Ulead VideoStudio 7 SE

The latest version of Ulead's VideoStudio is 9, so why is the company reissuing an old version? This is a cut-price edition, presumably designed to tempt those who haven't yet caught the video editing bug, and can deal with the almost throwaway price tag.

On loading, the fact that it is an older version shows through in the design, which is clunky, but it is very simple, with buttons kept to a minimum.

It follows the same pattern as other editing applications, going from capturing video if a camera or other device is attached, to importing video and audio files, placing them in the right order, and adding effects, titles and transitions. There are not many of these to choose from, but it is possible to customise them.

The editing process is quite easy, using the same timeline format as most programs, and we were able to create a simple test video within minutes. The free Windows Movie Maker does a similar job, but doesn't have as many options as this program.

One drawback is that, although it doesn't explicitly say so on the case, this is a VCD-only version, meaning the finished item can't be directly burned to a DVD.

Files can otherwise be saved in a choice of four video formats and then burned to DVD in another program, and in any case the slightly lower-quality VCD may be enough for those just starting off in the world of digital movie making.

For those who have moved on from Windows Movie Maker but are not ready for a fully fledged video editor, this is a decent middle ground.