To save the clips they must be produced as a movie. What I would try first is to get all of the clips in the project. Save the project. Remove all but but the clips that I am working with. Do not save the project again unless you save it under a different name.

When that video is done and produced, close it. Reopen the first saved project and again remove all but the clips that you want to work with. __________________________________
CORNBLOSSOM

Thanks for the response, but I don't understand what you are getting at, sorry. That sounds like the normal work-flow to me, which is not working because the files are too big, and the machine is slowing down.

I need to break the files into individual scenes, just like they are displayed in the subfolder of a clip. So that I can load the clips as I need them into a PowerDirector project.

I can find lots of third party apps online that will do this for AVI but non seem to be able to handle mpegs, or at least my mpegs (which were created on a mac) I don't know exactly what they are but assume Mpeg 2.

Does anybody here know of a third party app that can break a large file into smaller sections either with automatic scene detection or where you can manually mark the in and out point for each scene?

I may have missed the point Jamie, sorry if I have but can you be more specific?

Chris

You need to do some research of your own. Google "video Splitter" "mpeg" There are free programs around which should do what you ask/need.

One of my cameras records continuously and creates 4GB files, I have 12.5GB of mov to edit. I was tempted by a splitter also.

I use Scenalyzer , but that only works while importing from a DV camera into the PC and only via FireWire...
It automatically cuts the scenes based on
1. Data/time change
or
2. Visual detection.

Another problem is ... although their website still exists , I don't see much 'movement' since 2005 : But my copy is doing what I need it to be doing for many years now...

Having the same functionality (automatical detection of scene changes ...) starting from an existing large video file... I couldn't find neither. Sorry.

Thanks for the responses. I've done the google thing but can't find anything that works, I think my files are too big. Each file is from a 1 hour DV tape, HD, and us around 11Gigs - I have 18 tapes in this format.

I'll ask around some more but can't keep downloading apps to try as I'm on a 3G connection and can't afford to waste it.

For future reference; if I was capturing from the camera I assume PD can recognise scenes and save them individually? If not then that is a big limitation to what is otherwise very nice software.

Chris

Have you tried "Free File Splitter"?

It claims to split files of any size. 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.

LittleChay,

After my 'first night' with PD yesterday (I was using a 'fellow-product' before ), I visited the area in PD on importing DV footage. PD offers the same 2 functions as Scenalyzer does : splitting scenes on timestamp or 'visually' (or 'no split' ofcourse) . So , for future projects I suggest you let PD read in your footage.

Free splitter couldn't read my files. But I eventually found one that did.

I don't have access to my camera that's why I can't use PD to read in my files. In any case it can only split automatically when reading from FireWire and as my current laptop doesn't have FireWire I'm stuffed.

I used to use a Mac but can't afford a new one and my old one died. So it's back to pc. No problem there but now I have to solve the FireWire issue. Anybody know of a FireWire to USB or HDMI converter that they have used with PD?

Hi LittleChay,
My 'old' tool Scenalyzer is only accepting FireWire input. But I don't know about PD. Anybody ?

If the tool you found to do the splitting is not a competitor hostile enemy from Cyberlink, could you tell us the name ? (if not, pm me please )

Anybody know of a FireWire to USB or HDMI converter that they have used with PD?

you should be able to find a firewire PC card that plugs into your laptop.

I looked on Newegg.com I found a long list of firewire PC cards. Price starts at about $8. 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.

Hi LittleChay,

Forget about the converter option FireWire to USB... I don't think that's a good way to go. DV streaming into your PC needs a priority lane, USB is not. Only Firewire will offer that.

So... Carl's suggestion : spend some bucks on a FireWire card, is the best option.

Hugo

The firewire card isn't an option for me. I don't have a card slot so I have to go USB.. or HDMI but I don't think a Firewire to HDMI exists yet. I have a USB3 port which should be plenty fast enough.

The splitter software I found that worked, although there is no scene recogniton, is "video splitter 2" from Xilisoft.

I do not understand, MPEG2 format with 11GB, 4.7 would be 3 DVD? - The size should be AVI DV
Depending on the quality MPEG2, the DP is too slow to edit.
To just cut in parts, is easy and fast to activate the SVRT3.
It needs to find the right profile, or create another based FEATURES source file.
Detection of scenes, never used in MPEG2 and very time consuming. AMD-FX 8350 / 8GB DDR3
SSD SUV400S37240G / 2-HD WD 1TB
AMD Radeon R9 270 / AOC M2470SWD
Windows 7-64 / PD16 Ultimate

It's DV HD.. from canon XH A1, definitely 11 to 12 Gig per file.. 1 file = 1 hour.

Reported as Mpeg 2, maybe it MPEG 1.. I'll have to ask the guy who imported for me but thats not possible right now.

4.7 - what is that?

Cutting it into parts is the problem. See earlier posts.

How would you recommend cutting it into parts?

Not sure how SVRT3 will help.. that only comes into play with the rendering. I'm talking about getting all this stuff into a project so that I can edit it.

By using a splitter I can chop it up into scenes so that I can eliminate the footage that I don't need. This should help memory.

What do you mean FEATURES source file?

Sorry for so many questions, I really do appreciate your reply but I am struggling with the shorthand that you have used.

Chris

The PD has SVRT process that does not render (convert) the video when saved in the same format of the source, works for MPEG2, AVCHD (H-264) do not know if to other formats.
In Produce you should select a profile that connects the SVRT, if not try to create another profile based on the video source.
One way to obtain the information Video, Media Player Classic / File / Properties / Media Info AMD-FX 8350 / 8GB DDR3
SSD SUV400S37240G / 2-HD WD 1TB
AMD Radeon R9 270 / AOC M2470SWD
Windows 7-64 / PD16 Ultimate

Reported as Mpeg 2, maybe it MPEG 1.. I'll have to ask the guy who imported for me but thats not possible right now.

Use MediaInfo to find out what the file format is.

4.7 - what is that?

It is 4.7 Gigabytes, the size of a single layer DVD.

How would you recommend cutting it into parts?

Load the whole file, use Split delete the last part, produce an intermediate Video, Name that first part something such as DV_Part1.m2ts. Repeat for other parts of the whole video.

Split at the beginning of the section, Split at the end of that section, Delete the un-wanted parts outside the splits. Then Produce that part Name the DV_Part2.m2ts. (m2ts is AVC in the Produce module).

It is harder to describe than it is to do the edits.

These Tutorials were created for PowerDirector 8, they still apply to PowerDirector 9
PowerDirector 8 First Project Part 1 Tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXG2jDTHyKw

PowerDirector 8 First Project Part 2 Tutorial
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccSNU_Z7BRc
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 for the replies.

Splitting in PD seems very labour intensive compared to using a splitter app.

I have windows 7, struggling with understanding windows logic again after not having used it for years. No menu as you gentlemen have described in PD but in edit I can rightclick on a clip in the library and go to properties...

Its as I said MPEG 2 files
25Mbps
1440 x 1080
25fps
16:9

AUDIO

MPEG
48kHz
384kbps
Stereo

Anyway I'm getting there with the splitter.. It'll take me a a while to split all the footage but I'll get there.

Chris