@Dafydd
"
Xvid has never been viewable in PD"
There must be some kind of confusion with the affirmation above. PowerDirector, 7, 8 and 9 (which I've used) never had any problems to open multimedia files where the video stream was encoded with a codec of the MPEG-4 Part 2 (MPEG-4 ASP) family. Xvid is the open source version of the DivX codec, which was originally a hack of Microsoft MPEG-4 Part 2 codec. When DivX re-wrote their code from scratch and decided to go commercial, the Xvid project was born and development of this excellent and VERY stable codec continues today in the open source public domain. Actually, more than 60% of the AVI files in existence, are encoded with the Xvid codec. PowerDirector uses its INTERNAL decoders to open files with video streams in the MPEG-4 Part 2 family, including those with Xvid video.
The EXTERNAL 32 bit version of the Xvid codec, can be used by the 32 bit version of PD9, for ENCODING. If the codec is installed on the 32 or 64 bit Windows machine, it shows up in the list of available video compressors, but not as a separate AVI produce option, like DivX, but under the video compressors available for "Windows AVI". Unlike for Divx, the access to Xvid codec interface is not blocked by Cyberlink and all the options for configuring the codec are available.
Unfortunately, Cyberlink decided to restrict encoding in "Windows AVI" to only 4:3 aspect ratio AND to block HD output by hardcoding only three available frame sizes, 320x240, 640x480 and 1024x768, all SD. DivX is even more restricted for frame size, 640x480 being the maximum size it can use in 4:3 AR, but unlike "Windows AVI", can also use 16:9 aspect ratio at a maximum of 640x360.
I want to stress here that AVI container DOES NOT have any problems with the 16:9 aspect ratio or any other aspect ratio. PowerDirector is the ONLY video editor I know which forces the 4:3 aspect ratio as the sole option for encoding to "Windows AVI" (Vfw or Video for Windows). Also, all MPEG-4 Part 2 video compressors are VERY stable and very processor friendly, requiring a lot less CPU power for encoding than say MPEG-4 Part 10 (AVC) or Microsoft VC-1.
Another unexplainable restriction forced by Cyberlink, related to the AVI container, is with the MP3 audio codec. MP3 is one of the oldest, the most stable and with the least video/audio synchronization problems. However, Cyberlink restricts the sample rate for MP3 audio encoding to only 24 KHz, which was probably acceptable in mid and late 90's, but can not be seriously considered for audio encoding these days.
I must add that I really love PowerDirector. At a price under $100 it is so reach in cool and some unique features, that it REALLY stands out among the NLEs for consumers. That's why I find infuriating when human decisions, unrelated to programming, complexity, stability or usability concerns, cripple an important part of the video editing process, i.e. encoding to the widely used AVI container.