| | |  | Video Editing | Home » » » » » Powerdirector 9 Ultra-64 | | | | | | | Description: | | PowerDirector 9 Ultra 64 from Cyberlink is a comprehensive video editing application that fully supports high definition videos and features advanced authoring capabilities for AVCHD Blu-ray Discs and DVDs. PowerDirector supports 9 PiP and 4 audio tracks includes editing tools such as video cropping reverse video speed adjustment and precise Zoom-in Cut to deliver pro-like results. TrueTheater Technology provides SD-to-HD up-scaling smooth slow-motion playback and virtual surround sound.(A lite version PowerDirector 9 DELUXE is also available at a lower retail price.) Features: Capture import edit and produce HD video content including AVCHD H.264 AVI and many other formats. Editing tools such as video cropping reverse video speed adjustment and precise Zoom-in Cut deliver pro-like results. TrueTheater Technology provides SD-to-HD up-scaling smooth slow-motion playback and virtual surround sound. More timeline tracks including 9 PiP and 4 audio tracks and an adjustable workspace offer more flexibility. Optimization for Intel Core i7 NVIDIA CUDA and ATI Stream technologies enables faster video production. Auto shutdown feature shuts the PC down after rendering. New Particle effects designer lets users achieve everything from simple animations to dramatic special effects. Design tools for titles PiP effects and disc menus allow users to customize the look and feel of their videos. Over 13000 templates and effects are available for free download from DirectorZone. Users can learn from and share video project timelines on DirectorZone an easy to way to pick up editing tips and tricks. Direct uploading to Facebook and YouTube in HD. Output to playback devices such as the iPhone Zune and PSP. Edit then author HD projects onto Blu-ray discs and AVCHD DVDs. Automatically sync slideshows to music reposition photo framing and rearrange the sequence.System Requirements: Windows 7/Vista/XP (Windows XP Service Pack 2) | | | Features: | |
• Video-editing software with performance-driven technologies
• TrueVelocity native 64-bit engine speeds up video-editing process
• Create pro-like scenes and effects with new advanced editing tools
• Instant video enhancement with TrueTheater Technology
• Share effects, templates, and project timeline views with thousands of other users
| | | Product Details: | | | Package Length:
| 7.6 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.4 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.5 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.4 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 145 reviews |
| | | System Requirements: | | | Platform:
| Windows Vista / Windows 7 / Windows XP | | Media:
| DVD-ROM | | Item Quantity:
| 1 |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 145 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
70 of 73 found the following review helpful:
 Best consumer video editor I've foundJan 08, 2011
By Edward Barnett
I've used a lot of consumer (20 to 120 dollar) video editors. Many of them have been buggy and difficult to use. I used to like the Ulead editor. It was decent and no frills, but very low end without many features. I tried upgrading to Corel VideoStudio (which seems to be what the Ulead product evolved into), but had trouble even installing it. Apple's video editor is great, but only if you use a Mac. Adobe's video editing software is good, but the interface is pretty complex and they seem to be lagging on some features. I ended up using CyberLink's video editor because a trial version came pre-installed on an HP computer I bought recently. I really liked the limited version. It has a good feature set, a clean interface, and automatically uploads videos to sites like YouTube. I liked the trial version enough to look into the full-blown product (PowerDirector) and found that the software got very strong reviews (e.g., see the cNet review). So, I coughed up a hundred bucks for the full new version (PowerDirector 9 Ultra). Installation was a breeze, and it seems to take advantage of the processing power of higher end systems (with 64-bit O/S and separate graphics card). It's very fast (rendering times are much shorter than what I'm used to), but still with a fairly simple interface. You can do reasonably advanced editing, or pop a simple video onto YouTube. At this time (early 2011), this is my favorite video editor -- it hits the sweet spot in terms of features, performance, stability, ease of use, and price.
Update 1/16/2011: As another reviewer noted, the legitimacy of some of the reviews for this product may be suspect. I'd encourage you to check out the reviewers as well as the reviews to help you make an informed decision.
Update 1/18/2011: As mentioned in the initial review, rendering is much faster with PowerDirector 9 Ultra than with other video editors I've used (including previous Cyberlink products). However, for reasons I still haven't figured out, YouTube uploads are noticeably slower. I'll post an update if I figure out a solution. If you do lots of YouTube uploads, you may want to try a trial version first to see if this is an issue on your system.
