Description:
Apple's Final Cut Pro has quickly become a dominant force in the field of digital video editing, but newcomers are forced to learn about things other than editing on the road to becoming good editors. Because the craft is so closely related to the technology, Final Cut Pro 2 Editing Workshop, an outstanding book written by an experienced editor, offers information on not just the technique of using the program but on the hardware on which it should run.The book opens with a discussion of what you really need in terms of hardware and explains why some drives are better than others, how much disk space you'll need to edit a 30-second commercial versus a 90-minute feature, speakers, monitors, and more. Only after the hardware is squared away and Final Cut Pro properly installed does it discuss the application itself. The book covers everything from setting up the application to adding clips; editing; and export and compression of finished projects. There is plenty here to help you learn about the mechanics of the program itself, but the book really shines when Wolsky moves away from "push-this-button" mode and into areas of editing technique and language. It is here where we learn that different techniques and styles are used for different kinds of films, and this introduction to the language of film is worth the cost of the book. There are few things as valuable as a book written by an experienced, working professional. Tom Wolsky is such a professional, and his book reflects his years of work and study as a producer, editor, and teacher. This is an invaluable book not just for people who want to master Final Cut, but also for anyone interested in learning to edit film and video with real proficiency. --Mike Caputo
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