In today's technologically advanced world, there are several video editing software that you can use to produce or improve video files. They are varied in many aspects. This makes it hard for most people to determine which is best.
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Fortunately, CyberLink PowerDirector and Filmora have been at the forefront in delivering high-quality videos in different spheres of life. Thus, we are going to look into PowerDirector vs Filmora 2021 in detail to help you get more information and make informed decisions when subscribing to any of the two.
ActionDirector is for the action camera enthusiast. It's the ultimate action cam accessory and the best way to create powerful action videos that showcase all the excitement of your footage. On top of that it's incredibly quick and easy to use, putting the power of movie making into. The difference between these two builds in immense and the fact that we were able to edit the same video on both of the systems is a remarkable aspect of the software and shows it is still not too demanding as were the earlier builds.
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What Is the Difference between PowerDirector and Filmora?
Although PowerDirector and Filmora are both excellent video editing software that share some similarities, they have subtle differences in several aspects.
Videos have risen in popularity especially in digital marketing strategies. Creating impressive videos goes a long way in attracting potential customers to a business advertising its wares over social media and other platforms.
Although you may never have edited videos before, some video editing software have friendly user interfaces that are easy to learn and master. Let us discuss some of the differences between two of the most popular video editing software, PowerDirector and Filmora.
Ratings
To begin with, there are marked differences in the ratings by SmartScore with PowerDirector scoring 8.8 while Filmora scored 9.4. This means that it's easier to use Filmora than PowerDirector due to the complexities involved in the features used for video editing.
If you compare PowerDirector vs. Filmora 9, the level of user satisfaction stands at 93% for PowerDirector and 96% for Filmora, which again points to the user-friendliness of Filmora.
Pricing
There are differences in prices for subscriptions for the video editing software. PowerDirector has a higher starting fee of between $99.99 and $129.99 for Ultra or Ultimate. But if you go for PowerDirector 365, you'll get it at a cheaper rate of $4.33 per month while Filmora starts at $39.99.
To meet the needs of various users, PowerDirector offers several pricing strategies. On the contrary, Filmora, being newly launched, offers varied prices based on whether you are an individual, business, or scholar.
Integrations
Video editing software has integrations with other corporations to improve service delivery to their customers. Looking at Filmora vs. PowerDirector in that light, the latter is more advanced as it is integrated with NewBlueFX, ProDAD, and BorisFX. On the other hand, Filmora is only integrated with YouTube and Vimeo for uploading streamlined videos.
PowerDirector vs. Filmora for PC
PowerDirector is the fastest video editing software you can find today. On the other hand, Filmora is popular for its ease of use.
If you compare the features of PowerDirector vs. Filmora, you will realize that PowerDirector has more features and hence more advanced options for maximizing your creativity.
However, Filmora does not have all the features present in PowerDirector but that does not mean that you are limited from making a fantastic video. For instance, PowerDirector offers the amazing 360-degree video editing which means you can align your footage to assume the desired angle as well as many other options depending on the level of your creativity. Filmora does not have this feature which may limit you if you wish to make use of such effect.
Ease of Use
Due to the presence of several features, the PowerDirector user interface is more complicated than that of the Filmora. Filmora does not have a search option for effects and transitions. Currently, PowerDirector boasts 18 new transition effects that enable the production of awe-inspiring videos.
On the other hand, PowerDirector has several advanced features that are easy to use. For instance, using the Express Project, you can choose from a wide selection of ready templates. The templates contain effects, animations, music, and transitions, so all you do is to add your video and hit the produce command.
Editing
Examining how titles can be edited between PowerDirector vs. Filmora 2021, the features work in almost the same manner although there are additional features on PowerDirector. The latter blends elements of graphics with videos or titles making them more conspicuous. The motion tracking option in Filmora is used to bring together texts and graphic elements to moving points in the video.
Some editing software offer options for combining videos while others do not. In the case of Filmora vs. PowerDirector, the latter has an excellent video collage designer which enables the creation of modifiable collage with openings and endings that are animated. Such a feat is not possible to achieve using the Filmora editor as it lacks such advanced features.
CyberLink PowerDirector vs. Filmora Pro
CyberLink PowerDirector and Filmora are video editing software that have become quite popular today. Most people always wonder whether Filmora and Filmora Pro are the same. The answer is yes. However, Filmora Pro, as the name suggests, is an improved version of Filmora, capable of producing exceptional videos through combinations, correcting colors as well as other effects.
The software was developed by WonderShare and has gained popularity at a stunningly fast pace. On the other hand, PowerDirector was developed by a Taiwan company called CyberLink and has been one of the top video editors still in wide use today. The good thing is that each of the software has its strengths and weaknesses as far as users are concerned.
