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The original thread has been locked so I cannot make this comment there but the suggestion was made to use Windows Movie Maker to "capture" content before importing same into a Power Director programme for editing. This if fine if you're using Windows XP(service pack 3) but if you're using Windows 7, you'll find that Windows Movie Maker has ABSOLUTELY NO PROVISION for recording from external sources via capture card. I thought I should point this out to anyone who might be thinking of trying Windows Movie Maker for that purpose. Quite frankly, Windows Movie Maker falls down in a number of points. Ease of use when editing, it also renders some clips into monochrome against the user's intentions, and of course the lack of the capture option, you can only edit content already imported via other programmes. Trying Windows Movie maker myself shortly after getting this Windows 7-based computer, I soon saw its shortcomings and thus I no longer use it for ANY purpose.
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SteveK, This is NOT spam! These people are GENUINELY frustrated by their being unable to transfer their old VHS home movie content to computer for editing and transfer to DVD. I know exactly how they feel as I've encountered the same problem while still using PD7. Recently I upgraded to PD8 and, admittedly haven't tried it yet, but I know what happens when PD misinterprets noise or whatever on the tape as a copyright protection function, which, on home-recorded VHS tapes, would CERTAINLY not exist, So SteveK, don't be so damned dismissive of these people by calling their cries for help "spam"! Either give them the help they require, or if you can't help, then pass the questions on to someone who CAN assist.
I make no apologies for taking you to task on this, you nrrd to be pulled down a peg or two!
In anger, Neil Forbes.
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Okay, here's a thought! Owing to Yousefz's computer having "sensitive" material contain on its hard-drive, would it be possible to copy the "activation Request" component to a flash-drive, then drop it onto a "surrogate" computer which can go on the net, upload it from there, activate PD11 by proxy, drop the activation code back onto that flash-drive and copy into the contents-sensitive computer? Sounds like a round-about way to do things, but could it work?
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Hello, Yousefz. To activate Power Director(if a retail version), you should have a CD Key attached to the sleeve which contains the installation disc. After installation, and opening the programme for the first time, you'll be presented with the window where you type in the CD-Key and your particulars(Name, Address, etc.). Once you've filled in these details, you click "okay" and the programme will be activated. I did it this way when I first got PD7 some five or six years ago. I was not on the net at that time. I only came "on-line" in early 2012. Having the internet connection is really just for "registering" the software. See how you go!
Cheers!
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I think I ought to clarify my last remark here.. I'm assuming you're adding a music mix to your clip. if so you might've tried to insert it on the narration track(which has a 'speaker' icon). In some, but not all cases, the narration track may not recognise MP3, but the music track(1 only in PD7, 3 or more in PD8 and upwards) will, or should accept MP3. If, like me, you might prepare a narration track for your video, if the narration track won't accept MP3, then have a WAV file version of your narration ready, "just in case!". Or put your narration track(MP3) on one of the music tracks(PD8 and upwards).
Cheers!
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Hi, go4peace. Good that you've resolved your problem through upgrade to PD12, but a tip for the future if you ever require the use of an analogue microphone, it's always best to connect such a microphone through an audio mixer. I use a second-hand "Realistic"(Tandy) SSM-1900, which I found at a recycling centre. It has two microphone inputs, two phono(magnetic cartridge) inputs, 4 line inputs(for cassette and/or open-reel recorder output, CD player, or any other line-level source) and has two line-level outputs, one for the monitor(connected to the Aux. input of a stereo amplifier, and the other, to my computer via the line-in socket at rear of the CPU. The output of the mixer going to the amplifier, actually goes via a 3-way source selector switch(again made by Realistic) so I can select wither what the computer is "hearing" or what signal is going to the computer via the mixer's monitor output.
It's an elaborate set-up, yes, but it works for me.. You could set up a simpler arrangement, but to get the signal "recognised", you must select the input by clicking on "device", then, from the drop-down menu, select "Line-In At Rear". This will get around the system not recognising the front-panel microphone input on your CPU.
