Customer Reviews

Videomaker Guide to Digital Video and DVD Production, Third Edition

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
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I wanted a book that would help my amateur videography skills. I decided to go with the Videomaker Guide based on its original Amazon rating, and the history of Videomaker magazines.

I found a lot of useful information in the book that I'm just starting to use such as lighting, filters, sound, and shooting angles. I've already started to apply the information from the book into a music video and a short film. So far, the information has been a plus, and I've used the book for reference to expand my amateur knowledge.

A minor negative on the book was that some chapters (back-to-back) seemed to state the same message. Although they were written with different examples, the same points were expressed.

A major negative on the book is that most technology and software that was referred to are about 3+ years behind. I was thinking some chapters might be updated to reflect the future of DVD production and using updated software video editing programs. However, there were no updated chapters. Lucky for me, most of my current knowledge of video editing is with today's software programs and hardware.

The book is divided into 70+ short articles which makes it very easy to read. One can quickly jump to a subject of his interest.. ranging from pre-production, lighting and sound, camera and directing techniques, desktop editing, etc. A lot of valuable tips and tricks provided.

There is a "sidebar" section in most every article where some real-life examples are given.

In terms of post-production, it is suitable for people using Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro.

I've been a fan and subscriber of Videomaker magazine for years and this book is an excellent compilation of recent articles and how-to's on all aspects of video production. I like that they have added information on DVD authoring to this edition, too. My only criticism is that it would be much better if it was illustrated in four color rather than black and white.

Great compilation of Videomaker articles!! These are written by the pros, and each one shows that the research and experience of the author come to bear on the subject at hand. The tone is generally light-hearted but often heavy on details, both of which I love. It's easier to read than you would imagine. And the breadth of topics is substantial. As a first-timer doing research, this was great. The only shortfall is that it needs to be updated - several topics were behind the times (cost and availability of media like P2 storage cards for Panasonic HD camcorders, for example). Of course, these high-tech gigs change so quickly that it would be difficult to publish often enough to keep up. And you can always visit their website to get the latest info, which I do constantly.

This book is excellent and extremly helpful. It is a great introductin to digial video production. The book is comprised of many short articles that give you all the ins-and-outs production. I use this book in my digital video editing class, it's a great reference!

I have started producing my own educational videos. I bought this book so I could take full advantage of the features on my digital camera. Although this book is a little out of date (they mention DVD burners cost $300 bucks!) it has excellent information and is very helpful in explaining a lot of video details. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to improve the quality of their videos.

John G.

Video production book is very creative and fun to read. Ray West from Rayscorner fame is also another rare source of brilliance.

I have not finished this book completely, but so far...so good. This book literally seems to cover every aspect of production. Whether you're fresh out of school or well established in the business, this is a great book to keep on hand.

Go for it.