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Hi, all! After using Power Director 7 for a number of years, I recently stepped up to PD8, thanks to one of the contributors, who sent me his copy as it was now surplus to his requirements. However I feel I must comment on the performance of PD8 in relation to viewing clips in Edit mode. As I view the movie I'm editing, each time I come out of a transition, the movement becomes jerky, rather than smooth. I have to stop, then start to regain the smooth motion(hitting the space-bar, stop/start). Is this to do with the upgrade to build 3022? And if so, is it wise to reinstall the raw version WITHOUT the upgrade patch? Another thing I've noticed is that when I use the video-in-reverse effect for comic purpose, attempting to view the effect in edit mode, the effect does not flow as it should. Again I get this jerky rough effect which doesn't show me how well the effect works. It's not until I've produced(rendered) the final clip that I see the results of what I created. I made reference to reinstalling PD8 as I had used this method some time ago to put a stop to PD7 crashing on me during editing. I made the fatal error(to me) of downloading an upgrade build for PD7 and that's where the troubles started. On reinstalling PD7(when I was using it on a Windows XP computer), the problem was fixed - no more crashing! So I wonder if that's the way I should go here, reinstall PD8 from the disc without the upgrade patch? One other thing, I'd like to be able to produce my clips without having to set up each time I open the Produce window. Meaning, I want to set default parameters so that it will be automatically set to MPEG2 at DVD SP quality each time I select Produce.
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If the file size from the source is 4.7 Gb, and you're trying to render it for your own use, might I suggest you render it as a DVD SP, rather than DVD HQ. The picture quality really doesn't degrade as bad as Carl312 would suggest, though at lower levels(like DVD LP) Carl312's comment is quite valid(pixelation problems plague programme playback... PPPPP!) At DVD SP, you'll notice a considerable drop in the file size as well, much the better for archiving on a good-size external hard-drive. Actually, DVD SP video is quite sharp and clear! With HQ you really don't gain a noticeable picture quality improvement(at least not in my experience) but you do lose disc capacity. DVD SP is a happy medium! Good image quality plus the ability to put upwards of 2 hours and 20 minutes worth of content onto a standard single-layer DVD5 disc. As for home-burned dual-layer(DVD9) discs, I found them unplayable on domestic DVD players, while the same player will happily play a commercially-made dual-layer disc. Guess the best use for DL discs is archiving files(of any type).
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One thing really irks me here, and it's nothing to do with ViewerX's problems, its JL_JL's use of the ugly non-word "doable" To hear or read that in ANY context, is like running fingers down a blackboard!. I would suggest a far more appropriate replacement: "Possible", "Achievable". These have the desired meaning and are legitimate words, as opposed to that... which I cannot bear to type again in this post.
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Kedra, please, fix your spelling! You're not texting on a mobile phone here, please don't use those appalling shortcuts!
As to your question, yes, you can do slow-motion on PD8, as you could on PD7, and probably as far back as PD6(though I'm guessing in regard to PD6). You can also go the other way and speed your videos up. As for file types, generally MPEG2, but you can use WMV(Windows Media Video) but the audio on those files might cause a problem. You can also use MPEG4, AVI and Apple's Quicktime(usually shot by stills cameras that also shoot short video clips).
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And again, Hi, Neils! I just read through what you described for your car video, using my tent-packing sequence as an analogy. Rather than "having to use portions of the same clip over and over again", You use the clip once, watching through to the point(frame) where you want one effect to end and the next to start, you split the clip, repeating the process for the number of times you wish to apply the effect until you've reached the end of the clip. Highlighting each "division", alternately apply the speed-up or the slow-down effect. Don't apply any transition effects as they may spoil the overall effect you're trying to achieve.
Again I ask, let us know how you got on.
Cheers!
Neil F.1955
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Hi again, Neils(from Neil #2) I understand the idea you're trying to put into action, speed-up, then slow-down, it's a matter of splitting the clip, as explained by Stevek. The only problem is that which Barry The Crab pointed out in his latest post. Though I think it might all fall in place in the final rendering. I've just stepped up to PD8 after having used PD7 for several years, first on a Windows XP-based computer, then on my current computer when the last one "breathed its last breath". I tried the Video In Reverse effect in "Power Tools", watching the effect I wanted to create was a but jerky in the edit stage, but once the completed rendering was done, the effect ran smoothly(though the audio dropped out a bit. I'm going to need to do some experimenting with that effect. But your speed-up/slow-down effect may work okay when you've rendered(produced) your final clip. Let's know how you got on, okay?
