Splitting a large file into smaller files using scene detection

Mark

Newbie Joined: Dec 09, 2008 11:59 Messages: 17 Offline

Solved by

Nov 22, 2009 10:07

I have had PowerDirector for a year or so but never really had the time/equipment to really get sucked into learning it in detail, at least for HD content. However, I've - finally! - just ordered my first HD TV (Samsung 8500) - and that's increased my motivation to drill down on PowerDirector 8 and make the most of its features. I've been recording in HD with my camcorder for a year or so now, with a view to being ready when I get my TV. I'm pretty excited about this whole thing...

Anyway, I'm facing one issue that I just can't seem to resolve. Specifically, I have this very large HD file (20 mins) and, while a lot of it is unnecessary, I have a few important scenes I want to keep and edit. Scene detection working great so I am looking at these scenes in PowerDirector. I now want them in a seperate file I can use. So, what I want to do is select specific scenes (as detected by Scene Detection) and save to seperate files. But, much as I search, I can't find such a feature anywhere.

The frustrating thing is that of the 20 minutes (1.2 GB) file, I'd guess I need no more than about 3-4 minutes. So, I really don't want to have to keep a 1.2 Gb file just for this small amount of content. I guess I could split the file but, given that Scene Detection has neatly identified the parts I want to save that seems a pretty cumbersome way to do this.

A per-scene Save option seems such an obvious thing (especially for a mature product like PowerDirector) that I'm hoping I am just missing this.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Mark

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at Nov 22. 2009 10:19

Mark

Newbie Joined: Dec 09, 2008 11:59 Messages: 17 Offline

Nov 22, 2009 11:41

By the way, I'm curious to know if there's a bug in the forum software. For this thread, the Last Message is currently column indicating that Dafydd has responded - some time ago in fact - but when clicking on the thread I see just my initial question (no responses).

Thanks.

Mark

Dafydd B

Senior Contributor Joined: Aug 26, 2006 08:20 Messages: 11973 Offline

Nov 22, 2009 12:02

Mark,
I saw that as well and I don't recall answering it.... well my sponge does leak!

Ok,
I was looking at your post and wondered what the file format was you were editing, not to worry.

I think you know the solution. Render the bits you want to retain in a format and frame size that replicates the original.

720p or 1080p

You can either choose mpeg, wmv, or mts.

Dafydd
[Moderator]

Mark

Newbie Joined: Dec 09, 2008 11:59 Messages: 17 Offline

Nov 22, 2009 13:08

Thank you, Dafyyd. So, I'm still learning this stuff (and will need to research the options available for me to save in a lossless fashion) but I am still curious to know why - with all the other rich functionality built into PowerDirector 8 - why a "split file" capability (or even better, split-by-scene) isn't available.

It seems like a reasonably simple addition and also doesn't seem too outlandish a scenario (on long clip, with some scenes that are not of interest). The workaround you mention is probably OK but it seems like a lot of work for a simple task.

Thanks again.

Mark