New to NLE, need book

sporkme

sporkme

Member
Hi all,

I have been battling to get a fundraising trailer put together for a year or so now. My day job has put things on the back burner, but I've got about 40 tapes of footage. We've got some good stuff and received great feedback from a few friends that have had their docs picked up by P.O.V. They think what we've got will make a great trailer to get some funds so we can travel and finish up some of our more detailed artist profiles...

So back when I was in college I learned editing in the linear world - 3/4" + Hi-8 decks with a simple edit controller, and flatbeds for film. So NLE is pretty foreign. When I bought my G5, I bought FCE for $99. I've been through the pdf manual a bit, but the terminology and the "FCE way" just is not sinking in. I'm hoping FCE is enough for my needs. To start I just need cuts only, some simple titling and some color correct.

But I really need the basics to start - how to import and organize all the clips and then just a really good overview of the process and the tools available in FCE. Some folks have suggested the Apple training series, but I'm hoping you folks can point me to some books that might get me jumpstarted.

Any pointers are appreciated. I'm hoping to visit Amazon and order up some stuff tonight, so hit me!

Thanks,

Charles
 
Check out Lynda.com. You can sign up for $25 per month and in reality you can be up and running in a couple days, so for $25 it's a great way to go. I am not good with software or computers, but they have a good way of learning, especially if you can run a second monitor for the training and be working on the other monitor.

NOTE: Just checked the site and you'll have to be using Final Cut Pro...not Express. I'm not sure how similar they are.

Good luck.
 
Apple Pro Training Series

Look for that line of books for Final Cut Express. They are an excellent resource, especially for beginners, for learning the software. You should be able to find it at any of the major online stores (Amazon, PeachPit, Billions of Books, etc.). Good luck.

cheers.
 
Interesting... On one of the Mac forums I frequent, the Apple Pro stuff was recommended as well. I think I'll get that.

If I had to add another general FCP book, what would you recommend?
 
For Final Cut Pro itself I can't really think of veering away from the Apple Pro Training Series at all. They will teach you the software. Especially as of late, with the releases of a Color Correction book (been around a while, but semi-recent), a Visual Effects book (applies to more than just Apple products too), and a Compressor book (long overdue for this one).

However, if you're really itching to get other takes on using FCP, just Google around then, there are a few other training series DVDs out and about. I've never felt a need to pay for any of those myself though. The one I've heard some okay things about is Larry Jordan's set. So perhaps give that a consideration.

http://www.larryjordan.biz/ - check out the productions section for the DVDs.

However, for considerations about editing itself, going outside the realms of a specific piece of software, there are many books you might find interesting. The main two that come to mind would be Walter Murch's "In a Blink of an Eye" and Edward Dmytryk's "On Film Editing." There are many more I'm sure as well. Murch's is considered the cat's meow though (and I would certainly support that). Good luck.

cheers.
 
I agree, the APTS library are about the best way to learn Apple's pro apps. Larry Jordan's newsletter is great, too.

There is a very nice book in the APTS library that focuses on editing, not on the software, and that is "Advanced Editing Techniques in Final Cut Pro 5". It covers documentary editing, music video editing, action sceneces, etc. Very nice book.
 
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