Serif MoviePlus 5

After buying a 40$ 2012 video editor with bad avi decoding giving smeared colours of videos from my two digital cameras I reinstalled my old Movie Plus 5. It comes with OK avi decoders, and a separate install of (free) Xvid encoder allowed Movie Plus 5 to export in xvid .avi format in addition to the default mpg, mov, avi and wmv formats.Install of the (also free)k-lite basic codec pack made import of variuos mp4, 3gp and flv files possible after ticking "allow 3 party codecs" under options.A 2010 patch is on Serif website, and with chroma key, many other advanced features and running stable on a low spec. XP computer this software is still great for small projects

When using the EXPORTING part of the program as it is so slow, I tend to do it last thing at night before retiring. Trouble is, when I get up during the night, I go and look how its getting on, only to find the exporting has stopped and a pop up box is on screen asking me if I really want to stop. This annoys me, as time is wasted through inaction of the program.

I'm only a novice at this movie authoring but I find it relatively easy to get to grips with. Therefore I well recommend Serif MoviePlus 5.

I have been using this for two years now with great success. It is full of features some of which I am still discovering. It is very intuitive to use, especially at the basic level, so you only need to look at manuals or tutorials occasionally. When you do, they are well structured, comprehensive and easy to understand.

I would recommend this product and Serif as a supplier.

The Serif MoviePlus 5 video creation and editing software is easy to load, no crashes, not loaded up with extra buttons to do the same job as on the toolbar controls. I did all the trials of most of the popular software, and whilst they looked good at first, it soon became apparent that they were either bloated out or were not as easy to use as stated. Software of course is a personal choice, much the same as a car perhaps. I did need the extra disc "Directors collection" as it contains more tutorials. So then, that is three discs, two @ £60 - the program disc and resource disc with the DVD writing program, and the directors collection @ £30, but Serif do usually offer a considerable discount by 'phone. I was lucky and got all the above new on Ebay for £15. Having done editing on both Windows and Mac, I can liken Movie plus 5 to the popular Mac "imovie", but to the power of 50. Allow an extra fiver to print out the manual (250 pages), which, unless you have a photographic memory you will need.

I don't think it is for the casual user, but that said, it is OK for beginners if it's going to be a regular hobby, and it's easy enough to progress with. I can't think that there is another program you would need to get later on as you progress, as Movie plus has got it all and more (some of which I don't think I will ever need to use). Although England and America share the same language, this program has an English sort of logic about it, which I find comes naturally, and it is that good, I'm sure I shall pick up a speeding fine as I rush home each evening from work to continue a project. The Which review rates it as second highest.