CyberLink PowerDirector 365

Cyberlink PowerDirector puts a fully-fledged video editing suite in the hands of those who've decided to enter this exciting multimedia field for the first time. Easy to use, the software package includes all of the tools needed to create stunning results on the first try. Expert users aren't left out in the cold, either, thanks to a customizable workflow that incorporates bleeding-edge multimedia features. These latter tools include professional-grade transition effects, the ability to work with all kinds of video formats, animated titles, and a 64-bit rendering engine that guarantees swift editing.

Video editing tools are multiplying because of the many tech-packed mobile devices on the market. Happily, these software suites are highly functional, but they often miss the usability mark. Cyberlink PowerDirector neatly solves this issue by removing user bias from its streamlined interface. Balanced and intuitive, the software opens initially in express editing mode, a layout that's perfectly built for beginners. A few clicks of readily accessible buttons then imports video footage, at which point drag and drop functionality partners with the uncluttered user window to display files as easy to manipulate thumbnails. The result is hassle-free video and soundtrack authoring. The footage further subscribes to this enhanced usability model when templates are used to transform processed video in numerous creative ways.

The flip side of this easy-to-use editing process is an expert level mode that adopts professional video editing tools. This configuration is entirely capable of manipulating 4K video, AVCHD footage, and all of the high-definition formats that are currently being captured on today's finest smartphones and digital cameras. The powerful rendering engine is always subject to constant updates, so popular two-dimensional filming standards are now also bolstered by a competent set of 3D tools, processing innards that include a feature for editing videos shot on camera rigs that possess a 360º shooting mode. Never stymied by the workload incurred by these innovative editing modes, the processing engine conducts professional tasks with the same smooth speed achieved by the hobbyist mode.

Beginner fun or professional editing, it doesn't matter, for Cyberlink PowerDirector scales easily to process every split-second of footage. Audio soundtracks are synced professionally to each production, standard editing tools blend organically with higher-functioning video editing commands, and full customization muscle is baked into the software. Editing versatility begins with simple cutting and pasting, but it escalates in power to incorporate color matching, particle transition effects, and a fun picture-in-picture mode. All-in-all, the processing power is accessible to all, but that same power quickly scales to satisfy the editing hunger of any professional video authoring expert.

Pro:

• Video editing features scale to suit beginners and experts
• Compatible with 4K, Blu-Ray, and many other video formats
• Constantly updating to match new camera capabilities
• Fast rendering engine
• Imports quickly, authors fluidly, and exports to popular social sites

Cons:

• Occasional crashes
• Templates exhibit uneven quality
• Relatively powerful computer required