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Produce
The Produce mode is where you output your project to one of the available output options. These options include Make a disc, which enables you to create a CD or DVD; Create a file, which let's you create a video file and save it to your hard disk; create a streaming file suitable for use on the Internet; and Write Back to DV tape, which enables you to send your project back out to your DV camcorder. Options for each differ. Make a Disc offers the capability to choose VCD, DVD, VR, DIVX, or SVCD. You follow a wizard, choose the parameters and the software does the rest.
Create a File gives you the option to create a video file in DV-AVI, Windows-AVI, MPEG-1, and MPEG-2 video file formats. Once you choose the format and press start, the software renders out the file. It is worth pointing out that when you click the various file formats, a window under the format icons opens and tells you what that type of file is ideal for. In addition, there is a meter bar that details the used and free space on the hard drive as well as remaining space.
Create a Streaming File gives you the option to create a streaming video file in Microsoft WMV, Real RealPlayer, and Apple's Quicktime movie file format. You can choose optimized file output ranging from 56k dial up, all the way up to variable bit rate, to high speed LAN. Your choices here are surprisingly robust for the three streaming formats. Write back to DV tape is pretty self explanatory. The software looks for an attached DV camcorder, and once it finds it, the software basically does the rest.
System Requirements
CyberLink has a host of recommendations to adequately run certain aspects of PowerDirector 4. They range from a 450MHz Pentium II to edit video with the application to a 2.4GHz Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon XP 2400+ to capture and edit video. Memory requirements are also minimal in the recommended system requirements. So we'll give you the DMN system requirements to successfully use all features of this video editor, and not just some of the features. CPU: 2.4GHz Intel Pentium 4, AMD Ahtlon XP 2400+ or faster; Memory: 512MB RAM (1GB or more better); Hard disk: 7200rpm 80GB hard disk drive (100GB or larger recommended); Optical drive: DVD drive capable of burning DVD- or DVD+ media; Interface: IEEE 1394 connection for connecting DV camcorders to computer; Display: 19 inch monitor to adequately work with all the menus and tools in the toolset. A second, dedicated hard disk drive is also recommended to serve as a media drive.
Almost all video editing software vendors in this space recommend minimal system configurations for their applications, but this is really doing a disservice to those who buy their products. Video editing applications are not word processors. Video editing requires a lot of horsepower and takes up virtually all system resources. Users will not have a good experience with any video editor if things are slow and bog down. With storage and memory at such low prices, there shouldn't be any issues in having the right resources to run these types of applications. The video editing software vendors need a more simplified message to potential users, such as "To fully harness the power and beauty of this application, we recommend the following hardware requirements. . .
First Impressions
At first glance, I thought CyberLink PowerDirector 4 to be like most other nonlinear editing applications at this price point. In a lot of ways it is, with such common features as Timeline/Storyboard editing mode, ample transitions and effects, and a decent titling tool with plenty of prebuilt titles. It does set itself apart a bit with its the new Magic Tools and PhotoNow image enhancement functions, and its fairly robust output choices in Produce mode. The company has done a good job in providing the tools to create some interesting videos at a relatively inexpensive price point of just $69. For more information, visit www.cyberlink.com
John Virata is senior editor of Digital Media Online. You can email him at jvirata@digitalmedianet.com
Related Sites: Digital Producer , Digital Video Editing , Corporate Media News , Digital Post Production , Presentation Master , Oceania , CEN - Consumer Electronics Net , CEN - AV Software
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