All Features
Performance
32 bit and 64 bit (64 bit beta coming soon)
Offering the most flexibility for a professional NLE, Lightworks is available in 32 bit and 64 bit versions. With the 64 bit version, Lightworks can take advantage of larger memory capacity, which increases codec performance, particularly for Long GOP formats such as H.264.
Realtime GPU effects architecture
With a fast effects pipeline architecture that uses the full power of modern GPUs, Lightworks can handle many layers of real time effects in SD, HD, 2K, 4K and even 5K! You can even adjust parameters during playback giving you the best experience in effects editing for an NLE.
Cross platform
Lightworks will be the only professional editing solution available for all three major desktop operating systems – Windows, Mac OSX and Linux. With the Windows version out now, and the Linux release around the corner, we’re excited to be the first to offer this level of cross-platform flexibility.
Broadcast monitoring with SDI hardware
Display your edits on Broadcast monitors through SDI hardware for crystal clear compliant monitoring. Audio offset adjustments allow picture and sound to remain in sync no matter what output route they take.
Up to 5K resolution editing
Resolution independent projects and timelines provide a far less restricted editing experience. Lightworks supports up to 5K file formats for realtime editing and up to 2K in realtime output monitoring without any additional hardware.
Hardware
Red Rocket
Lightworks supports up to two RED Rocket hardware cards in a single system, providing realtime 4K and 5K full resolution playback. Even with a single card, you can edit in full resolution 2K with no additional I/O hardware.
Matrox MXO2
Lightworks supports the entire Matrox line-up of MXO2 devices for superior I/O support – HD-SDI, SD-SDI, Analogue and AES Audio, input and output. With support for desktops and laptops, the MXO2 range provides comprehensive connectivity in a portable form.
Mackie Protocol support
Support for Mackie’s communication protocol means Lightworks’ audio mixer and fader automation can be driven from an external Makie mixing console.
Console
Lightworks’ patented and unique Console provides the most intuitive and engaging editing experience available. With all the common editing commands and user definable presets, the Console is one reason Lightworks is chosen by professionals all over the world.
Keyboard
A custom designed keyboard, ergonomically designed for fast and efficient use. The Lightworks Keyboard offers much more than standard editing features, such as advanced modes, project functions and direct links to the Lightworks Community.
Turnkey systems
Lightworks has always provided turnkey systems, fully configured and optimised to the last nut and bolt. In fact, until recently, this was the only way you could buy a Lightworks system. For those editors who need the peace of mind, full technical support and an editing system that is configured to deal with the most demanding of situations, Lightworks can provide a full turnkey system.
Import and Export
Batch Import
Queue up multiple imports from different locations – with multiple selectable rates, resolutions and transcode options. Then simply sit back and let Lightworks do the rest.
Transcode on import
Lightworks can handle many formats natively. But for those times when you want to standardise on a single format, Lightworks offers Transcode on Import. Go from Long GOP to I-Frame, MXF to Quicktime or vice versa. Whatever you want, we probably support it.
Wide format support
Lightworks has the widest support available for formats currently available by a professional NLE. From MXF, Quicktime and AVI containers, with every professional format you can think of: ProRes, Avid DNxHD, AVC-Intra, DVCPRO HD, RED R3D, DPX, H.264, XDCAM EX / HD 422 – read the full list of supported codecs.
AAF for interoperability
AAF is fully supported in Lightworks for both import and export and is an ideal way of moving edits between non-networked Lightworks systems or sharing with other software such as Avid Media Composer or ProTools.
Native RED R3D support
Lightworks supports native RED R3D files for import and provides the ability to playback the files at resolutions from 1/16th up to full resolution. Realtime full resolution playback is possible with the RED Rocket card.
DPX
8bit, 10bit and 16bit DPX files are fully supported in Lightworks for import and export, at resolutions up to 4K.
