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How to nudge an edit point
Rick [Avatar]
Newbie Location: California Joined: Mar 15, 2010 20:21 Messages: 8 Offline
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I'm new to PowerDirector, but I have experience editing with other tools. There are a couple of features that I haven't been able to find in PowerDirector. I'll describe the feature and why I think I need it in case there is a better way of doing what I want

1. Is there a way to set a point on the time line that the playback head will return to when I stop? I would like to be able to listen and look at the beginning of a possible cut repeatedly, nudging the starting point a frame or two each time. Similarly, can I set a point on the time line for playback to stop? Again I would like to listen to the end of a segment repeatedly to determine the precise frame to cut.

2. Is there a way to expand the waveform display on the audio track? Often cuts are based on the audio and it would be helpful to be able to expand the wave form to see things more clearly.

3. Is there a way to drag the playhead and hear the audio? This is often called scrubbing.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Apr 02. 2010 16:24

Cap'n Kevin
Senior Contributor Location: Chebeague Island, Maine Joined: Dec 26, 2008 20:22 Messages: 2011 Offline
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Hi Rick,

Ok...here goes...

1. As far as I know, this is not possible.

2. You can expand the audio wave form horizontally by using the ZOOM IN and ZOOM OUT controls located in the lower left corner of Power Director. It can be expanded to show the video clip at a per frame level.

And you can expand vertically the size of the Timeline tracks to see the peaks of the audio tracks alittle bit more pronounced. It's not a huge difference, marginally better at best.

3. Audio does not play back when moving the Scrubber bar over the Timeline. I am familiar with this being audible in other Video editing software, but not in PD8.

Kevin
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Rick [Avatar]
Newbie Location: California Joined: Mar 15, 2010 20:21 Messages: 8 Offline
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Kevin,

Thanks for the quick response. I was afraid those were the answers.

The audio scrubbing is a pretty sophisticated ability. But the idea of setting marks on the time line seems pretty basic to me. Do you know if Cyberlink is responsive to user requests? And if so, where is the appropriate place to make my suggestions?

Thanks again,

Rick
ynotfish
Senior Contributor Location: N.S.W. Australia Joined: May 08, 2009 02:06 Messages: 9977 Offline
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Hi Rick -

One way to temporarily set a mark/return to point/end point is to split the clip at the desired point. In "Clip" mode, this should work for you. The splits can later be removed.

Expanding the timeline, as Kevin suggested, will help with accurate sync and editing. When it's "maxed out", however, the audio waveform gets a bit lost... the peaks become less distinct.

You're probably aware of the keystrokes for moving the scrubber by one frame at a time... > (forward) & < (backward).

At times, within this forum, enough members lend their support to a suggestion that it is forwarded to CyberLink R&D by Dafydd (moderator).

Cheers - Tony
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Anonymous [Avatar]
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Just a suggestion how to find a cutting point via waveform in a more distinct way:
1. You highlight the respective soundclip in the timeline view.
2. you choose "Trim" from the tools buttons to open the "Trim Audio" window (this increases the vertical resolution of the waveform)
3. Click onto the magnifying (+) - icon several times to maximize horizontal resolution of the waveform.
4. Find the desired point for you to cut - and note the timecode given in the "Trim Audio" window.
5. Close the "Trim Audio" window (you haven't done any trimming at all!)
6. Keep the soundclip highlighted and choose "Clip" on the preview window.
7. Enter the noted timecode into the respective field in the preview window.
8. Hit "Enter" Key on keyboard - the marker ('scrubber'?) jumps tp the very position.
9. Highlight now the video clip with a single left-button-click
10. Click onto "Split" button.
voila!
...
But remember to save prior to testing this! ;o) ...but PD allows "undo" nevertheless!

Michael.

Rick [Avatar]
Newbie Location: California Joined: Mar 15, 2010 20:21 Messages: 8 Offline
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Thanks for all the ideas, everyone. This is a great forum.

Tony, you mentioned that there was a way to share ideas with Cyberlink. I'd like to get some folks together to make a list of these professional features. By "professional" I mean the kinds of user interface things that greatly increase productivity for the person who edits all day, everyday. Maybe we could discuss what our favorite features would be so we could make a prioritized list. I'm new to PowerDirector but I've worked in TV for quite a while, that's why I have these expectations. But that was before non-linear digital editing systems. Maybe I'm behind the times and don't know the newer better way of doing things.

For instance, I haven't yet found the shortcut key to change between Clip mode and Movie mode. Oops! I'm editing this to add that I really looked in the help and found Page Up and Page Down change clip/movie mode.

Thanks again,

Rick

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at Apr 02. 2010 15:15

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