After bad experiences with webcam special effects programs in the past (most slowed down the video frame rate, especially when applying multiple effects), I was very pleased to discover WebCamMax. My video seemed to maintain it’s frame rate & quality.
Besides providing overlay effects, WebcamMax, acts like a high end video switcher with special effects. It allows you to switch in real time between all your video sources. So if you have multiple webcams, camcorders & even video files you can switch between them in real time. You have the ability to even use your PC screen as a source. In the past this required additional software like Camatasia, which doesn’t give you the screen capture sizing options that WebcamMax provides. You are also able to have the screen area follow your mouse, if the capture area is not full screen. This is a great feature for showing how to use computer programs and for all types of training.
WebcamMax also provides high quality green screen effects without the green screen. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was able to use a blue background instead of my green backdrop, and that the quality was better than the professional program I was using, with a green backdrop. The separation between the background & my image was nice and clean.
Some of the other features include:
> Picture in picture effect (you can do this in different customized sizes & cropped areas). Also customize The source for the pictures.
> Painting directly on the video box in real time, doodle away.
> Use video files & photo slides as a source.
> Instant video switching
> Saving recorded video for later use
> Screen capture of the webcam video window
> Text overlay
> Thousands of animated effects, overlays and frames
I had been burnt before, purchasing other webcam special effects products that slowed down my streaming video frame rate & that seemed to take over all video capturing on my system as well. In addition to the frame rate issue one of these products kept getting flagged as spyware by various anti virus programs. So I had sworn off all these programs until WebcamMax was recommended to me. I did some checking & saw that it was certified virus free by some trusted sources including cnet. I went to the WebcamMax site & down loaded a free trail version, then I put WebcamMax to the true test:
Green screen effect, text overlay, animated snow effect & picture in picture all at once while streaming live.
The quality of the video was great & the frame rate was fine.
In short if your doing any kind of streaming video this program is a keeper.
Tags: video, video switcher, webcam