Stereoscopic Import and Export
Syncing up left and right eye media for a stereoscopic workflow can be painfully slow, so Lightworks takes that strain away, automatically handling the sync for you. Import and export as you would with regular media, with no need to change the way you work.
Export Bins and Projects
Most editing software will only export edits or clips. But there are many scenarios where it would be useful to export a bin of clips or an entire project. Lightworks makes this as easy as exporting a single clip: you just drop your export tool over the item you want to export – a clip, an edit, a bin or an entire project.
SDI, Firewire Record and Playout
Lightworks has support for capture from SDI or Firewire-based devices through our range of supported hardware. With RS-422 control and realtime onscreen preview, capturing media from tape or live sources is easy.
EDL
Importing and Exporting EDLs provides a standard interchange between other post-production and finishing systems and Lightworks.
Editing
Multicam
Multicam editing can be difficult without the right tools. Fortunately Lightworks has some of the best tools available with our unique Sync Group. Use unlimited sources in any format or resolution for a totally intuitive multicam experience.
Stereoscopic editing
Editing stereoscopic media should not change the way you work. So Lightworks does the background tasks for you, allowing you to continue doing what you’re good at – editing.
Storyboarding
Sometimes you just want to sketch out an idea. Storyboarding in Lightworks is easy and allows you to go from a rough idea to a full edit in just a couple of seconds.
Resolution, format and codec independent timeline
There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing a ‘format not supported in this project’. So with Lightworks we make our edits format, resolution and codec independent. If you’re in a 24 frame project, you can import any content and put whatever you want in an edit. Just decide how you want Lightworks to output it. It doesn’t get much simpler than this.
Edit at any frame rate
Lightworks supports all standard video frame rates - 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, or 60 fps. Import and edit all media together in a 24fps project and Lightworks will deal with pull-down and frame rate conversion seamlessly in background, all in realtime.
Comprehensive Drag and Drop support
Drag and Drop editing is a powerful way to move content into an edit. So we’ve added some enhancements that take this to another level. It’s easy to insert and replace, and there’s a unique ability to drag sections of edits back to a bin for future use. Lightworks’ drag and drop functionality is flexible, fast and efficient.
Full-screen, realtime output on single or secondary display
On a laptop or dual display setup, output full-screen, realtime video with a single key stroke for SD, HD and 2K preview through your VGA, DVI or HDMI port. A great alternative when you do not have a dedicated broadcast monitor or SDI outputs available.
Varispeed (Slo-mo) control
Adjust the playback speed of any clip, forwards or backwards, in realtime direct from the timeline – no need to add an effect, and no need to render.
Powerful trimming tools
Trimming in Lightworks is more advanced than any other editing software available. Unjoin cuts, associated cuts or multiple non-adjacent cuts for complex trims that would require several edit operations in other software.
Virtually Unlimited Video and FX tracks
Who said you could only have 99 video tracks? Have as many as you like. We won’t stop you.
Fast editing
Lightworks is the fastest editor available. With up to 33% fewer keystrokes required for common tasks, you’ll focus more on picture and sound, and less time looking at menus.
Flexible User Interface
Lay out your viewers, bins and other tools exactly where you want them. Lightworks doesn’t tell you how you should work, but lets you decide. We will even remember your tool positions for you.
Hardware-accurate vectorscopes and waveform monitors
Checking your video for colour and luminance levels often requires expensive external equipment. Lighworks includes realtime, hardware-accurate vectorscopes and waveform monitors to assist you.
Quick transitions
Lightworks’ Quick Transitions gives you fast access to the most common transitions and wipes. No need to open an entire effects window to add a simple cross dissolve.
Auto-sync
You trim some video but forget to trim the associated audio, and now your timeline is out of sync. But with one click of the the ‘AutoSync’ button, your timeline snaps back into sync.
Cues
Adding Cue points to clips and edits is a useful way to mark up your media or collaborate with other users. You can export Cue lists to help locate points of reference in the future.
