OpenShot 1.0 Stable Released; Best Linux Video Editor

By , Published January 9, 2010

Video Editor OpenShot announced the release of it’s seminal version 1.0 earlier today packing in so many new features, improvements and bug fixes I’m not sure I’ll be able to mention them all!
The full list of new features can be found in the official OpenShot announcement, however here is a quick “summing up”, giving you an over-view of some of the new features in OpenShot 1.0.
  • Stable as a house – OpenShot themselves say “Just try and crash OpenShot now. We dare you.”
  • 28 new video transitions
  • 29 new titles in both 4:3 and 16:9 ratios
  • Two new themes for OpenShot itself including a ‘simple’ theme and a non-glossy blue one
  • New Languages
  • Help Manual integration
  • Chroma Key fixed
Take a peek at OpenShot in action: -

Any regular reader to OMG! will know that OpenShot Video Editor is a firm favourite of ours, so we congratulate the OpenShot developers for yet another awesome release.

The release of OpenShot 1.0 has truly raised the bar for Desktop Video Editing on Linux.
Download
OpenShot 1.0 can be downloaded using the instructions on the official site @ openshotvideo.com/download
Article originally appeared on omgubuntu.co.uk

Related posts:

  1. OpenShot Video Editor Gets New Icons & Preference Window
  2. Openshot Video Editor Gets HUGE Update – 30 New Effects, Preview Window, Green Screen, PPA…
  3. New Video Editor For Ubuntu
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  • http://orkutcidio.deliriocoletivo.org Peterson Espaçoporto

    Interesting! We’ll try ASAP. I really need to edit some videos and OpenShot had been my editor of choice, but it simply couldn’t render videos at all =/

  • Anonymous

    So have they fixed the whole messing-up-video-codecs thing?

    • Anonymous

      I’m wondering the same. Want to try it out but afraid I’ll have to go fixing things. The PPA caused this and the .deb didn’t so I guess I could try the .deb for now.

    • Anonymous

      They fixed that ages ago

  • daas88

    “Just try and crash OpenShot now. We dare you.”
    I liked that statement ^^

    • vivalostioz

      It crashes all the time for me ! Damn it could be so nice…Also doesn’t like that you can’t export your video in custom resolution :-/

      • daas88

        It worked for me, but after crashing the first time i opened it. I had no problems after that.

  • cokiDVD

    Always the same error, never had the chance to try it…

    ——————————–
    OpenShot (version 1.0.0)
    ——————————–
    *** ERROR: MLT Python bindings failed to import ***
    *** ERROR: MLT Python bindings failed to import ***
    Exception in thread Thread-1:
    Traceback (most recent call last):
    File “/usr/lib/python2.6/threading.py”, line 525, in __bootstrap_inner
    self.run()
    File “/usr/share/openshot/classes/thumbnail.py”, line 174, in run
    mlt.Factory().init()
    NameError: global name ‘mlt’ is not defined

    ——————————————————-
    Error: OpenShot has not been installed in the Python path.
    (Both the site-packages and /usr/share/openshot folders were checked)

    Use the following command to install OpenShot:
    $ sudo python setup.py install

    • Anonymous

      @cokiDVD : this occurs because openshot can’t work with recent versions of mlt, it has been compiled against mlt 0.4.4 (regular karmic version).

      So if you want to try openshot you must uninstall your current version of mlt and disable the ppa that provided it.

  • nomono

    Well, good news, but I have experienced few problems.
    – it crashed after 2mins of editing, and I didn’t even try (didn’t do any effects, just played video)
    – the sound quality is awful – it is flickering so bad that I can hardly recognize lyrics of a song.
    – their PPA tried to force me to install mono, which is unthinkable! At least the deb does not need it. (thx, mononono, http://tim.thechases.com/mononono/ ).

    Besides that, it looks like an awesome video editor.

  • nomono

    Well, good news, but I have experienced few problems.
    – it crashed after 2mins of editing, and I didn’t even try (didn’t do any effects, just played video)
    – the sound quality is awful – it is flickering so bad that I can hardly recognize lyrics of a song.
    – their PPA tried to force me to install mono, which is unthinkable! At least the deb does not need it. (thx, mononono, http://tim.thechases.com/mononono/ ).

    Besides that, it looks like an awesome video editor.

