Cyberlink PowerDirector - 4.0 User’s Guide

CyberLink

PowerDirector 4

User’s Guide

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of CyberLink Corporation.

To the extent allowed by law, POWERDIRECTOR IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY WARRANTY FOR INFORMATION, SERVICES, OR PRODUCTS PROVIDED THROUGH OR IN CONNECTION WITH POWERDIRECTOR AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY, OR NONINFRINGEMENT.

BY USING THIS SOFTWARE, YOU AGREE THAT CYBERLINK WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSS ARISING FROM THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE OR MATERIALS CONTAINED EITHER IN THIS PACKAGE.

The terms and conditions here under shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of Taiwan.

PowerDirector is a registered trademark along with other company and product names mentioned in this publication, used for identification purposes and remain the exclusive property of their respective owners.

International Headquarters

Mailing Address

Web Site

Te le ph o ne

Fax

CyberLink Corporation 15F, #100, Min Chuan Road, Hsin Tian City Taip e i Coun t y, Ta iwa n , R.O . C .

www.gocyberlink.com

886-2-8667-1298

886-2-8667-1300

Contents

Introduction ................................................... 1

Welcome! .....................................................................2

Where to Begin Reading ............................................2

The Movie-Making Process .............................................3

Pre-Production ..........................................................3

Putting Your Story Together ........................................3

Editing ......................................................................4

Producing and Burning Your Movie .............................4

Uninstall Your Software ...................................................6

Uninstall from the Start Menu .....................................6

Uninstall from the Control Panel .................................6

The PowerDirector Program ............................................7

PowerDirector Modes .................................................8

PowerDirector Projects ...............................................8

System Requirements ......................................................9

PowerDirector Versions .................................................10

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Capturing Media.......................................... 11

Capture Mode .............................................................12

Capture Preferences .....................................................13

Capture Options ..........................................................14

Capture Limit Options .............................................14

Profile Options ........................................................15

Analog Video Capture Options .................................16

Audio Capture Options ............................................17

Webcam Video Capture Options ..............................18

CD/Microphone Capture Profile Setup ......................19

Captured Clip Options ............................................19

Capture from DV Camcorder ........................................21

Capture a Single Scene ............................................21

Batch Capture .........................................................23

Capture from TV ..........................................................30

Capture from Webcam .................................................32

Capture from Microphone ............................................33

Rip Audio Tracks from CD ............................................34

Record a Voice-Over ....................................................35

Creating Your Story ...................................... 37

Working with Project Files .............................................38

Create a New Project ...............................................38

Save a Project .........................................................38

Open an Existing Project ..........................................38

New Workspace ......................................................38

View Project Properties .............................................39

General Preferences .....................................................40

File Preferences .......................................................40

General Preferences ................................................41

The Library ..................................................................43

Media Room ...........................................................44

Effect Room ............................................................44

Title Room ..............................................................44

Transition Room ......................................................44

Audio Mixing Room .................................................44

Voice-Over Recording Room ....................................45

Contents

Chapter Setting Room ..............................................45

Managing Media in the Library ......................................46

Load Clips into the Library ........................................46

Sort Clips in the Library ............................................47

Remove a Clip from the Library .................................48

Rename a Clip in the Library ....................................49

Restore a Clip’s Original File Name ..........................49

View Clip Properties .................................................50

Detect Scenes in a Video Clip ...................................51

Managing Clips in the Workspace .................................53

Timeline View ..........................................................53

Storyboard View ......................................................55

Add a Clip to the Workspace ....................................56

Move a Clip in the Workspace ..................................60

Select Clips in the Workspace ...................................60

Cut/Copy/Paste a Clip in the Workspace ..................60

Align Clips in the Timeline ........................................61

Remove a Clip from the Workspace ..........................62

Replace an Effect in the Timeline ...............................62

Set Chapters ................................................................63

Viewing SVRT Information .............................................64

Preview Your Movie ......................................................65

Preview Your Movie in the Preview Window ................65

Preview Your Movie in the Media Viewer ...................66

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Editing Clips ................................................ 67

