Final Cut Pro or Studio training books

[Don Seils]

Hi…

I’m a Vegas editor, too, and will be working with a client who requires work done in FCP. I have been working with the Apple Training Series, and that has been helpful, as it explores a wide range of topics from basic to advanced editing, and has the footage to make it hands-on…a big help.

I got a really great overview of FCP from The Focal Easy Guide To Final Cut Pro. The stated goal of this book is to get you up and editing in a minimum time with clear explanations. Because it is a bit different from editing in Vegas, it was helpful that the author took the time to explain shy FCP is structured the way it is by relating it to cutting a film by old hand techniques.

I hope this is helpful to you. I do love Vegas, but I find FCP so much more comprehensive in its range of editing possibilities.

Don Seils

[Stephen Best]

Don, thanks for this. I’ll get the books.

As an ‘old’ editor who started syncing rushes and then editing on a Moviola, the ‘old hand techniques’ might be of some comfort.

I’m editing system agnostic–it’s the cut that counts–but I do think FCP will eventually be the last man standing. This is due as much to Apple’s brilliant marketing strategy of getting FCP into the film courses at almost not cost as it is to FCP being a decent program. Had Avid been more savvy we’d all be using it by now.

Regards
Stephen Best
https://stephenbest.ca

[Don Seils]

Hi…

You are probably right about Apple’s strategy. They have been doing it since the days of the Apple ][, offering computers to schools at next to nothing, school curricula, etc. My personal theory is that this is why Apple has been the choice for progressives in computing for years, all coupled with the progressive environment at Apple, itself.

Get into the heart of education and you influence the buying habits for generations!

Anyhow, I think your observation about FCP vs. Avid is interesting. While the Avid series has been a mainstay in the industry for decades, their progress has been slowed by the plethora of systems specialized to different niches. Where I think Avid dropped the ball is to bring an editing system to PC/Mac that was not a complete solution. Until you get to the highest level in Avid’s line, you don’t really have a finishing system, which is a limitation. FCP and Vegas, both, brought full solutions to the table from pretty much their inception, which is huge when it comes to a working post house.

Don Seils

[Tom Wolsky]

I think what really made Apple successful with FCP was not it’s penetration into the existing video production market, but the huge expansion of the video production market, first with inexpensive digital video cameras, then video on the web, and now inexpensive HD cameras. It was market expansion I think more than anything has created most of the sales using FCP and then FCS.

All the best,

Tom

Class on Demand DVDs “Complete Training for FCP6,” “Basic Training for FCS2” and “Final Cut Express Made Easy”
Author: “Final Cut Pro 5 Editing Essentials” and “Final Cut Express 4 Editing Workshop”