Multicam Editing in PowerDirector - A Short Intro

“Multicam” is short for “multiple camera” and is used to describe shots in which several cameras are set up to record a scene, arranged at different angles and (sometimes) heights. Multicam editing is the combining of the recorded footage from this kind of setup. This combination of clips is called a "multiclip."

This diagram shows example of a multicam setup recording a seated guitar player. 

Or maybe it’s a guy eating a huge chicken leg – graphic design is not my strong suit.

DON’T LEAVE! The highly crafted image above is just an example of a professional setup. You don’t need a lot of expensive equipment to create your own multiclip. Today, almost everyone has a mobile device – either a cellphone or a tablet computer, and you can set up this kind of shot easily with a couple of friends. Sometimes you won’t even need to set up the shot – when an amazing event happens and you were there to record it, ask around afterwards to find out what footage other people were able to get. Often you can put together a great multiclip just from yours and other people's mobile device recordings.

In most cases, video editing software uses the sound from each clip as the reference to synchronize the clip timing. When shooting an event that does not have a clear sound reference recordable by all cameras, you may need to create an audio sync point. This can be done with a clapboard, or even by having someone clap their hands at the beginning of the recording. PowerDirector supports two ways to edit the resulting multicam footage.

Sync Method 1: Just drag all of your clips to the timeline. You can either put them all on one track, or on separate tracks (they will end up on multiple tracks anyway). Select them all, and click “Sync by Audio.” PowerDirector will automatically arrange them according to the sounds detected in each clip. 

Video has been automatically synchronized
according to the audio content of each source. 

Once your clips are synchronized on the timeline, you can move & resize them, set transparencies, and insert transitions to achieve the production effect you want. For example, you can click “keyframes,” and position the four clips to create a multicam collage like this:

If you have more than four clips, lay them out in a 3 x 3 or 4 x 4 grid 

(reusing the best shots) to create a cool video wall effect. 

Sync Method 2: If you have four or less clips, you can use PowerDirector’s Multicam designer. The Multicam Designer lets you easily switch between camera shots, creating a single multicam track on the timeline. Click on the Plug-in button and then select MultiCam Designer, then click on Import Video. Import your multicam clips from the Media Room. Set the synchronization type to Audio Analysis, and click “Apply” to start the analysis. The tracks will be synced according to their audio content. If the audio quality of some of the clips is not good enough to allow for automatic sync by audio (likely to happen if you have imported smartphone footage shot outdoors) , you still have many other options for synchronization: manually, by time codes, and by inserting markers onto the clips.

The Multicam Designer will sync the source clips, and provide an easy way
to combine them in real-time to create a single track on the timeline.

Now capture the segments you want from each of the four videos, and you can do it with real-time mixing. Click the record button, and then select the camera sources you want to use in the order you want them on your final track. You can also use the keyboard keys 1 to 4 to select the camera source. Try it a couple of times to get the feel of it. You will see how you can tightly control the editing while all four sources are playing simultaneously. Click the pause button to pause recording at any time. Click the stop button when your recording is done, and then click OK to go back to the main edit window. 

The Multicam Designer has created one video and track on the timeline, 

with all four sources inserted in the desired order.

Back on the timeline, you can still use the usual tools to work on the newly created track, like transitions, effects, or titles.

That’s how easy it is! If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below. If you do not own PowerDirector, you can download the trial version here. You can also check out the CyberLink forums, which are frequented by helpful and knowledgeable PowerDirector power users. 

Share Your Adventures with CyberLink’s I Love Travel Contest!

Summer is a perfect time for all sorts of thrilling journeys, from exploring a nearby city to discovering a new culture in a foreign country! On your adventures this year, keep a camera by your side. When you capture video footage of an amazing experience or place, why not share it with the world…and maybe win great prizes. CyberLink’s I Love Travel Contest is back!

Once again CyberLink is challenging our PowerDirector fans of all skill levels from around the globe to create the most compelling and/or fun travel video. The contest will be running from now through September 7, 2015, so you have plenty of time to travel, capture, create and win big.

With seven awesome prize packages including ‘Great Travelers’ grand prizes, ‘Audience Favorites’ and ‘Lucky Voters,’ and great gifts up for grabs like a GoPro, Apple Watch and many others, you have nothing to lose! May the best editor win, so get out there and start your journey today!

