Jason,
Are you locking your audio track when you start editing the video portion? There is a lock symbol on the tracks you can use to keep it stable. Also, are you adding a lot of transitions to your project? Include a screen shot of your project next time and maybe we can see something that might be quite simple to fix.
I've made a few dozen music mash up videos using this software and I've had no problems that weren't fairly easy to remedy. All due to operator error, not the software.
Cheers!
Kevin R. (The one all the girls like) Saving the world, one goofy video and meme at a time.

jasons999

How powerful is your computer?

A under powered computer can cause big problems in editing videos. If you have the shadow files option in preferences enabled, that can give problems also.

How about posting a dxdiag.txt file so we can see about your computer environment.

Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

I appreciate you guys trying to help. I am so UNBELIEVABLY FRUSTRATED and annoyed with this stupid program right now. It's like it's got a mind of it's own and refuses to cooperate. Keep in mind I've been using it for a year and the problems I'm having are so basic and 99% of the time not an issue. The stupid friggin' music doesn't stay in the same place when I stop and start it. I've locked the track down, no luck. Plus it's cutting the end of the song off for no f-cking reason, WTF. Aaaaaaaaaaand now when I want to simply cut a picture out of the timeline and replace with another picture it's IMPOSSIBLE to replace in the same spot! It's like the whole f-cking program has gone to shit. Everyone is quick to blame a slow computer also and I'll agree you need fast components. But, I've been doing this for a while on the same computer, have made approx. 50 videos and only have had this issue twice. It's not the computer, this software has bugs, bottom line.

As you guys know editing video takes a LOT of time, I usually spend 5-10 hours on a video that's 3-5 minutes long. These issues I'm having make the process mind numbingly painful.

Aaaaaaaaaaand now when I want to simply cut a picture out of the timeline and replace with another picture it's IMPOSSIBLE to replace in the same spot!

Here, if at all possible, I would suggest placing the replacement image in a PiP and just letting it sit over the original instead of replacing it.

I had the same audio issue. I haven't done a major project on PD9, yet, so I don't know if it is fixed. __________________________________
CORNBLOSSOM

Jason,
If your original is in the main track you can not remove and replace it. Just do like Jaime said and cover with the PiP.
On another note, please watch the vulgarities in the forum. This is a family sight and such language will get you booted by the Administrator.
It's a simple fix I'm sure.
Cheers!
Kevin R. (The arid one) Saving the world, one goofy video and meme at a time.

Ok Kevin, I have a challenge for you. If it's such a simple fix, how about giving me some suggestions. I'm all ears.

Here are some details:

Forget the video part for a while, this problem lies within the audio track. I opened up a new project with no video/pics and tried to play the audio track. It will never leave off where you left it and it still cuts off the last 3 seconds of the song which is critical in my project. (ending in big crescendo) Makes no difference if you play it in clip or movie mode.

The problem song is a large file at 28 meg so I tried another song that was half the size, it didn't work either. (both have a bitrate of 320 kbps) I tried yet another song with a bitrate of 256 kbps and it works perfect! Stops and starts exactly where i left off. Is the bitrate of 320 too high for my computer?

I now have a total of 8 hours invested in trying to solve this insane music track problem. Thanks for your help.

Quote: jasons999

How powerful is your computer?

A under powered computer can cause big problems in editing videos. If you have the shadow files option in preferences enabled, that can give problems also.

How about posting a dxdiag.txt file so we can see about your computer environment.

Hey Carl, my laptop is not powerful at all but has produced close to 50 HD videos with minimal problems. This audio problem has been the biggest pain to date. (and I'm only producing a slide show this time!) Not sure where the shadow file option is, I searched all through preferences and didn't see it.

Here's the dxdiag.txt info:

Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.100608-045
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Sony Corporation
System Model: VGN-NR110E
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU T2310 @ 1.46GHz (2 CPUs), ~1.5GHz
Memory: 2038MB RAM
Page File: 1176MB used, 3138MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 7.00.6002.18107 32bit Unicode

Not sure where the shadow file option is

You find that option in the Powerdirector Preferences (Alt+C) on the General Tab.

It says "Enable file processing to speed up High Definition Video Editing." Uncheck that option if not already unchecked.