Editing Media Clips ......................................................68

Split a Clip ..............................................................68

Trim a Video or Audio Clip .......................................69

Mute an Entire Media Clip .......................................73

Mute an Entire Track ................................................73

Take a Still Snapshot of a Video Clip .........................73

Change the Speed of a Video Clip ............................74

Stretch the Audio Portion of a Video Clip ...................75

Change the Color of a Visual Media Clip ..................75

Edit an Image Clip in PhotoNow! ..............................76

Set a Video Clip’s Interlacing Format ........................77

Change Audio Clip Volume Levels ............................78

Add a Fade Effect to an Audio Clip ...........................80

Restore an Audio Clip’s Volume Levels ......................80

Using Magic Tools .......................................................81

Magic Clean ...........................................................82

Magic Motion .........................................................85

Magic Cut ..............................................................86

Magic Music ...........................................................87

Modifying Effects ..........................................................88

Set an Effect’s Hold Time .........................................88

Set an Effect’s Duration ............................................89

Modifying a Video Effect ..........................................91

Modifying a PiP Effect ..............................................92

Modify a Title Effect ...............................................102

Preview a Clip ...........................................................109

Preview Window ....................................................109

Media Viewer ........................................................111

Contents

Producing Your Movie ................................ 113

Production Mode .......................................................114

The Production Wizard ...............................................115

Produce a Disc ..........................................................117

Create a File .............................................................119

Create an AVI File .................................................119

Create a DivX File .................................................124

Create an MPEG-1/MPEG-2 File ............................126

Create/Modify a Profile ..........................................128

Create a Streaming File ..............................................134

Create a WMV File for Streaming ...........................134

Create a RealVideo File for Streaming .....................136

Create a QuickTime File for Streaming ....................139

Write Back to DV Tape ...............................................143

Burning .....................................................................146

Appendix ................................................... 147

Technical Support ......................................................148

Web Support .........................................................148

Fax Support ..........................................................148

Telephone Support ................................................149

Hotkeys .....................................................................150

FAQ .........................................................................158

SVRT2: When Can I Use it? ........................................162

Disc Types & Formats .................................................163

Disc Types ............................................................163

Disc Type/Format Compatibility ..............................167

Video Formats & Qualities ..........................................168

TV Formats ...........................................................168

Video Qualities .....................................................169

Glossary ....................................................................170

Dolby Laboratories ................................................175

Intel License Agreement For Open Source Computer Vi-

sion Library .......................................................175

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Index............................................................. 1

Chapter 1:

Introduction

This chapter introduces CyberLink PowerDirector and the digital video editing process. It provides a discussion of the different kinds of technology you will use in the digital movie-making process, as well as system requirements for working smoothly with CyberLink PowerDirector.

This chapter contains the following sections:

• Welcome! on p.2

• The Movie-Making Process on p.3

• Register Your Software on p.5

• Uninstall Your Software on p.6

• The PowerDirector Program on p.7

• System Requirements on p.9

• PowerDirector Versions on p.10

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Welcome!

Welcome to the CyberLink family of digital video tools! PowerDirector is a digital video editing program that can help you create professional-looking video movies, complete with music, voice-over, special effects, and transition effects.

If you don’t have experience making movies, don’t worry. CyberLink PowerDirector provides home users with a simple tool to help them do something a little more creative with their home videos. You don’t have to be a video professional or have aspirations of a box office hit to enjoy using PowerDirector.

Where to Begin Reading

Of course, we recommend that you read through the entire User’s Guide for complete information on working with CyberLink PowerDirector. However, some people like to jump in and get working on specific projects. If you are one of those people, please refer to the list below for the page numbers of the information you are looking for.

• If you have questions about the program or the digital movie-

making process, start by reading the Introduction on p.1, then check out some of the information in the Appendix on p.147 (in particular, the FAQ on p.158).

• If you want to capture media, read Capturing Media on p.11

• If you want information on using project files and putting

your media clips together into a story, start by reading Creating Your Story on p.37.

• If you want to modify your media clips, read Editing Media

Clips on p.68.

• If you want to create a disc, read Produce a Disc on p.117.

The Movie-Making Process

The digital movie production process involves a combination of artistry and technology, beginning with raw video footage and ending with a movie production. CyberLink PowerDirector provides the easiest way to produce your finished movie and publish it to the medium of your choice.

Pre-Production

Before you edit your movie using CyberLink PowerDirector, you must first create (or gather) its component parts: video clips, photos, music, and narrative voice-overs.

If you collect raw footage yourself with a camcorder or other recording device, you can capture that content in PowerDirector’s Capture mode. PowerDirector has functions for capturing from a DV camcorder, TV, webcam, microphone, or Audio CD. If you want to use files that are already on your computer, simply import them into the Library. However you collect your content, you should have all of the bits and pieces of your movie on hand so that the video editing process goes as smoothly as possible.

