PowerDirector
Encyclopedia
CyberLink PowerDirector is a video editing software
application for non-linear video editing, published by CyberLink Corporation
. PowerDirector allows users to capture, edit and output from within the software and has semi-professional features suitable for the consumer level. Its main competitors are Adobe Premiere Pro
and Elements
, AVS Video Editor
, Ulead VideoStudio
, Pinnacle Studio
, Final Cut Express
and Sony Vegas Movie Studio
. The program most resembles, but does not compete with, Apple iMovie
, on Mac OS X
. PowerDirector software can be purchased online or in popular computer retail stores.
PowerDirector Version 5 added a second video track which allows picture-in-picture overlay. Version 4 also allowed for publishing videos directly to YouTube
and output to playback devices such as iPod
and PSP
.
PowerDirector Version 6 included a menu designer for DVD
authoring. MPEG-2 HD and WMV HD
video format is supported with the option to write back to HDV
tape. A slideshow designer and additional video effects were also included.
PowerDirector Version 7 is the first to be sold in two editions: Deluxe and Ultra. The Ultra version allows for Blu-ray Disc
and AVCHD
on DVD authoring, while both versions support Dolby 5.1 encoding. Version 7 supports up to 6 PiP tracks.
Version 7 introduces DirectorZone. DirectorZone is an effects, templates and menus download website. There is an option to subscribe to other creators which gives the opportunity to share effects and templates. Other notable new features include direct links to Flickr
and Freesound, the option to apply multiple fixes at once using Magic Clean, and beat detection technology – which syncs audio with movie content.
PowerDirector Version 8 introduces a Particle Effects Designer, Power Tools, and Zoom-in Cut for microscopic frame level editing. Version 8 allows for viewing and sharing timeline settings for video project, direct Facebook uploads, new special effects and a full-screen preview.
PowerDirector Version 9 is CyberLink's first 64-bit offering and introduces the new TrueVelocity video rendering engine for much improved rendering speed. Version 9 also adds a 100-track timeline, customizable particle effects, and functionality to output videos directly to the iPad, iPhone, iPod, BlackBerry, PSP, Zune and many other mobile devices.
Editor's Choice award on June 12, 2008.
PowerDirector 9 Ultra64 won PC Magazine's Editor's Choice Award on Dec. 7, 2010
Video editing software
Video editing software, is application software which handles the post-production video editing of digital video sequences on a computer non-linear editing systems...
application for non-linear video editing, published by CyberLink Corporation
CyberLink
CyberLink is a digital entertainment and multimedia products software corporation. CyberLink's 2008 revenue was $140 million with market capitalization of $420 million. Cyberlink's headquarters are based in Taipei, Taiwan with worldwide offices in Fremont, USA; Tokyo, Japan; and the Netherlands...
. PowerDirector allows users to capture, edit and output from within the software and has semi-professional features suitable for the consumer level. Its main competitors are Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro
Adobe Premiere Pro is a timeline-based video editing software application. It is part of the Adobe Creative Suite, a suite of graphic design, video editing, and web development applications developed by Adobe Systems, though it can also be purchased separately. When purchased separately, it comes...
and Elements
Adobe Premiere Elements
Adobe Premiere Elements is a video editing software application for nonlinear video editing, published by Adobe Systems. It is a scaled-down version of the professional-level Adobe Premiere Pro, and is optionally bundled with Adobe Photoshop Elements. In 2006, it was identified as the number one...
, AVS Video Editor
AVS Video Editor
AVS Video Editor is a shareware video editing software tool produced by Online Media Technologies Ltd., the direct vendor of multimedia video and audio solutions, UK. The program is intended for those who are new to video editing, it also is a real-time, timeline-based video editing software...
, Ulead VideoStudio
Ulead VideoStudio
Corel VideoStudio is a video editing software package for Microsoft Windows distributed by Ulead Systems . The latest version of the software is X4 released on February 24, 2011.-Basic editing:...
, Pinnacle Studio
Pinnacle Studio
Pinnacle Studio is a non-linear video editing software application manufactured by Pinnacle Systems, a division of Avid Technology. It is the consumer-level counterpart to Pinnacle's former professional-level software, Liquid Edition . It also inherits from VOB Computersysteme's Instant CD/DVD...
