Final Cut Pro 4: Editing Professional Video [With DVD]

by Diana Weynand

Book Overview

If you're ready to get serious about editing video, you'll want Final Cut Pro, and this self-paced, Apple-authorized guide is the best place to start learning it. In Apple Pro Training Series: Final... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0321186494
• ISBN13: 9780321186492
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Peachpit Press
• Length: 856 Pages
• Weight: 3.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 7.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Excellent, Must-Have for All FCP Users

I consider myself to be a "seasoned user" of Final Cut Pro. I have been editing with FCP since the original release of version 1.0 and have worked on numerous documentaries, features, commercials and episodic television. I learned about this book from the Apple website. This is the official textbook used for Apple Pro Certification (FCP Level One). So I decided that I would "forget" everything I already knew and begin with Lesson 1. I'm very happy I adopted that attitude because there are so many neat little tips that I picked up in the first few lessons. Now I wonder how I ever survived without them. Those tips have already saved me a lot of time. I have only completed one-third of the lessons thus far and I can already see an improvement in my productivity. Every chapter of the book is a "hands-on" lesson. The files and media for each lesson are provided on a DVD-ROM (included). You will first copy those files to your hard drive and then open each lesson file and then follow the step-by-step instructions in the book. I'm looking forward to getting my Level One certification with the help of this book, and I can't wait to continue onto the Advanced Level certification with the second book. Please note this is essentially the same book as the the "Final Cut Pro HD" book. The DVD is the same and so are the exercises. I had a chance to compare both and noticed only only one minor detailed (a detail is now circled on a screen shot) and, of course, there could be some that I missed. Even so, the back cover of the HD book acknowledges... "This book was previously published under the title "Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 4. If you previously purchased this book, there is no need to purchase this revision: All the project files and exercises in the previous edition can be used with Final Cut Pro HD." Bottom-Line: Newbie or Pro? It doesn't matter! This is a GREAT book to own if you use FCP.

A Must Have for FCP4

I'm only through Lesson 4 of the book and thus far it's been extremely simple to follow. The pages fly by real fast without boring you. The DVD that came with it includes clips you can practice on. I love this book and I feel that upon completing it, I'll be able to use FCP4 with skill. I also purchased the Advanced volume of this series and can't wait to get started on that. The Apple Pro Training Series books are definitely the only books to buy to learn Apple software. If they only wrote books on After Effects and Photoshop, I'd be in heaven.

Excellent for learning Final Cut Pro 4

This book is the official Apple Pro training course for Final Cut Pro 4. All of the lesson files for the training are on the included DVD-ROM. Upon completing the course material in this book, you can become a certified Apple Pro by taking the certification exam at an apple Authorized Training Center. If you had to pay for classes to get certified, you would pay thousands of dollars, so this is a great bargain for those who are motivated to follow the book's course.You don't have to be on the path to certification to use this book. If you're a hobbyist, beginner or pro who wants to learn more about Final Cut Pro 4, its all in here.The book begins by explaining the Final Cut Pro interface including the projects, bins, timeline and canvas. It tells you how to open, hide and quit FCP.There are chapters on marking and editing clips, editing in the timeline, trimming, master clips, subclips and markers. There are chapters on capturing video, importing and exporting, working with audio, mixing audio tracks, and creating a music soundtrack.Toward the end are the chapters on adding filters, building composite images, creating motion effects, adding text and graphics, and creating an animated title. The last chapter is on finishing and outputting. Each chapter builds logically on what came before.Each chapter begins with a section called "Preparing the Project." It tells you what to open on your desktoop and in what order to be able to do that lesson. They all end with a section called "What You Have Learned." That section lists the specific tasks in the chapter and all of the keyboard shortcuts associated with those tasks. (Nice touch.)

Perfect for new to intermediate user!

I teach DV in a high school. When FCP4 came out I really needed to brush up on the changes. Many people thought this book would do the trick and boy were they right.If you need a self paced course to walk you through the in's and out's of the FCP4 then this book is for you.I recommend it to all of my students who want to go the extra mile.Great book - I can not wait for the FCP4 Advanced book to be released

Absolutely The Best

From the very beginning this books takes your hand and slowly walks throughthis complicated video editing software. I had no previous experience, but found myself amazed at the repetitive training techniques and helpful self learning exercises. The DVD contains video clips, audio segments and complete sequences which the book slowly guides you through each of the 21 lessons. At the conclusion of each lesson is a review and a practice exercise which truly tests your ability to grasp the previous material. I continue to be amazed at just how much Ive learned in such a short time. I recommend this Apple training course highly to anyone who is interested at any level of their current editing ability.