Roxio Video Lab HD video-editing software

Roxio's Video Lab HD includes tools to edit video, make DVDs, convert and archive files.

It also works in 3D: it can import and manipulate 3D video, convert from 2D for editing and viewing, and export to anaglyphic format for use with coloured glasses or for viewing on a new 3D TV. A pair of red-blue 3D spectacles is provided that you can use to edit and view movies on any monitor or TV.

We liked Video Lab HD's icon-driven front menu in which programs are clearly grouped by function.

Videowave, the video editor, has a user interface that is easy to learn for those with no prior knowledge. The tools were simple to use, making it easier to get from shot video to the finished product. The supplied video effects – graphics to transition between scenes, filters and preset text effects – were varied and fun, and the 3D-editing mode certainly adds a wow factor.

Our favourite tool in the collection was Cinemagic, which compiles montages from video and photo files in a few clicks, potentially saving hours of manually sifting through footage and stills.

Cinemagic lets users select which scenes they would like to add to or omit from a montage, giving a good degree of control over the end product. There is a further option to add some great-looking custom animated intros, though we would have liked a preview pane in this particular sub-menu.

MyDVD handles disc creation for both 2D and 3D and can create DVD, Blu-ray and AVCHD discs. The menu-creation options were good though a little limited, design-wise.

The Copy & Convert program exports files to portable devices, including ones downloaded from the web.

The 3D DVDs looked remarkable when viewed on our TV and PC screens. Another program, Cineplayer, can convert 2D films into 3D for viewing, though this is not available to Windows XP users. It worked well, though converted video was a bit choppy. In this and all the program's tools, a faster computer will perform better.

Video Lab HD is an impressive video editor but its extra features really differentiate it from competitors.