Final Cut Pro 3 and DVD Studio Pro Handbook (Digital Filmmaking Series) [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Adam Watkins (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1584502002 | ISBN-13: 978-1584502005 | Publication Date: August 12, 2002 | Edition: 1

With recent advances in technology, the exciting realms of digital editing and DVD authoring are now within reach of most graphics professionals. Until now, editing and rendering animations to fit on VHS and compressing digital images for delivery meant sacrificing quality. But with Apple Final Cut Pro 3, DVD Studio Pro, and the practical guidance found in this book, designers and animators can edit and deliver their creations with excellent results. Written for graphics professionals, animators, video artists, and users of Final Cut Pro and other popular video packages (iMovie, iDVD, Premiere), the Final Cut Pro 3 and DVD Studio Pro Handbook provides hands-on practice for the entire digital editing process. The book is broken into two main parts. Part One provides an in depth look at FCP and basic cinematography and editing concepts. It includes a detailed review of non-linear digital video editing (NLDVE), outlines the technical specifications for DVD, and provides a comprehensive overview of Final Cut Pro 3. From there the book delves into the process of editing and delivering media productions. Using raw video files from the book's companion DVD, users work through every step of the editing process, from importing and editing media, to audio techniques, effects, outputting FCP data, and exporting to DVD. In Part Two, users learn how to use the core features of DVD Studio Pro, such as creating compressed media, importing streaming media, designing still and motion based menus, adding fully functional interactivity, and integrating subtitles.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Unfortunately, there are some errors on the accompanying DVD for this volume. They are easily to correct, but regrettably were not discovered before publication.

Please see CharlesRiver.com for the Errata to fix these naming and organizational errors.

Again, my sincere apologies for the errors on the DVD. Please take time to grab the Errata file to make the DVD the helpful educational tool it was meant to be.

Thanks.

About the Author

Adam Watkins (San Antonio, TX) is the director of Computer Arts at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. He has a BFA in theater set and lighting design, and an MFA in graphic design. His previous books include The Maya 4.5 Handbook, Final Cut Pro 3 and DVD Studio Pro Handbook, and 3D Animation: From Models to Movies.

Product Details

• Paperback: 382 pages
• Publisher: Charles River Media; 1 edition (August 12, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1584502002
• ISBN-13: 978-1584502005
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,367,011 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #98 in Books > Computers & Technology > Apple > Final Cut

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Worthless - the DVD contents don't match the tutorial, August 23, 2002

By 

Tom Burke (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Final Cut Pro 3 and DVD Studio Pro Handbook (Digital Filmmaking Series) (Paperback)

The book is a tutorial which depends on media files from the included DVD-ROM. Unfortunately, many of the files & folders discussed in the book are missing and/or have very different names on the DVD, making it impossible to do the tutorial. Since that's about all there is to the book, it's rendered worthless.

Unlike with many technical books, the publisher's website does not have an errata section that might have helped fix this mess.

It's really too bad, because the book is otherwise well-produced, the author's writing style is clear & interesting, and the subjects covered would make an excellent combination. I hope that this book will be re-issued with the correct DVD.

The final "gotcha" is that the DVD's sealed sleeve contains a warning that the "package" is not returnable if the seal is broken. But you can't know if you have a flawed DVD until you break the seal...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DVD problem fixed, now rates "excellent", September 13, 2002

By 

Tom Burke (Arlington, VA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Final Cut Pro 3 and DVD Studio Pro Handbook (Digital Filmmaking Series) (Paperback)

In my initial review of this book (8/23/02, just after it shipped), I noted that the included DVD's contents didn't match the tutorial in the book, making the package "worthless". The publisher has now posted on their website a list of corrections to the filenames & organization, and the author has sent me a replacement DVD with all of the problems fixed. I can now justify giving the book the five-star rating that it deserves for its clearly-written, interesting and useful content.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Waste of money, February 12, 2003

By 

Joachim Smith (Nyköping, Södermanland Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Final Cut Pro 3 and DVD Studio Pro Handbook (Digital Filmmaking Series) (Paperback)

This book is badly structured, verbose and chatty. A seasoned editor could have reduced it by at least 20 percent. More important, the book omits crucial features in FCP 3/DVDSP, such as using Markers to indicate Chapters. As a matter of fact, the subject of Chapters in DVDSP isn't even touched upon!

Further, in spite of the title, the book is heavily biased to FCP, with just a few scant chapters on DVDSP.

I'm very disappointed and consider this book a waste of money.