Avid Xpress Pro for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickPro Guide [Paperback]

James Monohan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 2003

Now that Avid Xpress Pro (in combination with the Avid Mojo hardware accelerator) makes true real-time video, film, and audio editing possible from virtually any location in the world, Hollywood¿s video editing software of choice is being adopted far beyond Hollywood as well. To get up to speed on both it and Avid XPress DV quickly and efficiently, you¿ll want this easy, task-based volume. The entire video-editing process¿from getting a DV project rolling to advanced editing and distribution methods¿is covered here. Video guru James Monohan leaves no stone unturned as he shows you how to set up and customize your desktop; record and import files; integrate audio; create titles, dissolves, and transitions; correct color; add special effects; use plug-ins; render real-time effects; output to disc and the Web; and more. Along the way you¿ll learn about all of XPress DV¿s and XPress Pro¿s most exciting newer features: automatic expert color correction, advanced filtering and effects, powerful film support, high-quality output, and more.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Now that Avid Xpress Pro (in combination with the Avid Mojo hardware accelerator) makes true real-time video, film, and audio editing possible from virtually any location in the world, Hollywood¿s video editing software of choice is being adopted far beyond Hollywood as well. To get up to speed on both it and Avid XPress DV quickly and efficiently, you¿ll want this easy, task-based volume. The entire video-editing process¿from getting a DV project rolling to advanced editing and distribution methods¿is covered here. Video guru James Monohan leaves no stone unturned as he shows you how to set up and customize your desktop; record and import files; integrate audio; create titles, dissolves, and transitions; correct color; add special effects; use plug-ins; render real-time effects; output to disc and the Web; and more. Along the way you¿ll learn about all of XPress DV¿s and XPress Pro¿s most exciting newer features: automatic expert color correction, advanced filtering and effects, powerful film support, high-quality output, and more.

About the Author

James Monohan is a journalist and video editor who began his career as a digital video evangelist for 2-pop.com before diving into editing commercials, corporate videos, short films, and band bios.

Product Details

• Paperback: 712 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press (November 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321145976
• ISBN-13: 978-0321145970
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,701,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend this book, April 8, 2004

By 

Sophia Zannis - See all my reviews

This review is from: Avid Xpress Pro for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickPro Guide (Paperback)

This book is a Godsend for editors who need to be up and running quickly. I struggled for months with Avid's documentation - trying to piece together an efficient way to use the program. Monohan's book cuts to the chase. For instance, he begins his audio section by saying, "The key to understanding Xpress Pro's audio tools is to forget what they're named and focus on what they do....their functions boil down to: monitoring your audio, adjusting audio levels, adjusting audio pan values and applying and manipulating audio effects." He then explains each tool in plain English. The sections on video effects and color correction were more helpful to me than Avid's educational series books on these same topics.

The style of the book is very intuitive. The book explains where to find loads of commands not represented in the menu system - like turning on audio sample plot - and gives you loads of tips, tricks and shortcuts. There are also Pro Advice and Strategy side bars to guide you in preparing your project for high end finishing. While Avid's manuals are thorough, not knowing exactly how to phrase these capabilities made it difficult for this reader to find the same information in the thousands of pages of documentation. Highly recommend this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have book to sit right by the keyboard, December 18, 2003

By 

Joel R Morgan (Gresham, OR United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Avid Xpress Pro for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickPro Guide (Paperback)

I always expect a lot from the Quickstart books (I have probably a half dozen), but this one is exceptional. Any question I could dream up is in there and easy to find. It is so much easier to understand than the manuals or even the Avid Educational Series books. I've been an Avid user for about a year, and it didn't take me long just scanning the book to find stuff I didn't know and shortcuts to take.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource, December 23, 2003

By 

"onthenews" (Marshall, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Avid Xpress Pro for Windows and Macintosh: Visual QuickPro Guide (Paperback)

There's a lot under the hood with Avid software. Even experienced editors can learn new tricks with this book. With over 600 pages, it contains many, many useful and practical tips. This book is an excellent resource.