Click Here for the Complete Contest Rules

Click Here for the Complete Prize List

Click Here to Enter

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Let's Go “Green” with PowerDirector

No, I'm not talking about recycling and conserving energy, though you should certainly do those things too. No, I'm talk about using green screen compositing with PowerDirector to do really cool things.

Technically, it's not green screen, it's chroma key compositing, also known as chroma keying. You can use it to layer images or video streams, where one color in the top layer is set to be transparent. The transparent color is usually either green or blue, because green and blue are the colors farthest away from human skin tones. The most ubiquitous example of this technique that most people are familiar with is the TV meteorologist. He or she stands on front of a blank screen, and software makes the color of that screen transparent. The presenter’s image is then easily overlaid on a weather map or other digital display.

Correct use of green screen in a weather broadcast.

Not so correct. I’m sure the green dress is lovely and all, but… 

In the meteorologist example, the subject is superimposed onto a virtual background. This is essentially the same technique used in movies, that will let us see a superhero fly over a city – two video images are combined into a single clip. But you can also chroma key the other way, and by this I mean superimposing many new subjects into your existing background footage. By searching online, you can easily find thousands of free green screen video clips, encompassing characters, vehicles, effects, and just about any object you can think of*. Download the green screen clips you like, and import them into PowerDirector for integration with your own shots. 

Since PowerDirector can combine up to 100 separate video tracks, the possibilities to add interesting, cool, and downright hilarious elements to your video are almost endless. Let’s look at an example: 

Here is a time lapse clip of a peaceful city scene. Looks a bit dull, doesn’t it? Let’s spice it up.

We search for and find green screen video clips of:

A running policeman:	A flying dragon:	And a dancing stormtrooper:

We add them on the timeline on top of the city clip, and then use chroma key to make green the transparent color.

And voila! The illegally dancing stormtrooper is about to be arrested as a dragon approaches the city.

Remember, once you have chroma keyed the subject footage you want to use, PowerDirector lets you modify it in hundreds of ways. You can change the subject’s size, orientation, colors, and you can even set motion paths so that everything moves exactly where and when you want it to. 

Video Editing Techniques that will Transform Your Holiday Home Movies

Why take mediocre home movies when you can take videos that truly dazzle friends and family for a lifetime? With the right techniques and tools, you can take more memorable videos that will be the envy of friends and family.

First, shoot to edit – that’s right, keep the camera rolling and don’t hit the pause button too soon. Why? Lots of great footage gets lost because people hit pause before the fun really starts to happen. Lots of spontaneous memorable moments occur at holiday gatherings and events – so make sure your camera is on, recording all the action. You can always edit out the dull moments later.

Shooting to edit is easier than you think – especially if you have a plan in mind. First, think about your final production before you shoot. Have a basic framework and storyline that provides structure but is still elastic enough to accommodate spontaneous moments. Then, plan to shoot a lot of close-ups and wide angle shots because these make good cut-aways when you have long footage that needs to be broken up. Plus, it is always fun to get people’s reactions to different things like a sought-after gift or an indulgent dessert. For example, if you are filming a holiday dinner, get a close-up of your uncle giving the toast and then capture the reactions of others around the dinner table. So, set up your shot and let the camera do its thing. Then take close-ups of guests talking, reacting, drinking and laughing. When you start the editing process, splice in these shots so your audience isn’t watching a full toast for five minutes.

Take some shots of scenery before people enter the picture. You need shots for transitions, backgrounds and cut aways so shoot 10 to 15 second clips. Capture the presents around the tree, the house lit up in Christmas lights, the festive dinner table and the roaring fireplace.

Make sure you film where the action is. Take fun shots of people cooking in the kitchen. Capture the drinking, laughter and camaraderie at the bar. Find a spot where you can keep your camcorder going for about 10 minutes. You can always edit it down later but you may capture some really great spontaneous moments.

Think about taking some nice transition shots. Most people pan into the falling snow or the flickering holiday lights but you can use your imagination. One technique that really works is to first pan into a scene and then make the image blurry or de-focused and then focus again before cutting away to another scene. Or go 3D and create some movies for the 3D TV in your living room.

Invest in video editing software as this will make all the difference. You can literally transform your mediocre home movie into a blockbuster film with the right software that can improve audio, make colors pop, feature a catchy soundtrack and set a zippy pace. CyberLink makes affordable, easy-to-use video software for regular people and professionals alike. Go to www.cyberlink.com and check out Power Director 12.

