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The program can also show you updates. Click on the bell img in the top right corner.
It says "Check for Updates or Upgrage". Seeattached file.
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How can you determine if you have the latest update. I had a problem when downloading. It said that it needed an update. So I downloaded the the update. When I went into the program it said that it needed to be activated. I reinstalled and then realized where I had to put in the code. So I may have lost the update.Will Power Director 15 Ultimate check for updates??
You must activate it - and it will check for updates - but not Beta updates as they are still being tested before becoming an official release. I wait for the official update and avoid Beta patches.
Al
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Hi All
I have made vdeos using the Gopro software. These are Avi files and does not want to play on my smart LG tv. I want to convert these Avi files back to MP4 to be able to view in on my tv rather than to go through the complete process of making a vdeo from scrack with Power Director. Could anyone assist ,e with this?
Pieter
Pieter - GoPro Studio converts video to Cineform codec AVI files to de-compress them for editing. The AVI files can be added to your PDR15 timeline for further editing and you can use PDR15 to output as H.264 MP4 or other format compatible for viewing.
Or- if no further editing is needed you can just use GoPro Studio to output them as H.264 MP4 files which should play on most devices.
Al
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Normal mouse right click - Cut Copy Paste etc.
Windows keyboard shortcuts do work though CTRL+C, CTRL+V, CTRL+X
p.s. I agree that spellchecking needs implementing and I've now got RSI in my index finger scrolling up to the top to get back to the index link!!
We typed with keyboard shortcuts BEFORE the mouse! If you're less than 70 you may not remember.
Drives me crazy. Users have been compaining since I started with PDR12.
Seems like the PDR13,14 and 15 suggested improvements - please add your suggestions - so we can ignore them.
There is no excuse. This is a Hi Tech international software company.
I can give them a dozen examples but here's one http://www.forums.com/features.html
Al
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Where do you get your software? I'm on at least a dozen forums and all have :
Spell check as you type - believe me I need it!!
Normal mouse right click - Cut Copy Paste etc.
Come on guys PLEASE!
Al
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Well I have great respect for Blackmagic. If they pulled the task to deveop a 64 bit plugin for QT, that's more power to them. Maybe they affforded paying for the licensing to make it compatible with Final Cut Pro 7. Unfortunatelly for me their free DaVinci is not as capable as the "Studio" version, color, grading, noise reduction, are not using the GPU in the free version:
https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/compare
In the past Apple, that has the licensing rights to the format, didn't allow companies to develop their own QT software, forcing everyone to use their crippled 32 bit software, without any GPU involvment (see my exemple above, CL is still using the 32 bit version).
So all in all, I am staying away from any software that is using almost exclusivelly Apple's formats:
https://documents.blackmagicdesign.com/DaVinciResolve/20160408-ebf601/DaVinci_Resolve_12.5_Supported_Codec_List.pdf
My experience is the same. I'm not recommending Resolve at all. It is used in Hollywood movies and designed for the Pros post production workflow only. I only tried it as part of my testing for relatime edit performance with professional software- and to illustrate that even the pros use the built-in features for transcoding to proxy files and to intermediate "edit friendly" codecs like Cineform and DNxHD before edit as per my first post.
Agreed - Even the professional studios are shifting from Apple to Windows systems where QuickTime is now becoming history.
Al
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Mercury Engine in Adobe does NOT use fully the GPU to actually accelerate the final rendering (encoding) or preview (decoding):
Sonic - Not sure what you mean by "not fully used"? Quote from your blog link above "A common misconception is that CUDA/OpenCL processing is only used for rendering for previews. That is not true. CUDA/OpenCL processing can be used for rendering for final output, too."
The Adobe terminology is misleading. They use "rendering" for a different process than the actual "encoding and decoding".
See my link that points directly to Adobe statement that I have quoted.
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Most Windows NLEs have now elimated the need for Quicktime including PDR.
Did they really? Or they just incorporeted the last version of QT binaries (that are never to be patched)?
