Customer Reviews

Jerry Hofmann on Final Cut Pro 4 (Voices That Matter)

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

 

 

This book is the best one out there, in my opinion, on Final Cut Pro. The DVD material is great, and really allows you to edit together something interesting. While doing so you learn not only the functions of Final Cut Pro, but also editing technique, which was very valuable in my limited experience in editing. It is also a great reference book, helping explain certain features, and covering the history of Final Cut Pro.

This is an all around great book, and you will not go wrong with buying it!!

Pages and pages of useful information for the beginner and seasoned user. Packed with Final Cut Pro how-to's and quick fixes. As a professional editor this book is always by my side in case I run into a problem.

Jerry Hofmann is one of the most respected FCP experts in the world, both teaching at the University of Colorado at Denver and holding the distinction of being the top posting guru at both Creativecow.net's FCP forum and Apple.com's Final Cut Pro forums. This is the only book available in which you get to build a complete movie from start to finish. You get all the media files on the book's DVD-ROM disc and by working through the chapters, you will actually understand the process and rationale behind the editing process -- as well as learning the basics of how FCP works. This is unique among all the FCP books we've seen on the market. (You won't find this feature in any other NLE book that we know of for any other editing package.) You also end up creating a 21 layer composite by the end of the book, (the production company logo that ends the film) -- and to learn this type of information, you would have to buy both books 1 & 2 in the Apple Pro series books. Media Manager is also covered in this book, a powerful process that allows editors to both save time and work in the preferred methodology of major editing pros such as Walter Murch, editor of the FCP-edited 'Cold Mountain' film with Nicole Kidman. This is not just a basic entry-level book on how FCP works -- this book will teach you not only how FCP works and the various function keys, etc., but more importantly, how these processes work together to make you an editor. This is not just a 'How To' book but also includes the 'Why' of the editing process. This entire book is one inter-woven tutorial, broken up into topical sections, and is a rich 'Hands-On' experience yielding a finished film as your destination. A great piece of work, Jerry.

Ron Lindeboom
[...]

Jerry Hofmann truly is one of the world's leading experts on Final Cut Pro

His documentation of work is evident within the FCP User Group forums on apple.com (www.apple.com/support - Final Cut Pro Discussions)

I believe that he has been working upon the book for a while now, and it shows! The lessons are excellent and everything is clearly explained ----- if there is something that you have difficulty understanding, I'm sure he'll be happy to address your prob on the apple discussion boards

otherwise, I recommend the book to every type of FCP user! ---- beginner, intermediate, advanced, etc ----- the tips and lessons within the book are worth it alone! Everyone can take away a good lesson from this book, and knowning that it comes from the world's leading FCP genius, only makes it more worthwhile!

Hofmann does know editing, but he is an absolutely awful writer. Misplaced modifers and convolution abound. Six months after buying this, when I do try to refer to it, I find myself re-reading and re-reading and re-reading the same sentences in an effort to understand him - just like I did months ago when I finally gave up and put the book on a shelf. There are many better FCP books to buy.