Take your videos to next level with multicam shoots. There may be more than one person in the family who is taking video shots the holiday table, singing or snow fights. Get all footages from all the cameras and import them to PowerDirector. This version let’s you edit scenes of the same event captured from different cameras in an easy and friendly interface. Amaze your friends and family with the professional production.

Don’t have PowerDirector yet? Download a FREE 30-day trial here.

Eight Ways to Capture Your Best Holiday Memories on Video

 

Let’s face it: most holiday home movies are dreadful no matter how hard we try to make them entertaining. Usually the scenes are too dark, the audio is inaudible and shots of endless holiday decorations, table settings, presents and stockings without explanation or proper context are…well…boring. Your home videos should focus more on actual moments – the look on your son’s face when he meets Santa for the first time, your daughter making snow angels and your cousins drinking and laughing by the fire. Below are eight tips that will help you create holiday videos that are entertaining, poignant and fun – memories that loves ones will want to watch and share for a lifetime.

Tip One: Focus on People, Not Scenes

• Most people make the mistake of filming several minutes of specific scenes: the perfectly set holiday table, the flickering fire, the blinking lights on the Christmas tree. Truth is, too much scenery is boring and generic – it lacks the personal connection and pizzazz of real moments. The rule of thumb is only keep 3-5 seconds of scenery in your videos juxtaposed with real moments that are either meaningful or hilarious. Go ahead: capture your grandmother singing “Santa Baby” after a few too many eggnogs. Film the dog struggling to take the faux reindeer antlers off his head or your brother proposing to his girlfriend by the tree. These moments matter way more than scenery.

Tip Two: Turn off the Zoom

• To get better sound and video quality, turn off the zoom. If you shoot zoom across the room, you will end up with an unprofessional looking video. So walk over and get your close-up instead.

Tip Three: Engage Your Subjects

• Get your subjects to open up and share their thoughts and comments – nothing is more entertaining than friends and family sharing spontaneously. When filming, ask them open-ended questions that encourage deeper responses such as “Dad, what was your favorite Hanukah gift of all time?” or “Aunt Bea, where did you get the Christmas wreath?” 

Tip Four: Play with Different Angles

• To get a varied, beautifully shot video, play with different camera angles – rather than just holding the camera at chest height all the time. For example, if you are filming a holiday dinner, hold the camera high over your head so that you can capture the table full of guests. When opening presents with the kids, film while sitting on the floor with them so you can capture their facial expressions and moments of joy.

Tip Five: Capture the Quirky, Not-so-Perfect Moments

• Be on the lookout for the not-so-perfect moments – the dishes piled up in the sink after a hearty meal, the dog sniffing the tinsel on the tree, a crying toddler on Santa’s lap. People die of boredom while watching the perfect pristine scenes in most holiday videos. The best family moments and “remember when” memories usually start with quirky or awkward-at-the-time experiences that will have everyone laughing – in a good way of course!

Tip Six: Time for Close-Ups

• Your family and friends have unique personalities which typically show in their faces – expressive eyes, crinkled foreheads and loopy grins capture the right moment at the right time. So don’t forget to get close-ups of people’s faces in your video when they are reacting to something. This may be the only time you can capture the priceless look on your daughter’s face when she gets her first Barbie Dream House. 

Tip Seven: Don’t Forget to Edit

• Most likely you will end up taking way too much footage and a good chunk of it will be useless. That is why you need to edit your videos before showing them. This will give you a chance to really make the memories come alive by cutting out footage that is out-of-context or too boring to engage your audience.

Tip Eight: Video Editing Software is Your Friend

• You don’t have to be a professional videographer or a technical wizard to edit videos. Nowadays, video editing software is made for regular people who want to take and share professional quality videos. Look for PowerDirector at www.cyberlink.com. This software is easy-to-use, affordable and turns dull home movies into memory masterpieces with just a few quick minutes of editing. 

Don’t have PowerDirector yet? Download a FREE 30-day trial here.

Disclaimer: CyberLink software is provided “AS IS”. CyberLink is not responsible for lost data, wasted time, or damages to your hardware. CyberLink reserves the right to share your personal information with our marketing partners. By using CyberLink software, you waive your rights as a consumer. You further agree to allow CyberLink software to collect data from your computer, including, but not limited to: browsing history, e-mail addresses, and personal media files.

CyberLink PowerDirector 12 Wins International CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Award

At CyberLink, we are extremely excited to share this great news:  PowerDirector 12 has been awarded with the prestigious CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Awards in the Software and Mobile Apps category.

