Lightworks drops need for QuickTime for H.264 as new Windows Beta is launched

New Lightworks Beta

Lightworks Public Beta (Windows) 11.1.e is now available from www.lwks.com.  This version adds native H.264 (including previously missing QuickTime export), support for GoPro 48 fps footage and has dozens of other enhancements

The latest version has been built with the help of approximately 2000 users actively testing and reporting their feedback.

Lightworks Global Product Manager Matt Sandford said: "The latest Windows Beta version, 11.1.e, features preliminary support (ie: this is a "work-in-progress") for decoding H.264 MOV files without the need for QuickTime Player. This means that not only will users be able to import these types of files and work with them natively, but they will also be able to export to a QuickTime Movie from the files: something that is disabled in the current release version."

The new version is available here

Highlights

There's an extremely long list of new features and fixes, but here are some highlights:

Added preliminary support for native H.264 MOV handling without using QuickTime (work in progress)
Added initial 48fps file support (this has been tested with GoPro 48 fps files)
Added 1080PsF 48fps as an output format
Fixed playback of AVID DNxHD files produced by Atomos Samurai
Updated to RED 4.4 SDK
Fixed RED R3D audio playback (for linked audio)
Fixed RED R3D playback when using Red Rocket cards
Fixed startup on Windows 8 using 64bit version
Fixed Blackmagic I/O issue using the 64bit version

And here's the list in full:  

Fixes and Features Since 11.1.d

    •    Added preliminary support for native H.264 MOV handling without using QuickTime (work in progress)
    •    Fixed potential crash due to empty buffers being sent for capture
    •    Allowed compression format and destination disk changes when record panel is in standby
    •    Fixed distorted image on record panel when Blackmagic SD (UYVY) compression option is selected in a MOV wrapper
    •    Added "Don't fill sub-edits" selection box to the Find Material to fill edit panel
    •    Added initial 48fps file support
    •    Added 1080PsF 48fps as an output format
    •    Re-structured AAF import to utilise existing material import mechanism when clips reference in the AAF do not exist in the project
    •    Fixed MPEG422 AVI exports from the 64 bit version not playing in Windows Media Player
    •    Fixed timecode display on audio imports (AIFF/MP3)
    •    Fixed display of The 'Elapsed' and 'Total Duration' fields in the edit label tab of the BITC panel when set to feet and frames (including 16mm & 35mm 3-perf.)
    •    Fixed playback of AVID DNxHD files produced by Atomos Samurai
    •    Fixed scroll bar on Notes section of Filecards
    •    Fixed mouse-drag selection when clicking below the last valid line on multi line text entries
    •    Fixed cut/paste logic on multi line text entries (notes not being saved when closing the Filecard)
    •    Fixed 3D DVE edge softness & shadow setting not working correctly
    •    Fixed crash using tab function in record database
    •    Fixed slight image shift when using certain effects (Wipe etc)
    •    Fixed potential crash opening/closing the vectorscope tool during playback
    •    Updated to RED 4.4 SDK
    •    Fixed RED R3D audio playback (for linked audio)
    •    Fixed RED R3D playback when using Red Rocket cards
    •    Added support for multiple decode qualities when using RED Rocket cards (previously limited by earlier SDK)
    •    Added warning message when switching between versions that states that a project was created in a later version
    •    Fixed potential crash zooming out on the video routing panel
    •    Fixed Switch command not working correctly when tiles are linked to viewers
    •    Fixed multi-line selection on text fields (fixes upwards selection)
    •    Fixed reverse word selection in text fields
    •    Fixed potential crash when pasting text in to text fields
    •    Fixed potential issue where the Lightworks Archive would back up an edit rather than the selected whole project
    •    Fixed incorrect ordering on racks
    •    Fixed startup on Windows 8 using 64bit version
    •    Fixed Blackmagic I/O issue using the 64bit version
    •    Fixed error message when closing the 64bit version
    •    The mouse-wheel now adjusts either a pair of FX keyframes (if the mouse is positioned between 2 keyframes) or one keyframe (if sufficiently close to it)
    •    The mouse-wheel now adjusts all selected FX keyframes (if there are any)
    •    Fixed potential crash using the search and replace function on bins
    •    Fixed tabbing between fields (on the search/replace panel)
    •    Added the ability to search for wildcards ("*")On bin search/replace
    •    Fixed 'Advanced options' on EDL export not being saved after modifications (64bit only)

