I have an IPad, but no access to a Mac computer.

MTV

@ Sidewinder & Sting re PowerDirector ;

Fabulous videos Sting, and a really cool plane you have…wow.

Great comments from both of you re the video editing software PowerDirector. The current edition is version 13, and it comes in Deluxe, Ultra, and Ultimate, as well as a more expensive packaged “Suite” edition. I have two concerns about the product and would appreciate feedback from anyone out there using PowerDirector. My concerns all stem from hearsay comments I have read; I have no personal experience with the software.

#1) It can only be loaded on one computer at a time period. In other words if you have a desktop and a laptop for travel, you can’t load it on both machines even though your intentions would be to use only one of the computers at a time, never simultaneously. I have gobs of computers, and I really need to be able to load a program on more than one machine, especially as I travel with a laptop.

Here are some clipped consumer comments with links.

Comment from http://www.amazon.com/review/R1IJNOTMKU7XWQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R1IJNOTMKU7XWQ

I purchased CyberLink PowerDirector 12 Ultimate Suite because I am getting ready for a significant computer upgrade and I want to be able to edit AVCHD Video. PowerDirector 12 has very good reviews and seems to be what I need for the job. However, one thing they DO NOT MENTION on the box is that this software CAN ONLY BE USED ON ONE COMPUTER! Not one computer at a time – one computer PERIOD! Unlike most software, you can NOT install a copy on your desktop computer and also on your laptop for when you are traveling. Most software either allows you to install on both as long as you never use both at the same time, OR has a function that allows you to activate your license on only one at a time (for example, Home Designer Professional). CyberLink requires you to purchase a separate license for each and every computer you use it on. For me, that is particularly bad. I plan to do most of my editing on my main home computer, but I travel and would like to do basic editing on the road on my laptop.

#2) There has been a lot of grizzling over the quality of support. Again I have no personal experience on this, but if you read the amazon.com or other website reviews, this issue comes up very frequently.

Comment from http://www.amazon.com/CyberLink-PowerDirector-13-Ultimate-Download/product-reviews/B00NT757G8/ref=cm_cr_pr_hist_1?ie=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

“ Contacting support resulted in a series of form-letter responses with occasional bits of unhelpful advice. And to actually talk to a live human is 30 dollars for 2 months of phone support. No official response on their forum after multiple people posted about the bug over a few weeks. I strongly advise against purchasing this program. “

Re: Adobe:
Comment from https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1046593?tstart=0

Yes. Adobe allows for two installations on a personal computer, but only one installation can be used at a time.

I currently use Adobe Premiere Elements 13 for video. It is not perfect, does not allow 4K editing, etc., but I don’t have anything that shoots 4k video. It does allow me to have the program on my desk machine and one lap top, which suits me just fine. I use Canon DSLRs, and Panasonic GH2 micro four thirds gear, along with Zoom H4N outboard audio, Mackie Onyx Mixer, Sennheiser G3 wireless lav mics, etc. I don’t have Pluraleyes or Dreamsynch yet to synch my externally recorded audio to the video audio, but use Audacity (free) and it gets the job done. Incidentally, I am NOT a professional in this field...I just putz around. It is just a hobby like astronomy and ham radio.

Useful Links:
PluralEyes
http://www.redgiant.com/products/pluraleyes/?gclid=CLr9n_eKv8MCFdgIgQodfh4AbQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW6SA25nRyg
DreamSynch
http://www.dreamsyncapp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zMUoUXhYwY
Audacity
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

I guess my take on this is that PowerDirector is fine if you have only one machine, and support is not that much of an issue. Otherwise I think I’d consider Adobe Premiere Elements or Corel VideoStudio Pro-X7. Here are some comparative reviews which discuss all three and more.

Useful Links :
http://video-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/powerdirector-review.html
http://video-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/premiere-elements-review.html
http://video-editing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/videostudio-review.html

I may go ahead and buy PowerDirector nevertheless myself, even though I already have the Adobe Software. I just wanted to provide some perspective on some of the other available options, particularly for those of us who perhaps travel and may need to use software on at least two different machines.

YMMV. /rant

Well, I just bought Power Director online, based on comments here.

After a looooooong download onto my PC, I tried to open the program, and a screen comes up saying: enter your product code here.....I do, and immediately get a message : Wrong product code, try again? I did, after verifying the code from the email sent to me with that code.

Tried five times, with code in hand to verify, and verified five times as well.

Nada.

So, six hours ago, I sent a message to their "help" email. Nothing yet.