With the emerging wave of photos and videos that are becoming self-expression and storytelling tools in the new form factor, consumers and prosumers are looking for a new breed of software that can deliver creativity and enjoyment from traditional desktop PCs to portable devices such as notebooks, convertible devices and tablets. PowerDirector 12 is the first video editing solution that provides the best experience of the both worlds. PowerDirector 12 provides users with intuitive, powerful and professional video creation tools to enjoy cross-platform video editing experience. Moreover, with PowerDirector Mobile, a Windows 8 app for touch-friendly Modern UI, users can complete their video editing and sharing on-the-go, or further editing videos on desktop mode.

What can we say? We are extremely honored!

The complete news:
CyberLink PowerDirector 12 Wins International CES Innovations 2014 Design and Engineering Award

Tips on Making a Holiday Family Home Movie

 

Making a holiday family home movie can be an incredibly rewarding experience that will ultimately yield a cherished keepsake for generations to come. For beginners and other non-professionals, the filmmaking experience can be frustrating if proper planning and core techniques are not followed. To that end, here are some simple tips that will not only help create vivid professional-quality videos but also guarantee a fun time for the whole family:

Create a Basic Storyline

• To make sure your holiday home movie is cohesive and entertaining, create a basic story that will set the framework for your movie. You don’t want to be left with random shots of Christmas trees, Aunt Edna’s fruitcake and melting snowman all mixed together without any context. Creating a basic story does not require the talent of a Hollywood writer. You just need to determine an overall theme, a beginning, middle and end to give your movie some structure. Consider adding voiceovers if you want a more specific narrative to accompany your film.

  Plan Some Scenes In Advance

• Once you decide what the structure will look like, think about specific scenes that fit into your framework. You could open up your movie with taking the kids to buy the Christmas tree. The middle part could consist of wrapping gifts, attending Christmas pageants and Midnight Mass and staying up late to wait for Santa. Cap off the end with a fun holiday dinner as the children play with their toys. Of course, you will want to weave in spontaneous scenes too but planning in advance will add more of a storytelling component and make it more enjoyable and memorable for others.

 Play “Roving Reporter”

• Talk to people in your video and get their thoughts on what is going on around them. If your husband is making a snowman for the kids, ask him if he is having fun. Or if you daughter is sitting on Santa’s lap, ask her what she wants for Christmas. Try to get some shots beforehand while she is waiting in line for Santa at the mall. Many years from now, you will look back on these days as some of the best times of your life – so capture the little snippets that make it so memorable.

 Shoot Beautiful Background Scenes

• Don’t forget to capture beautiful scenes – the lighting of a Christmas tree, the snow-covered yard, a church choir singing lustily and the bounty of a holiday meal. People love watching meaningful visuals so think of this like taking pictures. Take a few set-up shots of an event before the actual event – for example, film a festive holiday table before people sit down to eat or film people heading into Midnight Mass before it begins. Take footage that captures the feeling of where you are and sets the right scene and tone.

 Don’t be too Intrusive

• Remember that not everyone loves having a camcorder in their face. Try not to film people eating or having an intense private conversation. Remember to be subtle and respectful about personal boundaries during your film adventure.

 Get the Right Tools

• Using a tripod makes a tremendous difference in the quality of your film output. Sometimes breathing or subtle body movements can result in a shaky final video. So consider using a tripod when filming holiday plays or concerts, falling snow and the opening of gifts on Christmas morning.

 Editing Is Key

• Don’t forget to edit your video. Proper editing makes all the difference and can turn a boring, long-winded film into a highly entertaining and sought-after keepsake that people watch every year. Chances are you have taken way too much footage already – some of it may not be particularly watchable. Edit out sections that aren’t core to your central story. Today, video editing is easier than ever with the right software so don’t be intimidated to use it even if you are not overly technical. CyberLink makes easy-to-use, affordable video editing software so using PowerDirector would be a good place to start. 

Don’t have PowerDirector yet? Download a FREE 30-day trial here.

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Come Join "I Love to Play" Video Contest

There is a child in every heart that is crying out to play. Whether it’s bungee jumping, ice skiing, driving in the fast lane or partying with friends. These stories and experiences are as individual and personal as the people who share them. With that in mind, CyberLink launches a new video contest named “I Love to Play”, calling out to millions of creative users to pick up their cameras and capture the life they love for a chance to win great prizes, including a GoPro HERO3 action camera, Amazon Giftcards, a solid state drive sponsored by Plextor, and many more.

Create your PLAY video with PowerDirector and submit your video here.