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VideoWave 5.0
VideoWave 5.0
pros and cons
- Advanced video mixing effects DVD authoring scene detector and timewarp.
- Limited to single-track editing clumsy audio overlay across multiple clips involved user interface.
- Editors' review
- Specs
Compared to MGI's entry-level Cinematic, VideoWave 5.0 is an extremely sophisticated video editing program, targeted at the more experienced user. It has a number of advanced features not normally found in consumer editing programs, and offers a complete capture, edit and output solution that includes DVD authoring.
The user interface comprises a single editing line with gaps for transition effects (storyline), a resizable preview window, a control bar on the left and a main pane for library clips, effects and options. This is augmented by a dynamic console at the base of the window, which varies depending on the editing function currently being accessed.
Capture from OHCI-compliant IEEE 1394 cards and analogue video cards is supported, along with CD audio extraction, and VideoWave 5.0 has a file system that allows single captures to exceed the 4GB AVI file size limitation -- which is useful if you're working with raw digital video. A useful scene detector tool can be used to break up large single captures into more manageable scene sub-clips from timecode data held on the tape.
Some people may find the interface a little complex, but once you're familiar with the functions of the separate mode selectors, you'll find a wealth of functionality beneath. As well as basic clipping and arrangement of clips on the storyline, you can alter colour, contrast and saturation values, apply static or dynamic video effects, insert titles and create composite effects. Changes can be applied to entire clips, or keyed to specific start and end points within sub-clips -- a level of control that's usually limited to more expensive applications. MGI's new timewarp function also lets you increase or reduce the speed of a clip, using a licensed version of DynaPel's MotionPerfect to remove or create intermediate frames.
Given all of this control and flexibility, the single-track edit line is an irritatingly limited layout, particularly if you're working with audio layers. Adding tracks to the whole project can be done by adding them to the first clip in the sequence, but multiple clips need to be selected if you want to overlay audio onto a sub-sequence within your project.
As well as outputting to file or tape, you can burn to DVD or VCD using MGI's authoring plug-in, which uses a similar interface and creation method to the main program. MGI VideoWave 5.0 may not be as accessible as some applications, and does cost a little more, but it's a price worth paying for the extra control that this application provides.