Limitations and Known Problems

    •    Recordings may appear offline when using shared projects
    •    MJPEG Clips will not import correctly
    •    You will not be able to install the 32bit and 64bit version on the same system unless you change the name of the shortcut icon
    •    There is currently no audio linking for AVCHD with AC3 audio. AC3 audio in AVCHD files will still be copied locally
    •    There is currently no audio linking for Quicktime files audio will still be copied locally
    •    Some audio files may not import correctly or may not link correctly, please send us any samples you experience issues with
    •    Some QuickTime files may import with audio at the incorrect length. This is under investigation
    •    Transcoding may be slower than previous Beta versions this is under investigation
    •    The 'Elapsed' and 'Total Duration' fields in the edit label tab of the BITC panel do not show feet and frames (including 16mm & 35mm 3-perf)
    •    Video analysis tool appears through the FX configuration panel when configuring a colour correction effect
    •    AC3 audio will not import on .MOV wrapped files
    •    You will not be able to export a QuickTime Movie from a shot/sequence that contains native H.264 MOV files
    •    Potential crash browsing import directories without Quicktime installed
    •    Uncompressed Blackmagic SD option will not work correctly for some formats
    •    Potential crash importing WMV file
    •    You will need to set "Stop record if label break" to "No" for successful recording using a Firewire deck
    •    You will need to set "Stop record if label missing" to "No" for successful recording using a Firewire deck
    •    DV recordings may have a black frame at the end of the recorded clip
    •    Potential memory leak playing very large AVID DNxHD edits
    •    Audio monitor delay setting will not be accounted for during export
    •    Cannot record HDV through Firewire
    •    AVID DNxHD 10bit encode is not possible
    •    Make sure any other applications are closed before attempting to install Lightworks
    •    Video track can turn red after removing certain FX
    •    Performance issues working with H.264 MOV files natively
    •    XDCAM EX QuickTime files will not play correctly
    •    Error during startup when Matrox MTX utils installed "error copying Matrox DSX driver" Please turn off UAC in Windows
    •    Image on viewers and SDI output may look very poor on old ATI graphics card when set to 10-bit precision
    •    SHIFT clicking a tile into a viewer has currently been disabled. You can now double left click tiles into existing viewers
    •    XDCAM HD files may show pixelation on the viewer when dragging the timeline marker through them quickly
    •    PCM Audio on IMX XDCAM samples is pink noise
    •    .VOB files appear as "Sound" only on the import panel, but yet import with picture. Performance will be slow
    •    Image quality on playback may be poor when project card set to NTSC Fields
    •    You will not be able to transcode 1080p 60fps files on import
    •    Blu-ray VC1 export does not generate a valid file. It imports back as Sound only
    •    Audio on exported AVCHD files cannot be played by Windows Media Player it is just mute
    •    Firewire decks MUST be switched off after recording

Windows 7 64bit Limitations and Known Problems

    •    The Pro version is required in order to run the 64bit version
    •    Potential crash on startup with Mackie audio device connected
    •    There is no QuickTime Movie/MPEG4 import/export via Apple SDK
    •    Premiere and After Effects plugins are not supported
    •    The licensing panel(s) may show incorrect links to the Lightworks Shop
    •    Audio content analysis is disabled
    •    CDDA ripping is not available

Limitations and Known Issues With Matrox Hardware I/O

    •    If your system is not fast enough or does not have enough memory, the captures using MXO2 will stop with a "dropped-frame" message
    •    If the drives you are recording to are not fast enough the captures using MXO2 will stop with a "dropped-frame" message

Limitations and Known Issues With Blackmagic Hardware I/O

    •    If you are using a Decklink Duo, you will only get I/O from SDI 2 not SDI 1
    •    Audio monitor level control has no effect on Blackmagic recordings
    •    You may experience a crash when stopping record using Blackmagic I/O Please report this to us.
    •    The SDI output may become distorted and flicker randomly. This is under investigation
    •    You will not be able to view video on the Blackmagic output if Precision is set to 10bit. Change to 8bit
    •    You will not be able to view video from Boris Red via the Blackmagic Output when Lightworks is running