Whether we worked in Media Composer or played around in Windows Movie Maker, we at least know the basics of editing, have opinions about how things should be done, and want to see if Lightworks measures up to (or surpasses) our previous standard. Some combination of features, price and curiosity has brought us here. We all have some dissatisfaction with the other options: the radical revamp of a platform without backward compatibility, sky high price points, byzantine upgrade paths and exorbitant fees for. 5 releases, instability, and lack of professional features. Those that put the public beta through its paces were rewarded with a wonderfully robust, efficient editor and the promise of more features and workflow improvements in the future. Of course, we’ve just taken a stick and poked the elephant in the room. In fairness, EditShare should be lauded for not only releasing this professional-level program as a free beta download, but also its openness and communication throughout the process. Contrast its approach with Apple’s botched roll-out of FCPX shrouded in secrecy, teasing a lower price, and releasing a not-ready-for-primetime editor to the dismay of professionals everywhere. As Lightworks development experienced delays, the assurance of a roadmap still existed. We saw, in order, what EditShare intended to do, even if the timeline was pushed back a little. Yet, there’s a question that strikes fear in the platform-switcher.

Despite all efforts to the contrary, it remains, dogging the minds of those steadying themselves to take the plunge. One of Lightworks’ biggest advantages also poses something of a perception problem, namely price.

Lightworks pro student price