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Combine function greyed out
Ken480 [Avatar]
Member Joined: Oct 27, 2015 01:15 Messages: 51 Offline
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Tried to combine two sections of the same video clip (just removed about 5 seconds), but 'combine' was grayed out.

What am I missing?
PowerDirector Moderator [Avatar]
Senior Contributor Location: New Taipei City, Taiwan Joined: Oct 18, 2016 00:25 Messages: 2104 Offline
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Hello,

Combine is used to put a split clip back together. If you cut out 5 seconds, then it cannot become whole again.

Cheers
PowerDirector Moderator


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Ken480 [Avatar]
Member Joined: Oct 27, 2015 01:15 Messages: 51 Offline
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Quote Hello,

Combine is used to put a split clip back together. If you cut out 5 seconds, then it cannot become whole again.

Cheers
PowerDirector Moderator


So under what circumstances can Combine be used? If I merely split a video file, Combine has no use as I can simply press Ctrl + Z to Undo the split.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Jun 27. 2021 09:07

optodata
Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline
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Quote So under what circumstances can Combine be used? If I merely split a video file, Combine has no use as I can simply press Ctrl + Z to Undo the split.

I can't say I've ever needed to use Combine, but if you've split a clip and made other edits then want to restore the split clips, Combine would be a better option than undoing all the intermediate steps and redoing them afterward.

Is there a specific reason you want to combine the two ends of the cplit clip? As far as producing is concerned, PD doesn't care at all whether you have a combined clip or the two previously split clips back-to-back.
Ken480 [Avatar]
Member Joined: Oct 27, 2015 01:15 Messages: 51 Offline
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Quote

I can't say I've ever needed to use Combine, but if you've split a clip and made other edits then want to restore the split clips, Combine would be a better option than undoing all the intermediate steps and redoing them afterward.

Is there a specific reason you want to combine the two ends of the cplit clip? As far as producing is concerned, PD doesn't care at all whether you have a combined clip or the two previously split clips back-to-back.


I need to perform a Crop/Zoom/Pan on the combined clip.
optodata
Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline
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Quote I need to perform a Crop/Zoom/Pan on the combined clip.

Ok. Since you want that 5 second section cut out, use the Range Select tool then use Produce Range to convert the separate sections into a single clip for the C/Z/P tool. Produce using SVRT or Best Matched Format from the Profile Analyzer to keep the best quality.
Ken480 [Avatar]
Member Joined: Oct 27, 2015 01:15 Messages: 51 Offline
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Quote

Ok. Since you want that 5 second section cut out, use the Range Select tool then use Produce Range to convert the separate sections into a single clip for the C/Z/P tool. Produce using SVRT or Best Matched Format from the Profile Analyzer to keep the best quality.


Not an option in PD19.
optodata
Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline
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What's not an option? The steps I suggested are vaild in all versions of PD from at least PD12 (except for the Profile Analyzer, which appeared in PD17) up through 19/365. Maybe if you could provide some details about where you're getting stuck I could help you through the process.

You can also do the process the other way around: use the C/Z/P tool on the original clip then produce it by itself and manually cut out the unwanted 5 second section after importing the produced clip into your main project.
Ken480 [Avatar]
Member Joined: Oct 27, 2015 01:15 Messages: 51 Offline
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Quote What's not an option? .....


Produce a range.

https://help.cyberlink.com/stat/help/powerdirector/19/enu/19_02_00_producing_range_pro.html

Note: * this feature is currently only available in the subscription version of CyberLink PowerDirector.


PD19 is not a subscription version.


That page states:
.In the produce window's preview window, use the player controls to find where you want the produced video to begin, and then click to set the mark in position. You can also drag the mark in position slider to this position.





I see no "'
[Thumb - PD19 Combine.jpg]
 Filename
PD19 Combine.jpg
[Disk]
 Description
 Filesize
283 Kbytes
 Downloaded:
10 time(s)

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at Jun 27. 2021 21:44

optodata
Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline
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Quote Produce a range.

Wow, I never would have guessed that they moved that feature to the subscription-only product. My apologies for the misleading statements in my earlier posts.

You can still do what I suggested but it will take a couple extra steps, and I completely understand how frustrating it is that you can't simply combine the two sections of the clip.

The way to do this without Produce Range would be to select and copy the 2 clip sections, then save the project and use File > New Workspace to create a clear timeline with all your media library files intact. Paste the clips on the timeline and procede to produce the whole project (which is simply your clip sections).

You can then reopen your main project and import the new clip, then replace the exisiting separate clips on your timeline with the new version and use the C/Z/P tool.
JL_JL [Avatar]
Senior Contributor Location: Arizona, USA Joined: Oct 01, 2006 20:01 Messages: 6091 Offline
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Quote Wow, I never would have guessed that they moved that feature to the subscription-only product. My apologies for the misleading statements in my earlier posts.

"Produce Range" is still permissible from the timeline, the subscription refers to the added "Produce Range" in the Produce Module.

Jeff
Ken480 [Avatar]
Member Joined: Oct 27, 2015 01:15 Messages: 51 Offline
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I found a work-around.

When I C/Z/P the first section of the cut clip, I just record the numbers on the right (Position X/Y, Scale Width/Height) at the last frame of the timeline. I can then use those same numbers on the first frame of the second part of the clip.

Clunky and kludgie but it works.
optodata
Senior Contributor Location: California, USA Joined: Sep 16, 2011 16:04 Messages: 8630 Offline
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Quote "Produce Range" is still permissible from the timeline, the subscription refers to the added "Produce Range" in the Produce Module.

Jeff

Good to know. Thanks for clarifying!
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