Technical Specifications

Lightworks / Tech Specs

System Requirements

Operating Systems

All versions are designed to run on Intel and AMD chipsets and motherboards.

Windows 8, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10
Mac OS X 10.11 or higher
Linux Supported Debian Distros
- Ubuntu / Lubuntu / Xubuntu 20.04 or higher
- Mint 17 or higher
Linux Supported RPM Distros:
- Fedora 30 or higher

Recommended System Specifications

Intel i7 chipset or faster, fast AMD chipset
4 GB RAM or higher
Two high-resolution displays (1920 x1080) or above
PCI Express graphics card (NVIDIA or AMD) with 1GB or higher
DirectX 9 (Windows OS only)
Compatible sound card. Make sure that you can hear audio from your system
Separate media and system drives (these can be internal or external as long as the interface has
sufficient speed)
200MB Disk space for Lightworks installation
(Optional) a Lightworks Console
(Optional) a Lightworks keyboard
Internet connection required to install Lightworks and register licenses

NewBlue Requirements

Several Lightworks features use plugins from NewBlue:

Transitions requires an active Lightworks Free, Create or Pro license
Titler requires an active Lightworks Create or Pro license
Essentials requires an active Lightworks Pro license

The full suite of NewBlue tools - TotalFX - is available as a paid upgrade to Lightworks Pro.

All of these plugins require the following:

OS:
Windows 10
macOS 10.15 and later

CPU
2GHz (multicore / multiprocessor recommended)

RAM
4GB required (8GB recommended)

GPU
NVidia or AMD with OpenGL 2.1
902Mhz base clock (1506Mhz recommended)
1GB VRAM required (4GB VRAM recommended)

Full feature list

Wide Container Support

MXF OP1a, MXF OPAtom – P2, MXF OPAtom - native
Avid support
QuickTime
AVI, .mts, .m2ts, .m2t, .mpg, .mp4, .wmv (export only), .ts (import only), .m2v (import only), .asf (import only), .vob (import only)

Editing

Resolution, format and codec independent timeline
Edit at 23.976, true 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, or 60 fps
Advanced realtime Multicam editing with unlimited sources (Subject to hardware and storage capability)
Source/Record three-point editing
Insert and Overwrite editing
Replace, Fit to Fill, backfill
Drag-and-drop replace editing
Extend and Split edits
A/V Sync indicators on timeline
AutoSync - Single-click re-sync of whole timeline
Multi-colored markers for edits and clips
Matchframe for clips and subclips
Comprehensive Drag and Drop support
Storyboarding – arrange tiles in Bins, adjust in and out points and convert to an edit with a single click

Multicam

Switching clips directly in the timeline
Unique Sync Group feature
Live Cut – cut between angles during playback
Sync to Lock Frame or Timecode
Sync with Edits
Unlimited Sources
Mixed Sources – resolution, format and frame rate
Auto edit sync group sources as one sequence

Stereoscopic

Support for complete stereoscopic workflow*
Individual Left and Right eye media
Automatic sync on import
No change in editing workflow
Realtime Adjustment toolset for Alignment, Scaling and Colour Correction
Multiple output options – Anaglyph, Side-by-side, Chequerboard, Individual Left and Right Eyes
Monitor desktop, secondary display and SDI outputs
Export options for various formats

Colour Correction

New preset colour looks templates, just drag and use
Real time (GPU accelerated) Primary colour correctors
Real-time multiple Secondary colour correctors
Colour image control filters
New Curve colour correction editor

Audio

Realtime Pre and Post Audio waveform display
Analogue-style multi-track audio scrubbing
Subframe-accurate audio keyframing
Realtime audio adjustments during playback
Clip and Track Gain controls
OMF audio export with pan and volume levels
Real-time, software-based audio normalization
Onscreen multi-track mixing console
Multiple mix Bus routing
External Mackie control surface support
Real time fader automation
Real-time audio filters and effects
Parametric EQ
Mixed bit-rates and samples on timeline
Audio level meters per track
Pan controls
Mute and solo controls
Direct to timeline Voice Over recording

Collaboration

Project Sharing:

Multiple users working in the same project at the same time, sharing the same media
Edit permissions handled within Lightworks: quickly transfer permission from user to user
Edit changes instantly saved and updated for each user without having to save or exit Lightworks
Bins can be shared between users and are updated in realtime

Media Sharing:

Support for EditShare shared storage servers
Support for a wide variety of third party shared storage (NAS and SAN)

