Get CyberLink PowerDirector 14 Ultra for $49.79

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Need to edit some video? If you’ve captured amazing footage with your drone and GoPro camera or filmed a wedding over the weekend, today’s deal is for you. CyberLink PowerDirector is widely regarded as one of the best desktop tools around, offering oodles of options and effects wrapped in a reasonably friendly interface.

Of course, it’ll cost you. The top-end Ultimate edition lists for $129.99, and at best you might find it for $79.99. But not today.

Ending in about six short hours, CyberLink is offering PowerDirector 14 Ultimate (for Windows) for $59.99, a price that includes sound-editing utility AudioDirector 6 and a couple of add-on effects packs.

Update: Woot! An awesome reader shared coupon code COUPON17, which brings your price down to $49.79! (Make sure to remove the Extended Download Service option from your cart.)

If you’ve tinkered with video editors such as Windows Movie Maker or an app on your smartphone, you’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible with professional video editing software. Those rudimentary tools focus primarily on cutting and assembling your clips — fine for cobbling together something simple, but way too limited for budding J.J. Abrams.

PowerDirector 14 offers a wealth of editing tools — not just for video, but audio as well. It lets you create titles, apply tons of special effects, create DVD and Blu-ray discs, stabilize shaky video and lots more. It supports both 3D and 4K media and, coolest of all, can automatically sync the footage from multiple cameras.

CNET hasn’t reviewed this version of the program (though PowerDirector 13 scored 4.5 stars), so I’ll direct you to PC Mag’s review. Spoiler alert: It earned an Editors’ Choice nod: “PowerDirector continues to outflank the competition, with top rendering speed, a massive set of video editing tools, the latest file-standard support, and a wealth of new features in its latest update.”

I’ll second that. Although there’s a bit of a learning curve with the interface (especially for anyone new to video editing), PowerDirector is now my preferred tool over Pinnacle Studio — a former favorite that’s now a soupy mess. But once you learn the ropes, you’ll be able to achieve some amazing results.

At $129.99, this would feel like an investment. At $50, it’s more of an impulse buy. If you have even the slightest interest in editing video, I recommend giving in to that impulse before it’s too late.

Bonus deal: I’m not sure how long this will last, but right now Staples has a $50 iTunes gift card for $40. (Or you have the option to buy a $100 gift card for $80.) That’s for a shipped physical card, not an electronic one delivered to your email address. Shipping is free, though you may be on the hook for sales tax. Great gift option, but also just a solid buy for yourself if you routinely buy stuff from iTunes.