Thanks Sonic,
You may well be correct but all of the NLEs I tested now claim they are QuickTime independent and ran fine since I uninstalled QT which was the security threat. DaVinci Resolve 12.5 now claims "DaVinci Resolve 12.5.1 now uses its own native 64-bit code to read and write .mov files."
My understanding is that codecs (encoding and decoding) for rendering and timeline editing and effects only benefit from GPU acceleration if they are written for GPU acceleration. I can't afford $10,000+ for two Quadro GPUs to challenge Adobe's claims.
In a previous post I mentioned that DaVinci Resolve 12 professioal NLE was GPU intensive and died on my "mickey mouse" i5 CPU with no GPU card. New version 12.5.1 added, with Intel help, Intel HD Graphics support and "Now, DaVinci Resolve, with new code changes, runs 1200% faster on Intel Graphics systems." Ver 12.5.2 now runs fine on my consumer level PC with the free onboard Intel GPU using their Proxy Editing or Transcoding features - as shown in the link on Resolve Optomized Media in my first post above. Same technology PDR has had since I started with PDR12.
Blackmagic and Iris™ Graphics: A Match Made at Intel .
Al
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Mercury Engine in Adobe does NOT use fully the GPU to actually accelerate the final rendering (encoding) or preview (decoding):
Sonic - Not sure what you mean by "not fully used"? Quote from your blog link above "A common misconception is that CUDA/OpenCL processing is only used for rendering for previews. That is not true. CUDA/OpenCL processing can be used for rendering for final output, too."
And Nvidia http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/adobe_PremiereproCS5_uk.html "At the heart of Premiere Pro CS5.5 is the Adobe Mercury Playback Engine, built using the NVIDIA CUDA parallel processing architecture. Accelerated by both Quadro and NVIDIA Tesla graphics cards, you get real-time previewing and editing of native, high-resolution footage, including multiple layers of RED 4K video. Get 15 times faster performance, enabling you to refine and apply multiple color corrections and effects in SD, HD, 2K, and higher-resolutions, with smooth scrubbing and playback – all in real-time!" The Mercury Engine was a joint Adobe/Nvidia project so I assume it's getting as much as possibe of those $5k GPUs.
Most Windows NLEs have now elimated the need for Quicktime including PDR.
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Very informative Al! 
I haven't investigated further by following the links you posted, but THANK YOU for taking the time to share your findings.
Cheers - Tony
Thanks Tony,
I added links for a better understanding and additional info (post was already a bit long winded). I've since added a few more. If you get a chance have a look. Would appreciate your thoughts/comments.
There are many more software examples out there but I chose the best implementations for transcoding (easy to use).
Just an aside, but MagicYUV codec has gained larger acceptance for speed and quality since the Magic+PD project. Now being used in several Pro NLEs.
Cheers
Al
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There have been several concerns expressed about PDR performance and disappointment with it's advertised 4k editing support and the impact improved GPU support may have. I've done some research and think we may have unfair expectations.
There is little info out there on the effect of using GPUs for editing vs gaming. In an attempt to better understand how NLEs work I looked at professional software. Professional video editors have had more time with 4k cameras and editing than we consumers. It's a different market to PDR as a consumer level product - but I was interested in their performance and technology and how GPUs affected performance for editing and rendering. Again - no benchmarks. The results suprised me. THIS IS NOT A TECHINCAL EVALUATION.
There is not a lot of info out there on PDR performance. This is all based on the info I've found. I use "4k" to refer to 4k and UHD. I also use the term "NLE" to refer to video editing software and "PDR" for Power Director.
HD pushed the limits for most NLEs and consumer level PC hardware. Anything above HD and all NLEs recommend expensive professional workstations. Software has it's performance limitations. Adobe Premiere and Edius have been around for decades and both are used by the Pros. Both were CPU based for many years and have only recently added GPU support.
PDR was ahead of most when they added Intel Quick Sync (Intel HD Graphics) support. Edius (considered the fastest NLE) only added Quick Sync support in their latest Ver 8 and claim 5X faster render for H.264.
