Is Powerdirector better than the free version of DaVinci Resolve?
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Joseph Zorzin
I always liked PD V17. Haven't used it in years and it's on my old computer which I seldom use. On my newest Dell, I need a good editor. I did download DaVinci Resolve but I wasn't happy with the user interface- it just seemed too dark. Is it really worth me (a low income guy) to pay for the latest PD when Resolve is free? No doubt it is better, but what's better about it? I'm not a video pro- just a guy who enjoys making videos. I don't need the very best. Just asking.
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Elaine B.
I have a similar situation (went from PD20 Ultimate on discs in my old Windows 10 Dell desktop to the same installation for my new Windows 11 machine; was just lucky that it still works on 11, lol) and while I love PD20, it does have its limitations and I know in my heart that it will probably not be compatible with whatever the next iteration of Windows will be. :-/
I'm currently working on a video in PD20 but I do plan to download Resolve when that's done, and then devote several months to learning the interface which I realize will be like learning a foreign language. :-/ Hopefully I can learn and get used to it. Going forward, I will need to work with many video clips that were shot in 4K (not mine; another source's) that will need to be downsampled into a final HD (1920x1080) product for wider compatibility and while PD 20 can do that, supposedly the process is much simpler in Resolve. There are also some title effects that are available in Resolve that are either unavailable or not well built for PD.
Basically l'm in the same space as you as far as what I do, but I'm also picky, LOL. My own worst critic, I guess. :-D My main concern is that when I need to upgrade this new computer eventually, my PD20 Ultimate will no longer work and I want to have the ability to use Resolve "in my back pocket", so to speak, against that day. Because I've looked at all the available non-Resolve editors and wrote them all off for one reason or another (and I won't do subscription anything.)
As for the newer (post-PD 20 Ultimate) versions of PowerDirector, so many of the posts here are complaining about Cyberlink removing core features that were staples in the earlier versions, that I honestly would rather stay with my PD20 until it "ages out" of Windows.
Michael Küpper
Resolve is very good but also very complicated compared to PowerDirector. If I were you, I would consider buying the PowerDirector 21 Ultimate version. I did that because I don't like the subscription version for many reasons. PD 21 is now available (for the German market) for small money (around 75 euros) and you can work with it very well.