Cyberlink PowerDirector - 7.0 Operation Manual

CyberLink

PowerDirector 7

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 NON-INFRINGEMENT.

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. Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. Dolby, Pro Logic, MLP Lossless, The "AAC" logo, and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories. Confidential unpublished works. Copyright 1992-2004 Dolby Laboratories. All rights reserved.

Manufactured under license under U.S. Patent #’s: 5,451,942; 5,956,674; 5,974,380; 5,978,762; 6,226,616; 6,487,535; 7,003,467; 7,212,872 & other U.S. and worldwide patents issued & pending. DTS, DTS Digital Surround, ES, and Neo:6 are registered trademarks and the DTS logos, Symbol and DTS 96/24 are trademarks of DTS, Inc. © 1996-2007 DTS, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Manufactured under license under U.S. Patent #’s: 5,451,942; 5,956,674; 5,974,380; 5,978,762; 6,226,616; 6,487,535 & other U.S. and worldwide patents issued & pending. DTS is a registered trademark and the DTS logos, Symbol, DTS-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio are trademarks of DTS, Inc. © 1996-2007 DTS, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

International Headquarters

Mailing Address

Web Site Telephone Fax

CyberLink Corporation 15F, #100, Minchiuan Road, Shindian City Taipei 231, Taiwan

www.cyberlink.com

886-2-8667-1298

886-2-8667-1300

Contents

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

Welcome .................................................................................................................... 2

Latest Features ................................................................................................... 2

DirectorZone ....................................................................................................... 4

PowerDirector Versions ...................................................................................4

The PowerDirector Program ............................................................................... 5

PowerDirector Modes ...................................................................................... 7

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

The Production Process ........................................................................................9

System Requirements .........................................................................................10

Pre-production ..................................... 13

Importing Media ...................................................................................................14

Downloading Media .......................................................................................14

Capturing Media ...................................................................................................17

Capture Mode ...................................................................................................18

Capture Options ..............................................................................................19

Capture from DV Camcorder .......................................................................20

Capture from HDV Camcorder ...................................................................21

Capture from TV ...............................................................................................21

Capture from Digital TV ................................................................................22

Capture from PC Camera ..............................................................................22

Capture from Microphone ...........................................................................22

Capture Audio Tracks from CD ...................................................................22

Capture from a DVD .......................................................................................22

Detecting Scenes and Extracting Audio .......................................................23

CyberLink PowerDirector

Detect Scenes in a Video Clip ......................................................................23

Extracting Audio from a Video Clip ...........................................................24

PowerDirector Preferences ...............................................................................25

File Preferences ................................................................................................25

General Preferences .......................................................................................26

Editing Preferences .........................................................................................27

Confirmation Preferences ............................................................................28

Capture Preferences .......................................................................................29

Produce Preferences ......................................................................................30

DirectorZone Preferences ............................................................................30

Creating Your Story .............................. 33

Edit Window Overview .......................................................................................34

Set the Project’s Aspect Ratio .....................................................................34

The Library Window .......................................................................................35

The Workspace .................................................................................................39

Adding Media to Workspace ............................................................................43

Magic Movie Wizard .......................................................................................43

Slideshow Designer ........................................................................................44

Adding Video, Photos and Audio to the Workspace ..........................47

Adding Video Effects, Objects, Titles and Transitions ........................49

Preview your Production ...................................................................................52

Preview Window ..............................................................................................52

Media Viewer ....................................................................................................53

Editing Your Media ...............................................................................................54

Split a Clip ..........................................................................................................54

Trim a Video or Audio Clip ...........................................................................54

Set a Clip’s Duration .......................................................................................55

Mute an Entire Media Clip ............................................................................56

Change the Speed of a Video Clip .............................................................56

Freeze Frame Effect ........................................................................................56

Time Info .............................................................................................................57

Set a Video Clip’s Interlacing Format .......................................................57

Adjust a Video Clip’s Aspect Ratio .............................................................58

Contents

Using Magic Tools .................................................................................................59

