Avid Editing, Fourth Edition: A Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Users [Paperback]

Sam Kauffmann (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0240810805 | ISBN-13: 978-0240810805 | Publication Date: February 16, 2009 | Edition: 4

Geared toward novice Avid editors, this book provides step-by-step instructions for hundreds of editing tasks and concepts within the Avid software applications. The chapters guide you through an editing project, while the accompanying DVD provides footage to edit allowing for a hands-on experience. More than just a software manual, the book weaves editing principles with the Avid workflow, delving into general editing techniques, principles, and pitfalls, and helping you master the Avid as well as improve your overall editing technique and skillset.

Concentrates on the latest Media Composer software, and Mojo DX and Nitris DX hardware. Due to the similarity of Avid's interface across product lines, readers will also find the book relevant for Avid Xpress Pro HD, Xpress Pro, Xpress DV and Avid Symphony. 

Expanded coverage on HD, DVCPro HD, HDV, and P2 and memory card workflows, DVD authoring and media management  and more, preparing editors to work seamlessly with the latest technical updates to Avid.

Companion DVD contains two narrative scene and one documentary project allowing you to work along the lessons taught in the bookfootage allowing you to work alongside the lessons taught in the book

* New edition of time-tested bestseller is updated with coverage on, Mojo DX and Nitris DX hardware, HD, DVCPro HD, HDV, and P2 and memory card workflows, DVD authoring and media management  and more
* Unique in that not only is the book a great primer on using Avid, it also effectively teaches editing techniques and concepts helping readers become better technical editors in general
* DVD contains footage readers can work along side the text with, further allowing them to focus on improving their editing skills instead of capturing their own footage

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sam Kauffmann is a professor at Boston University's College of Communication, where he teaches digital editing and film production. He is an award-winning video and filmmaker with numerous credits as a cinematographer and editor. His work has aired on network and local television stations throughout America. Included among his credits are Show Your Love, Fire: Countdown to Disaster, Killing Time, Surviving the Family, and South Africa: Building Democracy, about six South Africans who are helping to build a new nation from the rubble of apartheid.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Focal Press; 4 edition (February 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0240810805
• ISBN-13: 978-0240810805
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Computers & Technology > Digital Music
  • #72 in Books > Computers & Technology > Graphic Design > Web Design
  • #79 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Graphics & Multimedia

More About the Author

Sam Kauffmann was recently named a Guggenheim Fellow in Creative Arts--Film. He is a professor at Boston University, where he teaches film production and editing. His most recent film, Massacre at Murambi, was aired on the PBS series P.O.V. It won top prizes and screened at festivals all over the world, including the Seattle International Film Festival, Slamdance, Media That Matters, and the African World Documentary Film Festival. In 2006, he was selected as a Senior Fulbright Specialist and taught video production at the National University of Rwanda. In 2004, he was a Fulbright Scholar, teaching production at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. Avid Editing: A Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Users, from Focal Press, has recently been translated into Spanish, Russian and Chinese editions. His films have been screened at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, The White House and aired on network television, PBS, and local stations throughout America.

For more information, visit the website: www.samkauffmann.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Avid is not easy, but Sam Kauffmann strives to make it easy, June 15, 2009

By 

Eduard Gfeller (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Avid Editing, Fourth Edition: A Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Users (Paperback)

Recently, I took a one week Avid Course at geniusDV and found Sam Kauffmann's book a welcome addition to what I learned in the course. Sam reviews all the basic operations that should get a beginner started; and it should be a valuable resource, as well, for the intermediate video editor who needs to look up a thing or two. Avid has an enormous amount of options of how to do things that can be overwhelming to the beginner. Sam offers a common sense basic approach that enable the beginner to edit successfully in a short time. The references he adds are helpful, especially after one grabs the basic concepts. Avid used to be the high-end editing application for Pros. It is becoming more available for consumers, and books like Sam Kauffmann's should accelerate that process.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Some useful bits, but..., June 10, 2011

By 

Walter1234 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Avid Editing, Fourth Edition: A Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Users (Paperback)

This book started out well, introducing the reader to the world of non-linear editing and Avid using a clear writing style and hands on tutorials. There are a few areas where Kauffmann says to use buttons that are slightly off (i.e. "option" instead of "shift+option"). This could be because it was written for an earlier version of Avid. Or it could be a mistake.

Eventually, the book gets incredibly frustrating. For some reason, Kauffmann barely takes advantage of the disc full of media and projects that comes with the book. His chapter on audio is very informative but doesn't give you any exercises using the disc. His chapter on trimming in two directions shows you figures of what that looks like and encourages you to try it. But wouldn't it be nice if he provided you with a sequence to try this on?

Later, when explaining the "replace" tool he writes "What's shown in the picture Figure 10.12 is taken from "Swim Take 1. You cut this into the timeline." I did? I loaded all the media from the disc and I don't have a "Swim Take 1." And no where in the book was I instructed to cut it into any sequences.

I bought this book because I wanted to learn how to use the Avid through hands on tutorials. I recommend Editing with Avid Media Composer 5: Avid Official Curriculum over this book. Even though Kauffmann covers more ground, the other book has clear and easy to follow tutorials which will have you doing some basic editing in no time. This book will just have you pulling your hair.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Instrumental in Helping Me to Understand Avid, April 20, 2010

By 

Lou Comunale - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Avid Editing, Fourth Edition: A Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Users (Paperback)

I love Avid Media Composer because I think it's the editing software of the pros. But there are so many different components within this program that it could be intimidating to learn all you can do with the program -- until this book.

Kauffmann simplifies complex editing techniques and has a grasp of every aspect of the program. Whenever I have a difficult question, there's an simple answer in the book. Needless to say, I refer to it regularly. To anyone who wants to be proficient in the number one editing system out there -- get the number one book out there: this one.