Cheers!
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Gunkokuma, you might try inserting the audio on the music tracks which(generally) accept MP3 audio.
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Hi, Go4peace!
In the event that your Power Director is not "recognising" your microphone, I admit I've not yet seen one that connects via USB, but if you have a "third-party" software for audio-only recording & editing, try your mic with that software, and if it works okay, then my post on adding narration to video may help. In the event that it doesn't work, then the front or rear panel microphone inputs on your computer will happily accept any analogue microphone, as long as the plug is the right size(miniature phone plug). Even microphones like that from that old cassette recorder you might have, gathering dust in your attic(or cellar), or that old beast of an open-reel recorder you used as a kid. If they're still working, plug 'em in to the mic socket on the front of your computer. One tip, get yourself a microphone sock. This is a foam-rubber cup that covers the business end of the microphone and helps to cut down heavy "sylibant" sounds( such as "p' in potato). You'll even find your Power Director software will accept the signal from this trusted veteran technology too.
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Stevek's monopod is also a good idea. You could easily fashion one for yourself with a pole and a bit of other hardware. By hardware, a small piece of metal attached to one end, with a hole, of the same diameter as that on the underside of your camera, through which a nut can be screwed into that hole in your camera's underside(there to provide attachment to a regular tripod). How you affix the metal piece to the pole is up to you and depends on whether the pole is metal or wooden. But a monopod will allow you to pan left or right easily, leaning back or forward for tilt. These days with digital(DV-tape or newer SD card-based cameras having their own little flip-out monitor screen, people tend to hold the camera out in front of them and view the activity they're shooting through the screen. Fine, if you have a steady hand, but a tripod or monopod can go a long way toward helping to steady that image. And just a thought, the weight of that tripod or monopod, while attached, could help steady the camera while walking and shooting.
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I've been toying with this since reading the question and I think I have a solution, as follows:
1) Lay the clip you wish to apply the effect to, on the timeline, also lay the clip on the overlay(PiP) track. Naturally the two should be synchronised.
2) Determine the point at which you wish the effect to occur(transition from monochrome to colour) and split BOTH images at that point. Make a second split on the overlay track only, at 5 seconds before the split on both tracks.
3) On the main image, highlight the portion before the split and click on fix/enhance, select colour adjustment and slide the saturation back to monochrome(to the left). Now you have the monochrome portion of your clip.
4) On the overlay track, delete the portion before the first split and after the second, leaving only that 5-second portion which will be used to create the transition. Stretch the image out so it fills the screen.
5) Select Modify, then select animation, from there select fade-in. If you notice a slight jump in the image, this can be corrected by pulling the overlay at end of the effect(Click and drag to stretch the length, effectively "restores" some of what was deleted).
You now have a completed transition, all that's left is to "produce" it!
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I'll endorse Barry's remarks there, re: tripod. Carl's reference to the "stabiliser" function in fix/enhance works to a degree but the outer perimeter of the image will jump around, something you'll need to mask over. I've tried the stabiliser effect once previously while using PD7 and noted the effect of the image perimeter shaking. If the degree of image shake is too great for the stabiliser to correct, then it's tripods for you in future shots, my friend!
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Carl312, the comment I made there about my fear of my post going missing after I got the "This Page Cannot Be Displayed" notice, was just a comment about what happened when I tried to submit a post about "Music For Menu". The Page..." problem was quickly resolved by my jumping off the site, then back on again while still being "logged in".
It's actually the "Music For Menu" problem, for which I was seeking resolution. Quite separate in its way from that of Alan2620. If you read my previous posts on this thread, you'll see what I'm trying to achieve.
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Just after typing my reply, when I went to submit, it took some time(longer than it should've) then I was greeted with "This page cannot be displayed". I thought I'd lost all that I'd written. Thankfully to luck, when I got back in, I saw that my last post was intact(whew!)
