PowerDirector

[MHT to MCO]

Does anyone use or have used Cyberlink's PowerDirector? I bought PowerDirector 9.0 in October after we got back from our Disney trip and wanted to put together a fun video for everyone (grand gathering) for Christmas. I've been having some trouble and Christmas is rapidly approaching. I'm in the "production" phase and have several question and could use some help. Thanks!!!!!

 

[swigert99]

I do! I'm not sure which version I have, it came with my JVC camcorder a couple years ago, but I think I've finally figured it out and have several DVD's burned to prove it. I can try to help the best I can.

 

[MHT to MCO]

You are awesome! OK, I have 5 different videos (MK, AK, HS, E, and a music video) and the final outcome would be to have all 5 on the same DVD with a menu page labeling all 5. I would like everyone to be able to watch this DVD on their computer as well as be able to play in their DVD players on TV. I'm wicked confused on the Produce page as to what I should choose: .avi, mpeg1/2/4.....etc.
1.)What should I choose on the production page to be able to watch these videos on the computer and DVD players?
2.) What's the difference (in dumbed down terms) between all of them?


I'll start with that for now. (I know other questions will start cropping up as I dig deeper)

 

[swigert99]

Okay, I had to make sure mine played on my computer also and it does through windows media player. So I assume it would work most any program, although I think most people would have media player (I'm not sure about Mac's). And it plays on my DVD player. You want to choose .avi

The version I have is PowerDirector 5 NE, so hopefully most things transfer to your version.

On Produce page I always choose
Step 1. Create File
Step 2. .AVI

I honestly don't know what they all mean. When I click on them there is a little summary of what they are and it looks like it relates to the quality. Sorry can't help you there. My sis is a wiz at this stuff and she told me to always choose .AVI in that step.

Hope this helps. I'm not a computer wiz, but I hope I can help you.

 

[LordAthens]

If you're producing it to be burned on a DVD (and want that DVD to be read in any plain old DVD player), you want to select MPEG2. They may very well actually have a DVD option, however. I have PD but it's been a while since I've played with it, I'll look at it tomorrow and see.

MPEG1 is all but useless these days, MPEG4 is a newer type of encoding, it's far more efficient (smaller file sizes with the same quality), but not compatible with a standard DVD player. That would be used for uploading to a website to stream, etc. If you're doing any of this in HD, this changes everything.