With all the video editing software applications on the market, it can be difficult to decide which one to invest in. With Roxio Video Lab HD, you can cover all of the basics, including 3D options. Even if you aren't interested in making 3D movies, there are plenty of other editing options available with this application. Another important factor to note is that Roxio provides the most comprehensive help and support available. This application is well rounded in all of the areas we considered for our review.

To get started with this application, you can either import the files you want to use from your hard drive, or you can capture the video from a device. This option will keep your hard drive clutter free while still allowing you to make great movies with lots of clips and photographs. The only thing to keep in mind is that video editing software applications use a lot of computer resources, so it may not always run very quickly if you want to create complex animation or work in HD.

This video editing software is easy to use right from the beginning. Roxio Video Lab consists of a suite of applications, and there is a main menu that explains which application is designed for which purpose. Everything in the editing application is labeled and has enough instruction that it isn’t too difficult to use. One of the quirks of this application is that the functions change depending on which window is open. This can be frustrating until you get used to it. Overall, this video editing software is fairly intuitive, but there are a few nuances that you will have to learn to deal with.

This video editing software has several tools that come in handy, such as a storyboard and timeline view option. You can also change the aspect ratio and trim scenes down to better suit your needs. This application doesn’t have as many tools as we like to see, but the ones it does come with are useful.

There are a lot of different ways to save your final movie so you can watch it later on another device. Whether you want to burn it to a disk or make it an FLV video for YouTube, you have plenty of options. Some of the file export options include: MPG4, AVC, AVI, DivX, DVAVI, AAC and WMV. With all of these options available, you are sure to find the perfect format so you can take your final product with you and share it with your friends and family. The file output option you use will determine how long it takes to save the file as well as the overall quality of the finished product.

This video editing software application does come with a fair number of effects and transitions. While some of the effects and transitions are not completely practical to use, we found others to be useful. You can add effects and transitions in multiple ways, depending on the windows that are open. One way is to drag and drop an effect, or you can just select the option you want. We are pleased at how simple it is to change the length of time the effect lasts.

It is fairly simple to create a disc using Roxio Video Lab HD. You won’t have any problems burning your movie to a DVD or even a Blu-ray. While this video editing software isn’t as fast as some applications that are designed specifically for burning, the burning speed is acceptable and we are pleased with the results. The ability to burn 3D files to compatible DVD and AVCHD discs is especially useful.

There are a lot of different options when it comes to audio and photo editing. One of the biggest advantages is the ability to stabilize the video. This will help remove the shaky camera look when you import video from your camcorder. There are a few audio editing options as well. While the sound effects Roxio provides cost a little more, the option to download them if you need them is valuable. You can import sounds and music you may already have on your computer. There aren’t as many audio tracks available for mixing sound and music as you'll get with top software titles, but there are enough that you can add music, sound effects and narration on different tracks if you need to.

Roxio offers a little help and support for this application, and we are pleased to see that there is some information available within the program itself. Not only can you search for various terms, but the in-program help gives assistance with the various windows. The manufacturers only offer a little help on their website, though they do provide a support ticket you can fill out. The user forums are another resource for product support. We were pleased to see some information here about this specific application, and there are experts who can help answer the questions you may have.