Classes in Final Cut Pro

[Chi-ho Lee]

I would recommend taking the course. I’m an editor but also an Apple Certified FCP Trainer. If you take the class at a reputable place from an experienced trainer, the money is completely worth it. Here’s what the class would get you that you can’t from a book by yourself – human interaction.

1) If you get stuck, you can ask for immediate human help. You don’t have to figure it out, you don’t have to post online and perhaps wait hours for help.

2) You can ask related questions. The book will show you how to accomplished A but it won’t tell you how to accomplish A-1, or A-2 or A-3.

3) The book doesn’t cover technical issues. It’s main concern is operating FCP. But what if you have a question regarding workflow or formats or etc. An experienced FCP trainer can answer that for you.

4) You may actually click with your peers or instructor that may lead to job leads or friendship. I have made a few friends from teaching these classes and I’ve help a few people get jobs as well. Obviously, this is not a guarantee and is rare but it’s possible.

While the book is decent. It is obviously just a book. It can’t compare with having a live instructor. Also you wouldn’t believe how many phone calls I get from people who want to hire me to consult on their project or their system, which they built or started with their limited self taught knowledge. They get themselves into a bind and they hire me at an hourly consulting rate for a day or two which quickly adds up to a whole class or even more.

I’ve been freelancing as an editor and been teaching FCP for about the past seven years and I’ve come to the conclusion that while it’s a heavy investment in classes, the interaction is worth it every time.

This is my opinion. Good luck with your decision.

CHL

Chi-Ho Lee
Film & Video Editor
Apple Certified Final Cut Pro Trainer
http://www.chiholee.com

[Steven Gonzales]

After you finish the manual, then go through “Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro” by Kevin Monahan to get a clear perspective on the limits of Final Cut for compositing and graphics.

This is not rocket science. It’s a computer program that is exploiting the full range of the quicktime programming interface. It’s just not that complicated, if you understand how computers accomplish things.

It’s more stressful to learn from a book, mostly because the books are poorly written. However, learning under stress is not necessarily a bad thing.

[Don Greening]

[Chi-Ho Lee] “This is my opinion. Good luck with your decision.”

Well said, and I whole heartedly agree.

– Don

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