Messages posted by Mike

I have this problem as well - for the first time yesterday - converting from an edited vob to mpeg2 in PD6 in 16:9 format. I get a pink flashing border on the left and right side of the video. Was this issue resolved? Any further details appreciated.
Mike

Hi Guys,
I'm using PD6 and recently edited a movie from .vob files that were given me by a friend. When I produced the movie requesting MPEG2 High Quality, I get a video that has much poorer quality - a lot of jaggies at edges - than the original footage. Is there something I am missing here that some of you have encountered before?
Thx,

Mike

Hi Mike,

Method 2...yep that's the reason I didn't post it yesterday...I could not check it.

The pds file is only a PD opener and records the address location of all the individual files cuts edits etc etc...

I'd be interested in what you come up with re the merger utility idea - I haven't looked into doing it...but I can see the possibility.

PM me your email address.

Dafydd

So yes the pds is a binary file but mostly readable. The hidden hurdle I am concerned about is that there are some hidden binary parameters that control the timeline construction. I should be able to do a simple test to see if that's not the case - at least for a small set of files. I am concerned also about the preserving the alignment of music, effects, etc. in the merged file. It would be good to have a file spec.

It seems that the method of producing the files will likely work for most of the edits one would want (just reclaim them using scene detect) as long as one didn't want to remove an effect or separate out an added music track or retrim a clip to add length from the original.

Comments from CS: "Produce the file."

Thank you for contacting CyberLink Online Support.

We understand your concern related with PowerDirector software.

In regard to your issue please note that there is no option in PowerDirector software using which you can merge the two projects. When you have one project open and you open the second project it will just merge the library files of two projects and open the second project for you. You have to produce both of your projects and then have to create a new project to merge these to produced files.

However, we have forwarded your concern to our development department. Our development team will review them and try to include in next built of the software.

We take your concern as a feedback and request you to keep providing your valuable feedback about our software

Kindly revert using the under mentioned link for all your further queries and immediate response :-

index.jsp

Please feel free to contact us back for any further clarification or for any assistance related to Cyberlink Products.

Thank You and Best Regards.

Hi Dafydd, and thanks for taking the time to respond -

Unfortunately 1. is not what I want - I understand I can produce the file and bring all the files together in one final project, but that approach does not allow me to have access to the original dozens of clips - this is what I wanted as I wanted to move the individual clips from the various projects out of their original sequence in the final project. So having a produced file for each sub-project doesn't let me do that without retrimming - and of course, I wanted to avoid having to repeat all that work.

And also unfortunately for me the Method 2. doesn't work. You got my hopes up here, but the behaviour is exactly the same as you get when you have one project open and attempt to open a second. It prompts for whether or not you want to merge the files and then merges only the libraries - not the timelines. Now, I am still on the trial version, so if you or someone else can try it with the full version to see if it works I'd appreciate it. It would save me some grief.

And Method 3. of course I didn't do it this way, so again I'm stuck....

I put in a query to customer service but I expect now that the capability just isn't in the program. Which means I may have wasted alot of time on my separate project files.

Rather than redo the edits I am now considering wrting a utilility that will merge the files. I've looked at the pds files and have a basic understanding of their structure, but I'm sure there are some hurdles there. I'd really like to not have to do this. If someone can suggest something else, please help. .....

I have a general question on file/project management for those who have a lot of experience with PD5. (I am new to PD and using the trial version).

The problem is I have a large number .avi files that I am processing into a single video. But I started by by using separate project files for a number of these files. After capturing, splitting and trimming I have a number of project files with a large number of edited clips that I'd like to put together in one movie. Not serially either, but picking and choosing from clips in the separate projects for a final project. (I processed them in separate project files in the first place to keep them bitesize and manageble as I am getting alot of program crashes.)

So now the problem is that if I open a project and say yes to merge with an existing project, PD only gives me the original library and scene selections of the merging file, not the edited clips in that file. Am I missing something obvious here for merging different project files into one, or have I just taken the wrong approach all together.

