Lightworks Tip

Digitizing

by Patrick Gregston

One of the Lightworks features, which can come in really handy, is its ability to digitize all 30 frames per second in a 24 frame project. While this seems like a waste of drive space (6 min /hr.), it can be very useful when dealing with a telecine transfer for which you have no database, or one without consistent 3:2 sequencing.

While the specification for telecine is usually "A frames on :00 and :05 timecodes", the Lightworks can actually digitize from any sequence transfer. Should your telecine vendor have the ability to note the sequence in the database for each recording on a tape, the Lightworks will read that sequence from the appropriate field and, overriding any default settings, digitize the shot in correct sequence.

Often stock footage, answer prints transfers, or "temp" source tapes will have no database, no burn-in information, and the sequence will only be visible in the action. If you receive such a tape, you can select "no", in the digitize control panel screwdriver menu for the setting, "discard duplicate frames." The system will digitize the duplicate frame - the 'D' frame in a typical transfer.

Then, in Lightworks, you can select any shot and, either watching the action or the footage or key number burn-in, use the keys "control -a" to change the sequence. Should you make a mistake, you can change the sequence anytime by repeating the procedure.