Lightworks release date

[Craig Marshall]

I have been editing with Lightworks (Pro) for two years, since at least v10 and it certainly is fast, intuitive and the Win version runs on very low spec laptops too which can be convenient, for cutting on the run but I would like to stress: Lightworks is the Console!

Without some sort of jog/shuttle wheel, new users rarely appreciate the full power of Lightworks nor the 25 years that has gone into it's development as an 'editor', not a 'Swiss Army Knife' style of all-in-one-box finishing solution like most other NLEs try to be. For 12 months, I used the excellent $100 Contour Shuttle pictured above but it does not have enough buttons to transform the software into a super 'editor' like the Lightworks Console does. My personal recommendation (apart from the class leading 'genuine' Console) is for the $250 X-Keys USB Jog/Shuttle unit with it's 68 programmable and back-lit keys. It's a good investment for anyone and can be use with most other NLEs or DAWs as well.

Here is a picture of my Lightworks X-Keys layout. Plenty of keys to spare and they are very high quality too like the X-keys Jog/Shuttle wheel which offers users a very 'ergonomic' feel, unlike the Contour device.

[Jon Fairhurst]

When I look at the above image, I can't help but think,

"Alex, I'll take 'digital video cameras' for $600."

"Answer is... Zing-zing, zing-zing. The Daily Double!"

[Craig Marshall]

Well, I guess it's a bit like the Land Rover 'Defender' compared to a stock, straight off the show room floor Toyota Landcruiser. The Defender, the 'grandfather's axe' of 4WDs, looks like it came off the Ark with Noah but spend a little time with it, note it's lightweight alloy body, then take it for a test drive up your favourite bush track. You may wonder what all the fuss is about because nothing seems to be particularly impressive until you notice how smoothly you are travelling over very rough terrain and that the Landcruiser is way behind, struggling to keep up because most of it's wheels are off the ground at any one time.

For those prepared to criticise the Lightworks UI, may I suggest a test drive with any good Jog/Shuttle device? Only a computer with limited resources is required as that UI does not require a workstation with CUDA to make it run. Try the 'trim' command or many editor's favourite feature: 'slip clip' or 'slide clip'. You'll see the UI come 'alive' as it simply cannot with a mouse alone and you just may see why that particular UI has assisted editors like Thelma Schoonmaker for one, cut all of Martin Scorcese's hit movies for the past ten years.

[Brian Drysdale]

Someone put different colours in the keys on an earlier version of the X-Keys. That may assist the appearance, although the functionality wouldn't change.

Here's the Lightworks Console itself, some early versions are working away after 20 years of use.

https://www.lwks.com/components/com_...22708b3c29.jpg

[Jim Michael]

Originally Posted by Dmitri Zigany

Ugh, that's one ugly application. Hello, the 90s called and wanted it's UI back! ;)

The great thing about OpenSource projects is your ability to effect change where you think it's needed. However there seem to be questions as to whether this is really an OS project. (Linux Today - How Lightworks Falsely Rides Open Source Publicity Train)

[Brian Drysdale]

I don't think Editshare have gone beyond stating they were going to take Lightworks to open source. The current position as stated on the Lightworks website is:

"Once the Linux and Mac versions are released the source code of Lightworks will become available. We cannot give a date when this will happen, but announcements and updates will be regularly posted on the Lightworks Forum."

This has been the road map for a number of years, unfortunately, the Internet rumour mill has been saying that it's open source, when it's not, it's currently a commercial NLE. Looking at how things worked out, it seems that the demands from actual users in the early days drove it into becoming a cross platform NLE. rather than straight into open source. Although, a number of people from the open source community have been and some continue to be active on the Lightworks forum,

How the open source Lightworks organization works remains to be seen, there are a number of ways it can be structured. To date, Editshare have generally done what they said they would do, there has been some conflict over the Free version because new users were having problems with the transcoding imports etc, through third party software like Eyeframe, so they allowed Lightworks Free to import the commercial codecs. However, the downside was a limitation to the exports, because Editshare has to pay for the licenses.

I wouldn't expect Lightworks to go open source before 2015, perhaps even 2016. Editshare could be said to be guilty of being overly optimistic in their time frames, they're not unique in that, a number of well known products have fallen foul of that.

The Lightworks developers are open to suggestions and even some that received a negative reaction from some users in the Forum have been put into the program. The Lightworks UI has been described as pretty loosey goosey by one user, so you've got options as to how you arrange things, however, it does have tracks on its timeline.

[Brian Drysdale]

For anyone interested in seeing the Lightworks console being used, a user video with a shot showing various operations combined with the timeline can be downloaded over the next few days:

https://www.wetransfer.com/downloads...8060855/c9659c

Layout of controls:

[Brian Drysdale]

The first review I've come across of the current beta Lightworks on Mac:

Impressions of Lightworks on the Mac

Some new users get confused by all the boxes that can build up on the screen and regard this as a problem. This due to Lightworks allowing you the flexibility to work the way you want, so you can have multiple bins and viewers open on screen, enabling you to work outside of the timeline or on different versions of your edit. This freedom allows you to organize very precisely or like a fridge door, depending on the requirements at a particular moment..

[Erick Munari]

I've been paying attention to Lightworks since I first heard of it on previous discussions where people are feeling let down by Adobe Premiere. Here is a review a run into:
Impressions of Lightworks on the Mac

[Brian Drysdale]

The next public beta is now available: New Lightworks Version 12.0.b on Mac OS X Now Available as Public Beta

There are a number of fixes and also features added to the new content manager to increase the options on how you can use the groups and the bins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SJzTIGbgls#t=46

[Brian Drysdale]

Another public beta of V12 is available: Lightworks Version 12.0.c (Mac OS X) and 11.5.2.c (Windows/Linux) Available as Public Beta

Apart from fixes, there has been a number of updates to the FX panel.

[Brian Drysdale]

11.5.2.c is now available. Apart from the maintenance updates, there's support for some of the new FX work scheduled for version 12. This will allow users to step back from version 12 to 11.5 successfully.

Lightworks Version 12.0.c (Mac OS X) and 11.5.2.c (Windows/Linux) Available as Public Beta

Seemingly, a couple of issues are preventing the Beta release of version 12 on Windows and Linux, once these are resolved and 11.5.2 is released, the Beta of version 12 on Windows and Linux will be made available.

[Brian Drysdale]

The latest V12 public beta is now available. Lightworks Version 12.0.d (Mac OS X) and 11.5.2.d (Windows/Linux) Available as Public Beta

There has been a number of fixes and the following have been added: ability to duplicate existing effects from the effects settings panel, a 'Reset' function on the effects settings panel.
Upgraded to Main Concept 9.9 SDK on Windows, Mac and and Main Concept 3.4 Transcoding SDK on Windows, Mac and Linux.

Mac OS X users can now purchase an AVID DNxHD license.

Here's the effects panel updates video:

Lightworks v12 Effect Panel Updates - YouTube

[Brian Drysdale]

deleted because of double posting and error in link

[Brian Drysdale]

Public Beta 12.0.e is available Lightworks Version 12.0.e (Mac OS X) Now Available as Public Beta

There has been a number of fixes, changes to Redo on the Mac keyboard preferences and some cross platform changes.