Lightworks
Lightworks is a professional nonlinear editing system, which is used for editing and mastering of movies in 2K and 4K as well as television productions in PAL, NTSC and HD in 2D and 3D. Lightworks is one of the pioneers of computer-based film editing and is already being developed since 1989. Numerous internationally renowned and Oscar award winning feature films, including Martin Scorsese's The Departed, Mission Impossible, Pulp Fiction, Braveheart and Batman were cut on Lightworks, and also the system itself has won numerous awards, including the Oscar and the Emmy. The commercially available program should be released as open source on November 29, 2011, according to the manufacturer's announcement, shortly before the planned release of this project has been postponed to an indefinite period. Lightworks is available in a limited range of functions, free free and a paid Pro version for Windows and Linux. An OS X version is planned.
History
The development of Lightworks began around 1988/1989 in England. The design of the software was designed by editors and implemented by programmers. This approach differed the editing system of other pioneers of the non-linear video cut like Adobe or Avid, which were designed by a then largely of programmers and technicians, and resulted, among other things, that the operating concept of Lightworks is more up to today in the classic film cutting methods such as the Steenbeck editing table inspired, as the typical methods in computer- like file dialogs. From the beginning, the system also supported specially designed hardware controllers and control panels, control panels of the classic interface tables and TV mixers are modeled and thus speed up the work with the system in comparison to the sole use of mouse and keyboard. However, these additions are optional today.
In the 1990s, the system was quickly spread, particularly in the production of American and English films with very high budgets. Through numerous aspects, including the very high purchase price, Lightworks had outside of Hollywood and the film production but significantly less proliferation than the most successful competitor and that much more to the technically demanding their products significantly less and at the same time focused larger TV market.
1994 Light Works was acquired by Tektronix, a provider of also very high priced video and film products. 1999, after the NLE market grew, the management of Lightworks the rights to the software Tektronix bought off again, and Lightworks changed its name again independently as Lightworks inc followed cooperation, distribution and sales, among others, Fairlight, but most remained users of Lightworks always still largely in the " high-end" niche of feature film production, largely for cinema - although the constant functions for the TV production was expanded.
2009 bought the American company EditShare whose products very strongly inspired on networking for editing systems from all manufacturers for TV such as cinema, Lightworks.
In April 2010 it was announced that the release of Lightworks Open Source is intended. This promise was not kept, Lightworks is still closed source, although EditShare sometimes advertises the program for marketing purposes as open source.
Since April 2010, Lightworks was in the beta testing phase, the end of which was scheduled for November 29, 2010. Registered in this period, around 1,700 developers ( companies and individuals) and over 250,000 users.
Operation
Lightworks can be operated with a keyboard and mouse, professionals often use a keyboard with colored keys. The internal database is designed that even with extremely large projects fast and safe operation is possible. For use in working groups, such as in TV stations are network solutions available that allow access simultaneously by several editing suites on video and audio material, cuts and effects - this teamwork functions, however, are not open source.
In order to quickly enable Cutter, the Lightworks not yet made use of effective work, the keyboard layout as in the widely used softwares by " Avid " and " Final Cut Pro " can be connected.
Very successful cutter, as Thelma Schoonmaker, who won with Lightworks the Oscar for best editing and cut many of Martin Scorsese's films, or Chris Gill, one of whose average work 28 Weeks Later, ask repeatedly and publicly out the benefits that they are used by Lightworks have moved.
Functions
Lightworks offers editors ( and after an intentional release as an open source project and programmers ) a very rich functionality, the scope belongs to the top class of NLE editing suites.
