We sometimes struggle to tell the difference between versions of software titles, but at first glance it's hard to recognise Serif MoviePlus X3 compared with MoviePlus 5. The new interface is curvier, cleaner and more inviting. Existing users will quickly get to grips with the new look, though.
There are more new features than we have space for here - visit www.serif.com/movieplus for the full list. Highlights include an Old Film effect and text animations that look stylish rather than tacky. Less technical users will appreciate the Storyboard mode, which presents one thumbnail per clip rather than a timeline, and the How To panel to guide them through common tasks. Audio effects are new but their controls are clumsily presented.
We imported footage from older AVCHD cameras, but files from a Panasonic HDC-SD9 were rejected. Serif has promised to fix this. AVCHD previews were initially jerky but the software created lower-resolution copies for smooth previews, returning to the originals for export - an excellent system. High-definition export now includes MPEG2 but, sadly, there's no Blu-ray or AVCHD disc authoring. The DVD-authoring facilities benefit from some attractive new animated templates, but disc-navigation options are limited.
MoviePlus X3 comes very close to winning a Best Buy award. It excels at complex video montages such as title sequences, thanks to its blend modes for layering videos in creative ways, filter effects such as drop shadow and bevel, unlimited video tracks and responsive timeline-editing tools. It surpasses our long-term favourite editor, Sony Vegas Movie Studio. However, its object-motion facilities and creative effects library aren't as sophisticated as Premiere Elements' and the lack of Blu-ray authoring also counts against it.
Requires Windows XP/Vista, Pentium II processor, 256MB RAM (dual-core processor, 1GB RAM recommended), 400MB disk spaceAuthor: Ben Pitt
Serif MoviePlus X3