AAF Interchange*:

Export AAFs to Avid Media Composer, ProTools and Resolve with AAF export presets

Film

Import RED media and DPX sequences directly*
Include timecode and keycode in the same list
Support for 35mm 3-perf, 35mm 4-perf, and 16mm-20 and mixed film formats
View feet and frames in edit
View keycode and ink number overlays on video
24-fps EDL import and export
24-fps EDL conversion to and from 29.97 fps
Import ALE, FLX, and CSV files
Track key numbers, ink numbers and timecodes
Output Cut list, Change list, Optical list, Pull list,
Dupe list, Audio EDL

Third Party Support

Boris FX (64bit Windows and Mac OS X only)
Boris Graffiti (64bit Windows and Mac OS X only)
Adobe After Effects Plugins (Windows 32bit only)
Premiere Plugins (Windows 32bit only)
Blackmagic Fusion (7.5 and higher)
GenArts Sapphire (Windows 32bit only)

Import and Output

Batch Import
Transcode on Import
Export Clips, Edits, Bins, Racks and entire Projects
Telecine 29.97i to 24p pulldown removal
Import 30fps and 25fps media into a 24fps project

Record and Playout

Frame-accurate capture tool
Batch capture
Crash record
Frame-accurate insert and assemble edit-to-tape
Serial Device Control (RS422)
Firewire Device Control
Support for SDI capture devices*:
Matrox X.mio, DSX LE2/3 and MXO2 ranges
Blackmagic Decklink, UltraStudio & Intensity ranges, AJA Kona and Io XT

Trimming

Ripple
Roll
Slip and Slide
Remove and Delete
Asymmetric, multitrack trimming
Dynamic trimming during playback
JKL trimming
Trim window
Timeline trimming
Keyboard and numeric moving and trimming
Close Gap
Single click drag and trim – no separate tool required
Drag in Black
Auto Unjoin

Effects

Multi-split screen Viewer for original shot comparison
Node-based effects layer and compositing tool
Alpha Channel Matte Transitions
Global Transitions between In and Out points
Quick Transitions direct from the timeline
Real-time effects in SD, HD, 2K, 4K and 5K
Speed Tool for varispeed changes
Keyframe graphs
Fold and Unfold effects
Realtime blurs
Realtime chroma key
New quick-access to effects from timeline
Favourite Effects category for quick use
Unlimited user effects templates
Copy and paste effect attributes to multiple clips
Bezier and Linear movable motion paths
Numeric (as well as keyframe) control over variables
Stereoscopic Adjustment tools

Titling

Basic native realtime titling
Rolls, Crawls, Static
Realtime font previews
Colour and gradients
Scaling and positioning
Basic effects – Fade in and out, typewriter
All parameters can be keyframed
New title presets for lower third and titles

Media Management

Media management at edit or project level
Powerful search capabilities
Content Management
Comprehensive metadata for granular search
Bins or edits can be created from search results
Take media direct from search to the timeline
Rename Clips to match media and vice versa
Low-res to Hi-res workflow for offline / online
Maintain master clips across multiple projects
Clip colors in edit (match by source, reel or timecode)
Custom comment fields
Custom Bin views – show, hide and re-order
EDL and AAF import/export for metadata exchange
Instant Automatic Save – no need to save project
Automatic Edit backup facility
Project Archive – Logs, Picture and Sound
Batch export

Tools

New interface scaling with Retina display support
Magnetic placement of all panels
New viewer controls on source and edit viewers
Real-time video analysis, hardware accurate video vectorscopes and waveform monitors
Multitrack Audio Mixer with multiple mixes
Keyboard and user interface customization tool with templates for Avid and FCP keyboard mappings
On-screen console controls
Voice Over tool for adding narration to timeline
Shot Sync - sync two sources for comparison
Customisable BITC timecode and film footage
Customizable realtime letterboxing
Create and edit your own Macros to simplify worflow

Application

Full-screen, real-time SD, HD, and 2K preview on single or secondary display
Multiple timelines open simultaneously
Customisable Undo levels
Up to 64 Video tracks & 32 Audio tracks with unlimited FX tracks per sequence
User preferences can be moved system to system
Customizable keyboard and user interface buttons
Customizable real-time effects settings
Customizable render settings
Customizable layouts
Customizable track layouts
Full Unicode support

Technical Specifications

Please note: The software specifications stated above are subject to change without notice.

* only available in Lightworks Pro ** Separate one-off license fee required

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All Import Formats

720p Export Only