Cheers for now!
Neil F.1955
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Hi, Neils, (from Neil), the effect you're looking for, and what Stevek is referring to,has been available on Power Director from quite a few versions back(exactly how far I'm not certain) but I used a speed-up effect recently on a sequence where I was packing a tent at the end of an Easter camping trip. Add the tune "Yakety-Axe(any version you like) and I wind up with a Benny Hill-esque skit, quite funny to watch!. In some cases, the audio may be affected. Might be an idea to mute the native audio track and add your own sound effects.
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Hi, ViewerX1, I should point out that the graphic I uploaded was a screen-shot of Power Director 7. I've just today bumped up to Power Director 8 and will need some time to "suss it out", so-to-speak. I've been using PD7 for so long, it has become as familiar to me as the back of my hand. PD8, though, is a new deal for me as there are elements that will be familiar and others that will be new. I'm interested to see how PD8 goes in authoring(burning) discs. In PD7 I was able to burn discs up to 2 hours and 20 minutes in length(either one item of such length or several with a composite time of 2 hours and 20 minutes).. I had created a number of my own custom menues in PD7 but I don't know if they've been erased. A quick look told me they're still there but may behave differently with PD8. Looking at the Create Disc page, verrrryyyy different to PD7! At the top, there's "Create Menu", next to this is "Menu Structure"
At the bottom there's "Add Thumbnail Index" and a setting for "Buttons Per Page" And replacing the old option on PD7, "Create A Disc Without Menu" is an option labelled "No Menu". Another option I've noticed is the Playback Option Selector(one option being - return to menu after playing item, that is definitely going to get some use from me!) I see I'm gonna have some fun with PD8!
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Hi, Dpow1911, I've just now installed PD8 and I'm going to do some experimenting with its effects soon, after I've spent some time on the Net. I can't help re: YouTube as I prefer to put my works on disc, to be viewed by my family. I'm going to be "feeling my way" around PD8 for a while, to see what differences there are between it and PD7. Templates? They're another element of PD8 that I'll be checking out.
Bye for now.
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Hi, ViewerX1, hopefully the image I upload will assist you. To set the number of buttons, you need to go to your Create Disc section, select a menu, either from the stock-standard varieties already available, or from your own custom-designed menu pages, then click on "Modify". You'll see the option below the display of your menu page in the preview window, that shows "main Page", click here and scroll to "Chapter Page". There you'll see the symbol I've highlighted in red(it's normally white). Here you'll see Four Blue boxes(but when you open in your own, there will be other options), Choose the number of "boxes" you want. These represent the number of "thumbnails" you'll see on your screen in your finished DVD. For a twelve-chapter disc, the one I've shown here will give you four "thumbnails per page over three pages(other than the main page, which only has the option of Play All or Scene Selections)
Hope this has helped. Cheers!
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Dpow1911, Which version of Video Studio are you using? Is it Pro X5, by chance? I use this for basic editing and it complements what I do in Power Director. I tend to finish off by adding narration, titles(sometimes) and embedding some background music, using PD7(at the moment, soon to have PD8, PD12 sometime in the future). I also - and always - use Power Director to author the discs(burn to disc, in other words) It's here where Power Director really excels, because I can compile material, up to 2 hours and 20 minutes in composite length, regardless of how big the video MPEG2 file may be in megabytes or even gigabytes. I've found elsewhere(particularly in the Windows Movie Maker, if the file size is too large, it won't fit on the disc, even if the content length is well inside tolerable limits(Windows DVD maker only allows an hour & 50 minutes - not good! And don't get me started on their Movie Maker... Total rubbish!) Give me Power Director for authoring any day!
