Hi Kevin

I have done this many times. There is no easy way as far as I can tell and I would love to find out any tricks others have.

I use the Video track for the baseline video and master audio and the PIP for the other shots. Sound like you are doing the same. To match then up I zoom in and use the audio display to match the peaks and troughs. Then I play the clip back with both audio tracks active to make sure there is no echo, then mute the PIP clip.

A useful feature would be an auto sizing on the PIP track to enlarge the clip to full size. Doing it manually is sometimes a bit fiddly.

I agree that having PD automatically enlarge the PIP track to full screen would be a nice feature. This summer I'll be working on my wedding video and I'll have video from three cameras to work with. Its too easy to over expand the PIP track so that it goes off the screen. I tried the trial version of Pinnacle and with their overlay track it automatically fills the screen initially, but can be reduced as needed. I wish PD used a similar approach or included an auto expand command. Q9300 2.5 GHz
4 GB Ram
Nvidia 9800 GT

Just a thought
Synchronise the start point of main video track and PIP track. Then you will see same shot playing in main window and PIP window.
Use multitrim in PIP window so that you can fine tune at frame level.
Choose the Audio from the video track that sounds clear. PC specs :
OS Windows 10.0 Pro
MB - AS rock Z77 extreme 11
Intel 3770K @ 4.0 Ghz OC
Gskill 32 GB RAM 1800 Mhz
6 TB HDD, SSD bootable
nVidia ASUS GTX 660 Ti
BenQ 22" LCD monitor 1920x1080

James wrote...

I agree that having PD automatically enlarge the PIP track to full screen would be a nice feature.

Hi James, (and everyone)

I agree too!
Have you seen this video? (skip ahead to 01:45, and then it gets very interesting.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6GQf80VlrY

If he can do it, why can't Cyberlink just add a right click option that will accomplish what this guy came up with? Click here PDtoots for a collection of PowerDirector Tutorials and Tips

Thanks Cranston for the link. He seems to make the task complicated.

I just went through a project and lined up all my PIPs.

Method:
1. get your .pds file
2. Right click > open with notepad
3. Edit > find
4. enter "CenterX="" (this is the beginning of the code for the PIP positioning)
5. Find Next then edit to center X & Y at 0.5 and height & width at 1.0.

I "saved as" just to make sure I didn't stuff up the original project.

It works fine. Can I tell the difference? Not sure but at least I know the PIP isn't rescaled.

Hi pjc,

Hey, that's great! Your way looks pretty easy to accomplish. I'll give it a try tomorrow.

And if later, you happen to hear a giant woosh sound all the way over there down under, don't worry mate.
It will just be the sound of that technique going over my head! Click here PDtoots for a collection of PowerDirector Tutorials and Tips

Does this expand the clips to fill the entire screen or just reposition them to the center?

Edit.

Never mind. I had a chance to play with it. It does expand and center the entire pip clip. Very cool. Q9300 2.5 GHz
4 GB Ram
Nvidia 9800 GT