Magic Movie Wizard .......................................................................................60

Magic Clean .......................................................................................................60

Magic Motion ....................................................................................................60

Magic Cut ...........................................................................................................61

Magic Fix .............................................................................................................61

Magic Style .........................................................................................................61

Magic Music .......................................................................................................62

Modifying Effects ..................................................................................................63

Modifying a Video Effect ...............................................................................63

Modifying Objects ...........................................................................................63

Modifying a PiP Effect or Object ................................................................64

Modify a Title Effect ........................................................................................68

Audio Mixing and Voice Overs .........................................................................73

Splitting Audio from a Video Clip ..............................................................73

Change Audio Clip Volume Levels ............................................................73

Record a Voice-Over .......................................................................................76

Chapters ...................................................................................................................79

Set Chapters ......................................................................................................79

Subtitles ....................................................................................................................80

Add a Subtitle ...................................................................................................80

Edit a Subtitle ....................................................................................................81

Import Subtitles from a Text File ...............................................................81

Syncing Subtitles with Dialogue ................................................................81

Producing Your Movie .......................... 83

Viewing SVRT Information .................................................................................84

Production Mode ..................................................................................................85

Production Wizard ..........................................................................................86

Create a File .............................................................................................................89

Create/Modify a Video File Profile .............................................................89

Creating a Video File ......................................................................................89

Create a Streaming File .......................................................................................91

Create/Modify a Streaming File Profile ....................................................91

iii

CyberLink PowerDirector

Create a File for Streaming ...........................................................................92

Write Back to DV Tape or HDV Tape ..............................................................93

Create an HDD Camcorder File ........................................................................94

Uploading Video ...................................................................................................95

Uploading Video to YouTube .....................................................................95

Batch Production ..................................................................................................96

Creating Discs ...................................... 97

Create Disc Mode ..................................................................................................98

Disc Menus ..............................................................................................................99

Selecting Pre-designed Templates ...........................................................99

Customizing Disc Menu ............................................................................. 100

Preview Your Disc’s Menu Page .............................................................. 106

Configure Create Disc Preferences .............................................................. 107

Burn to Disc .......................................................................................................... 109

Burn Your Movie to Disc ............................................................................ 109

Set Your Burning Configuration .............................................................. 110

Create a DVD Folder .................................................................................... 110

Erase a Disc ..................................................................................................... 110

Appendix ............................................ 111

Hotkeys .................................................................................................................. 112

System Hotkeys ............................................................................................. 112

Project Hotkeys ............................................................................................. 112

Workspace Hotkeys ..................................................................................... 113

Menu Hotkeys ................................................................................................ 114

Smart Guide Hotkeys .................................................................................. 115

Main Panel Hotkeys ..................................................................................... 115

Library Hotkeys .............................................................................................116

Capture Hotkeys ........................................................................................... 117

Voice-Over Hotkeys ..................................................................................... 117

Preview Window Hotkeys ......................................................................... 118

Contents

Title Designer Hotkeys ................................................................................ 119

PiP Designer Hotkeys .................................................................................. 119

SVRT: When Can I Use it? ................................................................................. 120

Licenses and Copyrights ................................................................................. 121

Dolby Laboratories ...................................................................................... 121

Technical Support............................... 123

Before Contacting Technical Support ........................................................ 124

Web Support ....................................................................................................... 125

Index .................................................. 127

CyberLink PowerDirector

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 page 2

• "The PowerDirector Program" on page 5

• "The Production Process" on page 9

• "System Requirements" on page 10

CyberLink PowerDirector

Welcome

Welcome to the CyberLink family of digital video tools. CyberLink PowerDirector is a digital video editing program that lets you create professional-looking video movies and photo slideshows, complete with music, voice-overs, special effects, transition effects and much more.

If you don’t have experience making movies or creating slideshows, don’t worry. CyberLink PowerDirector is an easy to use tool that, with just a little practice, will have you making movies like a Hollywood director. In no time you will be creating creative videos and stylish slideshows that you can email to friends, burn to disc to show your family, or upload to the Internet to share with the world.

