VideoWave 3.0

Editing is quick and easy. Files are imported into a project window and trimmed (i.e., made shorter by cutting part of the beginning and part of the ending of a clip), then added to a storyline. Transitions like wipes and dissolves can be added between clips, as well as five additional soundtracks.

VideoWave can import and export almost every imaginable file type, making it an excellent conversion utility. The standard movie formats are all supported: Quicktime, AVI, and MPEG. However, it's not limited to importing movie files--VideoWave will happily accept still image files like JPEG, TIFF, TGA, and Photoshop PSD files, to name a few. Especially nice is the ability to import Kodak PhotoCD images. This ability to import still graphics, along with WAV sound files, makes VideoWave a handy tool for creating slide shows with transitions and soundtracks.

Editing video on a computer used to be a complex task involving expensive and obtuse software and hardware, but next-generation computers, inexpensive digital video cameras, and powerful, affordable editing software are changing the landscape of video production and laying waste to old methods. --Mike Caputo

Amazon.com Product Description
VideoWave 3 by MGI takes a unique approach to PC video. It provides a superior and uncomplicated way to edit and create videos from beginning to end. VideoWave 3 offers powerful editing features that allow you to create special effects, titles, transitions, audio tracks, and more. You can even mix two clips into one. And with a click of your mouse, the real-time preview feature lets you see what you've done right away. Use VideoWave 3 with your capture card to capture video from a video camcorder, television, VCR, or laserdisc player. Then, use VideoWave 3's full range of video-and-audio editing tools to edit the capture to your liking. You can view live video before and during the capture, and you can play back captured video and audio from your hard disk. Depending on the capabilities of your capture card, VideoWave 3 lets you output your video directly to your VCR for recording onto videotape. VideoWave 3 offers support in traditional analog video-capture hardware and the new, next-generation Digital Video camcorders with PC connection standards. With VideoWave 3, you are ready to move to new digital products as they become available, and you can now work with both analog and DV since VideoWave 3 enables their compatibility. This means you can work in and with both formats at the same time, using your existing VCR, camcorder, and traditional video-capture hardware.

Video Wave III works, if your pc is configured for it. It has a limited number of video cards with which it works well. It doesn't seem to like AMD processors as much as it does Pentium III's.

The instructions are almost useless and you can get four very different sets of instructions from their technical support people if you call with the same question four times because the first three solutions made things worse.

I was able to turn out an acceptable industrial video (28 minutes) with it. There is no good way to add narration.

The learning curve is more in getting your hardware and the needed drivers from MGI and others to match the many settings you can make inside of Video Wave IIII than in actually using the software. The interface is good. And it can do many things very well.

It doesn't like Windows 98 2nd Edition or Windows 2000. I have to wipe it clean and reinstall it quite often. But, it is the best of what is out there at the advanced home video producer level.

I just tried to install 4.0 and it wouldn't install on a system which did the best job with 3.0. So, I'll be back in touch with their tech people. It took over 23 hours of actual back and forth with them to make 3.0 work acceptably.


Enjoyable, fun and easy.   November 10, 2000
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Originally bought this to upgrade VideoWave SE that came with my Iomega Buz analog capture card. Unfortunately it was not compatible with the hardware. Well my analog camcorder died and I ugraded to a Sony digital 8 and a firewire card. Have been using 3.0 now for 4 months making home videos and the familiar interface from SE has been added plus. Haven't had time to dig too deep into this program but for making quick home movies, it is easy to use if you at least take a quick look at the instructions or use the packaged tutoring cd. The only problem I've had is when I plug the camera in or turn the camera on after the program is started, most of the time it does not recognise the camera is there. So, make sure your camera is plugged in and turned on before you open the program. Other than that I have not had any problems.


a good quality product   October 19, 2000
michael (huntington, WV)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

this product is great, with a few glitches. i like the interface once you get used to it. i noticed that after producing videos, transitions have a bit of a 'hiccup' when the transitions start and end. my system is custom built with 256 mb ram and an athlon 650, and a quantum fireball 7200 rpm hard drive, so i know its not the hardware. my biggest problems however, have to do with interfacing the computer with my jvc cam. the dv capture works perfectly, but exporting the finished product to the cam can prove troublesome. overall, however, i think the videos look great, the interface is flexible and you can do a lot with this program. i have pinnacle's studio DV and adobe premiere, but most of the work i do is done with videowave because its quick and simple. i would recommend this product for almost all home and semi professional uses.