Introduction

Putting Your Story Together

Once you have your raw footage on hand, import it into the workspace in PowerDitrector’s Edit mode. The workspace offers both timeline and storyboard views to suit your preferred working method. Add and rearrange clips in the workspace - even lock tracks to avoid making mistakes while you work.

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Editing

CyberLink PowerDirector’s Edit mode offers loads of options for editing audio, video, and image files in addition to video transitions, video effects, titles, and PiP effects. You might expect to use the functions in PowerDirector’s Edit mode to perform the following tasks:

1. Condense a long video clip to a desired duration using Magic Cut.

2. Clean up audio, video, and image files using Magic Clean.

3. Add a special effect to a video clip.

4. Add background music using Magic Music.

5. Adjust the sharpness, contrast, and color of a video clip.

6. Mix your background and voice-over tracks.

7. Add transition effects between video clips.

8. Add a pan or zoom effect to an image using Magic Motion.

9. Add a title and picture-in-picture (PiP) effect.

10. Preview your production.

Producing and Burning Your Movie

After editing your media and creating your movie, it’s time to produce your project. You can choose to make a disc (then proceed to burn it in CyberLink’s PowerProducer), create a movie file for playback on your computer, create a streaming file for use on the Internet, or write your movie back to DV tape.

Register Your Software

After you install the program, a registration window opens, prompting you to register your product. It is important to register your software in order to receive technical support or other information from CyberLink.

Introduction

To register your software, do this:

1. Enter your personal information in the First Name, Last Name, and Email entry boxes.

• Check one or both of the options to receive information from

CyberLink, or uncheck if you do not wish to receive this information.

2. Click Register Now.

• If you have previously registered this product, click I Have

Already Registered. The registration box will no longer open when you run the program.

• If you would like to register this product at a later time, click

Remind Me Later. The registration box will open each time you run the program until you register.

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Uninstall Your Software

If you need to uninstall your CyberLink software for any reason, you can do so either from the Windows Start menu or from the Windows Control Panel.

Uninstall from the Start Menu

To uninstall your CyberLink software from the Start menu, do this:

1. Click Start > Programs > [name of CyberLink software package] > Uninstall [product name]. The uninstall wizard

opens.

2. Follow the uninstall wizard to remove the program.

Uninstall from the Control Panel

To uninstall your CyberLink software from the Control Panel, do this:

1. Click Start > Settings > Control Panel.

2. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.

3. Select the program name, then click Change/Remove.

4. Follow the uninstall wizard to remove the program.

The PowerDirector Program

When you first open PowerDirector, the program appears as follows:

Introduction

Edit function buttons Open editing rooms dedicated to a specific task

Mode buttons Click to switch working modes

Magic Tools Provide easy ways to work with media clips

Library Contains media clips as well as the various effect and media ‘rooms’

Preview window Provides playback controls to preview clips and movies

Media tracks Insert media clips here

Function buttons Provide shortcuts to common functions

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PowerDirector Modes

PowerDirector has separate modes that enable you to perform different tasks: Capture, Edit, and Produce.

Mode Description

Click to switch to the capture interface. See Capturing Media on p.11.

Click to switch to the editing interface. See Editing Clips on p.67.

Click to switch to the production interface, which opens the Disc Wizard. See Producing Your Movie on p.113.

By default, the program opens in Edit mode. However, the PowerDirector program changes appearance depending on mode. In addition, certain parts of the program may change within a specific mode. For example, the Library changes display when you click an editing function button, and the workspace can toggle between Timeline and Storyboard views. The different modes and the varying appearances they bring to the PowerDirector program are all described in the sections that follow.

PowerDirector Projects

Changes you make to your video clips, audio files, or photos in CyberLink PowerDirector do not affect your original media. Since your settings are all saved in the project file, you can trim, edit, or delete clips in PowerDirector, but still keep your original files on your hard drive, untouched. So let yourself get creative! If you end up changing things too drastically, you can always start over.

You can open and save a PowerDirector project file just like any other file in Windows. You can also create a new file or save the current file under a different file name.

System Requirements

The system requirements listed below are recommended as minimums for general digital video production work.