Avid and FCP keyboard layouts
We understand that trying out a new NLE can be daunting and sometimes confusing. So we’ve added preset keyboard layouts for Avid and Final Cut Pro users. You can drive Lightworks as you would drive your current NLE, helping you get up to speed much quicker.
Realtime BITC overlay
Output timecode and any combination of shot labels such as clip name, comments or other metadata in realtime. No pre-rendering required. Ideal if you’re making viewing copies and you need to reference the original material.
Realtime letterboxing
Mask your entire edit with a letterbox in realtime. No rendering and fully adjustable on the fly.
Media Management
Re-link to hi-res media
Work online or offline and always be able to re-link to hi-res media for a bandwidth-saving workflow.
Project Archive
Lightworks can archive entire projects or elements of a project. Logs only or with picture and sound, Lightworks Archives are a great way to backup your entire project in a safe and secure way.
Powerful search capabilities
Search for individual clips, or groups of clips such as Bins, Racks or Edits. All metadata is fully searchable, and the search results can be turned into bins or edits with a single click.
Search for references
Search for elements within a bin or an edit, creating a search result that can be displayed as a new bin or a new edit. With a new edit, clips that match the search criteria can be left in place, providing a fast export method for editors and assistants.
AutoSave
Never lose your work again, and never think about saving your project. One less thing to worry about, giving you more time to be creative.
Automatic Edit backups
Lightworks incrementally backs up each and every edit. You decide how often to back up and how many versions to keep, ensuring you can always step back to a previous version if you need to.
Custom Bin views (Save view)
View and organise metadata how you want to. Finding the right information can be time consuming, so Lightworks allows you to organise your bin views to display only the content that is relevant to you. You can then save this view and apply it to every other bin, or define the views for each bin individually.
Effects
Stereoscopic effects
Lightworks has full support for Stereoscopic workflows, all the way from import, to edit, effects and export. With its powerful multicore media engine, Lightworks handles the complexities of keeping left and right eye media in sync and deals with effects and transitions seamlessly, freeing you to concentrate on the creative side.
Real time GPU accelerated Primary and Secondary colour correctors
Adjust, replace or stylize your edit with primary and multiple secondary colour correctors. Lightworks uses your GPU to provide potentially unlimited layers of realtime correction with a flexible toolset.
Node based effects compositing
Layer and re-route effects, or build complex compositions using Lightworks’ node-based effects composition and video routing tool. Turn individual effects on and off, and add new effects into the chain with ease.
Fold and Unfold effects
Adding multiple effects can be difficult to manage, so Lightworks provides the ability to ‘unfold’ effects onto their own FX track. Each effect can be trimmed or moved like a regular clip. Fold effects back to tidy up the timeline view and provide a clutter free interface.
Realtime blurs
Blurs are often difficult to process. But with Lightworks GPU effects architecture, adding blurs is a breeze. Adjust in realtime and playback – no rendering.
Realtime chroma key
Key out blue screen or green screen easily with Lightworks’ realtime chroma key effect.
Realtime titling
Lightworks provides a realtime titling tool – preview fonts in realtime, with face colours, gradients, typewriter effects and fades. All parameters are keyframeable for complete control over title animations.
Masks and Mattes
Create multi-point masks or use images with alpha channels. Alongside other effects, masks and mattes provide a powerful way to control a specific area of an image.
User effects templates
Save all your custom effects settings for future use. You can also share your effects templates with other users. In fact, many do in the Lightworks Community. Using our open FX specification, you can also create new effects that can be added to Lightworks in realtime. Check out some other user FX here [LINK TO USER EFFECTS PAGE]
Support for third party effects applications
We like to be open and working with third party applications is an important aspect of any editing software. With support for many third party products such as Boris RED, Adobe After Effects plugins. Eyeon Digital Fusion and Red Giant Looks, Lightworks gives you excellent integrated access to your third party effects software.
