iMovie '08 & iDVD: The Missing Manual by David Pogue
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Book Reviews of iMovie '08 & iDVD: The Missing Manual
Book Review: An excellent and indespensible resource
Summary: 5 Stars
Anyone who is shooting home movies, whether using iMovie '08 or another editor, will find a treasury of useful information in this book. The features of iMovie '08 and iDVD are explained in a thorough, straightforward and easy-to-understand way, with superb color illustrations throughout. Pogue offers excellent guidance on connecting camcorders or other devices, effective lighting techniques, sound recording, composition, editing, exporting -- all the critical aspects of video production.
Amateur shooters ought to buy this book just to read the treatise on limiting zooming and panning -- the most egregious mistake I've seen as I watched at the Acropolis, the ruins of Tikal and Yosemite Valley as people swung cameras left and right, up and down as they tried to capture the grandeur of the location. (I just hope they handed out Dramamine when they played the video at home.)
Pogue goes well beyond that, providing valuable insights into a number of hidden features, as well as very useful tips on transitions (both how to do them and when they're appropriate) titles, narration, music and sound, adding still photos and using the Ken Burns effect, exporting to iPod, iPhone, YouTube, moving to iDVD and much, much more. All are thorough and explanations are intuitive.
For those who are still tied to iMovie 6, he explains how to move back and forth to take best advantage of the features of both programs.
iMovie '08 took a lot of hits when it was released, including a particularly blistering one from Pogue himself. But with this book he uncovers the appropriateness and usefulness of the program and makes the transition a bearable -- if not pleasant -- experience. I will not even open iMovie '08 without this excellent book next to me at my computer.
Book Review: Expert Mentor at Your Side
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is great. I have been using iMovie '08 for two weeks and had some success in brute forcing my way through the editing process. Apple makes the program basics very intuitive so my success was more due to "even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in awhile" than skilled execution. As I got better in the editing process (stumbling upon more acorns) I would become frustrated at the "limits" of the application - such as trimming background sound tracks to pull out the sections you want to incorporate. Now, the "limits" are rapidly going away as I read the text and discover far more power and utility in iMovie than I imagined. The text is easy to read and nicely laid out to make it useful as a desktop reference.
I originally bought the book to learn iMovie '08 editing but was pleasantly surprised to find basics on how to shoot better video (great video makes the editing much easier and produces a better result). The section on iDVD was very useful as well and easily walks you through the process of transforming your movie into a DVD that will play on computers or DVD players. It was also interesting to learn about the controversy surrounding the iMovie '08 vs. '06 editions and how '08 users can get a free download of '06 from Apple to replace the deleted functions - I haven't tried this yet as I'm still discovering more of the powerful functionality embedded in '08.
In summary, this book has pushed me up the "learning curve" much faster than I would have experienced without it. I like it a lot and the people who have to watch my videos will benefit the most:>)
Book Review: Just Switched from a PC to a Mac
Summary: 5 Stars
One reviewer suggested this was a good book for the beginner, and he is correct. However, if you don't want to waste your time with curse-filled hours of trial-and-error, get this book. I've used a PC for 25 years and made the switch to an iMac this year, most frustrating at times, because Microsoft and Apple don't use the same words to describe common procedures. The Mac came with iMovies and no manual for it. Mac help is pathetic, and days of sifting through a Mac users forum is no fun. I'm converting old analog VHS and 8mm tapes to digital using a Canopus ADVC-55 converter, and wanted to do some still photo splicing, voice over narration, add music soundtrack from a vast iTunes library, then burn to DVD, and was incredibly frustrated until I got this book. Great tool, life is much better, and the wife doesn't have to listen to the bitching anymore. iMovies is a nice app, but for those of us with a mind organized by MS Wndows, it's not totally "intuitive" - one of the words I hate most when talking with computer geeks. Get the book. If you're an expert, have fun with your trial-and-error. I've got better things to do with my time than flop on the deck like a fish.Book Review: Met, exceeded expectations
Summary: 5 Stars
David Pogue started from the same place that so many of us veteran iMovie users did - total unbelief that Apple had left all of us in their rear view mirror with iMovie '08 which was generally regarded as a giant step backward in the journey to better movies through the continued advance of one of Apple's best applications - iMovie HD.
Like many others, I had decided that I wanted nothing to do with the '08 version and Steve Jobs' dismissal of all of us who wanted to see iMovie continue to evolve - we were also especially offended by his assertion that 'nobody' wanted to make DVDs of their movies any more.
Pogue to the rescue! This book takes you through a journey of not only learning of all the powers of the new movie making application, but it also tells how to integrate and interchange '08 projects with the more familiar HD version of iMovie.
It's worth every nickel to (1) learn the 'new way' and, (2) get over the disappointment of Apple's slap in the face.
Book Review: Buy It, Own It, Use It
Summary: 5 Stars
Before reading this book I'd never made a video or even held a video camera. With the expertise communicated in this book, IMovie is a delight to use and, my videos are gorgeous (at least the ones I'm not in). David Pogue made learning easy. The book has quickly answered every question I've had. It's an extraordinarily well written and effective reference, without question the best book I've ever used to navigate through any application or computer related miasma. It has given me confidence to use iMovie that I otherwise would never have had. Pogue has managed to blend a deep and wide knowledge of video making, computer software, older versions of iMovie and possible future versions into one terrific book. If you want to get the most out of iMovie 08 you should own this book and use it often.