Relevant functions
Section
- Resolution, format and codec independent section,
- Frame rates: 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 60 and free fps, 2D and 3D
- Multi- camera interface with any number of camera sources
- Sound and synchronous section management with Resynchronisierungfunktionen
- Match frames for master clips, subclips, and Subclipmasterclips
Trimming
- Ripple, Roll, Slip and Slide, Lift and ripple, Asymmetrical multitrack trimming
- JKL trimming, and dynamically
- Trimming on Trimfenster and in the timeline
- Trimming keyboard, mouse, numeric and Controller
- Find gaps and close
Film and cinema functions
The editing of images and sounds that are recorded by means of digital cinema cameras or with 35 mm and 70 mm film cameras to show at the cinema, requires very specific tools. In particular, turned in lab scanned film materials and by RAW sources require atypical functionality for file and video - based interface. Since Lightworks is traditionally used focus excessively in this segment, unusually comprehensive tools of the software are offered for this, including:
- Direct import of 35mm film scanning ( DPX ) and redraw, with the support of 35 mm 3 -perf, 35mm 4 -perf, 16mm -20 and mixed film formats
- Change lists, timecode and keycode in the same list
- Frames, key code, Ink, Film Data and foot advertisement, picture and sound, and their display as a video overlay
- ALE, FLX, and CSV for EDL, even 24fps
- Output Cut list, Change list, Optical list, Pull list, Dupe list, Audio EDL
Effects
Classic cut places were and are often "only" is used for cutting content. Even today in many editing systems, other software will be consulted in order to create effects. However, all effects of the trend, in particular for demanding formats, such as advertising, feature film or high-quality corporate videos, Cutter intensified since the late 1990s, many effects parallel the master in the section additionally be endgefertigt, is in industry jargon, the film and TV production then typically talk of "cut", but instead of " on- Line" and " finishing". The limits here are often quite fluent: Various manufacturers position their products as either average or as a finishing system by reducing functionality with the same software. As a typical example of this is representative of the manufacturer Avid lists of the same software as a finishing system called "Symphony" and with slightly reduced functionality "only" marketed as editing system Media Composer. Lightworks began in 1989 as a pure interface system and was then substantially extended in the 2000s in the area of effect, and today offers numerous effects for finishing functions such as
- Keyframe Editor
- Real-time effects in SD, HD and 2K ( film )
- Copy and Paste for effects and attributes to individual or multiple clips
- Alpha channel, even for aperture
- Transfer modes in the Timeline
- Support of plug-ins (including Adobe)
- Global and local effects and aperture
- Speed tool for Varispeeds
- Node - based effects and layer tool
- Bezier curves with editable paths and curves
- Comprehensive 2D and 3D DVE
- Combined Safe Area for positioning and title, and SD / HD
Dedicated VFX systems, like Combustion or Nuke offer more functionality than finishing systems such as Avid DS, Autodesk Smoke or Lightworks, but can not cut it in real time. The Finishing Systems are designed as quickly as possible to meet the typical requirements in high quality, dedicated VFX systems, however, are typically designed for maximum complexity and functionality and real-time ability and processing speed are secondary.
Color Correction
Besides the effects a further step in the production of masters is the color correction that is used both technically and creatively. Lightworks offers this classic high-end features, such as real-time primary color correction with shadows, mid, peak separation and secondary real-time color correction. However, all finishing systems not quite achieve the performance of a dedicated digital intermediate color correction systems. In addition to numerous color filters is also a special filter to ensure broadcast-ready colors and brightnesses in the range of functions for the production of TV broadcast masters.
Tools and external devices
In order to enable an editing suite for the production of technically correct and broadcast-ready masters, external auxiliary devices were originally required, such as image measurement technology. Many of these are more recently by the growing power of computer technology is no longer externally, but internally self- realized by the software. Also, improvements in ergonomics and thus the speed of operation, such as in the tone range are increasingly operated full or part - computerized, so for example the mixer and jog shuttle.
- Real time vectorscope and waveform monitor with precision measurement technology
- Level meters for all channels
- Multitrack real-time and mixing in software and hardware, with bus routing, sub-mixes, blends and manage multiple automation optional external mixers.
