Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop (DV Expert Series) (DV Expert Series)

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Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop (DV Expert Series) (DV Expert Series)
| 2004-05-26 00:00:00 | | 0 | Multimedia


Nonlinear, or digital, editing involves the manipulation of digitized video. Software applications permit the editor to cut, splice, make transitions, and edit film more precisely than was ever possible with conventional film editing techniques. Final Cut Express 2 is an inexpensive version of Apple's Final Cut Pro software, the leading nonlinear editing program for the Mac platform. In its first year, Final Cut Express proved to be a compelling alternative for hobbyists, students, and professionals who had formerly been limited to iMovie.


Final Cut Express 2 Editing Workshop is a classroom-in-a-book that teaches readers the art and technique of editing with Final Cut Express 2. It features a series of tutorials that cover the complete range of tasks, from installing the application to outputting. All of the necessary materials, including raw video footage and sequences, detailed instructions, and techniques taught in film schools, guide the reader to a working knowledge of Final Cut Express 2. The companion DVD includes a video introduction to Final Cut Express 2 specially designed for iMovie users, as well as tutorial media and plug-ins.

Go beyond the mechanics of Final Cut Express 2?learn how to edit with it! More than a button-pushing manual?this workshop gives you firsthand experience with the art and technique of editing.

User review
Helpful but dated
This book is really dated and the illustrations are a bit confusing. This helped answer a couple questions I had but overall I was not as impressed as I had hoped to be.

User review
Final Cut Express
This book was very helpful. Helped me understand the whole process greatly, while giving specific help. Easy to read and understand.

User review
Good review but very poor editing
I'm posting this review after making it through the first 4 chapters, as I think that this is usually the point of no return when you decide if you can stick with a software book or toss it on the pile of good intentions. The reading can be a bit tedious at times since the author mentions many items at the start that you will get to `later.` Part of this stems from the fact that FCE is a very complex program with a million functions so I can understand the difficulty of trying to reduce the complexity.


However, be forewarned that the book is lacking a good glossary and the author throws in jargon in many spots without a thorough explanation. A good example is in a tip box in the third chapter that describes the different ways to break up your video. Just as the author is describing how to cut video, he throws in a blurb about using a ripple delete without telling the reader what this is. Ironically, the term is in bold text, leading one to think that it could be a good glossary entry or should be listed in the index in the back when unfortunately neither is the case. Be ready to Google a lot of terms as you work through this book and hit the Apple discussion boards. My other critical point at this stage in the book is that several steps are re-hased too often as if the author assumes you have closed down windows between lessons and are starting over again.


Lastly, whoever was lead editor on this book needs a thorough lashing, as there are many silly mistakes (e.g. pointing out a feature on the far left of a screen when it is in fact on the far right) that should have been caught before this book went to press.

User review
Not worth it
I bought this book on the basis of the positive reviews, and boy, do I regret it. This was very little help and is written in a schizophrenic, haphazard form that is maddening. Example: right after he has you load up the first lesson, he goes off on long explanations of functions that he then says will be used in later chapters, not that one. Then he gets back to the lesson - supposedly - and goes off explaining other controls. Finally, the chapter ends and YOU'VE NEVER EVEN USED THE LESSON! He tells you to close it up and start importing your own material.


And, as stated before, there are many typos, or worse, errors like telling you to use the button on the right when he really means to say left, so it's confusing and frustrating. I used to tutor English at university level and if this had come across my desk I would have considered it a rough draft. Even from a pure logic standpoint, it's a jumble. If you're a beginner to Final Cut Express, stay away from this one!

User review
Editing with Final Cut Express
After making a few home movies with iMovie, I decided I wanted to have more options for transitions, compositing, and titling. Final Cut Express has been a great upgrade from iMovie. The controls were quite daunting at first, so I purchased a training DVD that didn't work well for me. I then purchased Final Cut Express For Dummies and that was great for learning the basics. Wanting to do more I ordered the FCE 2 Editing Workshop. Tom Wolsky does a fine job of explaining all the nuances of this great program. It's nice when the authors and experts explain things in a way that assumes you know little of terminology and compression and all the computer skills that they have. I've already used many of the techniques to improve my movies. When I upgrade to Final Cut Pro, I will be buying his book for that program as well.