Before I get into the Director Suite 5 review proper I think it is important to understand where CyberLink are coming from in offering this product in the first place.
Cyberlink Director Suite 5 is quite an interesting study in how a software company like CyberLink can implement an overall development and feature expansion strategy without alienating their core or entry level users.
On one hand, endlessly jamming more and more features into the basic products on offer results in software that becomes overwhelming and incomprehensible to new users.
On the other hand CyberLink need to actively develop their main video editing program, PowerDirector to maintain their market position.
The problem for CyberLink is that constantly adding functionality to what is an already feature rich piece of software inevitably leads to complexity both in the interface design and usability.
As it stands PowerDirector is probably the best of the bunch when it comes to maintaining a relatively clutter free interface which still allows intuitive access to the considerable feature set.
So while you are pleasing that part of the market that wants all the bells and whistles at the same time you are alienating your core market which are home movie makers.
To deal with this problem CyberLink have taken what I believe to be a very smart path towards keeping everyone happy.
Instead of trying to stuff more and more into the existing editor they have spun-off and expanded certain key functions into their own standalone products that are fully integrated with the core program.
The result of this is what they have called Director Suite 5.
My Director Suite 5 Review
Cyberlink Director Suite 5 is made up of four individual programs aimed at the video editing process which, although can operate quite independently, are also fully integrated into the functionality of the main program.
This bundling effectively takes Director Suite 5 out of the home movie maker market and into possibly the pro market but definitely the “prosumer” market.
Director Suite 5 is comprised of:
- PowerDirector 15 Ultimate for video editing
- ColorDirector 5 for handling color correction and color grading
- AudioDirector 7, for editing soundtracks and other music files
- PhotoDirector 8 for organizing and editing image files
The suite supports both input and output of 3D files, 4K video files, and surround sound.
As previously mentioned, once you launch the core PowerDirector 15 program you can then send various assets to the other ancillary programs (while you are working) for specialized processing then have them pulled back into PowerDirector and continue with your editing.
Or, you can open any one of the programs and work within it it as a stand alone action.
What’s in the Box
PowerDirector 15 Ultimate
This is the top of the line version of PowerDirector 15 offering their most advanced features, effects, number of editing tracks, templates, filters and just about everything except for the kitchen sink. (Although it might just be that I haven’t discovered the “Kitchen Sink” button yet!)
PowerDirector has been my top choice for a video editing solution at the consumer to enthusiastic amateur level for about 7 years now and there is nothing around at the moment that makes me think they will be knocked off the top spot anytime in the near future.
Apart from its enormous feature set probably for me the key to selecting it as my main choice is that it is probably the “smartest” editing software around at this level when it comes to rendering and previewing.
It is this “smart” technology that allowed it to get clear of the pack and no-one so far has managed to catch up.
Rather than go on and on about it here you can click here to see my full PowerDirector 15 Review.
ColorDirector 5
ColorDirector is not just an added module for fixing up the color in poorly shot videos… although it does do that very well!
To understand the value of this program you need to understand the difference between color correction and color grading.
If you have ever wondered how professional movie makers achieve such powerful and emotional “looks” to their scenes then grading is the answer to the question.
Not only can you use the program for correction and grading but it comes with a range of features such a motion tracking that allow you to apply effects to single objects within a frame.
Check this video below from CyberLink to get a good understanding of what the program can do and whether it is something you would have a use for.
Click Here to See the Full ColorDirector Features
PhotoDirector 8
Let’s get one thing perfectly clear here before we go any further. I am not an expert in any way, shape or form when it comes to image editing software or the subject of photography.
What I do know is that for the last ten years I have been trying to use image editing software to do simple things to my images to either correct them or prepare them for use in my video projects.
I first tried PhotoShop. I downloaded it, installed it, opened it and took one look at the interface and closed it immediately and uninstalled. The horror of that interface haunts me to this day.
I then tried their Elements version which is supposed to be for the amateur user… pretty much the same thing happened only this time I actually got an image loaded but was lost within minutes. The upside was that I was only annoyed by it, not disturbed.
Since then I have been trying to find an image editing program that does not submerge you into a morass of terminology and complexity as a prerequisite to actually using it!
You may have gathered by now I am not fond of this class of software!
Finally I found PhotoDirector bundled with Director Suite 5.
