Lightworks — Official Quickstart Guide 2023 — Learn Lightworks in 15 Minutes!

LWKS - Lightworks Video Editor & QScan AQC
1 Nov 202316:00

TLDRChris Wells from Lightworks provides a quickstart guide on mastering the software in under 15 minutes. The tutorial covers project creation, footage importation, and basic editing techniques like in/out points, trimming, and audio synchronization. It also touches on color grading, transitions, and adding titles, concluding with exporting the final video. This comprehensive guide is designed to get new users up to speed quickly.

Takeaways

  • 😀 Lightworks is a powerful video editing software with a user-friendly interface.
  • 📂 The first step in using Lightworks is to create a new project from the project management screen.
  • 🔍 Importing footage into the project can be done through various methods, including using local files or cloud storage integrations.
  • ✂️ The Edit workspace is the primary area for assembling and editing video clips.
  • 🎵 Audio is crucial for a professional feel, and Lightworks allows for detailed audio editing and channel management.
  • 🎥 The video editing process includes setting in and out points, using replace and insert functions, and keyboard shortcuts for efficiency.
  • 🖌️ Color grading is an essential part of the video editing workflow, with Lightworks offering a range of tools for color correction.
  • 🔊 Sound effects and music can be added and adjusted to ensure they complement the video and do not overpower it.
  • 🎞️ Transitions such as dissolves can be applied between clips for a smoother visual flow.
  • 🏷️ Titles and end credits can be added and customized using the titles effect in Lightworks.
  • 📤 The final step is exporting the video, with options to export directly to YouTube or as a video file on your computer.

Q & A

  • What is the purpose of the video by Chris Wells?

    -The purpose of the video by Chris Wells is to provide a mini overview of the Lightworks software and demonstrate how to use it to edit a video from start to finish in about 15 minutes.

  • How does one start a new project in Lightworks?

    -To start a new project in Lightworks, you open the project management screen, select the 'create a new project' button, give it a name, and click 'create'.

  • What are the different workspaces in Lightworks?

    -Lightworks has a handful of workspaces for advanced editing of specific aspects of your video, but the video script focuses almost entirely on the 'edit workspace'.

  • How can you import footage into your Lightworks project?

    -You can import footage into your Lightworks project by selecting the 'import Clips' button, navigating to the appropriate folder, and either importing the whole folder, specific files, or using the in and out points to select the desired parts of the video.

  • What are some of the ways to place footage onto the timeline in Lightworks?

    -There are multiple ways to place footage onto the timeline in Lightworks: double-clicking to open in the source monitor and drag, using the replace button, the insert button, and using keyboard shortcuts like 'V' to insert clips.

  • How do you trim a clip on the timeline in Lightworks?

    -You can trim a clip on the timeline in Lightworks by hovering your mouse over the end of the clip until a bracket appears and then dragging it to adjust the clip's length, or by splitting the clip at the playhead and deleting the unwanted section.

  • Why is good audio considered important in video editing?

    -Good audio is considered at least 65% of what makes a video feel more professional, as stated by Chris Wells, emphasizing the importance of taking time to get the audio right.

  • How can you adjust the audio levels in Lightworks?

    -In Lightworks, you can adjust the audio levels by selecting the clip you want to adjust, aligning your mouse over the audio waveform, and dragging it up to increase volume or down to decrease it.

  • What is the role of color grading in video editing?

    -Color grading in video editing is used to adjust the colors of the shadows, midtones, and highlights, as well as saturation, gamma, contrast, brightness, and gain to enhance the visual appeal of the footage.

  • How do you apply a transition effect in Lightworks?

    -To apply a transition effect in Lightworks, you select the desired transition from the transitions tab, and then click and drag it onto the timeline between the two clips where you want the effect to occur.

  • What are the steps to export a video in Lightworks?

    -To export a video in Lightworks, you go to the export tab, select the desired format (e.g., MP4 h264), choose the region of the timeline to export, give the file a name, and press 'start' to begin the export process.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Introduction to Video Editing with Lightworks

Chris Wells introduces himself as a video editor at Lightworks and begins a tutorial on the software's capabilities. He showcases a short example video and then takes viewers through the process of creating a new project in Lightworks. The focus is on the 'Edit Workspace,' where he explains how to import clips from various sources, navigate through them, and select specific clips for editing. He also demonstrates different methods of placing footage onto the timeline, such as double-clicking, using 'Replace,' 'Insert,' and keyboard shortcuts.

05:01

🎛 Audio Editing and Fades in Video Production

The second paragraph delves into the importance of audio in video production, with Chris emphasizing that good audio contributes significantly to a video's professionalism. He guides through creating a new audio channel for organizing clips and overlapping them. The process of placing audio clips on the timeline, using in and out points, and aligning them with the video's visuals is explained. Chris also covers how to use fades to smooth transitions between audio clips and adjust music levels to complement sound effects without overpowering them.

