Lightworks Tech Specs

System Requirements

Operating Systems

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

  • Windows 8 and later
  • macOS 10.14 and later
  • Linux Supported Debian Distros
    • Ubuntu / Lubuntu / Xubuntu 20.04 and later
    • Mint 17 and later
  • Linux Supported RPM Distros:
    • Fedora 30 and later

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
  • TitlerPro 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, Timecode or Audio Waveform
  • Sync with Edits
  • Unlimited Sources
  • Mixed Sources – resolution and format 
  • 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 drop
  • Real time (GPU accelerated) Primary colour correctors
  • Real-time multiple Secondary colour correctors
  • Colour image control filters
  • Simple Colour correction
  • 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
  • AAF/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 and Graphic EQ
  • Native audio effects: Limiter, Compressor, Noise Gate, Noise Reducer and Reverb*
  • Quick Audio FX: Acoustic Sweetner, Dialog Enhancer, Instrument Enhancer, Subtle Sweetner and Voice Enhancer*
  • 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
  • Decode options for RED R3D files*
  • Decode options for BRaw files**
  • 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 Continuum (64bit Windows and macOS only)
  • NewBlue TotalFX, TitlerPro, Essentials and Transitions (64bit Windows and macOS only)
  • Blackmagic Fusion (7.5 and above)
  • Maxon Magic Bullet Looks version 14.0.4 and later (Windows and macOS Only)
  • OpenFX Support
  • Audio Plugins  AU, VST and LADSPA Compatibility
  • Waves version 13.0  and later (All plugins version)
  • Melda Plugins Version 15 and later (Free Bundle)
  • Sonnox (Inflator, Reverb and Envolution)

Import and Output

  • Batch Import
  • Transcode on Import
  • Proxy creation
  • Switch between proxy and hi-res playback
  • 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 Hardware Support (Windows only)
  • Blackmagic Hardware Support
  • AJA Hardware Support (Windows and macOS only)

Trimming

  • Ripple
  • Roll
  • Slip and Slide
  • Backtime
  • Fit to Fill
  • 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
  • Community built VFX
  • 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 and Blur in and out
  • All parameters can be keyframed
  • 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 sequences 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
  • Instant Automatic Save – no need to save project
  • Automatic Edit backup facility
  • Sequence and clip recovery
  • Project Archive – Logs, Picture and Sound
  • Batch export

Tools

  • 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 scopes 
  • Multitrack Audio Mixer with multiple mixes
  • Keyboard and user interface customization tool with templates for Resolve, Media Composer, Final Cut and Adobe Premier 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 keyboard Macros to simplify workflow

Application

  • Full-screen, real-time SD, HD, and 4K preview on single or secondary display
  • Apply HDR Transforms
  • Set Monitor Colour Space*
  • 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 output formats*
  • Customizable render settings
  • Customizable layouts
  • Customizable track layouts
  • Customizable fixed layouts
  • Full Unicode support
 
 

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

* Only available in Lightworks Pro  

** Only available in Lightworks Create and Pro