Lesson 251: DaVinci Trailer Handoff OBS Highlight Receipt on BUILD_RECEIPT (2026)

Direct answer: Before July playtest highlight reels run Lesson 243 consent concat, file trailer_handoff_receipt_v1.json proving a mezzanine export, handoff_map_v1.json rows link Resolve TC ↔ OBS clip_id, fps matches between timeline and Replay Buffer, and ffprobe duration covers every out point—then promote BUILD_RECEIPT trailer_handoff_ok. Distinct from Lesson 250 (VO WAV metadata) and Lesson 234 (store stereo).

Why this matters now (July 2027 playtest highlight reels)

July 2026–2027 teams export a Resolve playtest-trailer master Monday and merge OBS Replay Buffer clips Tuesday—without handoff_map_v1.json, editors guess in/out points, drift against the mezzanine, and re-cut the same boss fight three times. Lesson 250 owns VO consent metadata; Lesson 243 owns clip consent concat—251 owns editorial timecode linkage between lanes.

The Resolve playtest trailer handoff preflight is the ninety-second gate—251 is the BUILD_RECEIPT milestone. Pair GIF vs WebM deliverable discipline for store exports (separate lane).

Beginner path (mezzanine → map → receipt)

Time: ~58 minutes first wave; ~12 minutes when mezzanine preset + map template exist.

Developer path (gates T1–T6)

T1 — cousin receipt crosswalk

Do not embed consent rows inside handoff_map—reference shared clip_id only.

handoff_map_v1.json

{
  "schema": "handoff_map_v1",
  "build_label": "playtest-july-2027-rc1",
  "timeline_fps": 60,
  "mezzanine_path": "deliver/playtest_mezzanine_playtest-july-2027-rc1.mov",
  "mezzanine_sha256": "abc123…",
  "highlights": [
    {
      "handoff_id": "h7f2a1b0-0001-4000-8000-000000000001",
      "resolve_tc_in": "00:12:04:12",
      "resolve_tc_out": "00:12:46:00",
      "resolve_frame_in": 43452,
      "resolve_frame_out": 45960,
      "obs_clip_id": "clip03",
      "obs_path": "playtest-vod/highlights/inbox/clip03.mkv",
      "facilitator_note": "Boss phase 2 — consent pending Lesson 243"
    }
  ]
}

trailer_handoff_receipt_v1.json

{
  "schema": "trailer_handoff_receipt_v1",
  "build_label": "playtest-july-2027-rc1",
  "handoff_map_path": "playtest-vod/highlights/handoff_map_v1.json",
  "mezzanine_path": "deliver/playtest_mezzanine_playtest-july-2027-rc1.mov",
  "mezzanine_sha256": "abc123…",
  "timeline_fps": 60,
  "highlight_rows": 4,
  "orphan_obs_clips": 0,
  "fps_mismatch": false,
  "cousin_receipts": {
    "playtest_clip_consent": "release-evidence/playtest/vod/PLAYTEST_CLIP_CONSENT_RECEIPT.json",
    "gif_deliverable_slot": "deliver/gif_deliverable_slot_receipt_v1.json"
  },
  "gates": {
    "T1_mezzanine": "pass",
    "T2_fps_lock": "pass",
    "T3_handoff_map": "pass",
    "T4_mezzanine_duration": "pass",
    "T5_obs_duration": "pass",
    "T6_build_receipt": "pass"
  },
  "handoff_ok": true,
  "playtest_promotion_allowed": true
}

Pin under release-evidence/playtest/trailer/TRAILER_HANDOFF_RECEIPT.json.

BUILD_RECEIPT row (T6)

ALTER TABLE release_publish_gate ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS
  trailer_handoff_blocked BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT false;

Thursday row review — trailer handoff line: map rows Y/N.

Key takeaways

1. Store GIF/WebM ≠ playtest handoff—GIF vs WebM preflight is a different lane.
2. handoff_map_v1.json is source of truth for clip_id ↔ Resolve TC.
3. Run 251 before 243 consent concat—manifest needs real in-points.
4. Lesson 250 VO metadata is parallel, not a substitute.
5. Lesson 220 Whisper batch is audio triage—separate from highlight reels.
6. Evening OBS concat pipeline — capture stack only.
7. playtest_promotion_allowed here ≠ Q4 capstone 253.
8. Forward: Lesson 252 Spline LCP under load BUILD_RECEIPT.
   8b. October store stills: Lesson 254 HDR→SDR Steam capture (distinct from playtest handoff).
9. Pair 16 OBS/ffmpeg tools for capture; this lesson owns the map.
10. Top 20 receipts hub — handoff row in playtest→public map.

Common mistakes

• Filing 243 while 251 map still missing—consent cannot fix wrong in-points.
• Mixing 30 fps OBS with 60 fps Resolve without retime note.
• Renaming clip03.mkv after map written—orphan obs_clip_id.
• Skipping T4 because timeline “looks fine”—mezzanine shorter than last resolve_tc_out.
• Merging trailer_handoff_receipt into playtest_clip_consent_receipt schemas.

Troubleshooting

Mini exercise (50 minutes)

1. Export mezzanine without TC—confirm T1/T4 fail modes.
2. Write handoff_map_v1.json for two clips.
3. Link cousin path placeholder for Lesson 243.
4. ffprobe mezzanine + OBS durations.
5. File receipt; BUILD_RECEIPT GREEN.

Continuity — Q4 2027 July playtest scale (245–253)

Previous: Lesson 250 — Audacity VO consent metadata
Next: Lesson 252 — Spline playtest landing LCP spot

FAQ

Same as Lesson 243?
243 = consent + concat manifest; 251 = Resolve TC map—run 251 first.

Same as the DaVinci guide chapter?
Guide = T1–T6 checklist; 251 = BUILD_RECEIPT promotion.

Same as Lesson 250?
250 = VO WAV metadata; 251 = video editorial handoff.

Need ProRes mezzanine?
Team policy—document codec in receipt; social-only export fails T4 when TC out exceeds duration.

Highlights cut blind from Resolve fail every July scale wave—mezzanine hash, fps lock, handoff_map_v1.json, then trailer_handoff_ok before Lesson 243 consent concat.