As I’ve posted before, the commoditization of the NLE market threatens to steal valuable R&D resources from future development. It is obvious some thinking outside the box is needed here. So I’m throwing down the gauntlet to all of you hobbyist programmers out there, build us a better NLE!
If you’re not familiar with open source initiative, it is basically a way to allow lots of folks to work on the development of a software package. As opposed to companies with limited resources that have to be funded from sales of the software. So how does this apply to us editors?
First, it would be nice if someone created a website devoted to NLE feature requests. Let’s get all of them in one place where the programmers can see them.
Second, those of you who have some programming experience, start writing some code. Don’t look at the big picture as it would be overwhelming. Avid Media Composer wasn’t built in a day. It wasn’t even built as one piece of code. When it starts up, you can watch as all the different programs load. What we need is the VTR savvy guy to write a VTR controlling program, the audio savvy guy to build the audio module, etc. Think in terms of the Final Cut Suite as opposed to Final Cut. Separate packages all tightly linked together.
Third, someone needs to volunteer to oversee the whole enchilada. Sort of a controlling standards board.
Finally, someone needs to be testing it as it is developed. I volunteer for that part. 😉
So come on folks, what do you think? We can stop complaining about the costs, inefficiency of old code, and lack of features in the current offerings, and finally have the NLE that we all desire!