Let us compare some of the attributes of PowerDirector vs. Filmora pro and find out which is better than the other in producing top-notch quality videos.
User Interface
What do the user interfaces for both software look like? CyberLink PowerDirector has an easy to use interface although it can get tricky if you want to achieve those fine details using more complicated features in this editor. Once you access the interface, the options are very conspicuous which include the full mode, storyboard as well as slideshow creator.
There are two more options; the automatic mode, and the learning center. The options are easy to understand when compared with other video editing software.
A comparison of the user interface between PowerDirector vs. Filmora Pro indicates that the latter is by far easier to use than the PowerDirector.
Once you start up the Filmora pro editor, the interface displays only the icons for either opening saved projects or you work on a new one in addition to a simple menu. On the menus, there is one striking feature that is very crucial when editing videos using this Filmora Pro. This is the button for setting the frame rate and the resolution and it prompts you before you even think about it.
Comparing the Effects of PowerDirector vs. Filmora 2021
Effects are what matters most in any video editing software. As such, the number and usefulness of the effects may affect the quality of the video produced and also determine the worth of any video editing software. We will examine the editing effect of the two videos to help you get insight into which is the best.
CyberLink PowerDirector Effects
CyberLink PowerDirector is the fastest video editing software. As such, you expect it to have unique features and effects which enhance the speed and quality of videos produced.
The CyberLink PowerDirector has a storyboard on which clips are displayed as thumbnails. This is especially helpful when organizing work involving a large video file with several clips as it provides an overview to check the editing progress.
However, if you want to fine-tune your editorial efforts, using the timeline can offer better results. This one gives a wide range of effects such as blurs and styles, fireworks as well as virtual waterfalls. The effects are grouped into categories including one for romance so that the software can produce excellent wedding videos.
Video overlays like caption boxes and animations such as bulbs, rotating stars, and countless selections on romance are effects that make the PowerDirector a choice for most people. If you wish to beautify your video, there is a section where you can obtain particle effects. The more than twenty preset options are best controlled in a different screen to offer a refining touch to the video.
Moreover, if you want your video to have a painted outlook, you can make use of the artificial intelligence style plug-ins. However, although they greatly improve the video, these plug-ins place a considerable burden on the whole system.
One of the best ways you can add texts or captions to your video is through the use of PowerDirector. It has the option of creating 3D texts next to several titles already pre-set in the system. Transitions are also available ranging from blurs to brighter ones to enable you to achieve certain backgrounds.
PowerDirector is one of the video editing software that offers a 360-degree editing effect coupled with excellent features for stability. Motion tracking options as well as action cam users are also available for additional editorial benefits.
Filmora Pro Effects
Unlike the previous version, Filmora Pro has several audio and visual effects that you can simply access through the effects panel. The effects are grouped into folders depending on their use. On the same panel is a display of the presets that you saved in the past.
Texts and titles in Filmora Pro are found in the essential graphic panel which is a new feature that had not been advanced in the previous versions. You get one of the preset titles from the essential graphics panel by clicking the import button which places it into the media panel. The dropdown list offers several designs of texts to allow you to choose one that impresses you.
Lights and flares add to the aesthetic value of the video you are editing. In Filmora Pro, these effects can be made by selecting them from the effects panel. Light reflected from flares onto the sensor looks like streaks, polygons, and halos. The system provides lights in varied types so that you can make the appropriate adjustments to the video. Comparing the effects for light and flares between Filmora vs. PowerDirector, slight differences are observed in the effectiveness and accuracy with PowerDirector being the best.
Video editing may involve warping and distortion of either audio or visual signals. The distort option in Filmora helps place graphics in a video or just play around with images to see how they change the visual attributes of the video. It can also be used to alter the shape and outlook of a layer. If you are creative enough, the effects of distortion can have a great impact on the results of the video or art involved.
Overlaying involves placing pictures on top of each other in a predetermined fashion. It helps to mask undesirable elements in the video file. The tools for masking are found on the viewer panel arranged from left to right, starting with the freehand mask or edit points tool, then rectangle mask and ellipse mask tool on the far right.
Is Filmora better than PowerDirector?
Having analyzed PowerDirector vs. Filmora, you might be tempted to know which of the two is better. Nevertheless, we can only consider one as better than the other depending on what you want to achieve. For instance, in terms of speed, PowerDirector is the fastest. On the other hand, Filmora is best suited for making videos for uploading on social media platforms such as YouTube.
As such, if you are a YouTuber and all you need is a software to create such videos, then buying the Filmora would be ideal. But if you are looking forward to editing large videos such as those captured on wedding ceremonies, then you would have to opt for the PowerDirector as it has more advanced effects than the Filmora.