We'll see how long it takes to get a response to a purchase.

So far, not impressed.

MTV

That's a royal pita for sure. Purchasers should have immediate phone access to resolve installation issues, it just makes good business. sense.. Ive never needed support myself, Its an older version, but I just went to the the cyberlink site and it looks like a fucking run around trying to get phone support, without having to pay a subscription fee. I cannot get past this page https://membership.cyberlink.com/prog/m ... support.do
as one has to be a member and perhaps there's a phone number somewhere hiding.
Computer stuff can be a real hassle. I once spent 2 hours on the phone trying to resolve a router issue. There are two hurdles when getting new software, First, is the installation process which almost never goes smoothly, Second, are system conflicts that can cause the program to freeze and emit irritating error code warnings. If that shit can't be corrected with a couple of contacts with support, I dump it.
Sometimes it's not the software's problem, The problem exists in the host computer, either hardware conflicts or corrupted files.
Hope you get this resolved within a reasonable time frame.

This morning I had an email message that directed me to log on to their site for the response to my message.....seemed kind of weird, but once logged on, they provided me with a functional product key, which then opened the program just fine.

Now, all I have to do is find the time to start learning how to make this program work.

I'll keep you posted.

Maybe even with a video.....maybe.

MTV

A video from MTV? Now this I cant wait to see!

I use Adobe Premiere Pro CS4. Not too hard to learn.

DrifterDriver wrote:A video from MTV? Now this I cant wait to see!

Yeah, well, better grab a six pack. Not going well so far. Has anyone who is into computer programming ever actually talked to an actual user?? If so, they prolly wouldn't have survived the encounter.

So far I've burned up about four hours, roaming the halls of this software, and in truth, I got a LOT more out of fourth grade.

MTV

Mike, I know you've already bought your program, but a different suggestion:
I tried/looked at several, asked questions before I put out the cash. I bought "Magix Video Easy" because it was relatively easy to use. I didn't need fancy stuff, just a way to edit out the boring parts & do simple transitions & add "titles" to different scenes. Werks fer me.

A totally boring eight minute video of a short flight around the Gallatin Valley.....learning, slowly......

http://youtu.be/KR3R98Vx6mA

MTV

MTV,

Very nice. Did you use any editing to minimize/eliminate vibration, or is that the way it came out already? I also liked the audio...sounded very real.

I also liked how you artificially added all that snow on the ground cause I know it does not snow in January/February in Montana.

mtv wrote:A totally boring eight minute video of a short flight around the Gallatin Valley.....learning, slowly......

http://youtu.be/KR3R98Vx6mA

MTV

It's all downhill from here... Hehehe

Nice video, Mike. Looks crisp and clear audio too. Good job on resisting the temptation to add music.

Nice ride, thanks Mike.
Nearly 1/2 of the frame is airplane. Wondering why??

Congratulations, nice video. Beautiful scenic country slipping by, with just the sound of the engine, no finer music than that!

Denali wrote:MTV,

Very nice. Did you use any editing to minimize/eliminate vibration, or is that the way it came out already? I also liked the audio...sounded very real.

I also liked how you artificially added all that snow on the ground cause I know it does not snow in January/February in Montana.

I changed the camera settings to 60 fps to eliminate the "jello" effect. Worked great. There are a couple places where you can see some vibration.....when power comes back....but they just look like vibration, not like diving into a pool.

Not much snow now......temps in the 50 s and 60s the last week. Skiers are whining, but not this kid.

MTV

Zzz wrote:Nice video, Mike. Looks crisp and clear audio too. Good job on resisting the temptation to add music.

Back in the day, a couple of my passengers at work asked why I had my "tunes" plugged into my headset, rather than sharing with my pax.

My response: "You probably don't want to listen to my music, and I sure don't want to listen to yours".

Oh, yeah, and I don't know how to find free downloadable music for this stuff, and I sure as hell don't want Bob Dylan badmouthing my ass on TV.

MTV

NimpoCub wrote:Nice ride, thanks Mike.
Nearly 1/2 of the frame is airplane. Wondering why??

Playing with camera position. Wanted to capture the drama of that incredibly difficult engine start.... You'll note I edited out the "Old Guy gyrations whilst boarding" out of respect for you all.

MTV

A totally boring eight minute video of a short flight around the Gallatin Valley.....learning, slowly......

I'm impressed!!!! I need to get one and if I can do that good, I'll be happy.

Very nice Mike. I enjoyed that.