    [btw - why did you delete my post?]

  • nomono

    oh, sry.. problem in my browser

  • mike

    I tried it, crashed three times in 2 minutes. I import a clip, try to preview it, OpenShot hangs up.

    So, I’ve taken you up on your dare, I crashed OpenShot every single time I tried to do anything. Oh, and now I’ve uninstalled it, because it’s total crap.

    • erick

      I also tried everything to get this work,no luck, it freezes as i started it. Also, the dev. should learn how to build proper packages, the openshot-ffmpeg package places the libs under /usr/local.One should never do unless you compile yourself.
      After this attempt, I have reinstalled Kdenlive.

      • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

        You shouldn’t uninstall applications before trying the replacement =P

        I’ve always traditionally had the openshot open-freeze, but if you leave if for a minute or two it works from then on. I always assumed it was my system tbh…

  • mike

    Oh, and also to all of the developers out there working on Linux video editing….STOP MIMICKING IMOVIE!!!

    Instead of 10 different iMovie type projects why don’t you morons join together and start working on a REAL video editor for Linux, ala Final Cut Pro or Premiere Pro?

    I work in the video industry and it would be wonderful to ditch our PCs and Macs in favor or Linux systems, but there are no good video editors, and please don’t mention Cinelerra, it is not even remotely close to being as good as FCP or Premiere.

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      That point is nascent – OpenShot aims to be a user-friendly desktop editor. It’s not trying to be Premier Pro of Final Cut – it’s aimed at being easy to use – the same can be said for other video editors; their focus is on desktop users. As for them being “morons”, if that’s the case i await to see your premier pro project with interest..

      There are professional grade video editing solutions on Linux – providing you have the $$$$ to pay for them, such as AutoDesk which is used by many production companies.

      • mike

        yeah, well I’m a professional editor, not programmer. If I was I certainly would program a high quality NLE for Linux. It would be the killer-app that would push Linux even further into the public eye.

        And really? Autodesk makes professional NLE software for Linux?? I have NEVER heard of such a thing, from what I know Autodesk makes CAD software, not video production software.

        I apologize for the “morons” comment, but seriously, does Linux need 10 different “Windows Movie Maker/iMovie” clones?? We need a really good NLE for professional use. We have Gimp which is nearly on par with Photoshop, why can’t we have a good NLE that’s as good (or close to) Final Cut?

        • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

          Autodesk also provide media applications – take a look @ http://usa.autodesk.com/industries/media-entertainment

          But you miss the point about OpenShot – it’s aim was to create a user-friendly non-linear editor and it has. It’s shoulders above the “rest” of the projects out there, including the ones actually FUNDED to make their applications…

          • Yfrwlf

            I wonder if it would be possible to add on advanced feature or an entire “advanced mode” so it could do some more advanced “professional” things, while still trying to be easy to use of course. I guess that’s like asking why Gimp can’t have a “Simple Mode”. Perhaps it’s just all too difficult without making a completely new program.

        • Anonymous

          if you’re a professional editor, then interest yourself in professional software then that’s available – googling about shows a few linux-compatible programs used by large studios that I don’t want to know how much do they cost.

        • Anonymous

          Oh yeah, and try replicating the efforts of a multi-million software projects with a volunteer workforce while you’re at it. If you want to be serious, then *help* – or donate – to an existing project, probably openshot, and it’ll get better.

      • http://schijnoplosser.nl/ mths

        That point is actually to the point. The point is that they waste their time and do better to target another group together with other developers. Can this be said?

        Another point is that linux / foss community can handle very little critique and has very little of its own. Everything is great and awesome and we’re going to beat some kind of 7-thing. Anyone who rightfully challenges that pretence (‘dare to crash it’ – I did) gets told to start his own project.

        However I sympathise with the OpenShot developers, it’s 1.0-alpha and lacking basic features (such as undo?).

    • Anonymous

      dude these dev dont work for you there not your slaves. its a open source project and they do this as a hobby and for the love of open source, if you dont like whats available on linux simple learn to code and make your own project/program other than that stfu and stop bitching from the side lines.

      on that note openshot is pretty cool though i think pitivi has more promise once its been develop further. openshot has a problem with keeping audio and video in sync but other than that its great.