Latest Features

This section describes the latest features in the CyberLink PowerDirector program.

Library

• Download photos and audio:

• Search for, download and import media into your Library from Flickr or Freesound directly.

• Manage library tools:

• Create subfolders within your Media Library to organize your media or save your entire Library as a separate file.

• Download and sharing created media:

• Share your customized PiP objects and title effects with others by uploading them to DirectorZone. You can also add additional media to your Library by downloading them from the DirectorZone web site.

Edit

• Enhanced Slideshow Designer:

• Many new slideshow styles to choose from.

• Synchronize photos with the beat of the music and full creative control over the design in cell slideshows.

• Enhanced Magic Tools:

• Improved lighting in the video with the new Magic Clean functions.

• Detailed frame controls for picture pan and zoom in Magic Motion.

• Improved chroma key results.

• Multiple PiP Tracks:

• The Track Manager lets you add multiple PiP tracks to the timeline, allowing you to display up to six PiP objects on a video at the same time.

• Freeze Frame:

• Add a freeze frame effect to your video instantly to emphasize a specific frame of video.

• Subtitles:

• Add subtitles for a disc, which can be switched on/off like those found on commercial discs.

Produce

Chapter 1: Introduction

• Create an HDD Camcorder File:

• Produce files that can be copied back onto a hard disk drive camcorder.

Create Disc Menus

• Enhanced menu creation:

• Multi-layered menus and a more easy-to-use and powerful menu designer.

• Download and sharing created disc menus:

• Share your customized disc menus with others by uploading them to DirectorZone. You can also add additional disc menus by downloading them from the DirectorZone web site.

CyberLink PowerDirector

DirectorZone

DirectorZone is a web service that lets you download PiP objects, title templates and disc menus created by other users of CyberLink PowerDirector. You may also share your own creations by uploading them to DirectorZone.

To sign in to DirectorZone, click the Sign in to DirectorZone link on the top of the CyberLink PowerDirector window.

Go to http://directorzone.cyberlink.com to view more information on the features and benefits of the DirectorZone web site.

PowerDirector Versions

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

Upgrade Your Software

Software upgrades may be periodically available from CyberLink. To upgrade your software, click the Upgrade button on the About CyberLink PowerDirector window. The Upgrade window will open and you can select to download new upgrades and updates for CyberLink PowerDirector. You will be redirected to CyberLink’s cyberstore if you choose to purchase new upgrades.

Note: You must be connected to the Internet to use this feature.

Chapter 1: Introduction

The PowerDirector Program

When you first open CyberLink PowerDirector, the program appears as

CyberLink PowerDirector

follows:

Edit function buttons

Open editing rooms dedicated to a specific task

Mode buttons

Click to switch working modes

Library window

Contains your media content as well as various effects, transitions and other media rooms

Preview window

Provides playback controls to preview clips and movies

Magic Tools

Provide easy ways to work with media clips

Function buttons

Shortcuts to common functions

Wor ksp ace

Insert media clips and effects here

PowerDirector Modes

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

Mode Description

Chapter 1: Introduction

Capture

Edit

Produce

Create Disc

By default, CyberLink PowerDirector opens in the Edit mode, but you can easily switch between modes to perform your required task by using these buttons.

Capture media in a variety of formats, from a variety of sources. See "Capturing Media" on page 17.

Edit your production by adding video and photos to the timeline, then add transitions, effects and titles for that creative touch. See "Creating Your Story" on page 33.

Produce your creation by outputting it to a file, DV tape or uploading to the Internet. See "Producing Your Movie" on page 83.

Use Create Disc to create a custom disc, complete with menus, that can be burnt to disc. See "Creating Discs" on page 97.

CyberLink PowerDirector

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 CyberLink 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 CyberLink PowerDirector project file just like any other file in Windows. Your projects are saved as .pds files, a unique file format used by the CyberLink PowerDirector program.