Adobe added GPU support by "The GPU-accelerated Adobe Mercury Playback Engine, co-developed by Adobe and NVIDIA, leverages NVIDIA GPUs and the NVIDIA® CUDA® Parallel Computing Platform to deliver interactive, real-time editing and up to 24x¹ faster performance on final rendered exports."4k editing is a challenge on most NLEs. Even with expensive hardware and pro software there are limitations when you start adding multiple 4k layers, effects, etc.. Adobe test mentioned above was done with a Xeon (8 cores) at $2k and dual Quadro M6000 GPUs at $5k each! http://www.nvidia.com/object/adobe-premiere-pro-cc.html#. That's a $15k+ workstation for realtime 4k editing!! One test shows two Xeons with two Quadros are even better!
Video codecs and software edit effects may or may not be optomised for GPU and can affect Edit/Render performance.So, in summary, the claim that PDR supports 4k editing is putting unreasonable expectations on the software as a consumer grade product. Professional software supporting 4k also struggles with 4k on the timeline.So - how do others handle 4k editing without spending $15-20k on a professional PC?
The biggest challenge is realtime editing/playback on the timeline. There are other solutions and work-arounds being used - and could be easily added to PDR to solve the 4k challaenge.
Proxy Editing Several programs now support "Proxy Editing" internally. Proxy files are created via transcoding as temp files within the program at a lower resolution and used on the timeline for edit. Ie if you are editing 4k you might use a 720p lower bitrate proxy format. Advantage - fast smooth realtime edit as the program is editing 720p and not 4k/UHD. If your consumer PC can edit 720p - it can edit 4k! Once editing is finished the program substitutes the 720p files in the timeline for the original 4k files to render. Disadvantage - it takes a little time to wait for proxy files to be created before you can start editing and timeline preview is limited to 720p proxy file resolution. If you have a second 4k monitor you cannot preview your edit effects in 4k resolution - may be a problem for the Pros - but most are happy with a 720p preview. It is integraded in the edit software. PDR15 could easily add a transcode option to a user specified resolution before you start editing as one solution for 4k editing on a consumer PC similar to shadow file creation.
Here's an example of Prroxy Editing on Adobe Premiere Pro CC. https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/how-to/proxy-media.html and here on a lowly laptop Edit 4K video on the 12" MacBook with Final Cut Pro X. It's not rocket science but it works. Note that's it's integrated into the software.
Use Edit Friendly Codecs - Simply put, the formats used by our cameras like H.264 are great for compressing video into small file sizes with minimal quality loss to fit on an SD card. Each compressed frame is not a full image but only records a small partial image which is basically only the differences between frames. Edit software has do a lot of work to do in order to to get frame accurate images. "Edit Friendly" codecs produce files that are too large for most camera storage. They are also known as "Intermediate codecs" as they are not commonly used for output of a finished project.
One of the reasons claims "EDIUS Pro 8 is the fastest and most versatile real-time editing software — period" is that they have always had a proprietary codec for editing called GV HQ/HQX and Edius 8 automatically generates intermediate files in this codec for editing nad render which decompresses your MP4 files on your PC. The difference between transcoding into a 720p Proxy and an Intermediate Codec is thet the proxy is smaller and lower quality but the Intermediate Codecs retain the 4k quality and the files are much larger. You can get realtime editing with a high quality preview for more accurate editing. Every frame is now a keyframe so editing is much faster and things like colour correction more accurate.
These well known professional intermediate codecs were licensed and expensive so not available to us. Now Edius GV HQ/HQX, Cineform, Apple ProRes, Avid DNxHD, and others are now free to downlod and use. If you have a GoPro and have used GoPro Studio you will see that it transcodes your camera files into Cineform AVI files automatically before you Edit. Cineform is now integarted into PPro, DaVinci Resolve and many other NLEs now support these intermediate codecs. They work in PDR (we tested it) as does any VFW codec.