25 of 26 found the following review helpful:
 Trial version works, with a few wrinklesJan 24, 2011
By L. Johnson
"GiveMeChineseSubtitles"
I looked at PowerDirector because I'd been using Adobe Premiere Elements (APE), versions 7 and 8, and have too many crashes and other issues; despite even buying and using a highly spec'd new machine.
I used APE since 2009, mostly on AVCHD source.
The machine I'm using is a Sony VAIO VPCF1, Intel i7, with Windows 7, 8G RAM, 500G 7200RPM hard drive, external Western Digital eSata drive. I purchased this machine in November 2010, with APE version 8 preloaded. I loaded previous projects created on APE 7, but couldn't get past a fatal crash that would occur outputting to .m2ts.
I downloaded the PowerDirector version 9 trial version, keeping in mind the controversial reviews I've read here.
Actually, I didn't search for PowerDirector based on Amazon reviews, but on other forum comments around the net recommending this software.
On to the details of my PowerDirector experience:
Pros: It loads quickly, ready for editing within less than 15 seconds. There are several preview resolutions available, so I could choose a level that works almost seamlessly in real time as I move back and forth along the timeline. Outputting AVCHD output ("Production") of my 6 minute video took about 15 minutes. No crashes or hangs whatsoever.
Applying video "fix" effects can be done over all clips quickly; not available with APE. With PowerDirector, a title can be editted several times after being created. With APE, it's turned into an uneditable video clip after creation.
Cons: I had to fiddle a bit to get used to splitting and trimming clips, but in all fairness that's a learning curve problem; not the software's fault. Here APE is a bit more intuitive. Fades out or in took a bit of time to learn how to apply (APE has menu pulldowns). Some transition effects didn't work immediately. Closing the program and re-opening solved the transition issue. (Since PowerDirector loads fast, this workaround to the transitions flakeyness cost less than a minute each of 3-4 times I did it. In the future, I might just tolerate it and maybe reload once after finishing other work.)
I found a bug: I had two title effects, at the beginning and the end of my video. Though the title effects look fine while editting, the first title would be missing on the output video file. Workaround: I found on the Cyberlink PowerDirector forum that others fixed this little problem by simply moving the title to another video track. That worked for me.
So I was able to create my video with all my titles intact, no crashes. Though there are issues, I was able to overcome all and get my video created. Yesterday I created 30 minute AVCHD video without any problems.
So based on this experience, and not trusting APE anymore, I'll go ahead and buy the PowerDirector 9 Ultra64 version.
My latest video on YouTube: [...]
23 of 26 found the following review helpful:
 Strickly follow system requirements!Feb 18, 2011
By Kevin D. Prout
I'm running a Core i3 w/4 GB RAM and Windows 7. PD9 Ultra requires a minimum 512 MB memory, but recommends 6gb for full HD quality H.264 and MPEG-2 HD with a Corei5/7, but just a Pentium Core 2 Duo E6400 or above for AVCHD (and Blu-ray) profiles, which is what I have with my new Sony HDR-CX550v (incredible camera, btw). However, even though my task manager says it is only using 2.25-2.75 GB max of memory, all video produced (rendered) was very shaky and stuttering. I tried rendering as MPEG-4, .mov, etc, output with better luck, but it was still not acceptable for the fine HD video the Sony takes. The burned product was un-watchable.
Customer support hasn't returned my help request for two days now. Probably nothing they can do any way. Maybe they want me to spend the $30 for telephone support to tell me I messed up!
I did notice the program crashes regularly, even when at idle, so I did reset the 'save work' from 4 minutes to 2 just in case. As noted by others, the program does reload to where it was on the time line, but that just shouldn't happen so often.
Can't give it a bad review, just wish they were more insistent that their recommendations are really requirements. Beware. As always Amazon was super and allowed the return because it SHOULD have worked with AVCHD and my system.
