built for different people. DaVinci Resolve is a professional editing, colour and finishing suite, and since version 21.1 its paid Studio edition includes an MCP server that AI assistants can connect to. Cutcrow is a lighter desktop editor built around the agent from the start, for talking videos, tutorials and short-form clips.
The short answer
- Choose Resolve Studio if you already edit in Resolve, need professional colour grading, Fusion effects or Fairlight audio, and want an assistant to help with media management, project setup and batch renders.
- Choose Cutcrow if you want to describe an edit in plain words and get a finished cut with captions, zooms and transitions, then fine-tune it on a simple timeline, on Windows or Linux, for free or a one-time $34.
Side by side
| Cutcrow | DaVinci Resolve Studio 21.1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free version; full version $34 once (launch price until Nov 30, 2026) | About €305 once (MCP is in Studio, not the free edition) |
| AI agents | Claude Code, Codex | Claude, Claude Code, Codex |
| Setup | Built in: "Install for me" and sign in from the app | File → Setup AI Assistants |
| Undo an AI request | One click per request (change cards) | Not described by Blackmagic yet |
| Captions from speech | Word-timed, five styles, on your computer | Yes (Studio) |
| Edit by text (transcript) | Yes | Yes (Studio) |
| Professional colour, Fusion, Fairlight | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Learning curve | Small | Large |
Resolve details are from Blackmagic's 21.1 release coverage (September 2026); check Blackmagic's site for the current price and features.
What's the real difference?
Who's driving. In Resolve, the assistant is an add-on to a professional suite: it helps with tasks such as organising media, changing project settings, cutting a highlight edit from a long clip and batch rendering, while you work in Resolve's pages. In Cutcrow, the agent is the main way to edit if you want it to be: it uses the same tools as the timeline (cuts, captions, zooms, transitions, titles, colour looks, blur) and each request lands as a change card you can undo in one click or adjust by hand.
Who it's for. Resolve rewards people who learn it; it's what films and broadcast work are finished in. Cutcrow is for creators, developers and educators who want a good edit quickly and don't want to learn a professional suite first.
Can I use both?
Yes. Many people rough-cut, caption and make short clips in Cutcrow, and finish big projects in Resolve. Cutcrow exports standard MP4 files that Resolve opens.