Customer Reviews

iMovie HD 6 and iDVD 6 for Mac OS X

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first picked up a copy of iMovie HD 6 & iDVD 6 by Jeff Carlson, I had specific questions I needed help with. I had used iMovie and iDVD before, having taught myself through experimentation and by referring to the help menus in the programs. When version 6 came out, I had some trouble with iDVD specifically and was unable to find the answers I needed through the help menu.

I picked up this book and found the answer to my specific problem. I also discovered quite a bit of other useful information. I ended up reading the book straight through and learned many useful things - major editing capabilities as well as useful tidbits - which will certainly make my future projects easier. I feel confident now that I can do even more (for example, with audio) than I felt I could attempt before.

The instructions are clearly presented, helped by the many screenshots. The tips at the end of each section are also useful, providing details you might not think of straightaway. However, they could be more complete. For example, in experimenting with direct trimming in the video editing section, I encountered the problem of never actually getting a cursor which would allow me to drag the edge of the video clip in. It was only in searching the iMovie HD help menu that I found an answer to my problem. (I had to have the "show clip volume levels" turned off in order to perform this function.)

The book covers everything from buying a camcorder to editing the clips to producing the DVD and even to what information to keep and what you can get rid of once the project is finished.

One aspect of making an iMovie which I had given little thought to was pre-production. Generally the footage I have used in my iMovies was filmed by someone else. After reading Carlson's tips, I feel inspired to pick up the camera myself and maybe even go to the extra trouble of making a storyboard, because he's absolutely right when he says that iMovie "can edit your clips into a professional-looking movie, but it can't help you improve mediocre source material."

Carlson certainly didn't have to include the pre-production section in a book on iMovie and iDVD, but I'm glad he did. His inclusion of more than just computer commands makes this book exceptional in its thoroughness. He has given the reader as much information as possible to succeed in making a beautiful finished DVD.

The beginner to intermediate user will surely find this a useful book to keep near the computer.

Review by Moses Rodriguez, MacCORE.org

The great thing about Apple software is the ease-of-use; you can literally launch a program (like iMovie) and get to work. This program is feature packed and more than capable in getting a stylized look to your video.

Figuring how iMovie works is fairly simple and straightforward. You can get up and running right away and create a DVD to share with family and friends quickly. But, one of the drawbacks of just going gangbusters and cranking out a movie without a help guide is you just may miss a sweet hidden trick or technique and perhaps wind-up doing things the "hard way". You could even run the risk of missing a cool effect or even knowing how a simple feature can make your videos much more special. This is the exact reason is why books like this are written. iMovie HD 6 & iDVD 6 is chock full of tips on almost every page helping you discover these hidden tricks and short cuts.

This guide is broken up in four parts: Shooting, Editing in iMovie HD, Sharing from iMovie HD and iDVD. Each part contains five to seven chapters.

Part One "Shooting" consist of the first five chapters of the book are dedicated to the process involved before you start your computer, covering subjects such as camcorder pros and cons, shooting video, composing your shots, zooming, panning, lighting and audio. Though these topics may not be why you buy the book in the first place I strongly suggest reading them. While it may be too late for you in considering which camcorder to buy it will help you in figuring out your camcorder's strengths and weakness. Even if its just in the area of getting the most from your video camera. These initial chapters will definitely make your end product better and help you in the long run achieve that masterpiece you have been longing for...at least it will help you turn those vacation photos into a movie (complete with music) that you'll be proud to share. Long gone are those painful days of watching someone else's vacation slides in a darkened den, now you can send a DVD via U.S. Postal Service, a video through your email, or if you are apt you can put your entire movie on the web.

The "Editing" section of the book contains the most chapters. Starting off with a basic overview of iMovie, from creating a new project to explaining the interface and tools within the program. Chapter 7 covers the in's-and-out's of importing video, while Chapter 8 is all about editing video. The rest of Part Two deals with audio files, transitions, titles and effects.

Part Three "Sharing from iMovie HD" covers exporting to GarageBand, Quicktime, email, iWeb, Bluetooth and iDVD.