Screen Resolution:

• 1024 x 768, 16-bit color or higher

OS:

• Windows XP/2000

Memory:

• 128 MB required (256+ MB DDR recommended)

CPU:

• Capture/produce AVI: Pentium 2-450 MHz or AMD Athlon

500 MHz

• Capture/produce VCD Quality (MPEG-1): Pentium 3-600

MHz or AMD Athlon 700 MHz

• Capture/produce DVD Quality (MPEG-2): Pentium 4-2.0

GHz or AMD Athlon XP 2000+

• Capture/produce High Quality MPEG-4 and Streaming

(WMV, QuickTime, RealVideo, DivX): Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz or AMD Athlon XP 2400+

• PowerDirector 4 is optimized for CPU with MMX/SSE/

SSE2/3DNow!/3DNow! Extension/HyperThreading technology

Video Capturing Device:

Introduction

• PCI or USB1.0/2.0 capture device compliant with WDM

standard (i.e. PC Camera and TV tuner with WDM driver)

• DV camcorder connected via OHCI-compliant IEEE1394

• Sony MicroMV camcorder

• JVC Everio camcorder (GZ-MC100, GZ-MC200)

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Hard Disk Space:

• 800MB minimum (400MB for Magic Music)

• 2 GB (4 GB recommended) required for VCD/SVCD

production

• 10 GB (15 GB recommended) required for DVD production

CD/DVD Burning Device:

• CD/DVD burner (CD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW or DVD-VR/RW)

is required to burn VCD/DVD/SVCD titles

Microphone:

• A microphone is required for recording voice-overs.

PowerDirector Versions

PowerDirector is available in many different OEM versions and the full retail version. File format support, editing features, disc-making functions, and other features vary depending on the version that you have. For information on the availability of specific functions in the PowerDirector version that you are using, please check the PowerDirector Readme file.

Chapter 2:

Capturing Media

This chapter explains how to acquire media for use in CyberLink PowerDirector. You can acquire video and audio from a wide variety of sources, including a webcam, camcorder, TV, VCR, microphone, and audio CD.

This chapter contains the following sections:

• Capture Preferences on p.13

• Capture Options on p.14

• Capture from DV Camcorder on p.21

• Capture from TV on p.30

• Capture from Webcam on p.32

• Capture from Microphone on p.33

• Rip Audio Tracks from CD on p.34

• Record a Voice-Over on p.35

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Capture Mode

When you click the button, PowerDirector enters Capture mode, in which you can capture media from a variety of capture devices. In Capture mode, the program appears as follows:

Capture preview window Displays media clips during capture.

Captured Clips area Displays media clips after capture.

Capture device selection area Allows you to switch capture devices and set capture limits

Information display area Displays information about captured file size and available HDD space

Capture Preferences

Before you begin to capture, make sure your capture environment is set according to your preferred working methods.

To set your capture preferences, click Edit > Preferences. The Preferences dialog box opens. Available options are as follows:

• Add captured files to Library: Check this option to import

captured files into the Library after capture.

• Add captured files to workspace: Check this option to

import captured files into the workspace after capture.

• Use video overlay for capture: Keep this option checked

during capture unless you have an older VGA card that does not support video overlay. (Unchecking this option in this event avoids the unsupported overlay display error.)

• Enable automatic file replacement during voice-over: Check

this option to overwrite existing audio if the voice-over overlaps during recording.

• Do not detect scenes during capture: Check this option if

you do not want to activate the scene detection function during capture.

• After capture, detect scenes by changing of video frames:

Check this option to perform scene detection during video capture. In scene detection, PowerDirector compares captured frames to decide when there is a scene change. Each scene is saved as a file as recording continues.

• During capture, detect scenes by timecode, and save each

scene as a separate file (DV-VCR mode only): Check this option to detect scene-break signals and to save each scene as a separate file. (DV camcorder generate a scene-break signal on the tape whenever users release the REC button.) This feature is only available in DV tape capture.

• DV Parameters button: Click this button to set the buffer

parameters for your DV camcorder. Setting a buffer time ensures that your DV camcorder and your batch capture or DV writing device begin at the same time. Without a buffer, batch capturing or writing to tape may begin before the camcorder is engaged.

Capturing Media

CyberLink PowerDirector 4

Capture Options

Many of the options for capturing are shared by different capture modes. These options are described below. Not all of the options described in this section are available in all capture modes. Descriptions of options specific to a single capture mode are found in the section that describes that mode.

Note: PowerDirector’s capture functions vary, depending on version. For information on the availability of specific features in the PowerDirector version that you are using, please check the Readme file.

