FCP 4 - Getting Started?

Rogue Crew

Rogue Crew

Well-known member
OK, I'll admit it. When I saw a copy of "Final Cut Pro For Dummies", I bought it thinking, yup that's me all right. But now, I'm beginning to think that I don't even qualify as a dummy. Even though I am an architect, private pilot, certified Yacht Master, inventor, musician, writer and middling videographer - all of which have a learning curve to master, I just don't get it. I think, like Kelly Bundy, my brain is full. It's worse than my collegiate, right-after-lunch chemistry class. My brain just goes numb.

Should I get a how-to video?
Should I pay for lessons? Where?
Should I start with iMovie for a year or two?

Help!
 
Re: FCP 4 - Getting Started?

I was feeling exactly like this two weeks ago, all the books I was reading would put me to sleep ... when I finally bought the book by Diana Weynand FINAL CUT PRO HD , in the Apple Pro Training Series.
It changed everything and I succeeded to edit a 25 minutes wedding tape.
Now , I still don't know if my FCP settings fit the 100A adv-prog. settings.
Maybe I'll discover that in a few days...
 
Re: FCP 4 - Getting Started?

iMovie is actually a good place to start for people to get up to speed with the concepts of editing without the technical issues to deal with. It allows you to concentrate on shot order, length and overlapping sound.
You don't need to use it for a year or two but you might try a short piece with it. Unfortunately it won't go much into the technical aspects of FCP itself.

A training DVD might make sense for you. There are plenty out there. There are a lot of controls in FCP so it can become overwhelming but most of the time you'll be using just a few of them.
 
Re: FCP 4 - Getting Started?

Bariona,
What was so good about the book that it made the difference?

Scott,
If I start a little test project in iMovie and finish the "cutting", can I then take that same project into FCP for twiddles and tweaks?
 
Re: FCP 4 - Getting Started?

You start by either going out and shooting some video...anything, then import that into your computer and play around with FCP. Another idea which is more logical is to get a FCP book. Choose one that is thick and that has a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM that comes with it. Those discs have tutorials on them and you can learn FCP that way. There are lots of videos for sale all over the place if you want to go that route. The best advice is to just play with your system to get the basics anyway. For more complex stuff you will need to play around with it some more or just get yourself a few books and use them as referrence. The ones that come with FCP is enough to get you started.

I have all the books that came with FCP along with 1 book on effects and graphics and another advanced editing book which I am still reading now.
 
Re: FCP 4 - Getting Started?

I would advise against the dummies book. probably too basic. flip through that at the book store and buy something else..

Check these out:

http://www.creativecow.net/show.php?forumid=1&page=/dairy_store/amazon/book_fcp.html

-When I found out about Jerry Hoffmans' book and Tom Wolksy's book, I was past that..but  it looks good. I love books with companion DVDs. Especially if they are trying to teach you something, it is well worth it.

Kevin Monahan's book is very worthy, but it is more advanced.
Diana Weynand- I have hers also..it was good, do recommend.

What ever you do, it you buy it--make sure you read every word and use every sample clip, otherwise, you are not really maximizing it as a learning too. good luck!

now..you should also go through every tutorial on fcp from
http://www.kenstone.net. the site is a total GOLDMINE. in fact, I think it has better stuff than the books...there was some tutorial by Charles Roberts that I think is essential for getting started. he teaches you how to stay organized and lots of other vital habits.
 
Re: FCP 4 - Getting Started?

The number of controls in the app is overwhelming, but believe it when i say it, the basics is so simple you'll be surprised. How to learn it, depends on your style and preference (do you do alright with books, do you do better with classes, etc). I learned by working with it, what means capturing material for an editor to use. And then I started to edit rough cuts, before the editor kicked in, and then I started editing my own projects (when I actually got a copy for me). Sometmes a book will go through some really detailed stuff, and sometimes you just need to know the foundation, the basics. If you understand the four windows (Browser, Timeline, Viewer and Canvas) you already in the right step. If you know how to: Choose a clip in the browser, mark in/out in it in the viewer, to select the useable part, and put it in the timeline, you can edit with FCP.
 
Re: FCP 4 - Getting Started?

When I first started with FCP it felt like hitting my head against the wall so I know where you're coming from. I couldn't get my head around the concepts and the manual and some books I had didn't describe work flows in a clear manner.

Micheal Wohl's book was a FIND. It explained the concepts behind the tool and takes you through simple tasks without showing you the eighteen ways that particular task can be accomplished. This book and the manual work great together. I went from staring at the screen to actually editing.

I'm not the guy's brother or publisher, just a genuine enthusiast. This book taught me how to use FCP. Plain and simple.

Here's the link to amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_3/002-6953894-8111201?v=glance&s=books

Hope this helps.
Raoul
 
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