You Dxdiag.txt says you have a slow computer.
Dual CPU at 1.5 GHz is slow by todays standards.
2 GB of ram is also on the low side.

Dual CPU T2310 @ 1.46GHz (2 CPUs), ~1.5GHz
Memory: 2038MB RAM

I did not see what video card you have installed. Video Card can really affect the editing experience.

I have to ask, when is the last time you updated your Video and audio drivers?
A check on the manufacturers web site is not a bad idea.

Are you running the 3022 build of PowerDirector?
If not update at
http://www.cyberlink.com/downloads/support/powerdirector/patches_en_US.html
Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

Thanks Carl, yeah I knew it was slow but has managed to get the job done. I don't know why this stupid song is creating so much trouble right now. I am so ready to just go buy an iMac and Final Cut Express now it's not even funny. These problems are worth the frustration and 7 hours I've spent.

Would the bitrate of the song create these problems? Why is it cutting off the last 3 seconds in the timeline? I play it in VLC media player and it plays fine from my desktop. Stops and starts in the same place, doesn't cut off anything. Keep in mind there are NO video or pictures being played in Powerdirector, all these problems are simply when I play the audio track by iteslf. Of course when I input it into my slideshow project I have the same issues.

I updated Powerdirector a few months ago and have the newest update. We bought the software last Christmas for like $100 and I have Powerdirector 8 "Ultra"

Not sure on when was the last time I upgraded my audo and video driver, here's more info, hopefully the video driver is listed:

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2A02&SUBSYS_902D104D&REV_0C
Display Memory: 358 MB
Dedicated Memory: 0 MB
Shared Memory: 358 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (59Hz)
Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor
Driver Name: igdumd32.dll
Driver Version: 7.14.0010.1244 (English)
DDI Version: 9Ex
BGRA Supported: Yes
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 6/29/2007 08:45:18, 2363392 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-6942-11CF-2177-27B0ADC2CA35}
Vendor ID: 0x8086
Device ID: 0x2A02
SubSys ID: 0x902D104D
Revision ID: 0x000C
Revision ID: 0x000C
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C

Also, I unchecked the "enable file processing" button and it made no difference in solving this audio track problem. But thanks for the tip though.

Try downscaling the 320 to a lower bitrate, Format Factory should do it. If that works better then maybe that's the answer.

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. (see below)
Confucius
AMD Phenom IIX6 1055T, win10, 5 internal drives, 7 usb drives, struggling power supply.

Would the bitrate of the song create these problems?
Why is it cutting off the last 3 seconds in the timeline?

If the bitrate is out of range for the decoder, you get all kinds of strange things. All the way from skips to no play.
You can be out of range both low bitrate and high bitrate. 44.1 KHz or 48 KHz, bitrate 320 Kbps should be in range.

I don't know why you are losing the last 3 seconds. Does the song play all the way if you click on it in the media library?

You might try editing that song in Audacity and changing the encoding freq and bitrate. To say 48KHz and 256 Kbps or maybe 192 Kbps. A re-encode in Audacity may fix it.

Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family
6/29/2007 looks like the date of your video driver, if so it is way out of date.

The intel site have the latest video driver for your computer, date of the current driver is 10/02/2009

I think this is the driver download location.

http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support?iid=hdr+support
Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

jasons999,
Members have attempted to assist you with good input and suggestions.

When posting on this forum ensure you provide the facts in the manner requested and promptly. Emotional outbursts with the use of bad language will get you removed and banned.

Screenshot?

Dafydd

Thanks again guys, I FINALLY made some process. Looks like maybe the size of the audio file and the 320 bitrate was causing the problem. I rendered the song in powerdirector (WMA) in a much smaller file and 128 bitrate. Used that file as my audio track and played in the PIP track, plays completely smooth and I have the entire song now! Only took 7 hours, shouldn't be this difficult.

Also, thanks Carl also, I'll update my video driver. Relax , I was informed of the profanity rule much earlier by Kevin, I got it.

Glad you got the problem with the audio solved.

Video and audio driver update should help your computer in the future. Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

A shame you didn't read the PM I sent you and followed my suggestions.

Dafydd
[Moderator]