Techniques vary.

1. Look at the tutorial videos:
http://forum.cyberlink.com/forum/posts/list/3523.page
specifically:
Title: Project Designing - CyberLink PowerDirector 7
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuK7Fhawaf4
HD available
Look at the "Sticky" posts at the top of PD's forum topics

2.
Editing starts when you are videoing
Bring the video in
Arrange the video clips into sections to edit - for your project
Edit a section and add all the basic stuff you want EXCEPT chapters AND a transitions at either end.
Produce to a high resolution video.
Repeat with your many different short sections - this is how pro production is done and it's the right way.
Finally bring together all the finished sections (add additional transitions) to create one complete project and add your chapters.
Add the DVD menu and Create to a DVD folder (what I've done for years - separate all the tasks)
Burn using a disc burning software like Power2Go - bringing the DVD folder data in.
That's it.

I don't do editing of one lump of video in the Video tracks - it just isn't sensible. Keep it small, keep it reasonable and your PC will cope without hassle. Plan your project, plan your edit and create.

Dafydd
PS I hope others jump in and add their technique.

Thanks Dafydd! That's a big help.

Any others with ideas/techniques?

Spartan
This what I do.
1) Add the video clips in a sequence in the time line
2) Play all the clips
3) This gives me an overall idea what needs to be edited out
4) I play again and stop at the 1st clip to be edited and which to be moved to PIP
5) Repeat for all clips.
6) Now the movie begins to take shape
7) Play again and do fine editing
8 ) Insert transitions & effects
9) Play the video clips again to see the effect.
10) Add titles
11) Play the clips again to get the feel
12) look for a suitable music to go with the project and theme
13) Add audio clips
14) Edit audio
15) Add audio fade in and fade out, Volume adjustments etc.
16) Play the whole project again.
17) Then I save and leave it alone for a while
18 ) Re visit the project to see if I can make improvements
19) Once completely satisfied render the video and save it to Harddisk
20) Open the movie next day maybe and play the movie
21) See if if it needs one last trimming.
22) Burn the DVD

I KEEP SAVING PROJECT AS P-1,P-2 AFTER EVERY CHANGE I MAKE JUST IN CASE MY SYSTEM OR PD CRASHES ! 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

Very similar here Babdi but just some comments

Quote:
17) Then I save and leave it alone for a while
18 ) Re visit the project to see if I can make improvements

This is very important. You lose perspective after a while.

Quote: 21) See if if it needs one last trimming.

It always will especially if you plan to subject your family/friends to the finished product. People's attention spans seem to be reducing at a non-linear rate.

Quote:
JUST IN CASE ... PD CRASHES !

What do you mean "just in case"?

I believe that efficient editing actually starts even before you begin using PD. Taking the time to plan ahead what you will be shooting can make the editing easier. Obviously there will be times where this cannot be done, but if you can plan ahead of time you will be less likely to miss something you want to video.

All the above suggestions are good. Edit in small chunks and save (using save as) frequently. Q9300 2.5 GHz
4 GB Ram
Nvidia 9800 GT

PJC
Thanks for your comments and observations.

I suggested leaving the project for a while as one's creativity levels drop sharply squinting continuously at the computer for screen long.

Well "Just in case" is preventive measure suggested. We don't know what will play up when we are at the crucial stage of editing
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

Thanks everyone for your input.

Nothing is more frustrating than spending a heap of time on a project only to have your work ruined because you didn't do something in the right order.

Thanks again!

Spartan,

That is true, but how much did you learn with your practice session? The best way to learn the program is to (1) use it and (2) participate in this forum. Q9300 2.5 GHz
4 GB Ram
Nvidia 9800 GT