Dolphin Davinci Audio Tools

KDE Dolphin service menus for audio/video conversion optimized for Davinci Resolve on Linux

Overview

Dolphin Davinci Audio Tools provides right-click context menu options in KDE Dolphin to convert video files for compatibility with Davinci Resolve on Linux. Since Davinci Resolve on Linux doesn't support AAC audio natively, this tool makes it easy to convert your files to professional formats that work seamlessly.

Problem Solved

• Davinci Resolve Limitation: Cannot handle AAC audio streams in video files
• Linux Solution: Easy conversion to compatible formats without leaving the file manager
• Professional Codecs: Support for industry-standard DNxHD/DNxHR intra-frame codecs

Key Features

• Audio Conversions: Convert between AAC and FLAC formats while preserving video
• Davinci Resolve Codecs: DNxHD (≤1080p) and DNxHR SQ (>1080p) with smart resolution detection
• Container Support: Professional .mov containers for DNx codecs
• Progress Tracking: Real-time progress bars with time elapsed
• Batch Processing: Convert multiple files simultaneously
• Metadata Preservation: Maintains video streams, subtitles, chapters, and metadata
• Orientation Support: Works with both horizontal and vertical video content

Dependencies

You must install these dependencies before using the tool:

Ubuntu/Debian

sudo apt install ffmpeg zenity libnotify-bin bc

Fedora/CentOS/RHEL

sudo dnf install ffmpeg zenity libnotify bc

Arch Linux

sudo pacman -S ffmpeg zenity libnotify bc

openSUSE

sudo zypper install ffmpeg zenity libnotify-tools bc

Other Distributions

• ffmpeg: For video/audio conversion
• zenity: For graphical progress dialogs
• libnotify/notify-send: For desktop notifications
• bc: For mathematical calculations in progress tracking

Installation

Automatic Installation (Ubuntu/Debian & Arch Linux)

cd dolphin-davinci-audio-tools
chmod +x install.sh
./install.sh

The installer will:

1. Check for missing dependencies
2. Offer to install them automatically on Ubuntu/Debian and Arch Linux systems
3. Install service menus to the correct Dolphin location
4. Set proper permissions
5. Display usage instructions

Supported distributions for automatic installation:

• Ubuntu/Debian and derivatives (Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, etc.)
• Arch Linux and derivatives (Manjaro, EndeavourOS, Garuda, etc.)

Manual Installation (All Distributions)

1. Install dependencies manually (see above)

2. Create the service menu directory:

   mkdir -p ~/.local/share/kio/servicemenus

3. Copy service menu files:

   cp servicemenus/*.desktop ~/.local/share/kio/servicemenus/
   chmod +x ~/.local/share/kio/servicemenus/*.desktop

4. Copy scripts to a user-accessible location:

   mkdir -p ~/.local/share/dolphin-davinci-audio-tools
   cp scripts/* ~/.local/share/dolphin-davinci-audio-tools/
   chmod +x ~/.local/share/dolphin-davinci-audio-tools/*

5. Restart Dolphin to reload service menus:

   kquitapp5 dolphin && dolphin

Usage

After installation, simply right-click on video or audio files in Dolphin and select "Davinci Resolve Conversions" from the context menu.

Available Conversions

Audio Conversions

• Convert AAC audio to FLAC (replace): AAC → FLAC (16-bit, 48kHz), replaces original file
• Convert AAC audio to FLAC (.mkv): AAC → FLAC, creates new .mkv file, preserves original
  • Note: FLAC conversions only work with AAC audio sources
• Convert audio to AAC (replace original): Non-AAC → AAC (192kb/s, 48kHz), replaces original file
• Convert audio to AAC (smart container): Non-AAC → AAC, creates new file with smart container selection

Davinci Resolve Video Conversions

• Convert to DNxHD/DNxHR (replace): Any resolution → appropriate intra-frame codec, replaces original file
• Convert to DNxHD/DNxHR (.mov): Any resolution → appropriate intra-frame codec, creates new .mov file, preserves original

Note: The "to_davinci_resolve" scripts automatically convert to DNxHD (≤1080p) or DNxHR SQ (>1080p) based on video resolution.

