Best FCP book for both beginners and advanced users

Lynda.com is probably the best choice, honestly. It's much easier to learn Final Cut by watching tutorials than reading text. There are some extremely good Youtube channels dedicated to free Final Cut tutorials.
 
ok thanks! Signed up for a premium content. Any particular course on Lynda you recommend as 'must' viewing? There's a lot to choose from.
 
The "Apple Pro Training Series" books are the best, both of them. Professional workflow, more in depth tool usage, etc. Lynda.com and other places are nice for "tips and tricks", but you'll end up editing like an amateur. The books are hands on, too. You actually do the exercises. Nothing better.

BTW, as someone with an Educational Psychology degree, reading printed words retains more information faster and longer than watching videos. Your brain comprehends and memorized the written word much more efficiently then video. Many, many studies have proven this. Just FYI.
 
+2 on lynda.com

you can usually locate a free 7 day pass to lynda by looking on the internet at least to get a good feel for it
 
The "Apple Pro Training Series" books are the best, both of them. Professional workflow, more in depth tool usage, etc. Lynda.com and other places are nice for "tips and tricks", but you'll end up editing like an amateur. The books are hands on, too. You actually do the exercises. Nothing better.

BTW, as someone with an Educational Psychology degree, reading printed words retains more information faster and longer than watching videos. Your brain comprehends and memorized the written word much more efficiently then video. Many, many studies have proven this. Just FYI.

I absolutely learn more quickly by watching someone manipulate an interface than trying to figure it out abstractly from a printed page.
I have found ClassOnDemand does a pretty good job too (apart from Lynda.com). A lot depends on the quality of the online presenters as well though.
 
The APTSvbooks are in no way "abstract", and they have you actually DO the lessons, not passively watch. Nothing teaches better than hands-on.
 
The APTSvbooks are in no way "abstract", and they have you actually DO the lessons, not passively watch. Nothing teaches better than hands-on.

Thanks for the book suggestion. It is sad that the original question got lost in a 'books are no good' thread -- I learn a lot of things a lot of ways ... books have a big place in that process.

Cheers,
GB
 
Skip the books until you've done some video training. Way easier to understand when you actually see someone doing what they're talking about step by step.
Try Ripple Training. Check out the demos on line and buy one. You won't be sorry. Oh, they are way easier to understand than Lynda and they teach things you'll use.
http://rippletraining.com/

fcp7_dvd_box_small.jpg
 
The only book I've found worth buying is Larry Jordan's FCP Power Skills. It's next to my computer and I open it weekly at the least to rediscover some small tidbit of a shortcut to the workflow. Worth every penny. Also, yes, video training is worth the money. Sometimes you'll find deals on video training. I got some great DVDs on sale near the end of the year. Over 50% off normal prices.
 
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