Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro X 10.1: Professional Post-Production

Mixed feelings.The bad: There are well over 100 updates (errata) to be applied to update it to a newer release. That's a *lot*. Worse, once you're done, it's still not the current release of FCP so you have to muddle your way through from time to time. Also, if you can't get something to work, there are no "completed exercises" available to download so, from then on, the instructions won't quite match your project. Over time, the divergence just gets wider and wider.The good: It covers things in a methodical, well-planned sequence that mirrors what you may do in real life. When carefully followed, the instructions work pretty much as documented. (As a professional course developer and presenter, this is no small feat!) Sticking to one project throughout the book gives a very good foundation for actual practice. I was especially pleased with the various hints and tips of what to expect in the real world. For example, podcasts require a much smaller audio dynamic volume range than movies, 12 db in the former versus as much as 36 in the latter. And, throughout, the attention to "story" and suggestions on how to tell it both audibly and visually and making the two work together was excellent. I was pleased by the attention to artistic issues while nailing the technical "how to" details.As a professional, I can appreciate the consequences of frequent software updates on step-by-step instructions and screen shots, the necessities and economics of printing high-quality full-color books versus applying updates, and for the developer, the thankless task of struggling to keep things current versus the publishers economic needs versus the mounting frustrations of readers trying to make things work in a later version.Recommendation: Yes, if you need to become good with FCP, this book will give you a strong leg-up toward that end. Plan on downloading the Errata material and, at a minimum, go through it and mark the book where the Errata apply. Or you can cut and paste the Errata into place in the book so it'll be there when you get there. (That took me several hours with scissors and Scotch tape.) And even then, you'll need to be creative from time to time when FCP at its latest revision no longer matches the book -- view *that* as a "learning opportunity". {Learning to use FCP's built in Help system is essential -- the book omits this but the revision mismatch will necessitate you learn it. Good!} So, yes, buy the book and work it, methodically, step-by-step. It does work. I was amazed at the quality of the final result. The details are all there.

This is an excellent guide to using 10.1. Possibly one of the best computer textbooks I have read.First... The software is really awesome!!! Very different from earlier versions, which obviously necessitates a completely different approach to editing.At first I wondered why such close attention to how media is acquired and documented, then as I began the section on editing it quickly became apparent why laying the proper groundwork upfront is so important when you come to the actual editing process. At this point I went back and did a quick revision of the first part of the book.Once you grasp how the procedure works the workflow becomes fast and smooth.On the surface the software looks deceptively simple but in reality its functionality is highly complex.It really is a super application but one that requires the sort of detailed instruction Brendan has employed in this book to facilitate a quick and thorough understanding of its myriad features.Thanks Brendan, your time and patience explaining everything in such careful detail is greatly appreciated.The book has a logical workflow and is easy to understand.

This content of the book is good for those who want to step through a workflow along with a page-by-page description of your keystrokes as you agonizingly follow and duplicate the material presented. If you are looking for a quick hit read-a-bit-at-a-time-as needed reference book, then this is not for you. I guess if you want that instead, then download the pdf file from Apple Support.Boykin does an excellent job of carefully and painstakingly going through the details of each step for his project. Frankly, however, it is hard to be dragged through all of that if one is impatient like me, I suppose.I am left with the impression that for people like me, the best way to learn this software is to start a project and peck around intuitively and when you get stuck, do a google/Youtube search on your question. Look at a few short videos, not just one. On the way to completing the project you will have likely stumbled on and learned a large gamut of stuff from A to Z. Then go from there, and google more and more as your curiosity increases. Your questions will get more and more sophisticated. Enough pecking and googling and watching brief Youtubes and you will rapidly have a pretty broad understanding. What you have already learned, and already stumbled on peripherally related to your specific quests can be easily organized and improved by now perusing the Apple Support pdf. Sure, it takes a ton of time that way. But at least you are learning the stuff that is immediately relevant to your needs. That's always time well spent IMHO.But again, if that is not the way you learn best, then go ahead...poke through the workflow. Boykin's book is about the only book of its kind out there which covers the latest release in that manner. He obviously knows his topic.My rating is based on a caution as to its applicability and universal fit rather than a dig a Boykin. If you like to learn his way then this is the book for you!

Just getting started with this one and already can see how good it is. I bought the higher-level "advanced editing" version before this which even as a newbie to FCPX I was easy able to follow. However, this version has the same structure but with a much better twist - you work on one project continuously so you can understand the learning within the context of an actual production.Having been pretty proficient with FCPX from the other book, I am already learning new tips and shortcuts in the 1st three chapters of this one such as what external an managed media is and the pro/cons; using JKL keys in brower windows; how to import multiple favourite sections of multiple clips and many more.If you are new to FCPX then this is 100% for you. The material is interesting and with the context of an ongoing production throughout, you really get a good idea of the power of this awesome application. If you're looking at this book, then don't think anymore - just get it!!

I was already editing in FCP X 10.1 when the book arrived, and I am so glad that I decided to start again and go back to square one with this text book. (Yes, it was a real book, not an electronic one.)The structure of the lessons, and the patient explanations are not patronising, but make sure that you really understand the minute details, and the reasons for structuring your editing in the way you are taught.You start by downloading media which is used in the lessons to demonstrate and practice the various techniques in all aspects of post-production.It's not for the faint-hearted, and certainly not for the quick-edit of your holiday video. Designed for the aspiring professional editor, and for the serious amateur, like me, it will open your eyes to a range of possibilities previously unknown.I haven't yet finished the whole course, but so far cannot fault it.

Excellent content written in a very easy to understand way which assumes very little prior knowledge. However the kindle formatting is all over the place making parts of the book almost unreadable. If you can get the iBooks version which has none of the problems of the Kindle edition.

I just want to warn potential buyers that this book is out of date. If you have the latest version of Final Cut Pro X you have to download 64 A4 pages of amendments to the book!! It is not only very tedious to have to refer back and forth to the update document but expensive if you prefer to print them out. I really think that Apple and Amazon should have put this warning on this product and discounted it a lot further.

Big book, much info, so far one of the most important bits I wanted to know was too complicated to help me. It may turn out to be okay but exporting movie to disc is still beyond me. Mind you the help section on FCPX is poor to. Took 6 days to be delivered as well!