Nero 6.6 Ultra Edition Disc Burning Software Review (page 2)

Unlike some other disc burning programs, Nero also handles video via NeroVision Express. This is a straightforward, basic video editor that offers both timeline and storyboard views. Rollover help is profuse and thorough. A number of very nicely executed transitions are included as well. This is still basic stuff, not to be confused with Avid or Vegas, but it works very well for quick, simple jobs.

Other video tools include Nero Wave Editor a very usable audio editor; Nero ShowTime and Nero Media Player, both media player apps; and Nero Recode, which rips and re-encodes non-copy-protected DVDs to fit them onto single discs (or convert them to Nero Digital). Nero Digital is an MPEG-4-based codec with some additional tweaks, resulting in color that seems a bit more vivid and motion that seems a bit more fluid than with samples of other MPEG-4 variants that we've seen. And it's making inroads--a handful of CE devices like DVD players now include the Nero Digital codec, and some DVD decoder chipsets can now decode the format natively.

Over the course of our review, we noticed a few things that struck us as odd. First off, we wish Nero could remember which mode we used last. We like to burn single-session discs in Disc-at-Once mode to preserve compatibility with older equipment, but Nero always defaults to opening multi-session, track-at-once discs.

Another oddity that occurs within NeroVision Express is that the clip duration reads as hours, minutes, seconds and hundredths of seconds--not as hours, minutes, seconds and frames. An option to go between hundredths and frames would have been nice. Perhaps the idea was to logically allow the use of film, PAL footage and NTSC footage on the same timeline, although when you consider the differences in color space, frame rates, etc., it seems like that might be asking for trouble.

When you've finished burning your discs, you can fire up Nero Cover Designer to create booklets, inlay cards and disc labels. The software comes with a wide array of layouts for use with disc, and also supports disc printers, (which is the approach we recommend.)

You'll be surprised to find the sheer amount of things this product can do. We have to admit that we were--and since space is limited in these columns, we couldn't devote much attention to InCD (packet writing/drive letter access utility), PhotoSnap (photo manager), BackItUp (backup) or MediaHome (network media sharing utility), among other facets of the software.

Overall, we have to give it to Nero for making an already-great product even better. Nero Ultra Edition 6.6 is noticeably more stable, polished and usable than its predecessors.

Charles Fulton is Videomaker's Associate Editor.

Platform: PC
Operating System: Windows (all)
RAM: 64MB for writing audio and data discs; 128MB for DVD and video authoring
Hard Disk: 500MB for typical installation
Demo Version: 30-day trial
Upgrade: $50 (Free for users of Nero 6.x)

• Very comprehensive package

• Can't remember burning preferences
• Doesn't address video as hours:minutes:seconds:frames

A versatile collection of disc burning software that works very well.

$70 ($100 boxed)
Nero
330 N. Brand Blvd., Ste 695
Glendale, CA 91203
www.nero.com

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