It was with great apprehension that I opened the program to see what was inside.
This is easily the most intuitive photo editing software I have come across and although it offers all the advanced features anyone could want it is easy to use or at least work out how to use.
Click Here to See the Full PhotoDirector Features
AudioDirector 7
Within any iteration of the PowerDirector program CyberLink have alway included a free audio editing program called Wav Editor and for the average user, this is enough.
However if you want to take your projects up a notch in the audio department then you are going to need a dedicated audio editing program of some description.
As usual with the entire CyberLink range they somehow manage in AudioDirector 7 to pack in full functionality without swamping you with technicality.
The features and uses go on forever so here’s the lazy view!
Click Here to See the Full AudioDirector Features
The Bottom Line
Cyberlink Director Suite 5 is one of the best multi-media editing and production suites available on the market today.
Having said that it is important for anyone considering a suite like this that it only represents great value if you can clearly see yourself using it in its entirety or ultimately growing into it.
The individual components are available for purchase separately but of course the maximum value is offered by going for the full Director Suite 5 package and the maximum benefit comes from the integration of all the parts into the editing process.
Taken as a whole or even when looking at the individual components these tools compare very favorably with professional level programs but at a far more attractive price.
All round, if it suits your needs then you need look no further.
Click Here to See the Full Features of CyberLink Director Suite 5
Here’s my question. Last night I watched an old episode of “24.” Towards the end of one scene, a black mask gradually fills the screen. So that toward the end of that scene, only the hero’s moving face remains visible – in a “rectangle”, in the upper left of the otherwise-blackened screen. Note that the rectangle is NOT the whole image, shrunk down. Rather, the mask has “moved in” onto the whole image, isolating on the man’s face.
Can PowerDirector 15 achieve this effect? I see that PD15 includes “Mask Designer,” but I haven’t been able to find many specific details. Many thanks! Mark
Hi Mark,
Yes you can probably achieve something like that in PD
You probably need to create a mask but there is also the possibility of overlaying a black shape and then setting the transparency to progressively reduce until it is fully black.
I think if you go to the PD forum and ask specifically there someone will be bale to give you the easiest way.
Hi, love your site! Thanks for all the info you provide!! I’m at the prosumer level, have edited with final cut pro x, and looking to be able to do something with similar features with my new PC. There may be near future potential for some small paid editing gigs. I’ve kind of narrowed it down between Cyberlink Director Suite 5, and Magix Video Pro X, or Magix Movie Edit Pro Premium. Does Magix’s professional software include the same plugins/transitions/effects as Edit Pro Premium? Are there more, or less, effects in the professional version?
As for features, it seems like Powerdirector Suite 5 kind of has everything anyone but a full time professional might want to use when manipulating video. But is it missing key professional capabilities and functionality? Does it only export at at a smaller bitrate? Like if you made the video in 4k 100MBS on your phone with filmic pro, after editing could Powerdirector only export at say 25MBS?
Basically, I was hoping to buy a Mac and run final cut but couldn’t afford one of those machines with the necessary specs. I instead have a nicely spec’d Dell Gaming laptop now, that should meet the minimum requirements and then some for even Pro Video X. I guess my main use of my new PC editing software will be for editing sketch comedy videos (lots of cheesy transitions and effects I like since they can add to the humor on occasion), also some short films, and hopefully in the not too distant future a low budget indie film–and possibly editing these type of projects for others for small pay. So, I just want to buy the program that can best accomplish this type of editing. And my budget kind of maxes out at $400. The adobe cloud kind of turns me off, thinking I may need to add in aftereffects and the audio one every month, and that’ll add up fast. So, maybe I’m not in need of a super pro editor yet, but even though Powerdirector isn’t a pro editor what does it lack that Pro Video X does not?
Also, stability is a big concern for me. When I’m collaborating with my co writer and others, possibly trying to get a small project done for a friend who’s paying me a little something, I just want to feel like well, if I need to do some type of effect or make sure my project will render effectively and I won’t lose data with a crash at a crucial moment, that I can rely on the editing software I’ve chosen. That I’ll have something stable and generally capable for these type of situations. Of course, I know there’s limits to any program, and maybe after effects or Davinci Resolve for color correction in some instances may be necessary. But just to get a general idea, given the above scenarios, what you might think.
