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Wax is a video special effects and editing tool. While not as complicated as some of the larger video-editing and special effects suites on the market, Wax is intended to be general purpose, easy to work with, and powerful enough to satisfy most users' requirements for video creation and manipulation. Wax installs cleanly and easily.
The Wax interface presents a list of files and effects in the top left, a feed of the video in the top right, a timeline and track display in the bottom right, and some controls in the bottom left. It takes only a few minutes to get used to working with Wax. A nice feature is that 2D and 3D special effects can be added quickly, and the effects package can be treated as a standalone app feeding a more complicated video-editing package. (Wax can actually act as a plug-in to packages like Premiere and Vegas.)
Wax works really well for a free application. The effects are clever and well done, and there's graphics acceleration available if you have a higher-end video card to create the special effects in near real-time. The file management features are good, and there's support for standard file formats. All in all, Wax is a very nice video-editing and special effects package for those who don't need the power of the expensive commercial editing packages.
Publisher's Description
From DebugMode:
Wax is a high performance and flexible video composition and special effects software. The idea for Wax is to be very general purpose and flexible in video composition and effects, so that you can compose your dream video sequence with ease every time. Wax can create 2D & 3D special effects and can work in two modes - as a standalone application and as a "plug-in" to video editors/NLEs.
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All versions:
2.8 starsout of 77 votes
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Current version:
2.8 starsout of 77 votes
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My rating:
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"Wouldn't open avi or other files I tried."
Version: DebugMode Wax 2.0e
Pros
Nothing good to say about it.
Cons
Infected my computer with malware. Thought this site checked and cleaned the files first.
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"Doesn't work for very long!!!"
Version: DebugMode Wax 2.0e
Pros
Works ok...for a few days!!!
Cons
After a while my videos wouldn't play, instead they resembled still images! I've searched the net for answers-hell someone even asked the same question in the official FAQ section! No replies. Ignorance is unprofessional!
Summary
If you only need it once then, by all means, get it. However, if you require something long term (or even something for a week) I'd suggest looking elsewhere!
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"Not the best free compositor, but very good."
Version: DebugMode Wax 2.0e
Pros
Simple After FX like application
Rotomate masking
Particle system
3D character generator
Many Direct X filters and transitions
Works as a plug-in for editors like Windows Movie Maker, Premiere, Vegas and LightworksCons
Clunky especially if working with HD video.
Rotomate splines don't scale well when zoomed.
Is very finicky about using Direct X FX.Summary
Wax is a time line/ layer base compositing package similar, in a very basic way, to Adobe's After FX. It offers RotoMate which allow it to do fairly sophisticated compositing FX, an image base particle system, the ability to load 3d objects and do basic 3d transformations. Wax can even use many direct X filters and transitions giving it video editing potential, but it is designed to work as a plug-in for Video editors like Windows Movie Maker, Premiere, Vegas and even Lightworks. Anyone who is reviewing this as a Video editor is not doing this program justice.
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"As good as it gets for free."
Version: DebugMode Wax 2.0e
Pros
Very powerful standalone aftereffects utility
Powerful Chromakey (green screening) feature
Powerful RotoMate feature
Unlimited multitrack for as many layers as you needCons
Preview pane not very smooth playback. Great for frame-by-frame, but realtime playback is slow & choppy.
Preview has a big problem with playing back audio.
Limited video formats that it can handle.
Unable to composit the audio layer of "captured" clips from BandiCam or Fraps because they tend to have a "non-zero start time". My method of correcting this is to run the clip through VirtualDub first, find out what the offset is (from the error that pops up when you load it), negate it with the Audio skew correction, set it to Direct Stream Copy, and then save it again.Summary
Even with the few challenges I've discovered & listed in the Cons section, my experience is that this is still the best free utility in this category.
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"Rather decent for a free program"
Version: DebugMode Wax 2.0e
Pros
Its doesn't cost anything, and it seems to be a decent program
Cons
Seems outdated, I couldn't find any good documentation/help.
Doesn't allow precise positioning or duration setting on the timeline. -
"Great for Advanced Users"
Version: DebugMode Wax 2.0e
Pros
-Free
-Good Basic FunctionsCons
-Sometimes will not render with sound
-Edit errors can be confusing to readSummary
It's a free program. You can't complain about a free program. This program is the program I learned how to do all my video editing on. While not the smartest of all ideas, I was set up within a year of work to dive into Lightworks with no problem. You get chromakey (number 1 I used) and rotoscoping in a free program. Not quite apple quality but a whole lot cheaper. You have to be in AVI format though, but since I upload on the internet AVI is my go - to format anyways. Doesn't take a whole bunch of ram either, in fact I still use this program with Lightworks. I do have a problem with it not rendering with sound, but that can be fixed with another editor. The render or edit errors are near impossible to read as well. So you just gotta guess half the time. Overall good.
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"not to good!"
Version: DebugMode Wax 2.0e
Pros
there is nothing good to say it sucks
Cons
only works with few file types on install wants to add photo joy and bing toolbar and change you search engine and home page this in its self makes it junk not to mention it just does not work well.
Summary
find another program you will wast your time on this one.
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"Not for first-time users"
Version: DebugMode Wax 2.0e
Pros
For a freebie it's brilliant - far more superior output to Windows Movie Maker. It isn't as complex as full-on movie software.
Cons
Requires a lot of basic understanding and the new terminology can be off-putting; Some learning required.
Summary
Use the help guides to create some amazing movies. Worth the effort.
(Used on Windows 7). -
"Great Powerful Program; Works Fine"
Version: DebugMode Wax 2.0e
Pros
You can do so much with it, green screen; blending videos or pictures, and much more. One of the best video editing programs I have ever seen that is for FREE
Cons
There is no sound in the preview.
Summary
Over all the best program for it's price.
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"Crashes immediately"
Version: DebugMode Wax 2.0e
Pros
None--couldn't use it because it immediately crashed
Cons
Crashes on opening file
Summary
I opened the program and tried to add an .avi file--which it's supposed to support. It immediately crashed. I tried several times and it always crashed. Waste of time.
