Night Sterling Technical Specifications

System Requirements

Operating Systems

Night Sterling is optimized for modern Intel and AMD chipsets and motherboards.

  • Windows 10 and Windows 11 (64-bit)

Recommended System Specifications

  • Intel Core i7 / AMD Ryzen 7 processor or higher
  • 4 GB RAM or higher (16 GB+ recommended for 4K workflows)
  • Dual high-resolution displays (1920x1080 or higher)
  • PCI Express graphics card (NVIDIA or AMD) with 1 GB VRAM or higher
  • DirectX 9 or later (Windows OS only)
  • Compatible sound card with audio output enabled
  • Separate media and system drives (internal or external with sufficient interface speed, e.g., SSD/NVMe)
  • 200 MB of free disk space for Night Sterling installation
  • (Optional) Night Sterling Console or compatible editing controller (e.g., Contour Shuttle Pro)
  • (Optional) Night Sterling custom keyboard
  • Active internet connection required for installation and license registration

Advanced Effects Pack Requirements

Some advanced effects and titling tools are available as an optional pack on higher plans:
  • Core transitions & effects: Available on Free, Creator and Pro.
  • Advanced titling tools: Requires an active Creator or Pro license.
  • Full effects pack: Requires an active Pro license.
 
Recommended system for the advanced effects pack:
 
OS:
Windows 10 or 11

CPU:
2 GHz or faster (multicore recommended)

RAM:
8 GB or more recommended

GPU:
NVIDIA or AMD with up-to-date drivers and at least 2 GB VRAM

Comprehensive Feature List

Wide Container & Format Support

  • MXF OP1a, MXF OPAtom (P2, Native)
  • Avid Media Composer project support
  • QuickTime (.mov)
  • AVI, .mts, .m2ts, .m2t, .mpg, .mp4, .wmv (export only), .ts, .m2v, .asf, .vob, .mkv (import only)

Editing

  • Resolution, format, and codec-independent timeline
  • Native editing at 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, or 60 fps
  • Advanced real-time Multicam editing with unlimited sources (subject to hardware and storage capabilities)
  • Source/Record three-point editing
  • Insert and Overwrite editing
  • Replace, Fit to Fill, and Backfill
  • Drag-and-drop replace editing
  • Extend and Split edits
  • A/V Sync indicators on the timeline
  • AutoSync: Single-click re-sync of the entire timeline
  • Multi-colored markers for edits and clips
  • Match Frame for clips and subclips
  • Comprehensive drag-and-drop support
  • Storyboarding: Arrange tiles in Bins, adjust in/out points, and convert to an edit with a single click

Multicam

  • Switch clips directly in the timeline
  • Unique Sync Group feature
  • Live Cut: Switch between angles during playback
  • Sync via Lock Frame, Timecode, or Audio Waveform
  • Sync with Edits
  • Unlimited camera sources
  • Mixed source resolutions and formats
  • Auto-edit sync group sources into a single sequence

Stereoscopic

  • Complete stereoscopic 3D workflow support*
  • Individual Left and Right eye media handling
  • Automatic synchronization on import
  • Seamless integration with standard editing workflows
  • Real-time adjustment toolset for Alignment, Scaling, and Color Correction
  • Multiple output options: Anaglyph, Side-by-side, Checkerboard, Individual Left/Right Eyes
  • Support for desktop, secondary display, and SDI monitor outputs
  • Flexible export options for various 3D formats

Colour Correction

  • Preset color look templates (drag-and-drop)
  • Real-time (GPU-accelerated) Primary color correctors
  • Real-time multiple Secondary color correctors
  • Advanced color image control filters
  • Simple, intuitive color correction tools
  • Advanced curve-based color correction editor

Audio

  • Real-time pre- and post-audio waveform display
  • Analog-style multi-track audio scrubbing
  • Subframe-accurate audio keyframing
  • Real-time audio adjustments during playback
  • Clip and Track Gain controls
  • AAF/OMF audio export with pan and volume levels*
  • Real-time, software-based audio normalization
  • On-screen multi-track mixing console
  • Multiple mix bus routing
  • External Mackie control surface support*
  • Real-time fader automation
  • Real-time audio filters and effects
  • Parametric and Graphic EQ
  • Native audio effects: Limiter, Compressor, Noise Gate, Noise Reducer, and Reverb*
  • Quick Audio FX: Acoustic Sweetener, Dialog Enhancer, Instrument Enhancer, Subtle Sweetener, and Voice Enhancer*
  • Support for mixed bit-rates and sample rates on the timeline
  • Audio level meters per track
  • Pan controls
  • Mute and solo controls
  • Direct-to-timeline Voice Over recording

Collaboration

Project Sharing*:

  • Multiple users working in the same project simultaneously, sharing the same media
  • Edit permissions handled within Night Sterling: quickly transfer permissions between users
  • Edit changes are instantly saved and updated for all users without needing to save or exit
  • Bins can be shared between users and update in real-time

Media Sharing:

  • Support for common shared storage and network media workflows
  • Support for a wide variety of third-party shared storage (NAS and SAN)

AAF Interchange*:

  • Export AAFs to Avid Media Composer, Pro Tools, and DaVinci Resolve using dedicated export presets
 