Also, I’ll not be running other programs during editing, keeping the computer defragged and free of registry errors, generally clean. Plus saving my project frequently. So doing my best to keep my editing software stable and my data preserved during use.
Sorry for such a long post with so many questions. Thanks for any input!
Hi Jeffrey,
OK I am going to try to keep this at least shorter than the original post!
I’ve kinda narrowed it down between Cyberlink Director Suite 5, and Magix Video Pro X, or Magix Movie Edit Pro Premium. Does Magix’s professional software include the same plugins/transitions/effects as Edit Pro Premium? Are there more, or less, effects in the professional version?
Considering what you intend using the software for the first one you need to eliminate is Magix Movie Edit Pro.
It is strictly consumer level and yes, Video Pro X has far more features and effects.
So that should take us down to Director Suite and Video Pro X
As for features, it seems like Powerdirector Suite 5 kind of has everything anyone but a full time professional might want to use when manipulating video. But is it missing key professional capabilities and functionality?
Nope!
Does it only export at at a smaller bitrate? Like if you made the video in 4k 100MBS on your phone with filmic pro, after editing could Powerdirector only export at say 25MBS?
Nope! It will export to whatever you feed it. 4K in = 4K out.
So, I just want to buy the program that can best accomplish this type of editing.
We are still at Video ProX and Director Suite
And my budget kind of maxes out at $400.
We are still at Video ProX and Director Suite.
So, maybe I’m not in need of a super pro editor yet, but even though Powerdirector isn’t a pro editor what does it lack that Pro Video X does not?
The ONLY difference you will find apart from a hefty price drop is that Video ProX has greater ability to edit professional video codecs in their native state instead of converting first and that it is better at dealing with mixed content on the timeline.
If you are not using a broadcast grade video camera then none of what I just wrote is important.
We are still at Video ProX and Director Suite.
Also, stability is a big concern for me. When I’m collaborating with my co writer and others, possibly trying to get a small project done for a friend who’s paying me a little something, I just want to feel like well, if I need to do some type of effect or make sure my project will render effectively and I won’t lose data with a crash at a crucial moment, that I can rely on the editing software I’ve chosen. That I’ll have something stable and generally capable for these type of situations.
Both are stable and both use projects files which means that even if the power cuts out halfway through a render, once you power back up all you do is load the project file and everything comes back.
We are still at Video ProX and Director Suite.
Bottom Line.
If you have to ask the difference between these two then the choice is simple, CyberLink Director Suite.
Thank you so much for helping me to sort through this! Just clicked on your link to buy/download Director Suite 5.
You are welcome Jeffrey.
Hi, thanks so much for this article…super informative. I just have a question. I’m debating on buying the director suite simply to get the color director 5. The reason is because I like to change filters on the video, brightening it or changing the tones, and doing color splash effects. However, are such effects as these available in the power director editing program or would I need to get the suite to take advantage of such things like filter changes/color splash? Thanks for any info! It’s much appreciated!
Hi Ari,
For advanced filters as you describe you need the full arsenal of effects from NewBlue.
This is aside from ColorDirector.
These effects are offered at the Ultimate Suite and the Director Suite level.
Right now I just noticed CyberLink are offering the full Director Suite package at the same price as Ultimate Suite which kind f makes getting Diector Suite a no-brainer!
Thank you very much for your reply! I did some research and found that the power director seems to have basic filter edits like brightening, ect, assuming what I read was correct…. Just not as detailed. If that’s the case, I may just get it since I would not be needing color splash for most projects. It’s just a hobby, not a job. Yes, I saw the directors suite is on sale…but so much of that package I wouldn’t use, except for the color stuff. So I will weigh the cost and see… Thanks again for such an informative article! Very helpful!
Hi, I’m wondering about using the effects such as NewBlue… I’m not familiar with plugins and so forth. Is there something I will need to download in order to use these effects or is it simply once I install the director suite, I will have them at my disposal?
My other question is regarding what kind of computer would be best for this program? I’m in the middle of researching them along with all the computer jargon as I’m unfamiliar with computer words like CPU’s, RAM, graphic cards, and so forth….