Audio
Realtime Pre and Post Audio waveform display
See your waveforms on the timeline with fast realtime display and the ability to view pre and post levels. No hanging around while the timeline re-draws.
Analogue-style multi-track audio scrubbing
If you have ever scrubbed through audio digitally, you’ll know it is difficult to find a specific point without some degree of guesswork. With Analogue-style scrubbing, you hear the real audio at the speed you scrub giving much more useful feedback.
Subframe-accurate audio keyframing
Unlike video, audio is not defined by frame boundaries, so why be constrained to frames when you can adjust audio levels or add keyrames within a frame of video. Much more accurate control over your audio with no penalty on performance.
Audio Mixer
Lightworks has a full multi-track mixer with Gain, Pan, Mute and Solo controls. It also includes multiple mix busses for advanced audio routing.
Clip and Track gain
Change individual clip levels as well as entire track levels for total control over your audio mix.
Multiple Bus routing
Advanced audio editing often requires the ability to control the overall output volume of groups of tracks. With Lightworks, you can route the output of tracks to individual busses, to control the output levels in your master mix.
Realtime performance
Regardless of the number of tracks you decide to use, Lightworks guarantees realtime performance of audio effects and playback.
Parametric EQ
Lightworks comes with a full 3-channel parametric EQ native audio effect. Guaranteed realtime performance across all tracks.
Direct to timeline Voice Over recording
Recording voice overs can be difficult and often require other audio packages. With Lightworks, you can record voice overs directly to your timeline whilst watching back your edit for perfect sync.
Realtime adjustments during playback
Mixing audio is an important task and the ability to do this in realtime during playback is often required to achieve the right end result. Lightworks has full level and node adjustment on any channel during playback in realtime.
Realtime fader automation
Adjust nodes with fader automation in realtime giving accurate results to your mix.
Mackie protocol support
Lightworks supports the Mackie communication protocol for tight integration with external Mackie mixers. This allows you to use a hardware solution for mixing audio, in conjunction with the realtime fader automation for ultimate control over your mix levels.
Realtime audio normalisation
Lightworks can normalise audio during import, saving you the time and effort of doing this at a later stage.
Mixed bit depth and sample support
A flexible timeline is one that lets you get on with the creative job of editing and not worry about the technicalities of formats. Lightworks can handle mixed sample rates and bit depths in realtime with no conversion necessary.
Collaboration
Advanced Project Sharing
We understand Project Sharing better than anyone. Collaborating and sharing projects, media and edits are a major part of modern post-production and should be an integral part of any professional NLE. Lightworks has the best project sharing available. Combined with AutoSave, you’ll always be up to date working with your colleagues – seeing changes as they happen in realtime. We think that when you try working this way you won’t want to settle for anything less.
Support for network storage
Rock-solid shared storage is critical to any collaborative environment, and ensuring that Lightworks performs well on other third party storage is a key factor in Lightworks being chosen by many editors across the world. With support for 1Gb and 10Gb Ethernet and Fibre Channel solutions, Lightworks is the most flexible NLE for shared storage environments.
AAF interchange presets with Avid, ProTools and others.
Collaborating with Avid Media Composer and ProTools is easy for Lightworks, with AAF import and export. Lightworks has predefined presets to allow seamless migration of edits to and from many post systems, with a fully featured AAF export toolset allowing Lightworks to sit alongside any other system that supports AAF.
Support
Best forum in the industry
The Lightworks Community is the fastest growing network in our industry, with editors from all over the world contributing advice, knowledge and support. Our forum contains thousands of topics about all aspects of Lightworks and the industry in general. It’s a great place to start and it is even better when you join in…
Industry leading professional support
Lightworks is backed up by a world-class team of professional support engineers – people who know the product inside out. And when they get stuck, we have a team of developers with over 100 years combined experience of Lightworks ready to jump in. You won’t find better support than this.