Capture Limit Options

You can set limits on the size or duration of video that PowerDirector captures. When the limit you set is reached, capture automatically stops.

To set a maximum capture length, check Time limit, then enter a time in the timecode box.

To set a maximum captured file size, check Size limit, then enter a size limit (in MB).

Profile Options

Click Profile. The Profile Setup dialog box opens.

Note: For information on selecting a profile, see Create/Modify a Profile on p.128.

• Click the Comments and Details buttons for more

information about the profile.

Capturing Media

CyberLink PowerDirector 4

Analog Video Capture Options

Click Video. The Analog Video Settings dialog box opens, displaying the Video Setup tab. You may select your capture source here.

Click the Video Adjustment tab and set the video options, if necessary.

Click the TV Setup tab and set the TV options, if necessary.

Audio Capture Options

Before you capture from microphone, there are several options you can set.

Drag the volume level slider to set the input volume level.

Check Begin with fade-in to start an audio capture in with a fade-in from silence.

Check End with fade-out to end an audio capture with a fade-out to silence.

Click Audio. The Audio Setup dialog box opens. You may select your audio input device, audio input source, and input volume here.

Capturing Media

CyberLink PowerDirector 4

Webcam Video Capture Options

When capturing from a webcam, click Video to set up your webcam capture profile. Under the Video Setup tab, you can select your capture source. Click Advanced Settings for more options.

Click the Video Adjustment tab and drag the sliders to increase or decrease the intensity of the video attributes here.

• Click Revert to clear the changes you have just made.

• Click Default to reset the attributes to their original levels.

Capturing Media

CD/Microphone Capture Profile Setup

When recording from CD or microphone, click Profile to set up your CD or microphone recording profile. You may select an audio quality here.

• You can save a profile using a unique name by clicking the

Save As... button. Click Remove to remove the new profiles you create.

Captured Clip Options

After you capture clips, a number of options are available for managing them. Some of these options appear in the dialog box immediately after capture, while others are available in the Captured Clips area of the Capture window.

Click Change Folder to set a different destination folder for captured clips.

Note: Set this option before capturing clips.

Post-Capture Options

To delete a captured file, click Delete in the dialog box that appears after recording.

To name a captured file, enter a name in the dialog box that appears after recording. To use default names for captured files, check the Don’t ask me to rename files again option in the dialog box that appears after recording.

CyberLink PowerDirector 4

Captured Clips Area Options

Captured clips appear in the Captured Clips area. Right-clicking clips in this area displays a menu that provides several options:

• Delete from Disk: Select this option to remove the clip from

the Detected Scenes area and delete the source file from your hard disk.

• Remove Item: Select this option to remove the clip from the

Detected Scenes area.

• Play in Media Viewer: Select this option to view the clip in

the Media Viewer. See Preview a Clip in the Media Viewer on p.112.

• Detect Scenes: Select this option to detect the scenes

contained in a video clip. See Burning on p.146.

Capturing Media

Capture from DV Camcorder

DV camcorders are popular among video hobbyists, as they record in a digital format that does not require conversion before being used on a computer, and often provide a number of advanced recording options. You can capture a single scene or a number of scenes in a batch from your camcorder. Procedures for both methods are described below.

Capture a Single Scene

You can capture a single segment of video from your camcorder. This function is particularly useful, for example, if you want to acquire a long video segment in its entirety without skipping over sections.

To capture a single scene from a DV camcorder, do this:

Note: Make sure your camcorder is in VRC mode before capturing.

1. Click to open Capture mode.

2. Click to open the DV camcorder capture function. (You may

have to wait a few moments as PowerDirector switches devices.)

CyberLink PowerDirector 4

3. Locate the position at which you would like to begin capturing. You may do this in one of the following ways:

• Use the playback buttons.

• Drag the time slider.

• Enter a timecode, then click to seek to that timecode.

4. Set your capture options (if necessary). See Capture Options on p.14.

• Check Non-realtime to continue processing captured video

after the original video stops playing in order to ensure that no frames are dropped. Capturing video at a higher speed reduces processing time, but yields video of a lower quality. Capturing better quality video requires more CPU power and more time to complete.

5. Click to begin capture. The video plays in the preview window as you capture.

• Click to stop capture before completion.

6. Enter a name in the dialog box that appears. The clips you have captured appear in the Captured Clips area.

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