How to edit 4K videos on a lower-end PC with PowerDirector
Computer stores hate him! Learn this one weird trick to produce highly edited 4k content on old hardware! You won't believe what happens next!
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This video is to share a little trick you can use in PowerDirector (my editing software of choice) to handle editing source files that your hardware can't handle.
Because I want this info shared, via video or description, I'll just say it here too. Simply put, you make a shadow file by yourself. Shadow files can be set automatically in PowerDirector, and that creates a smaller bitrate temporary version of a video file so you can edit smoothly on weaker hardware. However, shadow files can take a long time to generate and some say over 24 hours or even longer for 4k shadow files.
What you do, first of all is make sure your 4k source file is in a format PowerDirector can output in. My FDR-AX100 records in mp4, but if you have a different format you may have to reprocess it in one that PowerDirector can output. Then, move on to step two.. or step one, if step one wasn't needed.
Make a second version of your 4k source file, in a lower resolution. You only need to make it as low as your computer can handle editing, but for example I drop my 4k down to standard definition (720x480) even though I could work fine with 720p, or 1080p. Dropping further down to 360p or 240p should work as well for what we're doing.
After making the second file, import it into PowerDirector and edit it the way you intend to for your project. Obviously, if you are just wanting to cut the beginning and end off of something than loading the 4k video in and waiting a few minutes per cut will be faster overall, but this method is meant to cut down the time it would take to produce a HEAVILY edited project in 4k.
After you make your edits and save your project, close PowerDirector. Then re-name the lower resolution file something else, so the project save will no longer recognize it. Then, make sure the 4k source file is in the same folder that the project will look for the video file in, and rename that to match what the lower resolution file was named.
After this is done, load PowerDirector back up and load the saved project. It will take some time because it is loading in the 4k file instead of the lower resolution one, but after importing is completed the timeline should be updated very quickly and your ultra high definition file will be edited in just the way you designated. Process the video in 4k, and be proud!
For best results, the 4k source and the lower resolution files should be the same framerate. In PowerDirector, I often had trouble with shadow files on HD movies as past 40 minutes the video and audio went out of sync and that messed with my edits on production.
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