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The answer to Alan2620's problem didn't really answer mine either. My problem isn't the length of the music, so much as wanting to choose my own background music for the unanimated part of the menu. I've watched the menu sequences in the "Create DVD" section and noted how they were divided into an animate portion and a still portion(some but not all, some of the menus are animated in the Play All/Scenes and chapter select section as well) Using those as the "inspiration", I tried to create a custom menu, using a portion of a first-play video I created for a compilation of my own clips, this would open the menu, then a still-frame was used from that first-play for the section which would be the root menu(play all/scenes and the chapter selection part). My problem was that the audio from the first-play was present for the portion which used it, but when it switched to the still-frame, the music abruptly changed to an inbuilt piece which jarred against the music I wanted to have as the background audio, and there was no way I could see to alter it whilst in the process of creating the menu page. I'm aware that I can alter the music in the menus already available but this is not what I wanted. I wanted to craft my own menu and have the background music of my own choice across both the animated intro and the unanimated portion of the menu. I hope I've explained this clearly enough.
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Actually I'd like to know about this too! Using PD8 I tried to create my own custom menu. The PD8 allows for some animation but only for half the sequence. Any audio you put on your video(I used a bit of a first-play video, then a still from that first-play) Half-way through the sequence the audio switches abruptly from that of my first-play sequence to an inbuilt audio that I have not been able to change as there's no provision to do so(or if there is, I've not found it) When I got it finished as much as I could, when I went to save it, PD8 stopped working. My custom menu page shows those that I created when I was still using PD7. Basically what I want to do is clear the other (intrusive) audio(music) and put my own chosen audio in its place for the portion where the "play all or scene selection part kicks in. I hope I've explained this clearly enough.
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I'm going to have to toy around with this one to see what I can come up with. Leave it with me! I have an idea that might work but I have to try it first, "suck it and see!" If you get my meaning.
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Hi, pj910!
It seems you have one part of your problem solved already. If you're using a third-party software to "capture" your content from the DVR, all you do now is simply import that captured content into your Power Director for editing purposes. This method would suffice until you've resolved your problems with capturing from DVR with Power Director. Can I assume you may be using PD12? Or is it an earlier version?
Cheers!
Neil Forbes.
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Hi, Stevek,
The highest calibre may well mean best quality image but it's achieved at the expense of disc capacity. I may well be settling for "good enough", but that "good enough" is really quite good! As I said, I like to pack a lot into my DVDs, just like I do with my home-burned music CDs. Why waste capacity? If burning a DVD at SP quality allows me over 2 hours of content, I'll happily take that over HQ any day of the week! Like I explained in my last post, I may just have one item of over two hours' duration, or I may have several items with a combined duration of over two hours, but it makes for a good two hours plus, of viewing! Remember, we're shooting digitally here! the image quality is stunningly clear and sharp, even at DVD SP, so I'm not losing much in image quality, but I'm gaining in how much content I can put on my discs!
Cheers!
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This is a step-by-step method of adding a voice-over(narration) track to your video. It's best to first render the item(produce) before adding your narration, this way, you can view the "final cut" and see how your transitions ant titling has worked whilst watching for the parts to which you want to add commentary. You'll need an outside programme for this purpose. I use Sony Sound Forge Audio Studio 10.
A) Watch your video through, pre-narration, pausing at points where you'll add commentary, writing down what you're likely to say at each point.
B) Record your commentary, leaving a few seconds between reading each piece. Whether you're using Sound Forge or any other audio recording software, once completed, save as an MP3 file or a .wav file(in the event you're having difficulties with MP3 and Power Director).
C) Opening your Power Director programme, import your narration track and your pre-narration video. Drop the video in place first and play until you come to the point where your first commentary is meant to be, at this point with the scrubber located where you want to insert the comment, insert your narration track.
