PC Magazine Editors’ Choice Award Logo is a registered trademark of Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. Used under license. Reprinted from www.pcmag.com, June 12, 2008, with permission. Copyright © 2008 Ziff Davis Publishing Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Versions Comparison
PowerDirector 7 Ultra
 US$ 119.95
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PowerDirector 7
(Deluxe)
 US$ 69.95
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PowerDirector 6 Deluxe
 from US$ 49.95
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PowerDirector 5 Premium
 from US$ 49.95
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Options for Publishing and Sharing Videos |
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Blu-ray Disc authoring |
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With menus (BDMV) |
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Direct to disc (BDAV) |
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DVD authoring |
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AVCHD on DVD |
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BD content on DVD |
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Menu designer |
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Subtitle button |
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| Supported disc types | DVD,
VCD, SVCD, Double-Layer DVDs |
DVD,
VCD, SVCD, Double-Layer DVDs |
DVD,
VCD, SVCD, Double-Layer DVDs |
DVD, VCD, SVCD, Double-Layer DVDs |
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Other authoring features |
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| Number of menu templates | Unlimited via DirectorZone |
Unlimited via DirectorZone |
59 |
77 |
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Support for Dolby Digital 5.1 |
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Widescreen menus |
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Play All, Play Scenes menus |
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Background music |
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Motion menus and thumbnails |
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| Uploading of menu designs to DirectorZone | |
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Moveable buttons and thumbnails |
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Support for imported images |
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HD video formats |
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AVCHD |
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MPEG-2 HD |
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WMV-HD |
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| Publishing to YouTube™ | |
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Output for iPod and PSP |
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MPEG-1, MPEG-2, DV-AVI, QuickTime |
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| Write back to HDV tape | |
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Write back to DV tape |
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| Pack projects for use on other PCs | |
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| Produce multiple projects as a batch | |
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16:9 ratio output
support |
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| Set aspect ratio of all videos at once | |
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| Auto save projects | |
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Automated Editing Tools |
Slideshow Designer |
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Slideshow templates |
7
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7
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5
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3D style |
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Editable "cell" slideshow |
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Beat detection technology |
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| Magic Movie Wizard - time-saving editing guide | |
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Magic Style |
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Themed templates for auto editing |
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Particle effects and alpha-blended PiPs |
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Closing video |
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Magic Fix |
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Enhanced video stabilization |
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Photo sharpening |
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Red-eye removal |
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Magic Clean |
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Apply multiple fixes at once |
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Correct backlight & lighting, and white calibration |
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Extreme backlight correction |
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White balance and color correction |
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Noise reduction |
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Magic Cut - auto cut unwanted video |
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Magic Music - auto fit soundtrack to video |
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Magic Motion |
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Preset motion paths for photos |
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auto animation of photos |
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RichVideo file information |
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Advanced Editing Features |
End-to-end HD video production |
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Workspace |
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Adjustable windows |
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Faster response times |
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Media library tools |
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| Sort and display tools for effects libraries | |
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1-click compacted timeline |
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PiP Effects |
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PiP tracks |
Up to 6 |
Up to 6 |
1 |
1 |
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PiP image library |
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Number of PiP objects |
Unlimited via DirectorZone |
Unlimited via DirectorZone |
63 |
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Adjustable transparency |
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| Advanced preset motion paths | |
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User-defined motion paths |
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| Key frame motion paths | |
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User-defined key frame effects |
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| PiP format tools | |
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| PiP audio | |
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| Uploading of PiP designs to DirectorZone | |
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Title designer |
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Number of effects |
Unlimited via DirectorZone |
Unlimited via DirectorZone |
66 |
57 |
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Dialog balloons |
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Multiple title layers |
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Animated text |
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Support for imported images |
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Style format settings |
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PhotoNow! |
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Photo fine tuning |
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Aspect ratio options for cropping |
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Video subtitles |
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Subtitle track on timeline |
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Import txt and export srt files |
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Text styling tools |
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Display date/time info as text overlay |
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Video effects |
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Number of effects |
72 |
72 |
72 |
57 |
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Adjustable keyframes |
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Support for multiple effects onscreen |
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Transition effects |
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Number of effects |
142 |
142 |
142 |
143 |
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Adjustable duration |
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Audio features |
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Audio mixing room |
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PiP audio track |
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Voice, video, and music tracks |
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Waveform display on timeline |
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Adjustable audio levels on timeline |
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Name chapters on the timeline and track room |
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Set chapters on the timeline |
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Show/hide tracks
when previewing |
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Previewing quality
adjustment |
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High quality previewing |
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4:3/16:9 aspect
ratio settings (conversion) |
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PreciseCut |
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Split |
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Adjust speed |
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Trim Video Features |
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Frame-based |
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Multi-trim |
Improved |
Improved |
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Keep selected or remove selected |
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Online Resources and Creative Community |
Director zone |
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Download effects and templates |
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Upload effects and templates |
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Subscribe to other creators |
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Flickr |
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Search for photos via tags, names, or descriptions |
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Access your own, friends, or Creative Commons photos |
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Download photos to media library |
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Freesound |
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Search for sounds via tags |
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Download sounds to media library |
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Video and Audio Capturing |
Video capture sources |
DV, HDV, Audio, Digital & Analog TV, AVCHD disc |
DV, HDV, Audio, Digital & Analog TV |
DV, HDV, Audio, Digital & Analog TV |
DV, HDV, Audio, Digital & Analog TV |
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Import scenes from DVD camcorders |
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DV live mode |
DV-->MPEG,
DV-AVI |
DV-->MPEG,
DV-AVI |
DV-->MPEG,
DV-AVI |
DV-->MPEG, DV-AVI |
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Non real-time DV capturing |
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Burn directly from DV to DVD |
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Widescreen (16:9)
DV/HDV capture |
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Analog to digital |
DV,
Audio, Analog |
DV,
Audio, Analog |
DV,
Audio, Analog |
DV, Audio, Analog |
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Audio capture sources |
Microphone,
Audio CD |
Microphone,
Audio CD |
Microphone,
Audio CD |
Microphone, Audio CD |
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QuickScan |
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Scene detection |
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Manual batch capturing |
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Jump through video at preset intervals |
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Video file import formats |
HD MPEG-2, DVR-MS, DV-AVI,
DAT, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, VOB, VRO with Dolby Digital 5.1/2.1, WMV, WMV-HD, MOV, MOD,
live capture, TOD, AVCHD (M2T), MPEG-4 AVC (H.264)
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HD MPEG-2, DVR-MS, DV-AVI,
DAT, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, VOB, VRO with Dolby Digital 5.1/2.1, WMV, WMV-HD, MOV, MOD,
live capture, TOD, AVCHD (M2T), MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) |
HD MPEG-2, DVR-MS, DV-AVI,
DAT, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, VOB, VRO, WMV, WMV-HD, MOV, MOD, DivX,
live capture |
HD MPEG-2, DVR-MS, DV-AVI,
DAT, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, VOB, VRO, WMV, WMV-HD, MOV, MOD, DivX,
live capture |
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Image file import formats |
GIF, BMP, JPG, TIF, PNG, | GIF, BMP, JPG, TIF, PNG, | GIF, BMP, JPG, TIF, PNG, PSD |
GIF, BMP, JPG, TIF |
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Audio file import formats |
WAV, MP3, WMA | WAV, MP3, WMA | WAV,
MP3, WMA |
WAV, MP3, WMA |
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PowerDirector 7 Ultra
US$ 119.95
|
PowerDirector 7 (Deluxe)
US$ 69.95
|
PowerDirector 5 Premium
from US$ 49.95
|
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