Jahshaka: Open Source Video Editing Software

With this technology you don't need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to produce video that is as good as its editor. No need to buy a set of brand name applications that can do the same while emptying your wallet. Jahshaka is capable of playing all major media formats from Flash and .avi to Quicktime, Windows Media and Real. It plays uncompressed video sequences and makes it possible to view and even edit video in any format or resolution. Jahshaka leverages the power of OpenGL and OpenML to provide a unique video production suite that can run on Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, Irix and (soon) on Solaris.

The goal of the Jahshaka project is to produce an industrial strength editing, effects, and compositing system that works on uncompressed video and audio, at any resolution, in any existing colorspace.

If you are a professional video editor you can download Jahshaka right now and see whether this is vaporware or whether you would actually advise small and independent video makers to adopt this tool in place of its much more expensive predecessors.

Here is my edited summary list of Jahshaka version 3 planned features, many of which have already made their debut inside the existing public version (2.0).

Key features:
- Unlimited undos and redos
- 3 interface modes for home, hobby, full production
- Hardware controller support and automation for audio and video mixers
- Film tools like deinterlacing, color temperature adjustment, resizing and filter work
- Full plugin based architecture
- Output projects to DVD, Flash and CDRW disks

The Desktop

The desktop is the main module; it unites all the modules and features together. On the desktop you can load, save, import, export grab video or view stills and clips that have been loaded into the system. The desktop also has an integrated player which can scrub files on disk or load clips into RAM for real-time playback of uncompressed footage.

- Clip and Image management - Integrated library/asset management
- Display queues for clips, keys, projects, desktops, audio, etc
- File and Clip I/O - Support for AVI, Mpeg, Quicktime, Flash
- Video I/O - Support for Sdi, HD, Firewire
- Timecode accurate - Deck control over Firewire, USB, or serial ports
- Mix and match compressed and uncompressed footage
- Autoconform from timecode using EDL management
- Image I/O - Support for .sgi, .tga32, .tiff, .rla, .iff, .png
- Multiple pattern recognition for image sequences
- project and file import support for Lightwave, Maya, 3D Studio Max, etc.
- project and file import support for Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects, etc.
- project and file import support for flame, smoke, ds, avid, quantel, etc.
- project and file import support for ProTools, Digital Performer, Qbase, etc.

The Animation Module

The animation module is a true 3D compositing and effects system, with support for real-time playback (on supported OpenGL hardware) and fully keyframeable animation and keyable objects. Resolution independent image support allows the loading of any image into the 3D world.

- True 3D world with X/Y/Z control
- Resolution independent image support
- Apply effects and plugins to individual layers
- 3D text with font loading
- Support for clips with keys
- Background and foreground images
- Camera and light support
- 2D and 3D particle system with collisions, physics engine, etc.
- Filtering functions available within the composite section
- Support for Adobe plugins
- Layer-based motion blurs and optical effects
- Depth of field and fog effects
- 3D object import of leading formats used by 3D applications
- Time manipulation plugins for fast-frame/slow-frame effects

The Editing Module

The editing module is a timeline-based, multilayer editing environment. With support for real-time video and effect playback (on supported OpenML hardware), the editing module will support mixing clips of different resolutions, formats and colorspaces. The module also integrates unlimited audio, video and overlay layers.

Video
- Unlimited video layers
- Resolution independent clip support
- Full text and model integration
- Support for clips and keys
- Unlimited 3D Overlay layers
- Integrated DVE and color correction
- Integrated real-time effects and transitions
- Multiple video preview options, i.e. 1up, 2up, 4:3, 16:9, etc.
- Full EDL import and export for leading formats from GVP, Sony, etc.

Audio
- Multi-track audio editing
- Support for Vst, etc. plugins
- MIDI support and control
- Built-in sampler
- Wave editor
- Multiple audio monitoring and visualization tools
- Mix-down module
- External hardware support for MIDI and machine control (ADAT, etc.)
- Surround sound module with 5.1 and 7.1 support
- Pan and volume envelope handles

The Effects Module

The effects module is a true image processing environment, expandable by plugins based on the OpenAPI to create anything from blurs, glows, optical effects, lens effects and edge filters to whatever your creative abilities can think of.

- Desktop image integration
- Blur, grow, shrink, color correction, noise, sharpen, emboss, etc.
- Warps and Morphs in 2D and 3D space
- Image processing - image conversion
- Effects can be animated with the integrated 2D compositor
- Plugin extendable
- Projects can be saved and added to editing or effects scenes

The Paint Module

The paint module is an OpenGL based 3D paint environment. Its support for anti-aliased brushes allows you to paint on video clips, paint with 3D models and more. It integrates the following key features:

- Anti-aliased brushes
- Clip selected brushes, with x/y/z support
- 3D object brushes - full 3D paint with texture, and bump map modes
- Photoshop file import/export
- Real-time effects like on a Quantel Paintbox
- Video paint with onionskin and light table options
- Vector paint support
- Support for Wacom tablets and digitizers (pressure sensitivity supported)
- Multiple layer support with alpha channel and effects

The Text Module

The text module is a complete OpenGL-based character generator with support for multiple fonts and upcoming support for rolls, crawls and all of the typical computer graphics and titling needs. These include:

- Unlimited text and titling layers
- Full text control including kerning, justification, rolls, wraps, etc.
- X/Y/Z translation - Scaling/Skewing
- 2D, 3D font creation
- Truetype and PostScript font support
- Full image, texture and color control
- Powerful Word-based editor with full Word import/export
- Full keyframe animation of text-based items
- Keyer text input allowing the filling of text with an image

The Library Module

The Library module allows you to organize all your media. Full local and peer-to-peer networking will allow you to share files and projects with users next to you, next door or around the world.

- Scrubable and moveable project, video and audio thumbnails
- Local and remote file searches
- Fully-integrated AI-based asset management system
- Media archiving to media, digitally or through the Internet

Network
- Full user-based networkable visual file sharing
- Secure Network connections using P2P, direct, server-based or group models
- Built-in firewall and web server
- File sharing over LAN, WAN or the Internet

Collaboration
- Built-in instant messaging for remote collaboration and file sharing

The JahPlayer is the final complement to a production suite that also envisages production of individual free tools for video editing, photo editing, music editing and more. While there is still a lot of work to do before the present JahPlayer release can become a real competitor to Windows Media Player, Quicktime or Real, the team at Jahshaka does have the first player to sport a built-in 3D engine!

The JahPlayer is also the only one to support a video out channel as well as being the first out supporting full playback of HD/PAL/NTSC formats. The JahPlayer can play back uncompressed video sequences and integrates display of standard SMPTE timecode.

Jahshaka is built using the Qt cross platform toolkit from Trolltech, the industry’s leading cross platform development environment.

Jahshaka is licensed to the public under the GNU GPL agreement.

For a free download, click here.

 

Originally posted by Robin Good for Master New Media and originally published as: “Open Source Realtime Video Editing and Effects Software: Jahshaka.”