Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Express 4
by Diana Weynand
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Book Summary Information
Author: Diana WeynandEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-12-21
ISBN: 0321534670
Number of pages: 504
Publisher: Peachpit Press
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Book Reviews of Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Express 4
Book Review: The best "How-to" book for beginners I've ever seen
Summary: 5 Stars
The first thing you should know when considering a book purchase is the author's intended audience. This book is intended for the beginner who has no experience with a digital editing system and has just purchased Final Cut Express. Thus, if you have even moderate experience with something like Adobe Premiere, say enough to complete a basic project with wipes, audio and graphics, then this book will move a little slow for you. Anyone experienced with high-end editing software doesn't need to know how to make a bin, mark edit points, scrub a clip or do overwrite or insert edits. However, if any of the previous terms are new to you, you need this book. It will baby step you through each procedure and, when you are finished with the book, you will be able to do basic projects competently and you'll be prepared for advanced material. Yes, there is more to learn than this book covers, but this material is essential for mastering more advanced work, and no instruction book I've ever seen is as easy to follow and downright readable as this one.
Bare in mind, I hate technical manuals with a passion. My favorite way to learn is to have someone sit and teach me visually and hands on. So I can't say I really enjoyed this book, but it was more enjoyable than having a root canal, and from me, that's high praise! Each of the 16 chapters is timed to take an hour to 90 minutes to complete, although I often took a half hour longer than the chapter indicated. Still, most people should finish this in 24 to 32 hours. There are six bonus chapters on the DVD that comes with the book, but I haven't read those yet, and I'm not sure why they are on the DVD instead of being printed in the book (perhaps to keep printing costs down, since the subjects covered in the bonus chapters don't seem like they will require any additional illustrations other than what is in the book.)
The DVD has video and audio material corresponding to the lessons in the book. You don't learn to capture your own footage until chapter 12. I think this the best way to go. This way, the author knows what material you have and can guide you through the basic functions while you work on real video and audio clips, as opposed to just describing what a tool or functions does in general. Thus, the author can walk you through a basic project, which they can't do if you are using your own material. By the time you are taught to capture your own footage, you know the basic functions. If you absolutely need to work on only your own material, you can always read chapter 12 first.
For the rank beginner, this book comes with my highest recommendation, and I feel comfortable recommending any other books in the series by this particular author.
As a final note, I do need to mention, if you are a budding film maker or videographer, that a book like this only tells you how to use the tools on an editing program. This is not the same as knowing how to make good, creative decisions on choice of shot, shot duration, juxtaposition or any of the other artistic considerations of editing a movie, music video. Learning to use the tools is essential, but if you want to be a pro someday, it's not nearly enough. Just like learning the mechanics of writing (spelling, grammar, syntax) is essential, but not enough to make you a competent novelist, learning the mechanics of editing won't make you Walter Murch. Sorry, but I've gotten tired of low-budget "filmmakers" who don't progress from the mechanics of editing to the art.
Summary of Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Express 4
The only Apple-certified guide to Final Cut Express 4, this book delivers the techniques you need to make movie magic with DV, HDV, or AVCHD footage. Each chapter presents a complete lesson in an aspect of video editing and finishing, with hands-on projects to complete as you go. All the files you need are on the included DVD-ROM. You?ll learn how to make effective edits and adjust them precisely; create polished transitions and sophisticated composites; add audio tracks, titles, and speed and motion effects; then color-correct and finish your video for export to DVD or the Web. Whether you?re a student, a devoted amateur who?s serious about digital video, or a professional who needs a comprehensive editing program, you?ll find everything you need to learn Final Cut Express 4 within the pages of this book. DVD-ROM includes lesson and media files for over 20 hours of training.Cinematography Books
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