Here is an example using PPro Edit 4K Footage Easy with Adobe Premiere Pro and Cineform. Cineform is also GPU accelerated which improves performance. Transcoding to an intermediate codec make 4k editing with high quality preview posible on a consumer PC. It was proven to work in PDR14 with a user developed transcoder (Magic+PD Solution in the forum) using the MagicYUV codec. I use it for 4k editing on my Core i5 and PDR14. Files are large but I delete them when I'm finished. PDR could easily add transcoding to an intermediate codec as an option before edit as long as you have downloaded and installed any of the intermediate codecs mentioned above and they are VFW codecs.
Here are more links for further reading:
How to Work Efficiently with 4K Footage on Old Computers
Faster Editing in DaVinci Resolve 12.5 Using Optimized Media
Proxy Workflow: Edit Large 4k RAW files on a Laptop! Premiere Pro CC 2015.3
Sony Vegas - MagicYUV codec coming on strong for 4K
Why you should use Avid DNxHD and Apple ProRes
The Intermediate Codec Thread
Summary
- There is currently NO software out there that can edit 4k on a consumer level PC smoothly. When you add 4k clips in multi layers to the timeline and add some effects any NLE software is going to struggle or freeze without very expensive hardware. It is unreasonable to expect Power Director as a consumer grade NLE to do any better. Whether you spend a hundred dollars or or a thousand dollars for an NLE you need more to edit 4k.
- GPU acceleration is also limited to the effects and codecs written to support it - not only the NLE software. Improved GPU support won't guarantee 4k realtime editing but as Jeff (JL_JL) has shown it can improve performance.
- Professional NLE software on high end hardware supports and uses transcoding to Proxy Files and Intermediate Codecs for smooth 4k editing. Power Director can easily do the same to enable users to edit 4k on a consumer level core i5 or i7 PC. 4k editing will never be a reality for most PDR users until they do.
Sooooooooooo - for those (me included) who have expressed their disappointment with PDR performance - other NLE software may not solve your problems. Furthermore, upgrading your PC CPU/GPU may not give you 4k editing - unless you have a very large budget.
Does that mean you can't edit 4k now? Not at all! You can transcode your 4k videos to a lower resolution using third party software You can also try the user developed Magic+PD solution in the PDR14 forum to transcode your 4K clips to a fast intermediate codec but both are time consuming and difficult for most users - but they do work.
I left out render speed intentionally as it's really another topic. 4k render is not a problem in PDR. At lot of software is adding Intel QuickSync support. PDR has had it for some time, Edius added it with Ver 8 and Resolve has recently added it as well. Here is a an independent evaluation of render speeds http://www.dvc.uk.com/acatalog/Edius_quicksync.html
Al
PS - Please excuse my typing. I like the new forum look but can't believe there's still no Spell-check, cut, paste etc.
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Jeff - found this on performance impact of GPU cards on edit software. Seems there are significant improvements possible (ingore the ad after 6:30). Also AMD vs Nvidia. Premiere improved GPU performance with their Mercury engine.
"GPU vs CPU Video Rendering and Video Editing"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7cQK8jFPzo
Yes, GPU cores can provide tons of capability to various tasks, I didn't however see anything significant or of value in this YT video of GPU's as it pertains to PD. Yes, certainly, for PD's TrueVelocity features a higher end GPU with adequate cores and OpenCL support a good feature when one utilizes such timeline content. I just don't have huge chunks of timeline utilizing for instance PD's 01_Star particle or the Bloom effect for it to be a significant need for my editing timelines. I'm much more interested in PD's performance for basic timeline decoding and encoding of multiple video tracks with limited editing additions for my PD projects.
Jeff
Maybe I am being unfair in my PDR15 expectations - and maybe Cyberlink contributed to those expectations through their claims of speed and 4k support. As you said "I don't know what type of test case substantiates "fastest."
Here's a claim from Edius Pro 8 "EDIUS Pro 8 is the fastest and most versatile real-time editing software — period."
The video above used Adobe PPro and the Cineform codec - which has been optomised to use GPU which affected results. I only posted it as there is little info out there on the effect of using GPUs for editing vs gaming as he says in the video.I an attempt to better understand how NLEs work I looked at professional software.
We are going off topic.
