The Linux beta builds of professional non-linear video editing software Lightworks has been updated with a wider set of export formats and improved overall performance.
Exporting to DVD, YouTube and Blu-ray are now enabled, with export times reduced thanks to the software being able to use all available CPU cores for rendering.
A cross-platform AC-3 audio decoder is now included on Linux builds, which means that audio can now be imported without the hassle of having to first transcode it to WAV.
Lightworks was released as a public beta on Linux in April, 2013.
Other features and changes new to this update include:
- Background rendering/export support
- Curve effect added to FX Colour Correction effects
- Magnetic snapping enabled on all panels (can be turned off)
- Ruler added to timelines
- Right click functionality (Export, Add FX)
- Free users can now specify where media folders are located
- ‘Insert/Replace’ source option added
Although free to download, Lightworks, which first launched as a public beta back in April of this year, has ‘Pro’ versions available for a yearly fee of $60/€50/£40. Pro users get access to a wider set of features and, due to licensing restrictions, a far greater set of professional-grade codecs.
A handful of features debuting in this latest release, such as YouTube export, are only available to Pro subscribers. Other Pro-only features debuting in this release bump:
- Screen capture support
- Scalable user interface (incl. Retina support)
- Options to change the appearance of Lightworks (incl. colours, fonts, brightness, wallpaper)
- Create Macros from the Key Assignments panel
- Export MXF OP1a MXF files
Download Lightworks for Linux Beta
Features aside there are a couple of reasons why this update bump is notable. Firstly, Lightworks for Linux now offers greater functionality and stability than previous builds. This will prove persuasive to anyone who has, thus far, put off migrating their editing workflows to Linux because of missing features or concern over documented stability issues.
Secondly, this release finally brings the Linux build of Lightworks on par with the Windows client. They’re both now in sync. Lightwork’s developers say that this will lead to “more frequent releases for Linux than previously.”
You’ll find handy .deb installers for Ubuntu (as well as installers for other popular distros) on the official Lightworks website.
- Source: Chris Erswell; Lightworks