There could be nothing easier to use than this package for a single or compiled project when it comes to straight-forward burning CDs or DVDs. However, with editing of video, the rather short manual (22 pages) leaves something to be desired, and can have you in a quandary about how to use some of the video-editing tools.

With a wizard approach, MovieFactory 2 makes it easy to burn a CD or a DVD, including functions for the production of on-disc menus.

Movie Factory is not just a burning program though, although it offers very basic video editing facilities, it also has the ability to put together slide shows on disc. It is also possible to mix slide with video on the same disc for flexibility.

Video-editing is somewhat basic, limiting the fine tuning of clips, and lacks the full-blown flexibility of a dedicated video-editing program such as the companion package Ulead Video Studio 6. If Video Studio is installed, it can then be used for fine-tuning, according to the manual, although how it’s used can be dependant on which version of MovieFactory you installed. No explanation is given for this variation.

As a bonus for anyone producing a slide show, Ulead Photo Express 4 Custom Version is included in the package, but while it has most of the necessary tools for enhancing photos included, it still does not offer full picture editing capabilities.

One excellent feature is the Disc-Direct facility. With this it is possible to capture the output from your digital video camera or other sources such as VCR, direct to DVD or VCD. By selecting a suitable disc template this program will capture, create menus, and encode the data to DVD, without going near your hard drive. In effect, it can remove the need for fast hard drives and the massive capacity usually needed for video-editing, plus the tedious conversion of file formats.

Although its video-editing capabilities are basic, this is a good package all-round if you’re looking to transfer video to disc.