I'll start a new one "PDR15 Performance and 4K Editing"
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Jeff - found this on performance impact of GPU cards on edit software. Seems there are significant improvements possible (ingore the ad after 6:30). Also AMD vs Nvidia. Premiere improved GPU performance with their Mercury engine.
"GPU vs CPU Video Rendering and Video Editing"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7cQK8jFPzo
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Thanks again Jeff - Quote from PDR15 Ad
"PowerDirector 15 Ultimate Is the fastest and most creative video editing software in the world. Powered by the award-winning 64-bit TrueVelocity engine, PowerDirector provides unparalleled speed in rendering HD videos – including support for the latest 4K UltraHD and H.265/HEVC formats. "
Industry-leading Rendering Speed and Format Support
LEADING FORMATS & PERFORMANCE
Render with the world's fastest video engine: TrueVelocity 5 (I think they mean 6 not 5)
http://www.cyberlink.com/stat/edms/affiliate/Purch/PDR.jsp
https://www.amazon.com/Cyberlink-PDR-EF00-RPM0-00-PowerDirector-15-Ultimate/dp/B01LEZNCSG
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I get a bit lost in the GPU world but here is an interesting video on "GPU vs CPU Video Rendering and Video Editing"
AMD vs Nvidia for Video Rendering
Al
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Hi Lena,
I'm still using PDR14 and M+PD for 4k.
To answer your question, PDR15 users have not not found any noticeable improvement in 4k editing over PDR14 so far according to feedback I've had in this forum. Nothing wrong with your laptop.
http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/49808.page#post_box_262376
Al
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Jeff - Thanks I fell behind on your extensive GPU testing. Thanks for bringing me up to date with links to posts I missed.
Seems NLE software design varies a lot.
My brief experience is as follows:
Edius was always CPU based and uses more available memory. Ver 8 claims much faster render times since they added acceleration with Intel HD Graphics. When I tested 8 I could edit 2 layers of 4k on my i5 once I upgraded to 16gb memory with smooth HQ preview.
DaVinci Resolve is very GPU hungry. It supports up to eight GPUs on a PC - and chokes on my poor little i5.
Not sure how Premiere handles GPU for editing/render.
Just observations - not benchmarks.
Surely Cyberlink's claim as the fastest render engine in the industry is subjective depending on effects, input/output formats etc?
My plan was to make the shift to 4k with PDR15 and a PC upgrade but not sure PDR is ready yet.
I noticed in your one example, you are transcoding from 2K to HD for editing. Do you turn off shadow files? Does it help for 4k editing?
I was really hoping Cyberlink would have done more to improve edit and render with GPU power based all all the info you have provided. I sometimes get the impression you have put more effort in than they have.
Thanks again,
Al
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Hi Tony,
On Cyber website the claim a new render engine in PDR15.
Have you noticed any differences?
Is PDR15 any better at 4k editing performance?
Thanks
Al
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Based on what you've found what hardware would you recommend for 4k editing in PD? Is there any performance improvement for 4k in PDR15 to justify the upgrade?
I don't use your constantly promoted MagicYUV editing approach in PD so can't comment on any potential PD15 improvement for your 4K/MagicYUV workflow approach.
You can always give the trial a ride or purchase and use the 30 day money back guarantee, http://www.cyberlink.com/support/purchase-faq-content.do?id=16356 or buy a 3 month subscription to evaluate.
Jeff
Thanks Jeff - I meant what hardware (CPU, GPU etc) for 4k editing without using MagicYUV.
Al
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All converted to AVI using Cineform, or Magic+PD.
Frustrating!!!
How did you convert to Cineform AVI?
What happened when you tried Magic+PD? I edit 4k on a core i5 with Intel Graphics 4600(no GPU card) using Magic+PD. Yours has Intel Graphics which is more powerful.
Al
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AdamUK
Once you duplicate the settings please compare the PDR14 output to GoPro Studio. Please let me know if you see any output quality difference. Thanks.
Al
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Sorry Bob - It's a common utility used on the form to display file codec, bitrate and other info. Can you supply that info to compare the MP4 vs M2TS files.
Al
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