Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 7 [Paperback]

Diana Weynand (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0321635272 | ISBN-13: 978-0321635273 | Publication Date: August 21, 2009 | Edition: 1

Completely revised for Final Cut Pro 7 and featuring new footage from TNT’s hit show Leverage and the international music creation event Playing For Change: Peace Through Music, this best-selling, Apple-certified guide provides a strong foundation in all aspects of video editing. Renowned author Diana Weynand starts with basic video editing techniques and takes you all the way through Final Cut Pro’s powerful advanced features.

Each chapter presents a complete lesson in an aspect of video editing and finishing, using professional broadcast footage. After marking and editing clips to create a rough cut, you’ll learn how to trim and refine the cut before moving on to complex tasks such as adding titles, creating transitions and motion effects, applying filters, and working with multi-format and multi-camera footage. The book covers Final Cut Pro’s exciting new features, including iChat Theater support, the redesigned speed tools, and sharing projects on a Blu-ray disc.

•  DVD-ROM includes lesson and media files for over 40 hours of training

•  Focused lessons take you step-by-step through professional, real-world projects

•  Accessible writing style puts an expert instructor at your side

•  Ample illustrations and keyboard shortcuts help you master techniques fast

•  Lesson goals and time estimates help you plan your time

•  Chapter review questions summarize what you’ve learned and prepare you for the Apple Certified Pro Exam

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Diana Weynand is an award-winning producer, director, editor, and co-founder of Weynand Training International (www.weynand.com), an Apple Authorized Training Center and a leader in training and curriculum development for emerging technologies. Diana was supervising editor for the Barbara Walters Special, director and co-producer of the Emmy nominated PBS series Cinematic Eye, and online editor for RealWorld. She is the author of five best-selling books on Final CutPro (including Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro for Avid Editors and Final Cut Express HD), and the co-author of Secrets of Videoblogging and How Video Works.

Product Details

• Paperback: 600 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press; 1 edition (August 21, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321635272
• ISBN-13: 978-0321635273
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,498 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Computers & Technology > Apple > Final Cut
  • #3 in Books > Computers & Technology > Digital Photography & Video > Video Production
  • #6 in Books > Computers & Technology > Digital Music

More About the Author

Diana Weynand is an award-winning producer, director, editor, and co-founder of Weynand Training International (www.weynand.com), an Apple Authorized Training Center and a leader in training and curriculum development for emerging technologies. Diana was supervising editor for The Barbara Walters Special, director and co-producer of the Emmy nominated PBS series, Cinematic Eye, and online editor for Real World. She is the author of four best-selling books on Final Cut Pro (including Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro for Avid Editors and Final Cut Express HD), and the co-author of Secrets of Videoblogging and How Video Works. A well-known columnist, she also writes on High Definition production.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Coming from 4 years of vegas video this book has changed the way I work., October 9, 2009

By 

W. Burke (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 7 (Paperback)

I am already reasonably experienced with video editing in Sony Vegas. When I started using FCP7 I found accomplishing simple tasks was leaving me scratching my head. I decided to order this book from amazon to see if I could get some traction with this new suite of programs.

The book is well organized and does a good job teaching a workflow without just telling you to click one thing and another and then admire the outcome. The book begins with laying out a rough cut and refining it in the following chapters through various editing techniques all the way to project delivery. It maintains interest by changing the project media at the right time. It also does a good job of demonstrating multiple ways to accomplish the same result and giving examples of why one method might be more useful in certain situations. I found the illustrations to be very accurate and helpful.

The 4 video projects on the DVD are great to work with. There are 3 documentaries (Seaworld, music and nature) and one TV series (Leverage). The quality of the media is beautiful but not so perfect that it doesn't take a little bit of effort get results. This is one of the most effective parts of the exercises. It's clear when you preview the project that it needs improvement but it's the editing that makes the result satisfying not the fact that most anything shot on a Red One can look great.

I followed every chapter and performed all the exercises closely even when I already understood the concept being demonstrated. The chapters give a time estimate on how long they should take and personally it took me almost twice as long as the estimate in most cases. I think if I already new the software the estimates would be more accurate. By the end of the book I was coming closer the the stated times but it still took longer.

I thought the workflow and methodology of the book were so well organized that I have started applying the editing strategies into Vegas and learning parts of that program I never really used previously. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn editing on Final Cut Pro.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superior training guide, September 22, 2009

By 

Klyde (Yakima, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 7 (Paperback)

The footage is really fun to work with. This book is a top-notch tutorial on FCP7; taking a powerful and complex software package and simplifying concepts and methods. It is well-written and well-organized with the learner in mind (instead of just unloading a lot of information on the reader). I wouldn't mind a few more images, but it probably has more than most. Best to have some computer and graphics background. Even with that, it is still taking me longer than the book promises, to go through it. But it is worth every penny; this book is a great value.

To quote a concise and accurate review of the FCP6 edition of this book:
"By Vladimir Nagorniy (Hollywood, CA USA) - This book actually teaches you efficient work flows. All lessons designed in a really smart way, so your progress is well guided. Makes you learn keyboard shortcuts. The footage was fun to work with (not the usual snowboarders and surfers). Highly recommended."

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hnads On, April 21, 2010

By 

Richard L. Purvis "If True Love Lasts Forever... (Colorado Springs, Co USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 7 (Paperback)

This book is fantastic for anyone who wants to learn more about the Final Cut Pro program. I Learned more than I thought I would in the first chapter, it has certainly increased my productivity with the quick-ness and smooth-ness that I can now edit video into a rough final cut sequence. I'm a big Hands On learner and this book catered to that style more than any other book I have read on Final Cut Pro.