Furthermore, the two exhibit different subscription fees, therefore if you are looking for a video editor but you operate on a tight budget, the Filmora is what you should go for.
As we saw earlier, the ease of operation of the Filmora vs. PowerDirector is varied. Therefore, depending on the level of know-how, some people would go for Filmora as it is easier to use. That means those buying for the first time should better start with the more user-friendly Filmora.
As it seems, most individuals may be inclined to buy the Fulmora over the PowerDirector for many reasons. However, most professionals would find the PowerDirector more convenient as it would serve most of their editorial needs. On a general note, telling which one is better is tricky and, hence, dependent on individual preferences.
Bottom Line
Video editing software are many and varied. Although they have many similarities, there are differences in their attributes just as our fingers are not the same size. Nevertheless, you need to be careful when buying one of them to get the best out of your expectations.
The advantage is that with some of the software, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to be able to operate. And although PowerDirector may be more complicated to use than the Filmora, that does not mean that you cannot buy the editor.
As you will realize, even the complicated ones have the same features and effects as the less complicated ones. The only difference is that when you compare Filmora vs. PowerDirector, for instance, you will realize that some people never use some of the features in editing software, either because they don't know how to run the features or they just don't need them during editing.
Nevertheless, buying the Filmora, as a starting point, wouldn't be considered a bad decision just because some people claim that PowerDirector is better.
On this page you will find my CyberLink PowerDirector 19 review covering what's new and improved in this latest release plus some general overall observations.
I try to restrict these reviews to just the important points but each year as the software develops, that task becomes more and more difficult.
Consumer level video editing programs like PowerDirector now pack so many features and functions that going through them all can turn into a career instead of a review.
So if you are a complete newbie or an existing owner hopefully you can find the information you are looking for here.
If you have almost given up on trying to work out which editing program is best for you or simply can't bear reading another review then relax!
You are totally safe with PowerDirector 19, it still the best in its class and has been for years.
If you have a current version and are trying to decide on upgrading or not then keep reading this page of the review to see the new features.
Remember to keep your emotions in check and ask yourself whether these new features are something you would actually use and not just things that look really cool and awesome!
So before we get into the PowerDirector 19 review itself let's just cut to the chase.
My Overall Take on the Program
CyberLink PowerDirector has been my top choice for editing software for many years now and with this new release nothing has changed in that regard.
Everything you could possibly want in a video editing suite (and probably a bunch of stuff you never thought of) is available in PowerDirector and I find it hard to imagine anything they have left out.
It is somewhat pointless to review the actual editing capabilities of the software because the program does it all and does it all very, very well.
It cuts, slices, dices and chops with ease and eats up the modern highly compressed video file formats effortlessly.
About seven years after shooting to the lead in the speed stakes PowerDirector still comfortably occupies first place.
These days however, no-one is expecting a video editor to just edit videos!
PowerDirector is a complete and self contained end-to-end multimedia solution that would serve anyone perfectly now and well into the future.
My CyberLink PowerDirector 19 Review
Let's get things rolling by checking out these promotional videos from CyberLink to get an overall feel for the new software.
Keep in mind that they are promotional videos so get get too worked up just yet!
Also the branding on the second video is for PowerDirector 365 which is the subscription version of PowerDirector 19 and is the same basic software.
New and or Improved Main Features
There are no strictly 'new' features in this version of PowerDirector.
All the new stuff is either an enhancement or an extension to existing features.
Track Naming
For many versions now PowerDirector has not really had dedicated tracks on the timeline to handle video, audio, effects etc.
However the names of these tracks has remained which is a bit of an unnecessary complication of the interface.
In this new version tracks are now just tracks, no video or audio or effects or image or whatever… just tracks.
Motion Tracker
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The existing motion tracker has always been very good so to those existing features they have added the ability to adjust text elements within that module.
On top of that you can now import images or video into the Motion Tracking module directly and work on them directly.
Previously you would have had to exit motion tracker, go into Picture-in-Picture module make you adjustments there then import it all back into the Motion Tracker.
Motion Graphics in Titles
All graphic elements (not just text) can be given motion attributes to enhance titles with 44 existing motion graphics presets pre-loaded.
Each of those pre-existing elements can be fully adjusted with regards to all parts of those elements to give you complete control over the final look.
Those adjustments can then be saved as presets themselves for later use.
Color Match
Previously the Color Match was an automated feature that allowed you to add two clips to the module and designate one as the reference clip and the other as the target clip.
The software would then match the color profile of the target clip to the reference clip to achieve normally, a pretty good match.
The only available adjustment was a kind of 'intensity' slider to try to get a better match.