D) As you listen to the narration track, at the end of each comment, pause and split the audio track*, cutting the remainder to "clipboard", play your video further until your second comment point appears, then paste the remaining part of your narration track at this point, and again listen to the end of the comment, split and cut. Repeat the process until you have set all your commentary at each of the points in your video where you want the commentary to be - job done!
E) Render(produce) your clip with the commentary in place, giving it a new title. The reason now becomes clear why you should pre-produce your video WITHOUT a narration track at first. This is so you'll have a base to work from, should you make a mistake, you can produce a corrected version(or record a narration in another language if you are bi-or multilingual).
In regard to audio tracks*, because you've recorded and saved your narration in a third-party audio recording and editing software, the resultant track can sit happily on either the voice or music track(s). PD8 and beyond, have extra audio tracks which can be called in as needed.
So there you have it. Recording your narration separately gives you the option of tidying up the narration, cleaning up the audio quality and editing out unwanted "bits"(fluffed lines, mispronunciations etc.). Certainly beats narrating as you shoot!
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Hello Carl,
When you see that many problems, you tend to avoid using a problem format.
It has been well documented that MP3 audio is a iffy audio format in Powerdirector
I, at any time in the future, I do encounter problems with MP3, I will avoid it THEN, but for now I've had no issues with using MP3 audio in any of my video "creations". I should point out that I don't ALWAYS record my narrations separately, sometimes I might record an ad-lib narration directly to the voice track,(which, of course, is a .wav file), but I prefer to read from a prepared "script"(old community radio habits coming into play here). The versatility of Power Director to allow me to edit my narration track in the way I've described in a previous post, is testament to the software product's quality.
But, as I've said, if MP3 starts giving me headaches in relation to Power Director in future, I'll revert to .wav files. But right now, all is well in the MP3 garden!
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Stevek
Fair enough, We'll simply agree to disagree. Though I may try your folder idea at some stage, to see how it works. But burning a DVD at HQ, does consume disc space, I'm one who likes to pack a lot into my videos! Sometimes they may be on one subject(like the annual Steamfest, held every April at Maitland, NSW, on the second weekend of that month. It's a weekend when all the steam locomotive enthusiasts descend on that city, video and stills cameras in hand, some hand-held, some on tripods. I just finished editing an hour's worth of video from my own camera and that of a friend for a combined video, the result of which I've extremely pleased with. I recorded the narration in a separate audio recording software and imported the narration as an MP3 track. With each comment I left a bit of a gap( a few seconds) between each comment so I'd have a point to snip, then cut, move along to the next point where the commentary is needed, paste and cut at the end of that comment, repeating the process until the last bit of commentary is in place. The resulting video ran for a smidgin over an hour, so I'll save it and put it with another video(of the same subject, or something else entirely, of at least an hour's duration). And it's this desire to pack a good 2 hour's worth of content into a disc, is the reason I ALWAYS burn at DVD SP. And because I'm shooting with a digital camera, I'm getting sharp, clean images and it's really hard to distinguish between SP or HQ. It's all "much of a muchness", really. As for the DVD player, it's built-in to the base of my flat-screen TV. It will happily play all commercially-made DVDs, including dual-layer, but WON'T touch a home-burn dual-layer, no matter where it was made or who made it. As for region codes, we're in Region 4 in Australia, but that does not apply to home-burn DVDs which are NOT region-encoded. The only reason for the Region-encoding is for the "big boys" like Warner, Universal, Paramount, Village-Roadshow(Aussie) and the likes to control their markets more closely. They're not the least bit interested in the movies themselves, they're just interested in counting the moolah as it pours into their coffers!
P.S. Hardware and Software encoding are a bit above my league - I'm self-taught and have picked up quite a few editing skills, but the inner "guts" of a computer are something I eave to those more knowledgable than myself. As for discs, I always use DVD+R from mainly Verbatim or TDK, companies with solid reputations in this field of recording media.(had to edit again - noticed a missing letter which is now in place( "my" should've been "may" - Keyboard Gremlins, you see! Ha-Ha!)
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