Customer Reviews

Avid Editing, Third Edition: A Guide for Beginning and Intermediate Users

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I came across this book when I looked up Avid and bought it immediately. I had read all of the previous edition reviews before I purchased this book and bought it without reservation.I really felt like I grasped the concepts for each chapter before moving on. Mr. Kauffmann not only shows you the tools in the AVID system, but with every tool gives you the reason and purpose behind it.

Sam Kauffmann's third edition of his Avid Editing textbook is the culmination of his usual down-to-earth writing style and the most up-to-date Avid technology.

As the capabilities of digital editing continue to grow, Kauffmann accommodates these changes by incorporating some often-difficult concepts with very straightforward explanations and examples. In the past year, I have worked with both 24p and HD (720p), but sometimes I didn't fully comprehend Avid's role in dealing with each of these formats. Kauffmann has added several chapters to address issues like these--always with comprehensive clarity and unambiguous language (something that other software guides often lack). He also makes helpful revisions within pre-existing chapters to encompass changing software and hardware topics.

Kauffmann's up-to-date books have proven to be a great source of support and education for me for many years. Additionally, for the past year, I have had the chance to take Kauffmann's advanced digital editing course, as well as teach under him in several filmmaking and editing courses. I can therefore vouch that his innate ability to explain difficult concepts originates straight from the source; that is, reading his book is as close to being in the classroom with him as humanly possible.

Avid Editing has been a useful tool for me both as a student and as a professional. As a film student, I first picked up Sam Kauffmann's second edition in a production class. Most of us had never touched an Avid before, and yet by the end of the semester, using Kauffmann's text as a go-to guide, my classmates and I were producing dynamic and adeptly edited pieces. Not only does the book provide simple exercises for the reader to try, it also includes a DVD with actual footage to work with. Avid Editing is carefully organized for the beginning editor, but I also use it as a reference now that I am out of college, working as an assistant editor. This new third edition not only expounds upon all the steps, shortcuts and settings covered in the previous editions, but also dedicates entire chapters to editing with 24p and HD footage, making this book invaluable to editors entering the professional world. I strongly recommend this guide for anyone who seeks to teach, learn, or refresh his or her memory.

This is a great book. I am doing an educational video and had never used the Avid system before. I have Avid Xpress Studio HD and this book taught me everything I needed to know to get the job done.

Highly recommended.

When I purchased my Avid Express DV software I had zero video editing experience. I knew the software was fairly complex, had a lot of capabilities, and the learning curve would be steep, so I also purchased the Avid turorial DVDs. However, with no editing background, after viewing these DVDs I just wasn't "getting it."

Kauffmann's book was perfect for me. It starts with the fundamentals (video formats, hooking up the hardware and turning the system on, etc.) and goes on from there to cover everything though fine tuning audio and doing color correction.

By reading the book (mostly) though once then using it as a "cookbook" while editing, in just a few days I was up and running and capturing, editing, and fine tuning my videos. Admittedly, Kauffmann does not go into great depth in some areas (which he acknowledges) but for someone who's just getting started this is an excellent book and will get you well on the road. I would highly recommend it to anyone just getting started and trying to learn Avid.

I have used Kauffmann's second edition book as a text book and greatly underappreciated its usefulness. Now that I am outside of the classroom and working as an assistant editor, I have found this third edition to be of great help. On several occasions I have had to refer to the book for problems that were plaguing both myself and the editors, and found the answers I need effortlessly. Kauffmann's step by step approach, with examples, makes navigating your way through a sometimes complicated and confusing Avid simple. A wonderful aspect of this book is its conversational, and less technical, style of writing, making it an easy to follow instructional book.
As a side, I used this book heavily when I had difficulties authoring a 24p DVD project.

While this book is an excellent guide to what you can do with Avid, it also takes the time to explain in an understandable way editing techniques. The new chapters on HD and 24p filmaking are excellent! It gives a good base to understand these new additions to the independent movie making world. The only knock I would give it is it's lack of explanation on effects editing and the marquee title tool is completely ignored.

I bought this book in a rush when I got a job editing on an Avid. I had limited Avid experience, but I am extremely proficient on Final Cut Pro. I used this book to learn some very basic skills in the week before my job started. The book is simple and good for beginners, and only suffers slightly because of this when intermediates try to use the book. Reading the book front to back before ever touching an Avid definitely works. But if you're not a beginner, the order of chapters can be quite frustrating. The few words of wisdom on actual editing technique were unexpected but a nice break from the technical lessons.

I was familiar with editing, but had never used Avid software before. When I installed Avid Express Pro software on my home computer I immediately started a new project. I thought that since I knew editing I would easily figure out the Avid software. Wrong. I muddled through it and finished the project, but it took longer than forever, and I seriously simplified the project because I couldn't figure out many of the functions. This book does a great job of explaining the Avid interface in easy to understand language. The book also included a CD-ROM with practice projects.

There are a lot of reference books out there but this is one that you can tell has been written not by a sales person but by a user of Avid who knows what to say and how to say it in a language that is easy to understand and with examples that can be followed simply.