In this version they have retained the slider function but now you can also individually adjust Hue, Saturation and Brightness to get an even closer match.
This was always a pretty good tool but with these extra settings it is now very good.
Mask Designer Vertex Selection Mask
PD has had a pretty good mask design module in place for a few versions now which has come with a wide variety of pre-designed masks you can use.
To create your own masks you have either had to adjust the existing ones and hope you can get one to work or go to a third party program and import the results.
In PowerDirector 19 they have added the ability to draw your own masks on the image or video you are working on.
From within the mask designer you just click on the screen to add 'Nodes' around the object you want to mask out or in.
Once you have your basic mask you can then magnify the image or video and adjust the nodes to create a perfect mask by either adding more nodes or moving existing ones.
In the case of video you can then quickly 'step' through the timeline and make adjustments to the mask in case your subject or object moves within the frame.
Here's a video demonstration of the Vertex tool in action as part of the Masking Module.
You can skip to about the 00:43 sec mark to see it.
Linear / Hold Keyframes
OK this one is hard to explain but I will give it a try because it really is a great feature.
As is stands with nearly every video editing software out there, keyframes work in a certain way and are usually used to incrementally change things over time.
They can be used many, many ways to adjust color values, positions, opacity, this list goes on and on.
They always work pretty much the same way which is best described a linear.
Let's say at the beginning of a clip the value of a certain parameter is 0 and two seconds later at the first keyframe the value is 10.
What happens is that the value from the first point (0) begins to change at a steady rate until it hits that first keyframe by which time the value is 10.
So at the one second mark the value would be 5.
In other words the value constantly moves over time depending on the beginning and end keyframes.
The downside of that is that in order to get a value to change instantly you have have to keep entering secondary keyframes to stop that linear behavior.
In PD 19 they have handled that shortcoming by adding a second type of keyframe called a 'Hold' keyframe.
In our example above if the value at the start is 0 and the first keyframe value is 10 then there will be no change until that keyframe is reached at which point the value immediately goes to 10.
Which PowerDirector 19 Version?
PowerDirector 19 is offered by CyberLink at 3 separate levels on both a perpetual license model or as an annual subscription.
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A lot of people seem to get confused about the whole Lifetime License versus Subscription thing.
So let's address that potential elephant in the room first right off the bat.
1. Lifetime License:
- One time payment with the offer to upgrade each year to new versions at a discount.
- Regardless of which version of PowerDirector you choose (Except for Director Suite which is Subscription only) you get to install the program and keep it forever.
- Support for the program in the form of updates, bug fixes etc. generally runs for about three years.
- You do not automatically get new features as they are released or access to resources beyond what is packaged in the software at the time of purchase.
2. Subscription License.
- Annual or Monthly payments but no charge for upgrades beyond the annual subscription.
- Regardless of which version of PowerDirector you choose you get to install the program and keep using it as long as your subscription is up to date.
- Support for the program continues as long as the subscription is current.
- Automatically get access to new features as they become available rather than waiting for a new version release.
- Added access to advanced third party plugins, effects and other resources such as Shutterstock, background music and audio clips.
Director Suite 365
At the top of the heap PowerDirector comes as part of an overall specialist package called Director Suite 365 which is aimed at the serious enthusiast through to the professional level.
Director Suite 365 is is only offered as an annual subscription service.
This is CyberLink's complete suite of high end tools and programs that go beyond just video editing into audio production, image editing and color grading.
For a more complete look at this you can see my overview of it here. Director Suite 365 Review
Ultra, Ultimate and 365
Ultra and Ultimate are the standalone versions of PowerDirector 19 with the 365 version being the Ultimate version as a subscription offering.
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At the top of the heap we have the 365 subscription version which comes with everything and the kitchen sink.
Included are all the new features as well as the ability to handle the new HD formats such as 4K HD, H.265, XAVC-s, 3D, DTS audio and Blu-ray discs authoring and more.
With this one you also get the full complement of third party add-on effects and filters from NewBlue and ProDAD.
The Ultimate (Lifetime License) version is pretty much the same as far as features go but you do miss out on a few added plugins and the benefits of subscribing.
As you drop down to the Ultra version you basically get all the same features except that you lose some of the NewBlue, Boris and ProDAD add-ons.
The PowerDirector Ultra is only offered as a Lifetime license and not a subscription.
Skyrim 6 ps4 release date. Bear in mind that as you move down the versions you are not losing any editing capability, you are just forgoing some of the more advanced features and extras that some people may not use anyway.
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In part two of the review I will go over the existing features, functionality and performance of the program.
Next Page: CyberLink PowerDirector 19 Review Part 2
