Can't open a video file

K6CCC - Jim

Newbie Joined: Jul 06, 2020 13:02 Messages: 7 Offline

Solved by

Jul 06, 2020 13:27

Brand new guy here so be gentle

Downloaded and installed PD18. When I start it up, I get the 30 day trial message (as expected). When I try to open a video file, I get a message that "Your version of PowerDirector doesn't support this feature". Excuse me, this is a video editing package. If I can't open a video file during the 30 day trial, what good is the trial? Or am I completely missing something?

Version 18.6.3019.0 (64 bit)
Version Type: Essential
SR number: VDE200506-03

If I like the software, I'll buy it - sort of the point of a trial. But if all I can do during the trial is stare at the screens, what's the point? I don't really want to spend $130 only to find I don't like the software. Hence the purpose of the trial....

Jim

optodata

Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline

Jul 06, 2020 14:21

You're working with the trial version of PD, which is not the same thing as the full version.

It sounds like you're trying to open a 4K clip, which is explicitly not supported in the trial version, as you can see from this page. Click on Download Information to see all the significant limitations.

The only way to work with 4K clips using PD in your situation is to use a 3rd party converter to downsize your clip to HD, or purchase the program and try it for up to 30 days to see if it meets your needs. CL has a 30 day money back guaranatee so you won't lose any money if you decide not to purchase PD.

YouTube/optodata

DS365 | Win11 Pro | Ryzen 9 3950X | RTX 4070 Ti | 32GB RAM | 10TB SSDs | 5K+4K HDR monitors

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K6CCC - Jim

Newbie Joined: Jul 06, 2020 13:02 Messages: 7 Offline

Jul 06, 2020 14:35

Quote You're working with the trial version of PD, which is not the same thing as the full version.

It sounds like you're trying to open a 4K clip, which is explicitly not supported in the trial version, as you can see from this page. Click on Download Information to see all the significant limitations.

The only way to work with 4K clips using PD in your situation is to use a 3rd party converter to downsize your clip to HD, or purchase the program and try it for up to 30 days to see if it meets your needs. CL has a 30 day money back guaranatee so you won't lose any money if you decide not to purchase PD.

Thanks for the reply. Obviously I know I am using the trial version. Interesting that the "you're in the trial version" popup SAYS that if gives you access to all the features for 30 days (very common for trial periods) - but I guess it really doesn't. Thanks for the Download info page. I had not seen that, but I will tell you that navigating the PD webpages was damn near an excercise in frustration.

Nope, not a 4K video file - the camera is not capable of that. I will have to fire up the drone to check, but pretty sure I have it set to standard HD.

optodata

Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline

Jul 06, 2020 15:09

K6CCC - Jim

Newbie Joined: Jul 06, 2020 13:02 Messages: 7 Offline

Jul 06, 2020 17:40

Well, you were half right. It was not a 4K video, but it was 2.7K video. Also note that the download page link you included is for PD16. Thanks for the tip on the 30 day refund. I went ahead and purchased PD18 Ultimate and it was able to work with my drone footage from all the illegal fireworks being shot off on July 4th (it sounded like a war zone around here).

I think (not knowing the product line very well) what screwed me up was that on the page for PD18 Ultimate, if you click the download link, you actually get Essentials - NOT a trial version of Ultimate. That was not overly obvious until I looked at the "about" page while typing my original message. Very poor web page design IMHO.

Now i just need to learn at least the basics of the software...

Thanks for your help.

K6CCC - Jim

Newbie Joined: Jul 06, 2020 13:02 Messages: 7 Offline

Jul 07, 2020 20:14

OK, nothing fancy, but I did manage to edit together the only three decent fireworks shots I caught from my drone on the 3rd of July. I have about 80 minutes of video from the 4th of July, but I have not even watched most of that yet. But it was like a war zone outside.

https://youtu.be/cwz44jDtdps