15 of 16 found the following review helpful:
True 64-bit + multi-core = fastMay 11, 2011
By P. Gehrke
I have been playing with the free trial download version for a week now and just bought the commercial key today. All I can say is... wow. This program is the only sub-$100 video editing program I have used that can meet my needs. It is true 64-bit (do be sure your OS is the 64-bit version and not the 32-bit version before buying), it actually will utilize all available cores (in the office my system has 8 cores, at home 4), and renders faster than any other consumer editing software I have tried.
Consider this: My i5-750 4-core system at home has 8gb of ram. It runs Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. I have been editing h264 mts (AVCHD) files, which are the highest quality HD video I think anyone deals with. I combined three clips, trimmed them, inserted a video overlay that runs over the entire video, and then output the resulting final movie (74 minutes long) in 640x480 mp4 (we use that format for research analysis of the videos). It took me about 15 minutes to insert, trim, combine, and overlay everything in the software (I find it very easy and intuitive). It then took PowerDirector Ultra 64 only 23 minutes to produce and save the entire video. That's a mere 23 minutes to complete the entire overlay, combination, and conversion rendering of a 74 minute 1080 HD video into 640 mp4 and save the file to my hard drive. Honestly, I was laughing the first few times it did this, as it was light years faster than the previous software packages I had tried.
So, in short:
-Wicked fast on a true 64-bit OS with a multi-core CPU. Actually uses all available cores.
-Easy and quick to use for basic video editing and production (I don't tend to do anything fancy)
-Pretty intuitive interface.
-Allows direct import and editing of h264 AVCHD videos in 1080hd.
I might mention, it does not seem a whole lot faster on my 8-core i7 than on my 4-core i5, but I think this may be because the i5 (my home machine) has a much better CUDA-enabled video card picking up the slack.
Finally, and very importantly : BE SURE YOU ARE RUNNING A TRUE 64-BIT OS. Windows 7 (and most recent versions of Windows) come in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. If you right-click on My Computer or Computer and select Properties, it will show you the system type as either 32-bit or 64-bit. I suspect some problems people have been having getting this to load or run are due to not having a 64-bit OS. Ideally, I would suggest you go to the CyberLink website and download the free 30-day trial version and play with that for awhile. It will automatically detect your OS and install the right version, then you can see if the speed and reliability on your computer match what I have experienced.
13 of 14 found the following review helpful:
Just Ordered ItJan 04, 2011
By Martino
I have been a Sony fan for years now. I also did a nice write up about how great their software was sometime ago. I upgraded my computer to do high definition videos. Also bought a blu ray burner to burn the best videos. I use a Cannon HF S100 high def video camera. I downloaded the newest Sony Vegas Platinum 10 HD and rendered a beautiful blu ray disc with 25 gigs of movies. Great job as always but took 4 hours. I downloaded the Power Director 9 Ultra and did another 25 gig disk of movies. They are all high def movies so I do not think there was any difference as they both totaled up to just under 25 gigs (as the blu ray disc capacity is 25 gigs). I was totally surprised that it took only 1 hour and 40 minutes with the Power Director 9 Ultra. The high def movies were just as beautiful as the Sony rendered ones. I really liked the menus with Cyberlink and was thrilled with the outcome. I still believe that Sony is more stable, as Cyberlink on one occasion had a hic up (there was a crash but when I restarted it, it loaded my timeline back up). It may have been due to the fact that I had a ton of movies ready to render or was just doing things to fast. I would suggest to back up your timeline just in case so you don't have to place them in order again. But once it started rendering, there was no problem whatsoever. Sony uses the hard drive to render then burns the disc. Cyberlink burns on the disc, which means the disc drive is running the whole time that it starts to make the movie. I am a little concerned about that, but I think these drives are designed for that kind of work. Saving two and a half hours and nice menus, was the choice for me. Again, I have a beefy new computer with a I-7 processor, 12 gigs of memory and a Nvidia 460 video card and your results may be different. My advice, especially if you are rendering high definition video, would be to download both trial versions and try them for yourself. The only downside is that I was getting pretty good with Sony, now I will have to learn all of the different things with this software. Burning high def is still a relatively new technology that I am learning about all the time. I am hoping that this review helps some of those who are attempting to make high definition movies as it is so rewarding to watch the best videos you can make. Great job Cyberlink, you have come a long way with your support of 64 bit!
See all 145 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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