I’ve considered buying apple and then getting a Windows installed on it in order to use PowerDirector but that seems needlessly complicated. Might be better off with Windows which I’m used to. Any recommendations or things I should look out for? I have heard this kind of heavy software is not meant to be for laptops, much better on desktops, and about overheating and what not… Unfortunately, I travel out of the country and a laptop is what I will have to buy.
Thanks again for your time and answers to people like me!
Sorry, I should have added that Im looking for a computer that is on the cheap side (less than a thousand dollars). Didn’t realize how expensive the mac pro was…. I was thinking to buy an HP/Dell, whatever that is on sale for just a few hundred… But not sure if that would be compatible with a program like DirectorSuite…
I see computers in ads for $300-$600 that seem fine but I’m not a computer person at all so wanted to ask before randomly buying something that “looks good”.
Hi Ari,
OK so the first thing you need to do is go to the CyberLink website here: http://www.cyberlink.com/products/director-suite/spec_en_US.html and get familiar with the sepcs you will need but take note:
They say 2GB RAM (Memory) and 6GB is recommended. In reality 8GB is the reasonable minimum more if you can!
They say a 64bit operating system is recommended I say it is essential. 32bit systems have a limit on their ability to use RAM and you need RAM.
An Intel i7 is a better choice for CPU but remember I run an i5 so it is all in how you use it.
If you can get something that is close to those specs you will be OK as long as you are not being crazy and scrubbing around the timeline like a nutcase or trying to create 4 hour high definition epics with special effects through the whole thing!
As far as the effects goes they are plugins and only come into play if you choose to add them to a project or single clip.
They require no other downloading or attention of any kind. Once installed as part of the main installation process they are there ready to use.
Hello Lance,
I have Premiere Elements 13. I really like it however it is not at all user friendly and I am finding that it takes a lot of work to make a simple video look professional. I have done complex projects such as full-on music videos (very complex ones – one even had a 5 second scene with 24 separate tiles of people singing the same line of the song!!), and then very simple projects like a picture slideshow. I find it pretty good and have produced some very good very-large-competition-winning projects 🙂 But over this time, I’ve found many simple flaws in the program. Many of them can be overcome but with a heck of a lot of time involved. I think I’ve tried just about every little function of the program out at some stage, and there’s things that take a lot of fiddling around to make them look good, eg titles, motion tracking, and transitions. I have looked at PowerDirector and am totally won over! 🙂 I’m looking for something that makes it easy to create professional-looking videos easily and have functions that work very well eg motion tracking and overlays etc etc (the list lasts forever!! :D).
I’m just about to purchase Director Suite 5 since there is a good deal on it atm. I think I will find AudioDirector, PhotoDirector, and ColourDirector extremely handy too!
But my question is in relation to the hardware of my computer and whether it is ok to handle the program. I don’t know much about this side of things so I thought I’d ask you! 🙂
At the moment I have premiere elements 13 loaded on to it and it is slightly slow but is ok. I have had trouble with it freezing sometimes and it especially gets annoying when I’m making large projects and it decides it will be just spectacular if it takes 3 weeks to render (that’s slightly exaggerated :D). But Director Suite 5 has True Velocity 6 function and all this other stuff that are meant to make it real fast?!?! (I truly have no idea what its like!) What’s it like in this respect compared to adobe premiere elements 13??
And btw, our desktop PC is:
– Windows 10 Pro, 64-bit OS
– Intel(R) Core(TM) i5 CPU @ 3.10Ghz 3.50 Ghz
– 8.00GB of installed RAM
– plus tonnes of disk space
I don’t have a clue what the intel core stuff is all about, but that’s what the settings thingy told me, and looking at some of the other blogs apparently it has something to do with it all…?! :D:D:D
Can you please help?….and soonish would be excellent as the deal on Director Suite 5 ends in a day or so 🙂
Thanks a million!
OK, Joel so let’s get into this!
First of all well done on persisting in your relationship with Elements.
It saddens me to see these days to many crazy kids getting into a relationship and at the first sign of trouble wanting to break up.
You kids seem to have given it a good go but sadly sometimes things just don’t work out.
So, the reason for your trouble is you Joel, yes, it is entirely your fault!
OK, not really but here it is in a nutshell.
Elements is a consumer level editor that is aimed at the guy or gal wanting to make “home movies.”
They have really no idea what they are doing but have mostly seen “stuff” they want to copy into their own projects.