      • http://twitter.com/connorabruce Connor

        “if you dont like whats available on linux simple learn to code and make your own project/program”

        Yeah, cos that is exactly what Linux needs, another unstable video editor that takes years to reach version 1.

        As for learning code, why would I stop at a video editor? Why not write my own Unix variant operating system that runs exactly as I want to? Hell I could even learn electronics and create my own hardware whilst I am at it too, and have that run my own OS!

        Now stfu as I need to read this book on becoming a barber, my hair needs cutting.

  • http://phontanka.hu/ phontanka

    It looks pretty good. However, it doesn’t seem to have an undo feature, which is a must for a video editor.

  • http://ndrw.me AndrewNoNumbers

    That’s really awesome. I didn’t expect it to come so quick. Time to try it again!

    • http://ndrw.me AndrewNoNumbers

      After trying it, I’m going to say it’s slightly disappointing. I used it for about 20 minutes up to when it crashed (so much for the dare). To me, the features seem a bit light. But I’ve never used Windows Movie Maker or iMovie so maybe a consumer-friendly video editor is really supposed to be this light. The other thing that needs work is the cursor function in the timeline. You have to manually select a different kind of cursor if you want to drag versus resize. That’s it. It’s still pretty good for putting together simple videos.

      • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

        It’s the best and most feature full “user” video editor that doesn’t have a UI stuck in ’95. It’s certainly not “perfect” (is any software ever?) and of course it doesn’t compete with Premier or Final Cut (but it isn’t trying to).

        • Anonymous

          Well, audio editing is absolut crap on OpenShot. The only “easy” video editor that has proper audio support for Linux is kdenlive.

  • http://jaredforsyth.com Jared Forsyth

    Wow, way to totally overuse the text fly-through in that video :P
    Also, if I could have one request it would be to *please* get a different, non-glitzy theme. Those web-2.0 looking buttons really don’t work for me….
    really decent video editor, though; props for the functionality

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      OpenShot comes with 4 themes, so you can easily choose a non-glossy one ;)

  • http://twitter.com/Rainyday8169 Rainyday Superstar

    This does make me happy

  • Carl

    anyone else find that video amazingly terrible?

  • mike

    Even for the couple of minutes it worked before freezing up I just don’t understand these desktop-user oriented video editors. Where’s my clip bin? Where’s my timeline? Where’s my viewer? Honestly, Final Cut is more intuitive than any of these “user friendly” apps for Linux like OpenShot, Pitivi, Kdenlive, etc…

    I’ve tried all of them and have yet even figured out how to import clips, cut them together and then export.

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      Have you even tried OpenShot?The viewer is the big box to the right with the play controls on.

      The time line is the, well, timeline at the bottom – you can’t miss it.

      Your clip bin is the big white space to the left. Importing is as simple as drag and dropping. You can then simply drag and drop the clips on to the timeline and arrange/edit.. and then to export try the file > export video option.

  • Chris Lees

    If it now works with videos of any length, like all the other video editors out there, then I’ll be quite happy. However I suspect this hasn’t been added.

  • http://schijnoplosser.nl/ mths

    I’m afraid I’m both disappointed. I cut sliced, but there is no way to glue them together again? I add an effect but I cannot set its duration? I export the video and? tatada! It crashed. So.. back to Pitivi movie editor.

  • Bend3r

    Nice piece of software, I tried it yesterday creating a video by appending three videos (wmv, flv and mp4) and it was a nice surprise it can handle so many formats. I will still use avidemux to rip TV recordings, but OpenShot will be useful too.

  • nadeem

    thats good keep the good work

  • vivalostioz

    Everything but stable.

  • http://blastfromthepast.se/ Tommy Brunn

    My eyes! My eyes! Openshot is definitely more feature rich than PiTiVi, but the user interface is the tackiest thing I have ever seen. It most definitely has a severe case of what I like to call “progsign” – design by programmers. Why is that horrible, horrible theme the default when both the “simple” and “tango” themes both look pretty good?

  • Bwakathaboom

    Have you guys tried KDEnlive? It seems to be moving more in the direction of Premiere than iMovie and is getting good press, though it hasn’t hit 1.0 release yet.

    • daas88

      That one, in my opinion, is the best video editor available for linux. I’d like to have it in a gtk interface u_u