Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 6

This is a Great Book. I am a First time User learning final Cut Pro 6. I give the book 5 stars due to the ease of teaching and the detailed methods and shortcuts. A must buy is keyboard shortcuts for final cut pro 6. This book will take you threw chapters step by step. You will have trouble using dvd only if you version FCP is below, 6.0.4. You must update first before use of dvd. If you have any trouble email me for further details. This book has images that co-exist with dvd. You will love this book and learn FCP like a pro. You will learn software according to how many hours you put in. This book is a full view of FCP, This is a must buy.

After struggling for a few weeks trying to learn Final Cut Pro from the 4 volume set of books that came with the software, I was almost ready to call it quits and dump $900(USD) into one of the 3 day Final Cut Pro certification courses. After learning that this is the book that is used with those courses, and having heard Great things about Peach Pit Press, and after reading the reviews here, I decided to get this book and give it a go. First let me say that I am not a typical 'learn from the books' kind of learner. I usually (especially with software) just hack around and figure things out. Final Cut is pretty complicated, and I need to know how to operate it pretty quickly (changing computers and software for editing, Win->Mac). I have learned most of what I need to get going on some projects after just going through the first 4 lessons! I am not going to stop there, I plan to finish this book, and probably look into additional volumes from this series for things like Soundtrack Pro and Motion. <br /> <br />Sure the Sea World footage and especially the music is cheesy, but you are encouraged to do additional work at the end of each lesson, to reinforce what you were just taught. This is where it gets fun! I found myself taking some music from my collection and replacing the awful Sea World song, and cutting footage to that instead. <br /> <br />I did not experience any problem with any of the projects opening (I took a peek). <br /> <br />If you are wanting to get to know this software, this is a great book to start with!

There is no better book for beginning editors. I recommend it to all those trying to learn the basics (and some moderately advanced workflow things) of Final Cut Pro 6.

This book actually teaches you efficient work flows. All lessons designed in a really smart way, so your progress is well guided. Makes you learn keyboard shortcuts. The footage was fun to work with (not the usual snowboarders and surfers). Highly recommended.

When it comes to learn how to use an editing software, the most important thing you need is... footages! And that's where the DVD included in the book comes handy. For each lesson there is a project to load in FCP. The project lessons and the book together make the learning experience fun and, most importantly, very efficient. This book is the one you need if you are very serious about editing. A last word: I believe you need a little software editing experience prior to start this book otherwise it will be a little hard and discouraging.