When we talk about recording on optical supports like CDs, DVD, Blu-Ray, or HD-DVD, one of the programs that almost always shines is Nero. And now even more so, after consolidating itself as a complete disk and multimedia content authoring and burning suite. It doesn’t try to replace specialized video or image editing programs, but nor does it fail to offer a little bit of everything. However, it does stand out for video recoding in its own Nero Digital format and in playing multimedia files. It also offers the proper tools for creating slideshows from photo collections, along with an image editor that is enough to touch up snapshots with problems with color, exposure, or incorrect framing. In addition to these multimedia functions, Nero 8 includes a tool to create backup copies of the system or specific files that need to be protected against accidental deletion or a hardware problem.

As a burning application, it is compatible with practically all current standards, including virtual units and new formats like Blu-Ray and the now defunct HD-DVD. The interface is the usual “drag and drop” and it has a “simple” mode along with a more polished version to give you total control over the process of sending your data to the optical disk or a CD. Nero 8 also captures video from external sources for later editing and use in your own creations, and can process sound and music with specific audio authoring tools.

On the whole, Nero 8 is the perfect complement for any computer that records not only optical disks: multimedia, images, backup copies, or video and audio authoring are some of the other extremely valuable functions of this program.

You can download the program at: Nero.

Tags: Utilities, Video //