Chapter 1: Introduction

The Production Process

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

The production process, depending on your purpose, may involve some or all of the following phases:

• Pre-production

• Importing your media

•Capturing your media

• Detecting scenes and extracting audio

• Putting your story together

• Adding your media to the workspace

•Adding effects, transitions and titles

• Editing and refining your videos

• Touching up your photos

• Using Magic Tools and modifying effects

• Recording voice overs and mixing audio

• Setting chapters and adding subtitles

• Producing and Uploading Your Productions

• Producing video files

• Producing streaming video files

• Writing back to a DV/HDV tape or create an HDD camcorder file

• Uploading to the Internet

• Finalizing production to discs

• Creating disc menus

• Burning your productions to disc

CyberLink PowerDirector

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 Vista/XP (Windows XP Service Pack 2 is required for

HDV capture)

Memory:

• 512 MB required

• 2GB DDR2 or above recommended for editing HD videos

CPU:

• AVI Capture/Producer: Pentium II 450 MHz or AMD Athlon 500

MHz

• VCD Quality (MPEG-1) Profiles: Pentium III 600 MHz or AMD

Athlon 700 MHz

• DVD Quality (MPEG-2) Profiles: Pentium 4 2.2 GHz or AMD Athlon

XP 2200+

• High Quality MPEG-4 and Streaming WMV, QuickTime,

RealVideo) Profiles: Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz or AMD Athlon XP 2400+

• AVCHD and MPEG-2 HD (for BD/HD burning) Profiles: Pentium

Core 2 Duo E6400 or Athlon 64 X2 5000+

Video Capturing Device:

• 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 (check

CyberLink web site) for supported model list)

• DVD camcorder connected via USB2.0 (check CyberLink web site

for supported model list)

• Sony MicroMV/AVCHD/HDV camcorder (check CyberLink web

site for supported model list)

Chapter 1: Introduction

• JVC Everio camcorder (check CyberLink web site for supported

model list)

Hard Disk Space:

• 5 GB required (400MB for SmartSound Quicktrack Library)

• 10 GB (20 GB recommended) required for DVD production

• 60GB (100GB recommended) required for BD/HD/AVCHD

production

Burning Devices:

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

required to burn VCD/DVD/SVCD/AVCHD titles

• A Blu-ray Disc recordable drive is required to burn Blu-ray Disc

titles

Microphone:

• A microphone is required for recording voice-overs

Note: Please consult the CyberLink web site for the most recent system requirements information. http://www.cyberlink.com/

CyberLink PowerDirector

Chapter 2:

Pre-production

This chapter details the steps required for pre-production, including importing your media into the Media Library, capturing media with CyberLink PowerDirector and setting your CyberLink PowerDirector preferences.

This chapter contains the following sections:

• "Importing Media" on page 14

• "Capturing Media" on page 17

• "Detecting Scenes and Extracting Audio" on page 23

• "PowerDirector Preferences" on page 25

CyberLink PowerDirector

Importing Media

If you already have video files, music and photos on your computer’s hard drive that you want to use in your production you can import them directly into CyberLink PowerDirector’s Media Library.

CyberLink PowerDirector supports the import of the following file formats:

Image: JPEG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, PNG

Video: DV-AVI, Windows-AVI, DAT, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DVR-MS, VOB, VRO,

WMV, MOV, MOD, TOD, MP4, MTS, M2TS

Audio: MP3, WAV, WMA, ASF

When importing media into the Media Library, you have two options:

• import media files individually

• import an entire folder that contains media files you want to use

in your current project

Downloading Media

If you feel that you do not have enough media for your project or you are looking for specific media to make your creation just perfect, you can now search for, download and then import photos from Flickr or audio from Freesound directly into CyberLink PowerDirector.

Downloading Photos From Flickr

You can download your own photos directly from your account on Flickr into CyberLink PowerDirector. You can also search for and browse other users’ photos from within CyberLink PowerDirector, and then import them into your Media Library for use in a project.

