Ulead DVD MovieFactory 5

The encoding engine has been improved by the addition of a two-pass variable bit-rate option - an extra level of quality sorely missing in previous versions, although encoding time will be increased considerably. However, although you can encode Dolby Digital Stereo directly, if you want 5.1 surround you'll still need to have it ready-prepared from another source. MovieFactory has no surround mixer, although it can mix existing 5.1 sound with video during authoring.

DVD MovieFactory 5 feels like a much bigger upgrade than version 4, especially as Ulead has been so quick off the blocks with HD support. However, the authoring toolset enhancements are also very welcome: considering the low price, DVD MovieFactory has now become an even more capable disc-authoring tool for the money.

Author: James Morris