Elements is designed so that a lot of quite advanced features available at the consumer level can be used by Joe Average.
Because Joe Average does not understand and does not want to understand these features we have them automated in Elements so that’s usually a set of “common” presets that are available.
You, being the inquisitive type have gone beyond those auto features and presets to gain greater control and right there is your problem.
You are actually bypassing all the systems put in place to stop you from having to do that.
Quite simply, you have been in a relationship with a bimbo and whilst if you were looking for a bimbo, Elements would serve you well, you clearly are not.
So to Director Suite.
You have pretty much found the right one here from your description of what you are and have been doing.
It also offers you room for improvement although keep in mind the interface will be different to Elements so you will need to take a little time there and go through all the tutorials.
The upside is that it is more designed for you to control from the outset rather than automatically offer you… automation!
As far as specs for the computer go let’s get this really clear.
The software itself regardless of brand has little to do with the speed of operation or the smoothness of operation.
Any software can tell the computer to do something. The REAL question is whether or not the computer can do it or how fast it can do it.
Having said that, in tests done on average computers PowerDirector (that’s the main editing component of Director Suite) outperforms everyone else in the same class including Elements.
It does that because it is just a little better at marshalling all the available resources on your computer and intelligently assigning work to those resources.
One of the main ones it pulls in is the processor on the video card.
So, the i5 CPU is not the fastest chip in the bag but will get the job done.
You have a 64bit system so therefore no limit on RAM. RAM is vital for editing so you would be better off with double that if you have slots on the motherboard.
Tonnes of disc space is good, tonnes of defragmented contiguous disc space is better!
As you system stands right now you are good to go but could be better, just don’t try to do massive projects with a bunch of other programs open as well or go rushing around the timeline.
Thanks tonnes for your help!…it did make me laugh! 😀
And yes I know exactly what you mean about the presets and all that!…if they really wanted me to stop going further than the presets, I curse them for not making the right presets!! :D…A lot of the presets they make look totally unprofessional!! I’d hate to see videos that have used them!! 😀
But I’m pretty much convinced on Director Suite 5 now!! :D…I’m getting excited!!
So although my computer isn’t spectacular for running programs like this, should I still go for Director Suite 5? Am I right in saying that it still will be a faster program to run than Adobe Premiere Elements 13?
And I will get rid of Elements off the computer as well. Will this make any difference to the speed of other programs like Cyberlink?
OK, calm down Joel.
First up the basic video editing component of Director Suite is PowerDirector (the version with all the bells and whistles).
The specs of your computer should be fine for that BUT! Unless you have a specific purpose for the entire set of tools why Director Suite?
Why not PowerDirector Ultimate or Ultimate Suite to get you started?
I only recommend Director Suite if you either have a purpose for every component or at least can see clearly that you will be using the other components in the future.
Either way it “should” be faster than Elements… I say SHOULD because afterall we are talking about Windows software here!
As I said, my testing and all the testing I have seen from a number of sources show CyberLink to be much faster.
The only test that is missing is the test done on your specific computer!
I would leave Elements for the moment unless you hit a conflict, but I doubt it, I have Elements, PowerDirector, Corel, Pinnacle and some I have forgotten on my computer and have had no problem.
Once you get settled with CyberLink then you can remove it.
haha ok I’ll calm the farm! 😀
Yes I see what you’re saying…don’t think I’m just getting the suite and then use 2% of the programs’ capabilities! That’s a waste! I have read a heck of a lot of reviews and watched a fair few videos of what the suite includes and I plan to use all the programs a lot either now or in the future. I have looked at similar photo and audio programs and have been wanting to get these for a while. I really like the sound of the other programs, especially the photo editor and audio editor! I have used countless photo editors in my lifetime and had a few 30-day free trials to see which one I wanted. What is attractive to me is that all these programs that I would use a lot, are not only very professional and exactly what I’m looking at, but are highly integrated and can be used ‘side-by-side’.
