Roxio VideoWave Movie Creator

Formerly owned by MGI Software, VideoWave video-editing software has been given a fairly major overhaul since it was taken over by Roxio earlier this year.

In fact, it's now been turned into two completely separate programs. The version reviewed here, VideoWave Movie Creator, is very much aimed at beginners new to video work, but there's a more expensive Pro version due out soon for more advanced users.

Movie Creator's interface has changed completely. When you launch the program, its main screen simply presents you with five big buttons that represent the different options - referred to as 'modes' - that are available.

The first button takes you into Capture mode, where you can import video clips from a camcorder or webcam.

The fifth button activates the DVD Maker, which allows you to copy your completed projects onto DVDs, if you've got a DVD recorder on your PC.

In between these two there are three separate editing modes. The simplest of these is a kind of 'music video' mode called Cinemagic.

This doesn't provide much in the way of editing tools at all, merely allowing you to take one or more video clips, arrange them in sequence and then quickly add a musical soundtrack.

The next mode, called StoryBuilder, is only slightly more sophisticated, with options for creating introductory title screens and trimming individual clips to a specific length.

Both of these editing modes are extremely easy to use but that's mainly because they are so limited. There are no transitions or special effects available in either mode.

However, even the humblest beginner will probably want to try out a few simple transitions sooner or later and that's where the third editing mode - the Story Line Editor - comes in.

Running across the top of the screen in this mode is a 'film strip' - one of the few leftovers from the original VideoWave.

This allows you to quickly drag and drop your video clips into the required sequence.

Below this is the Preview display that lets you view and trim clips. It also includes some handy options such as brightness and contrast controls, and the ability to alter the speed of the video.

The right-hand side of the screen is taken up by the Library palette, which includes a collection of special effects, text tools and audio controls.

There's a wide range of transitions and special effects, with options such as fade, dissolve, exploding particle effects and 3D shapes.

The text effects are good too, with the ability to easily create animated 'rolls' and 'crawls', where the text moves up and down or across the screen.

The Library even includes a selection of audio clips and loops that you can use to enhance your video soundtrack.

Roxio has done a good job of making all these features easy to use, even if it does seem a bit pointless having three completely separate editing modes.

We suspect that after a few minutes familiarising themselves with the program, most users will jump straight to the Story Line Editor.

Still, at less than £50, Movie Creator is worth considering if you're a newcomer to video editing.

However, anyone with any previous editing experience will probably be better off looking at the more advanced Pro version.

DETAILS
Contact: Roxio - no UK number
www.roxio.de/english