Serif MoviePlus 5 review

MoviePlus is a video-editing application that dares to challenge the established leaders head on. Rather than patronise you with a cute interface and idiot-proof controls, it gives precise control over a powerful set of editing tools.

Many features have more in common with software that costs hundreds of pounds: unlimited video and audio tracks, 19 blend modes for combining video layers and keyframe automation of almost every parameter for effects and other settings that develop over time. It has an excellent collection of corrective and creative colour effects, and clips can be stretched and skewed. Sadly, MoviePlus is lacking in more elaborate distortion effects; there are no wave or pinch/punch effects, for example. Audio effects are also notable by their absence, and each audio track and clip has only volume and pan controls.

Still, there's a strong collection of new features. The new DVD-authoring module comes with a range of attractive templates. While they provide only basic scope for customisation, they're quick and easy and the end results are up to scratch. There's support for HDV cameras, although we didn't have a camera to test it. HD export is limited to WMV HD, currently the best choice for distribution, but we expect to be able to export in MPEG2 TS and write projects back to HDV tape to archive them.

Filter Effects is a suite of processes that add drop shadows, glows and 3D bevels to objects. They look fantastic when combined with colour or luminance masks, or when applied to text. QuickShapes offers various geometric shapes such as spirals, arrows and speech bubbles, and comes with plenty of customisation potential and keyframe automation. There are some new 3D transitions to play with and you can play clips in reverse.

Although MoviePlus's interface is generally fast and easy to use, its effects settings can be tricky to access. They appear in a Properties panel, which shows the properties for whatever clip, effect, transform setting or track is selected. But with so many different types of properties available for each clip, finding the one you're after can be a little confusing, especially as the controls themselves are text-heavy and often don't fit the panel, forcing you to scroll to access specific settings. Still, the software is highly responsive, and with a bit of practice it's possible to achieve complex edits without too much fuss.

We like MoviePlus 5, but not quite as much as our favourite low-cost editors. Its blend modes are unique at this price, but Adobe's Premiere Elements has a stronger effects library and more powerful keyframe editing. Meanwhile, Sony Vegas Movie Studio's limit of four video tracks looks increasingly stingy but its interface is wonderfully easy to use and its DVD-authoring and audio facilities go way beyond those of the competition. Still, MoviePlus offers a good balance of power and accessibility. For those interested in creative, abstract video production, its unlimited tracks, blend modes, QuickShapes and Filter Effects make it an excellent choice.