Why so complicated?

SixSigmaGuy

Newbie Joined: Apr 27, 2017 22:42 Messages: 2 Offline

Solved by

Apr 27, 2017 22:51

I just installed PowerDirector to perform what I thought should be an incredibly thing to do with my video, but after struggling for an hour I still haven't figured out how to do it. All I wanted to do was load an mp4 file, trim it's length, and save it back. To start with, there was no way to simply open an mp4 file. I had to first create a project and then load the mp4 into the project. With a little effort I found out how to trim the video, but that certainly could have been more straightforward. But, when I wanted to save my newly edited video back to an mp4 file, I was completely lost. I would have thought that would have been an obvious thing that any video editor would support; but for the life of me, I can't find out how to do it. All I can do is save a project file. What good is a project file going to do me? I need the trimmed mp4 file so I can re-post it on my website. The promotional advertising for this product on the Windows Store says it's a video editor. What's the point of editing a video if I can't save it?

Big_Steel_29

Newbie Location: South Korea Joined: Apr 24, 2016 12:20 Messages: 7 Offline

Apr 28, 2017 01:28

At the top left of the screen are a few options - Capture, Edit, Produce, Create Disc.

Clicking the 'Produce' button will take you to another screen where all the options for rendering are. You can select various formats and codecs there, one of which is mp4. Choose your format and save destination and you'll be good to go.

Otherwise the 'Save' button under 'File' will only do just as you said - save the project file.

SixSigmaGuy

Newbie Joined: Apr 27, 2017 22:42 Messages: 2 Offline

Apr 28, 2017 02:19

Thanks for answering. Pretty much what I figured. Pretty poor design; why on earth would anyone think of going to the produce tab to save a file. I've already uninstalled it. I found something much better that was incredibly simple to use and well designed. It doesn't do everything that PowerDirector does, but it does everything I'll ever want and is more direct on what features it provides.

Quote At the top left of the screen are a few options - Capture, Edit, Produce, Create Disc.

Clicking the 'Produce' button will take you to another screen where all the options for rendering are. You can select various formats and codecs there, one of which is mp4. Choose your format and save destination and you'll be good to go.

Otherwise the 'Save' button under 'File' will only do just as you said - save the project file.

vn800rider

Senior Contributor Location: Darwen, UK Joined: May 15, 2008 04:32 Messages: 1949 Offline

Apr 28, 2017 03:03

"......Pretty poor design; why on earth would anyone think of going to the produce tab to save a file. "

I think you have misunderstood the different processes involved. It is a relatively basic and common concept that "saving" your project file and "producing" your edited video are very different functions.

As you said, if you want a very basic set of functions then PD is not for you, and it's great you have found what you require, but I'm not sure that PD suffers from "poor design" in this context - your difficulty was more your need for a very simple editor, rather than one with more functionality and capabilities.

The differing edit modes and the basic steps to create a video are outlined in the 1st main part of the Help file which would have helped you in your task.

Over the years PD has got good reviews in many areas, from many sources and I don't recall your opinion being echoed anywhere.

Cheers

Adrian

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Apr 28. 2017 03:04

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