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Hi, MrBothered1, the purpose of the clips only running for two seconds(or so) is to act as a "thumbnail" An identification of the item or chapter to help you recognise it. I've often done videos this way. If the disc has just one long item on it, say, an hour and a half-to-two hours, I'll divide it into chapters, either at even intervals or at points I've determined they should be. If, however, I've made a disc which has several short items, of about 5 to 15or 20 minutes in length, I will set the chapter room to insert the chapyers at the beginning of each individual clip. At present I have a folder of clips I'm assembling of some of my activities from the year, I'll burn them to DVD later this year, when I have enough to fill one or two discs. So far the clips include my Easter camping trip, Steamfest(an event celebrating steam locomotives), Australia Day activities, a visit to my nephew's home, and one other I can't think of at the moment. So there you have it. The clips in the menu are brief reminders of what's contained on your disc. I won't make any corrections here but the errors allow you to see how the "keyboard gremlins" can make an otherwise sensible post or reply look as if it was written by an imbecile(which I'm not, by the way!)
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Hi, Borgus1 and Carl312, I'll address this to both of you. I think a point was missed here, and that is that these tapes I'm trying to capture from were, and are NOT commercially-made feature movie tapes, rather, they're off-air recordings or dubbed from camera tapes. So there should be NO embedded copy-guard system on either the video or audio tracks of the tape. The output of my VHS recorder is composite video(analogue) (yellow RCA connector), and Left/Right Stereo Audio(red and White RCA connectors) fed to a Kworld(trademarked) video capture card device. Nothing out of the ordinary there, I should think. I don't think there is any problem in the connection, or in the inner workings(electronics) of the VHS recorder itself.
"In another forum, Carl mentioned that transferring VHS to DVD, then editing from the DVD, has worked well for him - though this wasn't in regard to copy protection. That might be worth a go." The only problem with that idea is that this "phantom"(shall we call it thus) copy protection would get in the way there as well. As I said, it doesn't affect every tape but sometimes it raises its ugly head and causes problems.
On a lighter note, Have you an old Video-8 or Hi-8 camera? Have you noticed how well these cameras' tapes dub to VHS or Betamax, leaving the VHS or Beta copies just as good for mastering as the original Video-8 or Hi-8 tapes? I found this out when I first ventured into this. However, and here's the rub, a VHS cassette, recorded on a VHS, or VHS-C camera, dubbed to another, or to a Betamax, the resultant copy is NOT a good master for capturing to computer. Hmmmm!
Bye for now!
Neil Forbes
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I don't know if this has happened to anyone else but recently I've tried to record some old TV documentary content from old VHS tapes that I've had for some time and "rediscovered" what I had on them. I must stress that these are HOME RECORDINGS, taped off television broadcasts on a domestic VHS video recorder. When I set up for "capture(using PD7), I get a warning: "This movie is copyright-protected - Recording is prohibited!" Huh? Yes, there are commercially-sold VHS tapes of feature movies that have such protection embedded into either the video or linear audio track which stops a programme like PD7 or any other software(later Power Director versions included) from recording these tapes to computer, but these home-made tapes do NOT have such a protection embedded into them. Domestic VHS decks just don't have such a function!, So where is it coming from? Is it in the software or the player, or the capture-card? It's got me stumped as I'm soon to do some VHS-to-DVD transfers for a friend from my Tuesday evening snooker group. I'd certainly like this problem not to show up again(though it doesn't occur on all home recordings, I should point out).
Anyone got any answers?
Cheers!
Neil Forbes.
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To Carl312, Yes, I'll consider PD12 for the future but for the present, I've been offered PD8 by CubbyHouseFilms as it is now surplus to his requirements. Thank You for the information in any case.
To CubbyHouseFilms, Yes, I've received, read and responded to your kind offer. Again, many thanks. I look forward to seeing its delivery and installing same. The one thing about Power Director that really stands out for me is the ease with which I can author discs and create menus. I look forward to seeing how PD8 allows me to do this. I know, from the bare-bones version temporarily installed that there are more and better transition effects which I'm keen to try, particularly when it comes to the ghost effect that I explained in step-by-step process elsewhere on these forum pages.
To Carl321 and CubbyHouseFilms, deepest and sincerest thanks for your assistance.
Kind Regards!
