Timeline Is Upsidedown

Tumithak

Newbie Joined: Dec 31, 2017 21:24 Messages: 2 Offline

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Dec 31, 2017 21:37

Hi, I just bought powerdirctor 16. I've been editing videos for a while with other software and it's hard to get used to the timeline in this program. With video editors I've used before, track one was at the bottom of the timeline. They were arranged in ascending order. The timeline for powerdirector seems upsidedown to me. It's hard to wrap my head around, if you want a clip above another clip in your finished video, you have to place it below on the timeline. It's counterintuitive.

Is there a way to invert the tracks? That is, place track one at the bottom, track two above that one and so on. So when you put a clip above another clip, it actually shows that way in the finished video?

CubbyHouseFilms

Senior Contributor Location: Melbourne, Australia Joined: Jul 14, 2009 04:23 Messages: 2208 Offline

Dec 31, 2017 23:26

Quote Hi, I just bought powerdirctor 16. I've been editing videos for a while with other software and it's hard to get used to the timeline in this program. With video editors I've used before, track one was at the bottom of the timeline. They were arranged in ascending order. The timeline for powerdirector seems upsidedown to me. It's hard to wrap my head around, if you want a clip above another clip in your finished video, you have to place it below on the timeline. It's counterintuitive.

Is there a way to invert the tracks? That is, place track one at the bottom, track two above that one and so on. So when you put a clip above another clip, it actually shows that way in the finished video?

Hi Tumithak
Welcome to the forum.

PDR is designed that the Last track on your timeline is the FIRST track you see in the preview panel and when you Produce your project.

I use other video editing software when the TOP track is the one you see first and like you have said.
You do have the abiliy to turn off tracks using the tick boxes.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Dec 31. 2017 23:30

Happing editing

Best Regards

Neil
CubbyHouseFilms
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Phil_cbd

Newbie Joined: Jan 20, 2017 01:15 Messages: 11 Offline

Jan 25, 2018 20:42

Quote Hi, I just bought powerdirctor 16. I've been editing videos for a while with other software and it's hard to get used to the timeline in this program. With video editors I've used before, track one was at the bottom of the timeline. They were arranged in ascending order. The timeline for powerdirector seems upsidedown to me. It's hard to wrap my head around, if you want a clip above another clip in your finished video, you have to place it below on the timeline. It's counterintuitive.

Is there a way to invert the tracks? That is, place track one at the bottom, track two above that one and so on. So when you put a clip above another clip, it actually shows that way in the finished video?

Hi Tumithak, did you ever find out if reversing the track order/precedence is possible? I have the same problem in that I want to have my 'A Camera' track immediately below the editing controls with only a 'Title' track above it. The 'Bottom Track Up' order is frustrating when using a number of cameras and sound tracks and having to scroll down and lose sight of the main track. A choice in 'Preferences' for 'Top Track Down' or 'Bottom Track Up' would be perfect. This could be be a good reason to upgrade to PowerDirector 17 perhaps!...

Silverback67

Newbie Joined: Nov 01, 2018 15:52 Messages: 1 Offline

Nov 17, 2019 14:52

This odd reversal of top track visually being on the bottom layer of the timeline is precisely why I do not reccomend this software to anyone. It's a shame, as I LOVE the software otherwise, but it is so counter-intuitive and backwards to ALL other software.

optodata

Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline

Nov 17, 2019 17:08

Quote This odd reversal of top track visually being on the bottom layer of the timeline is precisely why I do not reccomend this software to anyone. It's a shame, as I LOVE the software otherwise, but it is so counter-intuitive and backwards to ALL other software.

This thread is 2 years old, and I don't think it's relevant now. PD18/365 has the option to have the track 1 at the bottom for anyone who wants to edit that way:

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Nov 17. 2019 21:34