To download photos from Flickr, do this:

1. Select Import from Flickr from the download menu .

Chapter 2: Pre-production

2. Follow the steps within the wizard window to authorize CyberLink PowerDirector to use your Flickr account and accept the Terms of Use from Flickr.

Note: Having a Flickr account is not required to search for, browse and download photos from Flickr.

3. Select from the drop down whether to search for photos from:

• My Photos on Flickr: this option displays thumbnails of all the

photos you have uploaded to your Flickr account.

• My Contacts' Photos: this option displays thumbnails of all the

photos your Flick contacts have uploaded to Flickr.

• Search for Photos on Flickr: select this option to perform a

search for photos on Flickr. You can search for photos by popular

search tags , by user country or by keyword .

Note: Use the drop down filter menu at the top of the search window to sort the photos.

4. Select all of the photos that you want to import into your Media Library and then click on the Download button.

Note: The photos downloaded into your Media Library cannot be used for commercial use. Click on the button underneath the photo thumbnail to view the copyright information.

Downloading Audio From Freesound

You can download audio samples, such as sound effects or music clips, from the Freesound service into CyberLink PowerDirector.

To download audio clips from Freesound, do this:

1. Select Import from Freesound from the download menu .

2. Follow the steps within the wizard window to sign in to Freesound and then accept the Terms of Use.

3. Within the search window, perform a search for the audio clips you

are looking for by popular genres or by keyword .

CyberLink PowerDirector

Note: Use the check boxes to filter the keyword search criteria before performing your search.

4. Select all of the audio that you want to import into your Media Library and then click on the Download button.

Note: The audio downloaded into your Media Library cannot be used for commercial use. Click on the button underneath the audio thumbnail to view the copyright information.

Downloading Templates from DirectorZone

If you are looking for additional PiP objects or title effects for your library, you can download them from the DirectorZone web site by

clicking on within the PiP Objects Room and the Title Effects Room.

The additional templates are created by either CyberLink or other CyberLink PowerDirector users, who have uploaded them to DirectorZone.

Chapter 2: Pre-production

Capturing Media

CyberLink PowerDirector lets you capture media from a variety of sources directly into your Media Library.

CyberLink PowerDirector

Capture Mode

When you click the Capture button you will enter the Capture mode. In Capture mode, the program appears as follows:

Capture device selection area

Allows you to switch capture devices

Capture preview window

Displays media clips during capture

Captured clips area

Displays media clips after capture

Information display area

Displays information about captured file size and available HDD space

Note: Before you begin to capture, make sure your capture environment is set according to your preferred working methods. See "Capture Preferences" on page 29 for more information.

Chapter 2: Pre-production

Capture Options

You can capture video clips in the following file formats:

• MPEG-1

• MPEG-2

• MPEG-4

• AVI

Many of the options for capturing are the same for some of the capture modes.

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

Capture Limit Options

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

• To set a maximum capture length, select Time limit and then

enter a time in the time code box.

• To set a maximum captured file size, select Size limit and then

enter a size limit (in MB).

To add a text remark, date caption or time code to the captured video,

click on .

Note: When CyberLink PowerDirector captures content from a RichVideo compliant DV/HDV camcorder, time code information will automatically be captured as well and can be enabled using the Time Info button when the video clip is placed on the timeline. See "Time Info" on page 57 for more information.

CyberLink PowerDirector

To take a still photo of a frame video for use in your project, just click on

at the point where you want to take the snapshot and an image

file will be saved to the Media Library.

Note: You can specify your preferred snapshot image file format in preferences. See "File Preferences" on page 25 for detailed information.

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.

Note: If your DV camcorder connects to your computer via USB, you must import video files directly as if your camcorder was another hard drive. See "Importing Media" on page 14 for information on importing video files.

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.

DV Backup

The DV Backup feature lets you back-up the digital video from your DV camcorder directly to DVD using CyberLink PowerDirector.

Note: This feature requires a DVD burner.

Batch Capture from a DV Camcorder

Batch capturing may seem intimidating, but in reality it is an incredibly convenient method of capturing multiple video clips automatically. If you take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with batch capturing, you

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