Is Lightworks A Good Video Editor

[Arnold Gilgen]

Doubleclick the shortcut and, wait for splash-screen, enter the workspace aaaand... nothing! Nothing except the toolbar, the onscreen console, and the project card (now called the import panel). So clean and minimalist. Oh, and the shark. A shark! That did it for me.

I remember a post by Lightworks Forum user JWRL: "I would suggest sitting in front of LW and trying things out. It's supremely logical software, and it doesn't have heaps of special effects tools. That's not what it's designed to do. It's designed as a tool for a competent editor to tell stories with."

But eventually I remembered that when I was still editing tapes, I rarely took my eyes away from the program monitor because I had memorized the positions of the buttons and controls of the VCRs and other machines in the editing room - and I was much more focused on my work.

Editing in Lightworks is like putting your hands on a real roll of film or a videotape, even if you don't have a Lightworks Console (like me). Using the keyboard and the mouse, you also can feel the "organic" thing; the real thing, like using a VCR's shuttle control, the play/pause buttons, and so on.

In other NLEs, your clips on the timeline just look like rectangles that you resize or stretch, almost like in graphic design programs. But in Lightworks, when you are in trimming mode, you can virtually see the film tape moving, appearing and disappearing at your edit-point while you trim. This is a great innovation by the Lightworks developers and is helped by the "curls" and the millimeter scale that displays the clip in the timeline - all moving according to our trimming actions.

And that leads me to one of the things that first fascinated me when I started with Non Linear Editing, which was the ability to access any part of my clips randomly, without having to run the tape forward or backward. I could also switch the order of my clips on-the-fly without having to redo all my work. But that came at a cost: in a way I did lose the tactile relationship with with my footage that I had been used to, working with tape.

But Lightworks has the advantage of combining the best of both worlds. We can do all the above, but also see exactly what is happening with our editing. We can trim our footage while playing the clips, and this is great, because it makes us rely in our "feel" while we edit, and this is a good thing, creatively.

Trying to move a section of your edit to another point in the timeline by drag-and-drop can result in frame inaccuracy if you are too zoomed-out, even with the "snap to" feature enabled (and if you are too zoomed in, it's a potential recipe for disaster). In LW, just Mark-and-Park the section you want to move, delete it (it goes to the clipboard), place the playhead at the new location and insert the content of the clipboard by pressing a button or hitting a key.

Scott H: Yes, I was actually on the mothership at the original Law and Order. Then I got into features. I was an assistant editor in features for another eight years after leaving Law and Order and then I started editing. My first film I edited was Bruce Almighty with Jim Carrey. So that was worked with Tom Shadyac. I worked with Tom as an assistant editor for years and then when the opportunity came Tom asked me to cut Bruce so I was thrilled about that. That was great. It was my choice, I decided to edit Bruce and other films for Mr. Shadyac; Accepted that he produced, and Evan Almighty cut those on Lightworks.

Scott H: He happened to be involved with editors who liked to use Lightworks, but it was a preference for me to choose Lightworks on Bruce Almighty. It was either that or Avid and I chose Lightworks.

Scott S: Cool. So once EditShare got a hold of it, Mac version came out and then there was the free version came out for everybody to download and work with and then they introduced the subscription which was a pretty minimal fee. I played with a number of times over the years. As a professional editor I cut on Premiere Pro, Avid and Final Cut Pro but then I tried to dabble and play with you know everything else out there usually footage my kids and that that typical family stuff when I have time. And to say that the pre-version 14 of Lightworks was quirky may be an understatement. Is that a fair assessment?

Scott S: So if you have an assistant that is pulling together select sequences from hours and hours of footage in the bin and they are finished and they want to send it to you do they like push the sequence or do the projects sort of merge together?

Scott H: I could always search for it and pop it up if we were in a different rooms within the same project which is how we work. Or say I have a bin of selects and as soon as he pulls that edit out and throws it in that bin, if I had that bin open it appears.

