Customer Reviews

Apple Pro Training Series: Soundtrack Pro 2

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

 

 

I found this book less informative than other Apple Pro Training Series books. You learn only basic moves (like, creating fades and moving clips around), but not an efficient work flow or any more trickier tips. In general, you learn pretty much nothing worth going from FCP to Soundtrack.

It seems like book was written with video editors in mind, and that's fine... why then explain us what the SMTP stands for? I'd rather read about the difference between four types of cross fade or other theory of sound.

You know... Soundtrack Pro 2 comes with both Logic Studio and Final Cut Pro.

If you have Logic Studio, you cannot use this book (even though SP2 comes with it). Why? Because like mentioned previously, some of the lessons you MUST open with FCP before proceeding to the next steps. It would've been nice if there was an option for us Logic Studio users. Perhaps an extra media file on the DVD that has already gone through the FCP process? A work around? I thought that would be the case but obviously not.

I'm a bit frustrated that the book does not state that you NEED Final Cut Pro to do the lessons. Afterall, this is for Soundtrack Pro 2. Logic Studio is hardly mentioned.

I enjoyed the previous Logic Pro 8 Level 1 and Level 2 books, and I know this will get me going in SP2, but I need to get access to a computer with FCP.

This book is well written and the author manages to be both technical and witty at the same time. I have learnt a lot from this book and I would recommend it for anyone interested in upgrading their skills. The only issue is that I bought the software as a bundle with Logic Pro and not Final Cut and a lot of the lessons rely, not only on you being able to use Final Cut to a small degree, but primarily owning it (in order to render Soundtrack Pro projects from the supplied Final Cut projects). I am studying this course on my own and I am a composer not a video editor ... I don't have FCP and probably won't ever .... most inconvenient!

I specifically bought this books to learn to clean up audio... not mix new tracks ...unfortunately the majority of the book is about creating new material .... which I can not comment on as I barely read
For what chapters that do cover cleaning up audio it does a good job of covering the basics ... however it does not go into the advance level of cleanup that I had hoped.
This is a great start to audio clean up (definite recommend to buy) but it is not the complete subject and should be followed with an advanced level book.

Bruce

The Apple Pro series has once again risen to the occasion and delivered a package worthy of the Apple Pro series name. From the very first chapters, I was impressed at how much information this little gem delivered. If you are already a professional, or simply someone wanting to learn the SP2 software from the ground up, this book is for you.

You must understand before purchasing this book that FCP is only sold as the Studio or suite of software that includes Motion, Color, Compressor, DVD Studio Pro and Soundtrack Pro. So, it is assumed by the company that if you have SP2 you have FCP. All of the Apple training books for FCP studio software have lessons that open in FCP. If you don't have FCP you will be frustrated, so this book is def not for you. It is designed for the video/film editor because that is who the suite of software is aimed at. Professional sound editors will use Logic, and video editors will prepare sound to the best of their ability in SP2 for transfer to a professional sound editor to work on in Logic. The only solution that is available to you is buy FCP studio or get ready for the frustration. If you don't have your OS updated, you'll be in for even more headaches! Apple assumes we all have the latest updates and that we have enough memory to not only run the software but to operate projects fully. So if it states that you must have 2G of memory to run this software, that means that you must have 4G to run the program and do projects without making the Mac scream! Other than that, the book is what you would expect, but not as in depth as other Apple training books for FCP Studio software. Don't expect to learn everything about sound editing with this book, just the basics to start you off and to work efficiently in the software.

I'm much more of a visual person, so learning audio editing is very different for me, but so far this book has proven very useful.

The included CD with projects really help drive home the lessons.

This book covers all the basics of STP2 and even some advanced techniques you will need as a professional.

When I received the book, it was missing the DVD. This was most likely an error made by the publisher - not Amazon. I notified Amazon and they sent me a brand new book with the disc before I had even sent the original back. (at their expense by the way)

Amazon's customer service impresses me. I have to say.

Overall the book had lots of helpful advise and the explanation of Soundtrack Pro was great for its level 1 specification. The author is understandable at any level from novice to professional. It is though rather short and is lacking information on when things go wrong, "how do I fix it." Like for example when I set up a cycle region(loop) the audio would play fine the first time through but then when it plays over again the audio starts to distort and add audio artifacts. It would have been helpful if this had at least been noted in the book if this is behaving badly from the computers end or Soundtrack Pros end. I did find it frustrating that every lesson needed the media to be reconnected. After the 8th lesson it becomes a hassel.
But all in all this is a great book!

Apple Pro Training Series: Soundtrack Pro 2 (Apple Pro Training Series)

Excellent step by step training, enabling me to make a precise change of one incorrect word made during a video interview. The edited change was indistinguishable. It just doesn't get any better than that!