Smart Container Selection

The tool automatically selects the best container format for optimal compatibility:

• FLAC Conversions: Creates .mkv files for best reliability (FLAC works better in .mkv containers)
• DNxHD/DNxHR Conversions: Creates .mov files for professional standards (required by DNx codecs)
• AAC Conversions: Uses smart container selection (.mov for DNxHD video, .mp4 for other codecs)

File Extension Changes:

• Replace options may change file extensions for compatibility (e.g., video.mov → video.mkv for FLAC)
• Original files are backed up temporarily during replacement, then safely removed

Smart Resolution Detection

The tool automatically detects video resolution and selects the optimal codec:

• DNxHD: Used for content with ≤1080p total pixels (1920×1080 or 1080×1920)
• DNxHR SQ: Used for content with >1080p total pixels (4K and above, any orientation)

Mixed Resolution Support: Select multiple files with different resolutions (HD + 4K) and convert them all at once - each file automatically gets the appropriate codec for its resolution.

Progress Tracking

All conversions include:

• Visual Progress Bar: Shows conversion percentage and elapsed time
• Desktop Notifications: Success/failure notifications when complete
• Error Handling: Comprehensive error checking and user feedback

File Format Details

Audio Codecs

• FLAC: Lossless audio, ideal for archival and professional editing
• AAC: High-quality compressed audio (192kb/s, 48kHz, stereo)
• Sample Rate: All conversions use 48kHz for professional video compatibility

Video Codecs

• DNxHD: Intra-frame codec for ≤1080p content (industry standard)
• DNxHR SQ: Scalable codec for >1080p content (4K, 8K, etc.)
• Compression: Intra-frame for frame-by-frame editing precision
• Color Space: YUV 4:2:2 for professional color grading

Container Formats

• .mov: Professional container for DNxHD/HR (recommended for Davinci Resolve)
• .mkv: Open container for audio conversions
• .mp4: Standard container for AAC conversions

Supported File Types

Input Formats

• Video: All formats supported by FFmpeg (.mp4, .mkv, .mov, .avi, etc.)
• Audio: All formats supported by FFmpeg (.aac, .flac, .wav, .mp3, etc.)

Output Formats

• Video: .mov (DNxHD/HR), .mkv (original container)
• Audio: .flac (lossless), .mp4 (AAC), .mkv (preserves original container)

Examples

Converting AAC Audio for Davinci Resolve

1. Right-click on video file with AAC audio
2. Select "Davinci Resolve Conversions" → "Convert AAC audio to FLAC (.mkv)"
3. Wait for conversion to complete
4. Use the new file in Davinci Resolve with fully compatible audio

Converting 4K Video to Professional Codec

1. Right-click on 4K video file
2. Select "Davinci Resolve Conversions" → "Convert to DNxHD/DNxHR (.mov)"
3. The tool automatically detects 4K resolution and applies DNxHR SQ
4. Result: Professional-grade video ready for editing

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Service Menu Not Appearing

# Restart Dolphin
kquitapp5 dolphin && dolphin

# Check service menu installation
ls -la ~/.local/share/kio/servicemenus/

Note: Service menu validation warnings are normal and don't affect functionality. KDE service menus use different standards than regular .desktop files.

Dependency Issues

# Verify all dependencies are installed
which ffmpeg zenity notify-send bc

# Test FFmpeg functionality
ffmpeg -version

Permission Errors

# Make sure scripts are executable
chmod +x ~/.local/share/dolphin-davinci-audio-tools/*
chmod +x ~/.local/share/kio/servicemenus/*.desktop

Conversion Failures

• Check system logs: journalctl -r
• Verify file permissions and disk space
• Ensure source files aren't corrupted

Uninstallation

Automatic Uninstallation

cd dolphin-davinci-audio-tools
chmod +x uninstall.sh
./uninstall.sh

Manual Uninstallation

# Remove service menus
rm ~/.local/share/kio/servicemenus/dolphin-davinci-conversions.desktop

# Remove scripts
rm -rf ~/.local/share/dolphin-davinci-audio-tools

# Restart Dolphin
kquitapp5 dolphin && dolphin

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.

This project is provided as-is for educational and personal use. Please ensure you have appropriate rights to convert and modify any media files.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! When submitting changes:

1. Test thoroughly with various file formats and resolutions
2. Ensure compatibility across different Linux distributions
3. Follow existing code style and conventions
4. Update documentation as needed