Film & Cinema Workflows

  • Direct import of RED media and DPX sequences
  • Advanced decode options for RED R3D files*
  • Decode options for Blackmagic RAW (BRAW) files**
  • Unified timecode and keycode listing
  • Support for 35mm 3-perf, 35mm 4-perf, 16mm-20, and mixed film formats
  • View feet and frames during editing
  • View keycode and ink number overlays on video
  • 24-fps EDL import and export
  • 24-fps EDL conversion to and from 29.97 fps
  • Import ALE, FLX, and CSV files
  • Track key numbers, ink numbers, and timecodes
  • Output Cut lists, Change lists, Optical lists, and Pull lists
  • Dupe lists and Audio EDLs

Third-Party Plugin Support

  • Boris Continuum
  • Built-in effects library plus optional advanced effects and titling pack
  • Blackmagic Fusion (v7.5 and above)
  • Maxon Magic Bullet Looks (v14.0.4 and later)
  • OpenFX (OFX) Support
  • Audio Plugins: AU, VST, and LADSPA compatibility
  • Waves Audio (v13.0 and later, all plugins)
  • MeldaProduction Plugins (v15 and later, Free Bundle)
  • Sonnox (Inflator, Reverb, and Envolution)

Import and Output

  • Batch Import
  • Transcode on Import
  • Proxy media creation
  • Seamless switching between proxy and hi-res media playback
  • Export Clips, Edits, Bins, Groups, and entire Projects
  • Telecine 29.97i to 24p pulldown removal
  • Universal projects: mixed frame rate media in the same project
  • Define sequence frame rate and copy sequences to different frame rates
  • Subtitle export to SRT*

Record and Playout*

  • Frame-accurate capture tool
  • Batch capture
  • Crash record
  • Frame-accurate insert and assemble edit-to-tape
  • Serial Device Control (RS-422)
  • FireWire Device Control
  • Support for SDI capture devices:
  • Matrox hardware support (Windows only)
  • Blackmagic Design hardware support
  • AJA hardware support

Trimming

  • Ripple
  • Roll
  • Slip and Slide
  • Backtime
  • Fit to Fill
  • Remove and Delete
  • Asymmetric, multi-track trimming
  • Dynamic trimming during playback
  • JKL trimming
  • Dedicated Trim window
  • Timeline trimming
  • Keyboard and numeric moving/trimming
  • Close Gap
  • Single-click drag and trim (no separate tool required)
  • Drag in Black
  • Auto Unjoin

Effects

  • Multi-split screen Viewer for original shot comparison
  • Node-based effects layer and compositing tools
  • Alpha Channel Matte Transitions
  • Global Transitions between In and Out points
  • Quick Transitions applied directly from the timeline
  • Real-time effects in SD, HD, 2K, 4K, and 5K
  • Speed Tool for varispeed changes
  • Keyframe graphs
  • Fold and Unfold effects
  • Real-time blurs
  • Real-time chroma key
  • Community-built VFX
  • Quick-access to effects directly from the timeline
  • Favorite Effects category for quick access
  • Unlimited user effects templates
  • Copy and paste effect attributes to multiple clips
  • Bezier and Linear movable motion paths
  • Numeric (as well as keyframe) control over variables
  • Stereoscopic Adjustment tools

Titling

  • Native real-time titling
  • Rolls, Crawls, and Static titles
  • Real-time font previews
  • Color and gradient controls
  • Scaling and positioning
  • Basic effects: Fade in/out, Typewriter, and Blur in/out
  • All parameters are fully keyframable
  • Title presets for lower thirds and standard titles

Media Management

  • Media management at the edit or project level
  • Powerful search capabilities
  • Advanced Content Management
  • Comprehensive metadata for granular searching
  • Bins or sequences can be created directly from search results
  • Drag media directly from search results to the timeline
  • Rename clips to match media files, and vice versa
  • Low-res to Hi-res workflow for offline/online editing
  • Maintain master clips across multiple projects
  • Clip color coding in edit (match by source, reel, or timecode)
  • Custom comment fields
  • Custom Bin views: show, hide, and re-order columns
  • Instant Automatic Save – no manual project saving required
  • Automatic Edit backup facility
  • Sequence and clip recovery
  • Project Archive: Logs, Picture, and Sound
  • Batch export

Tools

  • Interface scaling with High-DPI / Retina display support
  • Magnetic snapping and placement of all panels
  • Enhanced viewer controls on source and edit viewers
  • Real-time video analysis with hardware-accurate video scopes
  • Multitrack Audio Mixer with multiple mix buses
  • Keyboard and UI customization tool with pre-built templates for DaVinci Resolve, Media Composer, Final Cut Pro, and Adobe Premiere Pro
  • On-screen console controls
  • Voice Over tool for adding narration directly to the timeline
  • Shot Sync: Sync two sources for easy comparison
  • Customizable Burn-In Timecode (BITC) and film footage overlays
  • Customizable real-time letterboxing
  • Create and edit custom keyboard Macros to simplify your workflow

Application

  • Full-screen, real-time SD, HD, and 4K preview on single or secondary displays
  • Apply HDR Transforms
  • Set Monitor Color Space*
  • Multiple timelines open simultaneously
  • Customizable Undo levels
  • Up to 64 Video tracks & 32 Audio tracks with unlimited FX tracks per sequence
  • User preferences can be easily transferred between systems
  • Customizable keyboard shortcuts and UI buttons
  • Customizable real-time effects settings
  • Customizable output formats*
  • Customizable render settings
  • Customizable workspace layouts
  • Customizable track layouts
  • Customizable fixed layouts
  • Full Unicode support
 
 

*Please note: The software specifications stated above are subject to change without notice.

* Only available in Night Sterling Pro

** Only available in Night Sterling Creator and Pro