Initially I didn’t really want to spend the extra money for the suite when I could get the stand alone PowerDirector 15 for a lot cheaper. I weighed it up for a long time whether to bite the bullet and buy the suite but enjoy real handy programs that I knew I had a lot of uses for, or just buy the stand alone program and maybe regret afterwards for not buying the full suite and get it as a lower deal cost. But then I found that I could get a 60% discount if I am a student, so that kind of settled it! 😀 I can get the suite for $120, and I’m not sure about you, but I think that’s a pretty good deal! 😀 I know I definitely wouldn’t use all the programs to their full potential initially but I can see myself growing into them in the future. I am constantly making videos and editing pictures and fiddling around with my own music tracks etc and syncing them with videos etc…I can see myself using almost all the programs in just that example :)…and the ColourDirector sounds real handy! In elements I’ve always found it hard making my videos have the colour grading of a movie etc.
And what you say about whether my computer will handle it or not is very handy thanks! :)…yes I’ll leave elements on then…if it doesn’t slow it down, I’ll leave it on there even when I don’t need it because you never know when I’ll need to edit my old videos 🙂
Just another quick question, my friend said that if you want a program like this to work super fast, get an external graphics card because its the graphics of the program that makes it go slow…he said that he uses one and it goes super fast…I don’t plan to get one, but is that right?…I clearly know nothing about this kind of stuff!…I just use the programs! 😀
Thanks for your help…it’s been great!
Ah the old student discount trick… nice one!
Once you get it all under control take a closer look at Color Director, it is awesome!
You can use it to color correct in a superfine way but the big feature is that you can color grade so you can get all you footage looking the same desipte the source.
Anyway, computer resources and what they do.
CPU – the CPU does the number crunching, the calculations and comes into play whenever rendering is occurring. The rule is the more the better!
Rendering occurs obviously at the end of the project when you are rendering to a final file but rendering also occurs when you are scrubbing through the timeline and previewing.
RAM – The RAM needed is generally high because the windows needs to be loaded into RAM, the program you are using needs to be loaded into RAM and the files you are directly working on need to be loaded into RAM. The rule is the more the better!
Video Card – Internal video cards are not really cards! They are parts of he operating system more like drivers and are only designed for playback really.
External cards are actual physical cards and obviously are more powerful but their main asset is that they come with their own CPU and some RAM.
If the software can detect these assets on the card and use them then you are going to get faster rendering and a smoother experience. The rule is, the bigger the better!
An onboard card will do OK but an external one will take advantage of the full grunt Director Suite has to offer.
Hard Drive – Generally speaking files are going to be picked up from the HD and dumped back down at a fearsome rate when you are editing.
Windows loves the wide open spaces in these circumstance because if it all starts to get a bit backed up it can just dump files out of the RAM or on to the HDD all over the place and get on with more important tasks.
Always check before and after working on projects if you are getting fragmentation. If so just run a defrag regularly.
Also forgive my ignorance but will the directors suite work as well on Mac probook
Hi Linda,
OK, let me answer everything here.
My understanding of running Windows programs on a Mac is very limited so bear with me.
As I understand it you first have to load the Bootcamp program on to the Mac. Then you have to install a version of Windows as well.
This means that the Mac now has two operating systems, Windows and Mac. When the computer is switched on it loads up and the Bootcamp program then gives you the choice of loading into the Mac environment or the Windows one.
In this scenario you are not mixing Windows with Mac. You are either operating in Mac OR Windows.
There is a Mac tutorial on it here: http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201468
It is also my understanding from forums and other users that this arrangement works perfectly well with PD12 and PD13 as well as the other programs that come with Director Suite.
Lance,
Thank you so much.. I’ve always been told ?…( I am definitely NOT very savvy with computers ) and never mix windows with Mac.. So I am a bit nervous about it but I really love cyber links program looking to update to Directors suie soon. So I really need to be sure of what I am doing. So all I need is to bk up all my Mac then take the original disc for windows and dwnld it on the Mac through boot Camp?
I love power director 12. But I received a new Mac book pro for christmas and I was hoping to use it on Mac. It does not appear the suite is fully made for Mac or is it?
Hi Linda,
Although it is not written for Mac I refer you to a reply I got further down the page form another Mac user:
Yes, one can have Power Director on a mac. MyPD-12 installed on a iMAC computer and is running great:
PowerDirector 12 64 bit
PowerDirector Ultra 12.0.2509.0
Windows 7 Ultimate 64 inside BOOTCAMP on a iMAC OS X
Ver 10.9.2
Processor: 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3
Memory:4 gig
There are other programs, like Parallel, VM, that will also work, I just use BOOTCAMP and have had no problems.