Which program to learn?

F

fdsa

Active member
Hello all,

I am considered a newby in DV-video production, since there are so many things and softwares out there, I am just curious what are some good, very good programs to learn; Video/Audio production programs. I mean I read on the net that some programs(one program) you can learn that replace learning photoshop, premiere, after effects, so whats a few super dooper programs that should be learnt? I know that some programs does about the same things, I don't want to take so much time to learn programs, but at the end realize they do about the same things. Therefore, if any experience pros in here can suggest a few very good programs to learn that covers video production, and good audio programs to learn that covers audio.... would be great.
It take so much time to try and experiment and looking to find out which is which, can someone with the experience give some suggestions? pretty please? :shocked: thank you in advance :thumbsup:
 
It really depends on what you want to do. Are you going to shoot weddings? You'll need to learn EVERYTHING and learn it wellish.

Want to be a specialist? Boy, I wish I could have an After Effects specialist sitting by my side a few days.

You just want to edit? Learn your tool. FCP, Avid whatever.

I'll bet Walter Murch doesn't care how to make titles in Photoshop... he has people to do that for him.

I'll even wager that he has a GOOD knowledge of a program like Color Finesse for coloring his films, BUT there are people who specialize in coloring that can do it even better.

Set your goals and go!!!

BUT -- for now? And this is reverse from my military world...

Be the Captain of a ship. Know a bit about EVERYTHING before you start to specialize.

Pick your editor (I use FCP)
LEARN:
Photoshop
Illustrator

Get some hands-on in:
After Effects
Web Design
Shake
ProTools

Good luck,

CaptM
 
Choices depend on whether you want to work for someone else, yourself, or Hollywood. Also, whether you own a Mac or Win. I am also guessing from your post that you are not in the USA. That also is an issue if you want to work for others.

Vegas covers video and some audio. It is best video program for audio.
Combustion is good if you want to do high-end compositing later.
FCP is most often found at "ad agency" kind of jobs which tend to be MacBigots. And AE because it works nicely with FCP.

If you want to be graphic artist, then Photoshop is critical.
 
It also doesn't hurt to learn some technical stuff too. All the software in the world can't help you if your source material is crap. Silly things like the difference between line level and mic level in audio and color temp for lighting, lighting techniques. Video production needs a basic understanding of production as well as knowing how to jiggle the software around.
 
Captain, seems you're using Mac's, I am using PC, anyway thx for the advice.
Galt, it does seem in the industry, it's FCP, adobe stuff, and avid, rarely any sony stuff.... seems.
Should probably stick with industry stuff.... right? and how about audio creation? hehe : )
 
Editing is more about knowing when to make cuts for the intended results, what they may be. Editing is NOT learning where the buttons are in a software program, though having that knowledge does speed up the creative workflow a bit. I mean, this goes for anything. My mother is into sewing really fancy kind of things and even if I had the same high end Bernina equipment, I know for certain I couldn't create the same results. Gotta know the craft to create the art.

Tools? Meh, those are for the birds! :)
 
While you're at it pick up some Ansel Adams books, take a class on photography, and learn the zone system.
 
The zone system eh? first time I heard that, I googled it, I think I get the idea, I take pictures all the time, don't create the photography, just take pictures with a minolta X20( this baby's good), even took some videos with it; a music video, I can post it up to let your guys see... if I figure out how to.
Anyway... I think I'll just focus on 5 softwares, 3 video, 2 audio. What would your 5 be? I am thinking Vegas, and....not sure, for sound; cubase...and not sure.
Well... thank you for all the replies, I think this site is getting more and more famous.
 
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