, Final Cut Express
Final Cut Express
Final Cut Express is a discontinued video editing software created by Apple Inc. It is the consumer version of Final Cut Pro and is designed for advanced editing of digital video as well as high-definition video, which is used by many amateur and professional videographers...
and Sony Vegas Movie Studio
Sony Vegas Movie Studio
Sony Vegas Movie Studio is a consumer-based nonlinear video editing software designed for the PC. It is a scaled-down version of Sony Vegas. Vegas Movie Studio was formerly called "Sonic Foundry VideoFactory" and then "Sony Screenblast Movie Studio," still using the same Vegas interface and...
. The program most resembles, but does not compete with, Apple iMovie
IMovie
iMovie is a proprietary video editing software application which allows Mac, iPod Touch 4th generation, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, and iPad 2 users to edit their own home movies. It was originally released by Apple in 1999 as a Mac OS 8 application bundled with the first FireWire-enabled consumer Apple...
, on Mac OS X
Mac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
. PowerDirector software can be purchased online or in popular computer retail stores.
Version history
PowerDirector Version 4 introduced the magic tools which fix video and photo content and add sound.PowerDirector Version 5 added a second video track which allows picture-in-picture overlay. Version 4 also allowed for publishing videos directly to YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and output to playback devices such as iPod
IPod
iPod is a line of portable media players created and marketed by Apple Inc. The product line-up currently consists of the hard drive-based iPod Classic, the touchscreen iPod Touch, the compact iPod Nano, and the ultra-compact iPod Shuffle...
and PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
.
PowerDirector Version 6 included a menu designer for DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
authoring. MPEG-2 HD and WMV HD
WMV HD
Windows Media High Definition Video is the marketing name for high definition videos encoded using Microsoft Windows Media Video 9 codecs...
video format is supported with the option to write back to HDV
HDV
HDV is a format for recording of high-definition video on DV cassette tape. The format was originally developed by JVC and supported by Sony, Canon and Sharp...
tape. A slideshow designer and additional video effects were also included.
PowerDirector Version 7 is the first to be sold in two editions: Deluxe and Ultra. The Ultra version allows for Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
and AVCHD
AVCHD
AVCHD is a file-based format for the digital recording and playback of high-definition video....
on DVD authoring, while both versions support Dolby 5.1 encoding. Version 7 supports up to 6 PiP tracks.
Version 7 introduces DirectorZone. DirectorZone is an effects, templates and menus download website. There is an option to subscribe to other creators which gives the opportunity to share effects and templates. Other notable new features include direct links to Flickr
Flickr
Flickr is an image hosting and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community that was created by Ludicorp in 2004 and acquired by Yahoo! in 2005. In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to...
and Freesound, the option to apply multiple fixes at once using Magic Clean, and beat detection technology – which syncs audio with movie content.
PowerDirector Version 8 introduces a Particle Effects Designer, Power Tools, and Zoom-in Cut for microscopic frame level editing. Version 8 allows for viewing and sharing timeline settings for video project, direct Facebook uploads, new special effects and a full-screen preview.
PowerDirector Version 9 is CyberLink's first 64-bit offering and introduces the new TrueVelocity video rendering engine for much improved rendering speed. Version 9 also adds a 100-track timeline, customizable particle effects, and functionality to output videos directly to the iPad, iPhone, iPod, BlackBerry, PSP, Zune and many other mobile devices.
Current version
Version 10 is the latest PowerDirector release and features a 2nd generation TrueVelocity rendering engine including support for OpenCL as well as end-to-end 3D video editing. DirectorZone, the companion online community for PowerDirector users, now boats over 2 million members and over 200,000 free effects that can be downloaded and integrated into video projects.Magic tools
PowerDirector has several tools to enhance and edit projects quickly. The Magic Movie Wizard creates an edited movie with effects and transitions. Magic Clean reduces ambient noise and enhances the video color. Magic Cut cuts unedited video to a shorter duration. Magic Fix fixes red-eye, blurry photos and stabilizes shaky footage. Magic Style transforms clips into a finished movie. Magic Music creates background music to match the project length.Awards
PowerDirector 7 Ultra edition won PC MagazinePC Magazine
PC Magazine is a computer magazine published by Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. A print edition was published from 1982 to January 2009...
Editor's Choice award on June 12, 2008.
PowerDirector 9 Ultra64 won PC Magazine's Editor's Choice Award on Dec. 7, 2010