It's not an uncommon conclusion: reviewers of video editing software tend to shade the battle to Pinnacle's wonderful Studio software over Ulead's also-strong VideoStudio series. Yet given the former's regular trouble with the odd bug here and there, Ulead finds itself in with a real chance to snatch the crown. And with VideoStudio 10, it damn well nearly does it.

It's got several major factors sitting in its corner. Straight off, and not insignificantly, it's cheap. At a few notes north of £50, this is a powerful piece of software that you'd genuinely struggle to complain about at twice the price. There's also a standard version available for around £15-20 less, but it's really a false economy to opt for that, given the features it strips away.

The Plus version, you see, gives you the option of working with seven simultaneous video tracks (compared to two in the Standard version), and also includes features such as overlay distortion, Dolby 5.1 support, iPod support, HDV capture (with a proxy mode to help keep performance steady in spite of the large file sizes) and a free copy of WinDVD Silver. None of which you'll find in the Standard edition.

Differences aside, though, the core of both of these versions is the editing program itself, and while it's not changed drastically since version 9, it's secure, stable and very easy to work with. The program takes you through the whole process of capturing, editing and outputting your work, and it does it with consummate ease. You can choose the wizards to do the hard work for you - happily chopping up your video capture into individual scenes where appropriate - or you can handle it yourself.

When it comes to the edit itself, there's also help at hand, and as with Pinnacle Studio you can duck between a storyboard approach and the timeline that experienced hands will know and love. The storyboard worked better in our tests - and that's even with our traditional preference for a timeline - as it felt that bit more precise than the slightly fiddly timeline option. The mildly muddled help engine didn't do Ulead too many favours here.

Whichever route you take, though, it's breathtakingly easy to apply good effects and transitions, and it's breathtakingly easy to over-use them to the point of wrecking your production. Responsibility for the latter lies with the user, of course, and you'd be hard pushed to pin the blame on Ulead for providing an excellent selection of tools in the first place! Previews are done quickly, so there's little trouble checking out your work as you go along.

When you're finally finished with your project, yet more praise needs to be directed at VideoStudio. The output options are great, and with the DVD creation tools at your fingertips, there's an awful lot to admire.

We still felt at the end of our review period that we favoured Pinnacle Studio 10's interface and slightly more friendly way of working. But if, like us, you've ever had Studio bomb out and take a good chunk of your work with it, then VideoStudio 10 really does run it close. Don't bother with the Standard version, but you'll find the Plus edition is a strong and very good value application. Don't believe us? Then there's a free trial version that's well worth a tinker...

A terrific piece of video editing software, with only the odd problem to slightly temper the celebratory mood of the party.