Part Four "iDVD" helps complete your work of art. This part of the procedure is almost more important than all the others. While this is the last step in the process, it actually will be the first thing that is seen when your movie is viewed.

The beauty of working in iMovie is how easy it is to create a movie and the way it seamlessly interacts with iPhoto, iTunes and GarageBand. Importing photos, slideshows, music or even scoring your movie is easy and brilliant in its simplicity. But to get the most from iMovie don't just wing it - get help! Doesn't everyone want a "guide to better results"? With helpful tips and information to achieve great results this is what iMovie HD 6 & iDVD 6 will do for you.

If you are interested in making home movies, editing or even making relatively high quality films, this book will certainly put you on the fast track to success. That being said, there is nothing quite like experimenting with the program itself, but the book can help work out some of the kinks. Finally, it is not as in depth as other books on this program.

I've been using Quickstart Guides for years and I have always found them to be some of the most straightforward user manuals on the market. Plus I really appreciate Jeff Carlson's sense of humor. The added plus to iMovie HD 6 is that the manual is now in color and this adds to the clarity of what the interface looks like and how the program operates.

With this book you will be up and running in no time. The color picture are a great teaching aid. I have used Jeff Carlsons books before for a number of programs and all have been excellent.

Text laid out in dual columns per page with plentiful pictures making concepts easy to understand and very readable. I used this book to create a DVD of my daughter's wedding, and it led me through the process each step of the way. A very good "how-to" guide that contains plenty of tips and the right amount of detail.

The Visual QuickStart Guide series is an excellent series of books. I appreciate all the screen shots and the simple explanations in the use of the application. It covers all the basics and advanced features of the program in a way that anyone can understand.

I bought this book "iMovie HD 6 & iDVD 6", which is written by Jeff Carlson, because I was learning how to use iMovie HD 6. I also bought another book "iMovie 6 & iDVD: The Missing Manual" which is written by David Pogue. This book by Jeff Carlson looks like it is quicker to go through where almost every page has a bulleted how-to-do-it with tips visual format. This would be an easy book for beginners. If you want a meatier book with much more details, then David Pogue's missing manual book is better. If you want a basic how-to book, then this book by Jeff Carlson is for you. Although I got this for use with iMovie HD 6, I also actually have iMovie '08 and I got the other book "iMovie '08 & iDVD: The Missing Manual". I may get the similar "visual quickstart guide" book for iMovie '08. Anyways, having started with iMovie '08, when I found out iMovie HD 6 had more sophisticated features than iMovie '08 like the editing timeline and the ability to take plugins, I had to get iMovie HD 6. iMovie '08 is so different from iMovie HD 6 that users complained about features that were missing in iMovie '08. Apple relented and provided a free download of iMovie HD 6 to those who had iMovie '08. However, when iMovie '09 was released, Apple then later removed their official iMovie HD 6 download because the newly released iMovie '09 included many of the features (but still no plugins) left out of iMovie '08 that users of iMovie HD 6 wanted. Well, I don't have iMovie '09, but only had iMovie '08. Although Apple removed their official download for iMovie HD 6 which I wanted, all I had to do is to use Google to search for the iMovieHD6.dmg file to find where other iMovie users had unofficially posted the file. So I downloaded the file and installed iMovie HD 6 on my Macbook. I had the editing timeline back that I was more familiar with when I was editing video under Windows. And I could do plugins. Yea! So, I'm using both iMovie HD 6 and iMovie '08 along with QuickTime by going back and forth with the video because each does something that the other one doesn't. As for this book, "iMovie HD 6 & iDVD 6" by Jeff Carlson, I ordered a "used" version of the book for $6.72 plus $3.99 S&H from an Amazon marketplace seller who was selling the book here on Amazon. I received the book in a week's time and it looked new except for a back bottom corner but otherwise in great condition. Used books are great purchases here on Amazon. Thanks for reading.

I found this book to be useful but too much of an outline for my tastes. I would have preferred something more discursive.