I would appreciate comments on how others manage the editing of separate projects into a common project file while retaining edits.

Thanks again.

OK that's great - What was your solution? Did you find the source of the conflict?

This is the response I received to my inquiry. It is non-specific and suggests that support does not know what the exact conflict is, even though it is quite specific, repeatable and experienced by multiple users.

"Set display parameters." "Update drivers." "Turn off Virus scanners." "Reinstall the software...."
This is a poor response.

Dear User,

Thank you for contacting CyberLink Online Support.

We understand your concern related with PowerDirector software.

To resolve the issue, please follow the steps to re-install the Power Director software:-

Note : Please make sure that you have logged in as an "Administrator".

1. Reset your display settings, screen area to 1024*768, color depth to 16 bit and monitor refresh rate to 60 HZ.

2. Please update your VGA card driver, sound card driver and capture card drivers. You may contact your computer manufacturer to get the latest drivers.

3. Please click on the link below to update DirectX drivers (DirectX 9.0c)

default.aspx

4. Increase Virtual memory :

a. Right click on "MyComputer"
b. Select Properties -> Advance
c. Click on "settings" under Performance.
d. Select "Advance"
e. Click on "change" under Virtual memory.
f. Select "Custom" and enter initial value as "512" and Max value as "3024".

5. Start Windows in Selective Startup mode.

a. Click on Start.
b. Click on Run.
c. Type msconfig and click on OK.
d. A System Configuration Utility window will come up.
e. On General tab, select Selective Startup.
f. Uncheck "Load Startup Items".
g. Click on Apply.
h. Click on OK.
i. Click on Close.
j. It will ask you to restart your computer. Click on "Restart".

6. Uninstall PowerDirector software:

a) Start--> Programs -->Cyberlink PowerDirector --> Uninstall PowerDirector.

b) Start --> Run --> type "regedit" --> click "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" --> click
"Software" --> click "Cyberlink" --> PowerDirector. Delete folder "PowerDirector".

c) Start --> Run --> type "regedit" --> click "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" --> click
"Software" --> click "Cyberlink" --> PowerDirector. Delete folder "PowerDirector". Reboot your PC.

7. Reinstall PowerDirector.

Before installing your program, please close your MSN messenger. Since we found that MSN messenger my lock some installation programs.

8. To avoid any compatibility issues, please close all
- other software and utility applications
- including virus scans, screen saver and
- instant messaging software
- close any ANTI-SPYWARE installed on your system
- close any popup blocker installed.

before you launch PowerDirector.

Use the below mentioned link to get back to us for immediate response for your further queries:

index.jsp

Please feel free to contact us back for any further clarification or for any assistance related to Cyberlink Products.

Thank You and Best Regards.

I am getting the identical error with the trial version of the software downloaded less than two weeks ago.

I have been getting repeated shutdown of the program with the exact same read error (addresses are identical). These failures are becoming more frequent as I use the program. It would most often occur when I first opened the application and attempted to load an existing pds file, but it is now occurring during routine edits in addition to when I open project files.

I just submitted the details to tech support, so I will post if I hear anything back from them. This is really unfortunate as I spent alot of hours editing some material and I may not buy the full version if I can't get this resolved.

Thanks for the response,

Correct me if I'm wrong, but this will only work if the audio track starts at the frame in question. I have an audio track that spans several clips and I want to sync the music to an event in each short clip but the music track doesn't start at the beginning this series of clips. If I use your method and split the clip don't I require the audio file to begin at the beginning of the second part of the split clip?

Anyway, it sounds like there's no quick tool in the program to link a frame in the video to a point in the music without producing an mpeg file.

Thx again.

Hi,
I am new to PD use and am looking for help with a method to lock a music track (whose duration extends over many clips) to a specific frame in one of the clips. For example, I wish to lock a specific drum beat to a frame in a clip, such that this sync will not be lost on editing the duration of any clips prior to the sync event.

Is this possible with PD5?

Thx in advance,

Mike