- Voice Over for sound recording by means of microphone directly into the timeline
- Optional jog shuttle controller hardware for the cut
Sound
- Audio is part frame-accurate ( 1/100th frame)
- Audio mix in real time
- 16-channel inputs and 16 -channel outputs
- OMF support, with level and pan
- Real-time sound normalization
- Mixer on the screen and / or connected external mixer with fader automation
- Keyframe support with additional functions such as keyframe reduction
- Real-time sound filters and effects
- Mixed bit rates and sampling frequencies on the Timeline
- Level meters for all channels
- Pan, mute and solo
- Display of audio waveforms
Program
- Real-time SD, HD, and 2K playback (requires any additional hardware from manufacturers such as Blackmagic or Aja )
- About multiple timelines simultaneously usable
- Optional unlimited undo
- Unlimited image and effect tracks
- Full Unicode support
- No loading / saving, all changes are saved directly in the database
- User -definable keys and interface assignment, with presets for Avid and FCP keyboard layout
Media Management
For simple editing tasks, the media management is a relatively unimportant functionality. This will, however, be all the greater, longer and comprehensive interface projects, the more important. Since the roots of the Lightworks software are in use for movie productions by the system is very comprehensive database and media management functions are offered, uA
- Media management for moving, copying, and consolidating media on cut and project basis
- Extensive search, sort and manipulate the project database
- Master and subclips, even across multiple projects and cuts
- Reconnecting media files
- EDL import for batch capture and metadata exchange
- Batch export
- Networked working at several stations
Support for external programs and plug -ins
For creating complex VFX and titles or also simply to division of labor between several people, the system integration respectively interfaces to external programs, including:
- Inscriber Title Motion, a title generator
- BorisFX, a collection of effects
- Combustion, VFX software
- After Effects, compositing and animation software
- Adobe plug-ins
- Digital Fusion, a VFX software
- Sapphire, a powerful collection of filters and effects
Formats and Input / Output
In the late 80s there were relatively few formats that were used to produce cuts: typically over 90 % of all sections about the format BetacamSP or directly via film were realized. Over the next three decades, however, a variety of different formats, many of which are on top of that are vendor specific originated. The Lightworks system supports many of them, and also by means of different input and output methods ( such as tape, file, HD-SDI interfaces). Available for example, are
- Uncompressed 10-bit and 8 -bit HD and SD ( 4:2:2 YUV) with an appropriate card, HD -SDI and SDI i / o
- Avid DNxHD (220, 185, 145, 120, 45, 36)
- Apple ProRes ( play )
- RED R3D
- Native DV, HDV incl, DV, DVCAM, DVCPRO, DVCPRO 50, and DVCPRO HD, including 1080i 50/60, 1080p 24/25/30, 720p 24/25/30/50/60
- Native AVC -Intra playback for AVC-Intra 100 and 50 at 1080p 24/25/30, 1080i 50/60, 720p 24/25/30/50/60
- XDCAM ( PRO422, EX, HD, Sony and JVC), 50, 25, 18, 35Mbit, and depending on the format 1080p 24/25/30, 1080i 50/60, 720p 24/25/30/50/60
- IMX playback ( 30, 40, and 50 Mbps)
- Panasonic P2, 1080p 24/25/30, 1080i 50/60 and 720p 24/24N/25/25N/30/50/60/VFR
- Telecine 29.97i to 24p pulldown conversion
- 30fps / 25fps import to 24fps project
- Volume control via RS- 422 and RS- 232 one frame accurate log, capture, Insert and Assemble
- FireWire device control
- Log and capture with batch, clip, and direct recording
- Image sequences can be imported from DPX, BMP, TARGA, JPEG, GIF, PSD, TIFF, DPX, JP2, MacPaint, Photoshop, PICT, QT Image, SGI, and PNG
- Broadcast Wave Format tone with drop and non- drop frame timecode
- Import and export of QuickTime, AAF, OMF I, II OMF and MDA
Popular movies and users
Operate a number of successful and popular directors and editors, including Martin Scorsese, Guy Ritchie, Danny Boyle, Milos Forman, Peter Weir, Quentin Tarantino, Brian De Palma, Joel Schumacher and Gus Van Sant With Lightworks. Accordingly many popular films were cut to the system in the over 20 -year history of Lightworks, such as Shutter Iceland, The Departed, The Good Shepherd, Bruce Almighty, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Aviator, Jack, Queen, King, grass, Moulin Rouge, 28 Days Later, Larry Flynt - The Ugly Truth, Pleasantville, William Shakespeare's Romeo Juliet, The Truman Show, Pulp Fiction, Mrs. Doubtfire - The prickly nanny, gangs of New York, Notting Hill, Braveheart, Batman Forever, Good Will Hunting, The Horse Whisperer, Mission: Impossible, The King's Speech or Goodfellas.