Customer Reviews

Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Express 4

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I upgraded from my old PowerBook to a new MacBook I was dismayed to find that a new version of iMovie came with Leopard. After reading disparaging reviews of iMovie '08, I decided to upgrade to Final Cut Express even though my video editing needs are rather modest. After installing the software and seeing that the PDF user manual was over 1100 pages, I knew I wouldn't have the patience to go through it all and I wanted to order something simpler. With FCE4 being quite new, the only choice immediately available was Diana Weynand's book and I ordered it. Now that I've gone through the entire book, I can enthusiastically recommend it. At first I was dismissive of the DVD that came with it, thinking that it would just contain video demonstrations of various editing operations. It turns out, however, that the DVD contains the material for methodical exercises that take you through various lessons so that the book is really an instruction course, not just a guide. Going through the lessons with the book and DVD is actually fun even though I may never use some of the advanced functions FCE4 offers. I believe that for relative beginners like me this book is indispensable. I confess that I will now go through it again to clear up some of the material I didn't quite understand or have forgotten. Also, there are some questions Weynand's book left unanswered for me, but having the background I gained by studying the whole book made it easier for me to turn to the actual user's manual that came with the software. I'm very excited about FCE4, and I owe a lot to this book.

This training book covers it all. The enclosed CD also includes the lesson clips as well as advanced training. The book examples and screens match exactly with the software.

This is not a book to learn Final Cut Express in a couple of hours. Each of the 15 lessons takes 30-90 minutes but well worth it.

I received this book yesterday and so far I've only gotten through the first three chapters. But I have already found a few outdated statements. A few examples:
1) "HDV video formats record on tape....AVCHD formats, however, record directly onto disks or hard drives." No mention of memory cards or hybrid options.
2) Lesson Review question (page 30): "What kind of cable do you use to connect your camera to your computer?" Answer: "A FireWire cable."
No mention of USB; in fact, the entire section in chapter 2 covering connecting the camera to the computer only addresses FireWire.
3) The book says after launching the first time FCE looks for any FireWire devices and displays an error message if none are found. This didn't happen, at least not in my case, which makes sense since many newer camcorders don't have firewire.
4) When I opened the first project file (provided on the book's DVD) as instructed, FCE displayed a notice that the file was from an earlier version and asked whether or not to update it. The book doesn't even address this alert, leaving the user to wonder whether or not to select "Yes" or "No" to update the project file. Not updating all the files to version 4 (which they really should have done) is one matter; not even addressing the update prompt is even worse.

None of this is detrimental to my learning experience, however it is evident this is old material merely updated for the 2008 edition, and they missed a few parts during the updating process.

So far the book is VERY basic. I'm a long-time Windows user who just received my first mac about a week ago, and it is simplistic, even for me.

UPDATE: I've progressed through the first 12 chapters, and I'm beginning to realize this book is great for walking (crawling, actually) the user through using the software with the project files included on the book's own DVD, but not so great for real-life applications. For example, I've scanned through the remainder of the book and realized it doesn't eplain how to handle existing video files in different formats (AVI's, for example). FCE can do it, but this book doesn't cover it. I've quit reading the book and started reading the FCE4 User Manual instead. So far, it seems far more applicable to what I need to know; unfortunately, the FCE4 electronic user guide is over 1000 pages long --- more pages than I care to print.

If I could change my rating on this book, I would. It was a waste of money and time. Even for the basic material that is covered, the progression is at a snails pace; it could be much more concise and efficient. Even better, it could cover more useful territory by addressing real-life applications in addition to sterile made-to-order projects.

UPDATE 2:I decided to finish the book and have progressed to the "Appendix", the additional chapters available only on DVD. It is so cumbersome trying to learn this way - read a line, switch to FCE4 to perform the step, re-activate the Preview window to read the next step, reactivate FCD4 to perform it, back and forth, back and forth. See, this is why I actually BOUGHT A BOOK. So I wouldn't have to do this. There are plenty of tutorials on line. I paid money for a book for a reason - to spare myself such inconvenience.

One more thing: The last two chapters used terminology I hadn't seen before (keyframes, for example), with no explanation. However those chapters kept referencing the Appendix. I found explanations for those terms in the Appendix. It seems the Appendix chapters should be completed chronologically before the last chapter, making their absence from the book even more annoying.

P.S. Word to the wise: I sent an email inquiry to the author several days ago. Although I've yet to receive a response (and doubt I ever will), I have begun to receive spam emails from her company.

The book is good, thorough and detailed.
But, the "juicy" chapters where Final Cut is outshining iMovie and the rest of the lower lever video editors are on PDF files on the DVD, not included in the book itself.
This is a small annoying item for an otherwise very useful book.

This book is pretty simplistic. It explains every little step in great detail, some of which most people should know already, simply by having used a Mac computer before. If you like to be guided by the hand, this is a good book. I was hoping for more on advanced editing techniques and things but so far no luck. Admittedly I've only gotten to page 137 or so but glancing ahead doesn't give me much hope for more than the basics of using the program.

I might not bother writing a review of this product if it weren't for my wanting to tell you where a really useful Final Cut Express learning tool can be found.

For video tutorials on Final Cut 4 look at the IZZY VIDEO website. This is also very easy for a beginner to understand, is a million times faster getting you up and using the software and also teaches some cool and useful effects.

Final Cut Express is easy to use, but only after you've overcome its steep learning curve. You could download the user manual (over 1000 pages) from Apple's web site. Or you could use an excellent do-as-you-read workshop book like this one. There's something to be said about following along in the actual FCE application as the book explains and teaches the various lessons.

As others have posted, it requires a bit of time to complete all lessons, and the appendices on the accompanying disc are invaluable.

This book is a truly rare thing - a primer for a complicated and rich application which cuts through the BS and gives you a real, practical working knowledge of the program in a series of easy, brilliantly designed lessons. If you are new to Final Cut Express, this book will have you up and running in no time. It also gives you a good foundation knowledge of basic film technique, so that when you start shooting in earnest, you'll have an idea of where to go. Bravo Diana Weynand!

Apple Pro Training Series "Final Cut Express 4 Movie Making for Everyone" By Diana Weynand is for "Everyone." Each lesson is interactive, read the step, do the step. It makes you use the program and learn it at the same time. When you complete all the lessons and make your 'Final Movie' to show to Family and Friends. You can say thank to Diana Weynand for writing Apple Pro Training Series "Final Cut Express 4 Movie Making for Everyone."

I am new to mac and wanted to learn final cut express since i bought a new panasonic avchd camcorder which does not import into the old imovie. The book is very informative with numerous practical exercises at the end of each chapter. This book combines great illustration and concepts with hands on exercises. The book also contains a dvd for more advanced features of fce 4. I have learned diligently and feel quite confident with the semi-professional videos i will be producing. This book comes highly recommended and is as intense and informative as you would expect for an official apple training manual.

If you want to know how to use Final Cut Express 4.0 and what you can do with it, this book gives a step by step instruction using the included samples on DVD. It is practicle, usefull and easy to understand and follow.
I can recommend it to anybody who wants to know video editing with Final Cut Express 4.0.