Scott S: I remember looking through the forum a little bit and I think it looks like a lot of tools that are not in the mainstream, it felt like it had a pretty good fan base of folks that are that are active with it and then using it and quite happy with it.

Lightworks offers different packages to suit all budgets and needs, making it a versatile tool for producing professional-looking videos. Users, even those without previous knowledge of video editing, can easily create YouTube videos and other types of video content using Lightworks. The software provides a simple interface that is effective for users at any experience level. With Lightworks, users can edit videos with nice transitions, perform basic audio equalizations, and save time by learning about editing without the need for expensive software. It is particularly suitable for creating short professional-looking video clips quickly. Lightworks is beginner-friendly and allows users to make short advertisement videos and edit them on low-end machines. Additionally, it is a good option for basic video editing needs, offering a simple and intuitive workflow. The supportive forum community provided by Lightworks is appreciated by users who seek help and support while using the software.

Moreover, Lightworks caters to a wide range of content creation needs. It is suitable for creating various types of content, including music videos, advertisements, and college projects. The software is also a cost-effective solution for video editing, making it an excellent choice for YouTube creators and vloggers. Users have expressed their satisfaction with the customer support provided by Lightworks when transferring the software to a new computer. Furthermore, Lightworks is highly regarded as a tool for new editors looking to practice digital creativity and Linux users in need of user-friendly video editing software. In a business setting, Lightworks' intuitive interface allows employees to easily teach each other how to use the software efficiently. Overall, Lightworks enables users to create professional-grade videos without breaking the bank while offering flexibility in editing, adding captions, and applying video effects for social media posts. It has also been employed by tech-savvy teams within companies to streamline the editing process of multiple videos within tight deadlines.

Versatile and flexible: Users appreciate the versatility of Lightworks, noting that it supports various plugins and third-party software, making it a highly flexible video editing program. Many reviewers have mentioned this as one of the standout features of Lightworks.

Wide range of effects: The availability of a wide range of effects is highly valued by users. They mention that there are over 100 effects available for download on the site, allowing them to enhance their videos creatively. This feature has been praised by several reviewers.

User-friendly interface: Users find the interface of Lightworks to be friendly and easy to use. They mention that the user experience is enriched by the program's ability to edit videos and movies in various formats, including 2k, 4k, PAL, NTSC, and high definition. Several reviewers have expressed appreciation for the simplicity and ease-of-use provided by Lightworks' interface.

Confusing User Interface: Users have found Lightworks' user interface to be confusing, rigid, and clunky, causing difficulties in getting started and making tasks difficult. Many reviewers have expressed frustration with the lack of flow and clarity in navigating the software.

Limited Resolution Cap: The resolution restriction on file exports has been a major point of annoyance for users, with a cap of 720p in the free version. Several reviewers have mentioned this limitation as a drawback, especially for those who require higher quality video output.

Difficulty in Finding Menu Options: Some users have found it challenging to locate the menu when wanting to finish a project and upload it. This has caused inconvenience and confusion for several reviewers who expect more intuitive navigation options within the software.

Assess project needs: Before deciding to use Lightworks, users suggest assessing your specific project needs. While the program is great for basic video editing, it may not provide advanced features offered by premium brands.

Invest time in learning: Users advise investing time in learning the basics of Lightworks. While it may initially appear daunting, they believe that by patiently exploring manuals and tutorials, users can leverage the powerful features of Lightworks suitable for both professionals and hobbyists.

There are lots of other good options too. The free app DaVinci Resolve is very good, especially on colour correction, while HitFilm is especially powerful and good for both beginners and experienced editors once you get past the learning curve.

Video consumption is growing - recently, it was revealed that YouTube captures more viewers than Netflix in the US. Add in social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, and the trajectory is clear. Whether it's growing a YouTube channel or building brand awareness around your business, video is essential. And the best way to get started is with free video editing software, to understand how to add professional polish to your content.

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