Customer Reviews

iMovie HD & iDVD 5: The Missing Manual

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an excellent guide to both of these applications. What I find particularly appealing is that the book doesn't just concentrate on the tech. It also teaches you about how to shoot good video and edit it well. So you can learn both the technique and the technology from a single source. That's the way it should be, and it's what makes this book so different from the rest.

Of course all of the basics are covered. The graphics are possibly a little overused. But that's ok for a walkthrough book. The use color throughout certainly adds to the appeal. The writing is solid. It's not so funny as to be distracting or too clinical as to be dry.

I bought this book because I was tring to make a Digital Yearbook for my son's school. After spending months putting together all of these different photos and drawings I went to make the DVD and got a multiplex error. I was sick. All that time and I wasn't going to be able to make it. I bought this book and read Chapter 11, Back to the Camcorder. I plugged in my Digital Video Camera and shared the Imovie file back to the camcorder. Then imported it back into a new Imovie, everything was flatten (all effects and title slides). I was able to make the yearbook, I was so happy!!!!!!!!!! If you are new to IDVD and IMOVIE you have to purchase this book!

If you're a heavy user of iMovieHD and iDVD, this book is a must. Most questions that users have about both software can be found in this manual (though he doesn't read like a boring manual). Pogue not only provides all the how-tos for learning the software, he also helps you troubleshoot problems that will crop in movie and DVD productions. There's hardly no aspect of either software that I didn't find covered in this book.

Very informative AND entertaining! If you feel you are even the least bit interested in breaking into digital film making this book is fantastic. I have been using iMovie for several years now and have a camcorder. However, I thought this book might help me kick things up a notch. It certainly will. I have only gotten through the first fifty pages, but I've already learned enough justify this purchase.

When I first received this rather intimidating 450+ page book I thought I would use it mainly for reference. Well, that was before I started reading it. Now I find it hard put down. It is very well written and arranged by areas of interest.

This book is great for everyone, from beginner to expert. It will undoubtedly prove to be a very valuable reference book in the future, but for now it's a great read.

I had recently started using a Mac at work, and suddenly I was put in a position to work with video on the Mac. Mr. Pogue's other books had been very helpful to me as I began to learn my way around the Mac, so I thought I would pick up this one to help me with my video work. I was very glad that I did. You see, iMovie HD has tools that help your movie look professional, but the iMovie HD help files are very tedious to go through. There is a great deal of referencing, cross-referencing, and nothing is smoothly laid out. This book is another story, as it is very well laid out with clear instructions and illustrations. It is very long, but since these applications are powerful, it would be expected that any clear explanation of them is going to require some space.
What is particularly good about this book is that the author doesn't assume you are a professional video author, and he spends part one of the book helping you learn how to shoot videos and shares tricks that will make you good at it. Part 2 is dedicated to iMovie, and shares not just how to use the application, but the little extras that will make your video special - transitions, effects, titles, captions, and even how to work with sound in your movie. Part 3, on finding your audience, was another unexpected treat. There the author shows you how to move between iMovie and Quicktime, and how to post your movie to your phone and to the web. Part 4 of the book is on iDVD. I particularly liked the chapter on iDVD secrets, where the author shows how you can use AppleScript to customize iDVD itself.
It's hard to believe that a year ago I didn't even know how to use a Mac, and now I am quite the fan, especially when it comes to multimedia applications. I notice Amazon does not show the table of contents, so I do that here:
Part 1: CAPTURING DV FOOTAGE
1. The DV Camcorder
2. Turning Home Video into Pro Video
3. Special Event Filming
Part 2: EDITING IN IMOVIE
4. Camcorder Meets Mac
5. Building the Movie
6. Transitions and Effects
7. Titles, Captions, and Credits
8. Narration, Music, and Sound
9. Still Pictures and QuickTime Movies
10. Professional Editing Techniques
Part 3: FINDING YOUR AUDIENCE
11. Back to the Camcorder
12. From iMovie to QuickTime
13. Movies on the Web - And on the Phone
14. QuickTime Player
Part 4: iDVD5
15. From iMovie to iDVD
16. iDVD Projects by Hand
17. Designing iDVD Themes
18. iDVD Secrets
Part 5: Appendixes
A. iMovie HD: Menu by Menu
B. Troubleshooting
C. Master Keyboard Shortcut List

After several trips to car shows with my husband, I had lots of beautiful photos sitting in iPhoto ready to print. I thought a DVD would be more useful and enjoyable for him, and tried to make a DVD project - NOT! Having already used The Missing Manual books, I promptly went out and bought this one. Great choice, as it filled in the blanks and gave me lots of ideas also. I am a photographer, not a tech person, and am pretty clueless when it comes to creating projects on the computer.

This series suits me perfectly and the book is highly recommended - with the aid of the book I sat down and promptly made a beautiful DVD, with lots of lovely effects, great music, and best of all it was easy. My husband was very happy with his DVD and watches it often.

The manual is clear, concise, easy to read and enjoyable. Unlike so many texts, it is not dry or overly technical. Anyone can make a great DVD easily with this reference. Next project - a video. Ready.....

This is the book you really want if you use iMovie at all!

Book offers some extra tips not found in Apple info but because the program is so easy to use, the book is not a necessity.

Like the new iPhoto 5 Missing Manual, this one is in full color as well.

What I liked best about this book is that it spends a majority of the time discussing how to take better shots, how to give the editing a more polished look, and generally how to improve your finished product. Along with showing you how to use iMovie, the book goes over when and why (or why not!) to use the various transitions and special effects. Always with an eye toward "professional techniques".

All told, a must have book on iMovie HD.

One thing I was looking for but couldn't find was some discussion on iMovie HD vs Final Cut Express HD - what the differences are, why I would use one or the other, when to upgrade advice, etc.

Oh, yeah - the information on iDVD is also great - plenty of tips and tricks on getting the most out of iDVD. Once you get great looking movies, iDVD makes putting together a great looking DVD a snap.