Cyberlink Powerdirector 7 Deluxe video-editing software

Powerdirector is a set of tools for editing digital video and creating home movies so they can be saved to websites and DVDs.

If you have used a video-editing program before then the interface will be familiar, with the lower half of the screen displaying the timeline, to which clips can be dragged and dropped before trimming, and a preview window on the right that can be used to view the current clip. The main portion of the screen displays a column of tabs that activate tools for adding effects, a soundtrack, transitions and more – Powerdirector calls these Rooms.

The timeline panel is split into different tracks for video, music, narration and suchlike, and the software blocks the user from adding the wrong type of media to a track. As with all the options on view, you need only hover the mouse pointer above it to display a label explaining exactly what it’s for.

Once a clip is in its rightful place on the timeline, the editing options associated with it change according to the media type: for the main video track it displays options for trimming and splitting while for text and other effects there’s the option to tweak duration, volume and whatever else is relevant.

We found the process of splitting and trimming clips simple. Adjusting the volume of specific clips wasn't so straightforward but the application's help files provided the answer quickly enough.

One nice touch for people editing a large number of clips together is that the media room displays a tick symbol on the clips that have already been added to the timeline, and clips can be sorted into folders within the Media Room.

Powerdirector comes with a good set of transitions and effects, a handful of which are suitable for home videos – the rest are just great fun, especially for kids to play with. You can also create picture-in-picture effects.

Finishing a project is made simple with the software’s output wizard, which formats the video depending on how you want to display it (such as for PC playback, transfer to a high-definition camcorder or even for upload to a Youtube account should you have one). Creating a DVD with a range of customisable menus was just as easy. Note that only the Ultra version of the software, not the Deluxe one we're reviewing, can burn onto Blu-ray discs.

Powerdirector’s strength is its ease of use. While there are some powerful tools here for experienced video editors, newcomers won’t be intimidated by the basic editing controls – a comprehensive wizard will enable even the most apprehensive novice to assemble a watchable video. Its friendly interface and depth of features make it a worthwhile purchase for anyone who wants to get creative with video.