Doing video calls is not unheard of in this day and age of socialization and communication. In fact, it has become rather ubiquitous due to the fact that traveling to other places has become so easy, and slow Internet connections aren’t as common as they were before anymore. For professional video calls, people would obviously want users to have quality webcams while for personal calls, they may want a software that could provide some playful features like decorations and filters. AlterCam developed by Bolide Software is a webcam software that can satisfy both of those needs.

Installation and Performance

Before getting into the great features and functions of the AlterCam, let’s talk about its installation process and performance since they tend to be the biggest negative aspect of the program. Although the installation process had a relatively smooth start, it started to weigh and slow the machine down until it experienced massive lags. The program was able to install properly which was great. However, the initial slowness and performance issue would be an indicator of future problems.

While it didn’t experience the same lag during use as it did during the installation, the program still experienced terrible slowness. It also affected the rest of the system so it would be difficult to multitask while the program is running. That said, it’s not impossible to do and the program does still work despite the lag.

Features and Functions

It’s almost unsurprising and forgivable how slow the program is since it has a ton of features and functions that will make any webcam user appreciate it. Probably the best is the overlay feature where you can add a frame or decoration to your videos. There’s also the filter function where you can change the appearance of your video and make it look like an Instagram photo. 

The program has a lot of other features, but they don’t overwhelm the user. It’s simple to use and intuitive. All the essential command buttons that you’re going to need are located at the top of the screen. At the side, you’ll find the filters and decorations that you can add to your video. It’s also possible to record a video and take snapshots from your webcam. You can also record from different sources such as from your desktop.

Editing and customizing the technical options of your videos are also easy. Clicking on the Options button will take you to the options dialogue box where you can choose the resolution, saving path, and video codec of your videos.

Great Features, Lackluster Performance

The AlterCam’s greatest strength is undoubtedly its wide plethora of features. However, it is being bogged down by its slow and lackluster performance. For some, the novelty of being able to play with the appearance and effects of your videos may be enough to forgive the program’s critical flaw. For most, however, there’s no denying that the sluggishness of the program might be a dealbreaker. It’s still a program that’s worth checking out, and by checking it out yourself, you’ll be able to determine whether you fall in the former or latter category of users.