Publisher: CyberLink Corp.
More than just burning software (although it includes those capabilities as well), CyberLink PowerDirector enables you to edit video by adding special effects or trimming images. It also lets you create titles and menus, and then output the finished product in a variety of formats.
CyberLink PowerDirector wizards walk novice users through the entire process, although you can skip the wizards and use manual controls for any steps along the way. The interface has a short learning curve, as most effects can be applied by dragging them from a palette and dropping them into a scene or frame. The program includes over 100 transition effects, more than 50 title effects, and over 20 motion video effects including multi-image TV wall, blurring, and spotlight effects.
CyberLink PowerDirector includes many welcome tools that simplify the editing process. The scene detection tool is especially useful, as PowerDirector scans your video clips and breaks them down into appropriate scenes. Another useful tool is speed mode, which lets you easily speed up or slow down your video while keeping the audio in sync.
The software supports a variety of input options, including DV and analog camcorders and AVI and MPEG formats (although the program can output in MOV format, its Mac and QuickTime compatibility is limited since it can't import MOV files). Output support is robust as well, with the ability to burn with CD-RW drives as well as DVD-RW and DVD+RW. You can also send your video over the Web or include the PowerDVD player on disk for playback on systems without a software DVD player.
While there are both less and more expensive video editing options out there, CyberLink PowerDirector strikes a fine balance between intuitive ease for beginners and enough power to keep advanced users busy.