10:02

🎨 Color Grading and Effects Application

Chris introduces the 'Effects' tab for adding color correction to the video, explaining the importance of adjusting shadows, midtones, highlights, saturation, gamma, relative contrast, brightness, and gain to enhance the visual appeal. He demonstrates how to apply color correction to individual clips and then to multiple clips simultaneously using the 'Unfold' feature. The paragraph also touches on using transitions like dissolves to create smooth transitions between clips and adjusting their duration for desired effects.

15:03

📹 Finalizing the Video with Titles and Exporting

The final paragraph covers adding titles and transitions to finalize the video. Chris shows how to use the 'Titles' effect to create an end title and suggests using blur transitions for a polished look. He then explains the exporting process, detailing the options available for different subscription levels and how to choose the export format, such as MP4 H264. The tutorial concludes with instructions on how to export the video with specific settings and a prompt for viewers to provide feedback or join the Lightworks online forum for further assistance.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Lightworks

Lightworks is a professional video editing software used for creating and editing high-quality videos. In the video, Chris Wells demonstrates how to use Lightworks to import footage, edit the video, and add audio, ultimately creating a cohesive and polished video project. The software is highlighted as a powerful tool for video editors.

💡Project Management Screen

The Project Management Screen in Lightworks is the initial interface where users can view and manage their projects. It is where users can create a new project, as shown in the video, by selecting the 'create a new project' button and naming it. This screen is crucial for organizing and accessing different video projects.

💡Import Clips

Importing Clips in Lightworks involves bringing footage into the project. The video script mentions using the 'import Clips' button to navigate to local files or integrating with stock footage and music providers. This step is essential for starting the video editing process, as it allows the editor to access the raw material needed for the project.

💡Edit Workspace

The Edit Workspace in Lightworks is the primary area where video editing takes place. It is where the user can place clips on the timeline, trim them, and adjust their order. The video script focuses on this workspace to demonstrate the basic editing process, including setting in and out points, replacing clips, and using keyboard shortcuts for efficiency.

💡Timeline

The Timeline in video editing refers to the sequence of clips and audio that make up the final video. In the script, Chris Wells shows how to place footage onto the timeline, trim clips, and adjust their length. The timeline is a fundamental component of the video editing process, as it visually represents the flow and structure of the video.

💡Audio Channel

An Audio Channel in Lightworks is a separate track dedicated to audio clips. The video script explains how to create a new audio channel to accommodate multiple audio clips, which is essential for managing sound effects, dialogue, and music within a video project. Proper audio channel management helps in achieving a balanced and professional audio mix.

💡Color Correction

Color Correction in video editing is the process of adjusting the colors in the footage to achieve a desired look or to correct any issues with the original color balance. In the video, Chris Wells uses the 'color correction' effect to enhance the visual appeal of the footage. This step is crucial for creating a consistent and visually pleasing video.

💡Transitions

Transitions in video editing are effects used to smoothly move from one clip to another. The video script mentions adding a dissolve transition between the opening title and the first shot, which helps in creating a more engaging and polished video. Transitions can significantly impact the narrative flow and visual style of a video.

💡Titles

Titles in video editing refer to the text overlays used to display information such as the video's title, credits, or captions. In the script, Chris Wells adds a 'T titles' effect to the end of the timeline to create a closing title for the video. Titles are an essential element for providing context and enhancing the overall presentation.

💡Export

Exporting in video editing is the final step where the edited project is saved in a specific format for sharing or further use. The video script describes exporting the video as an MP4 file using the H264 codec, which is a common format for high-quality video distribution. Exporting allows the editor to finalize the project and prepare it for its intended audience.

💡Effects

Effects in video editing are additional visual or audio elements that enhance the footage. The video script discusses using effects such as color correction, transitions, and titles. Effects play a critical role in shaping the final look and feel of the video, adding depth and creativity to the project.

Highlights

Introduction to Lightworks software and its project management screen.

Creating a new project and navigating the workspace.

Importing footage into the project using local files.

Using different views and filters to manage imported clips.

Editing video by placing footage on the timeline.

Setting in and out points for clips and using keyboard shortcuts for efficiency.

Using the replace and insert buttons for editing.

Trimming clips directly on the timeline.

Adjusting audio by creating new audio channels.

Aligning audio clips with video using waveforms.

Adding fades to audio clips for smooth transitions.

Importing and adjusting music to fit the video sequence.

Color grading footage using the color correction effect.

Adjusting color settings like shadows, midtones, highlights, saturation, gamma, and brightness.

Using transitions to enhance the video flow.

Adding titles and effects like blur and fade to the video.

Exporting the final video directly to formats like MP4 h264.

Invitation to join the Lightworks online forum for further learning and community support.