Neil Forbes.
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Hello Carl312, SR numbers and CD-keys aside, If you read my latest post, re: Question About PD8, you'll see that I have decided to abandon any notion re: PD8 and, when my building society account is healthier(and when I've got past car registration processes) I will go for PD12, but will buy via mail order from an Australian representative(agent) for Cyberlink and pay by money order. For me, that's THE ONLY WAY TO FLY! I much prefer to get hold of the installation disc, coming in its cardboard box, and with instruction manual. I've always done things this way when it comes to obtaining and installing computer software.
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Hello, Carl312.
In regards to your comment, quote: "You will likely only be able to find the latest version at official retailers", I had enquired at a few around my area(Port Stephens, NSW) and in Newcastle. I've asked at Leading Edge Computers, here in Nelson Bay, also at Harvey Norman at Salamander Bay, also in Newcastle at Office Works and Dick Smith Electronics, all likely retailers of this sort of software package. While Harvey Norman(nicknamed "Hardly Normal" for a joke) offered Power DVD, when I asked about Power Director(any version), the were unable to help, and the stock-standard answer I got from the others was "You'd have to download it!" I've already stated my aversion to downloading this type of software, citing the Internet as insecure. In any case, when I install a programme, I much prefer to do so from an installation disc, this gives me an added sense of security in knowing it will work properly.
Curiously, I was able to buy Corel Video Studio Pro X5 retail at Office Works in Newcastle, but they didn't carry many of the Cyberlink products that I could see.
So, I have resolved the following: As PD8 is no longer available(retail or otherwise) I will, at a time when I can afford it, purchase an installation pack for Power Director 12, either directly from Cyberlink, or through an Australian agent via mail-order, and pay for same via money order, to the value of the product plus packing and postage. I will NOT use Visa Pre-paid under ANY circumstances whatsoever, as I loathe and detest those type of cards! So there you have it! In the meantime I will continue with PD7.
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I note your image of the PD8 Ultra. The only problem for me in obtaining this is that many retailers WILL NOT stock the product here in Australia and I do NOT trust the internet enough to download same. I would much rather buy the installation package retail in-store(call me old-fashioned but I like to play it safe this way). If I were to send a money order to Cyberlink by post, when I can raise the money required, Cyberlink could then post out the package to my home address. It is the ONLY way I would purchase the product and pay for it. I'm not a fan of Paypal and I loathe and despise Visa prepaid, so, for me, an international money order is the ONLY way to go!, But the purchase will have to wait until my building society balance is healthier..... some time in the future.
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I have the installation disc for Power Director 8. Unfortunately, neither the disc nor the sleeve carries the CD-Key number. Another number I require(seemingly) is an SR number. Are these numbers one and the same or are they different? I'm contemplating installing PD8, stepping up from my current PD7, but without the CD-Key or this SR-number, I'm at a loss to do anything. As I've said elsewhere, the disc installs a bare-bones version. When I did try it, I think it might've been a trial without the key. If the CD-Key is built in to a read-me file on the disc, this would help as I have already stated it's not shown on the label or protective sleeve.
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I have the installation disc for Power Director 8. Unfortunately, neither the disc nor the sleeve carries the CD-Key number. Another number I require(seemingly) is an SR number. Are these numbers one and the same or are they different? I'm contemplating installing PD8, stepping up from my current PD7, but without the CD-Key or this SR-number, I'm at a loss to do anything. As I've said elsewhere, the disc installs a bare-bones version. When I did try it, I think it might've been a trial without the key. If the CD-Key is built in to a read-me file on the disc, this would help as I have already stated it's not shown on the label or protective sleeve.
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CBH, Thanks for that message. As for proof of purchase, I don't think I can supply a receipt docket as it has been some time back since I purchased it. PD8 came in a package with a Kworld video capture device(capture card for converting VHS, Betamax or any other videotape format to DVD). Regrettably the installation key number is also missing off the disc label or the sleeve it is in. Also in the package was a driver(installation) disc for Media Show DE V4. This was the only disc that had the CD-Key. I've uploaded an image of the PD8 disc label as proof it is not a copy but a genuine cyberlink installation disc.
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