Some help with Final Cut Pro at DVinfo.net

Mitch Buss · April 25th, 2006, 06:31 PM

I recently got a hold of Final Cut Pro 5 and have never used it before, aside from playing with it for a few minutes in the Apple Store. I was wondering if someone can direct me to a site that gives the basic know-how for this program. I tried the help topics in the program, but they were not very helpful in my opinion. Anything would be great. Thanks.

Andrew Khalil · April 25th, 2006, 06:42 PM

I learned FCP in school so I never really read books or went on sites, but this site (http://www.larryjordan.biz/) has some good tips and articles on it and I refer to it a lot, but it may be for more advanced users, either way, should be worth a look.
Also, the discussion board on Apple's site is quite useful if you have specific questions as is the forum you're on right now:D, so if you have any questions on how to use it, feel free to ask. Also, if you need to do something specific, the manuals that come with it can be pretty useful, especially the software ones that allow you to just search for what you need.

Is FCP the first editor you've used, or did you migrate from something else? If you've migrated, you'll find out that it's very similar to most others.

Boyd Ostroff · April 25th, 2006, 07:11 PM

I learned FCP by myself and the transition was very easy (and refreshing :-) after having used Adobe Premiere. But I got a couple third party books which were also quite helpful. I suggest browsing around the big bookstores in your area, like Borders and Barnes & Noble. You should find a number of FCP books there and you can choose one which presents the info in a manner you like.

Mitch Buss · April 25th, 2006, 07:18 PM

I have used Vegas 5 and 6 for everything before this and decided that I wanted to try out FCP because it is supposedly the be-all-end-all. I've tried Premiere and really just did not take the time to learn it. I suppose I'm just going to have to sit down with it for a day and figure it out, but any other places of info would be great.

Gregory S. Ouellette · April 25th, 2006, 11:42 PM

both the book and cd are great. i have one other not as good.
recommendation:
take a deep breath, clear your calendar and spend 4 straight days in 'school' with the book. take notes on the most important/interesting things and go back over those the following morning.

i had never used any program and was up and running after that. i just refer to the book when wondering about individual things. or here.

also, get it used on ebay or amazon.com used area.

Rob McCardle · April 26th, 2006, 12:11 AM

Well, I post regularly over on the Apple FCP forum and here a bit as well.

Honestly, really do take the time to read the manual. It's very good - ok not the easiest thing in the world to refer to but then the on-line manual under the Help menu is the same thing.
Work through the tutorials as well, they'll get you into it.

So many people jump on the program without really understanding what they're doing - or they run into problems because they're not doing things in the right way.

Use it.
"rtfm" is one of the catch cry's across there.

David Roseland · April 27th, 2006, 08:48 AM

Get the ApplePro Training Series book. GET IT! It comes with a CD full of content to go along with lessons in the book. It's easy to understand and walks you through everything you could think of (and things you don't.) They also have books for DVD Studio, Motion, Soundtrack, and just about all the apple applications. It is GREAT!! Go to apple.com and search the store for Apple Pro Training. The books are about $45 each and MORE then worth it. Check it out.

D

Gregory S. Ouellette · May 11th, 2006, 10:50 AM

hi mitch
this is exactly what these books i mentioned do. they have step by step tutorials with a cd that has footage you work with that he refers to. it also has videos on the cd to show exctly what to do. you could even skip the book if you just want the absoulte basics and can learn that way.
really, try it.

April 25th, 2006, 06:31 PM	#1
Mitch Buss Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 184	Some help with Final Cut Pro I recently got a hold of Final Cut Pro 5 and have never used it before, aside from playing with it for a few minutes in the Apple Store. I was wondering if someone can direct me to a site that gives the basic know-how for this program. I tried the help topics in the program, but they were not very helpful in my opinion. Anything would be great. Thanks.

April 25th, 2006, 11:42 PM	#5
Gregory S. Ouellette Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bend, Oregon Posts: 42	Final Cut Pro 5/ by larry jordan both the book and cd are great. i have one other not as good. recommendation: take a deep breath, clear your calendar and spend 4 straight days in 'school' with the book. take notes on the most important/interesting things and go back over those the following morning. i had never used any program and was up and running after that. i just refer to the book when wondering about individual things. or here. also, get it used on ebay or amazon.com used area.

May 11th, 2006, 10:50 AM	#8
Gregory S. Ouellette Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bend, Oregon Posts: 42	what about the books mentioned in this thread? hi mitch this is exactly what these books i mentioned do. they have step by step tutorials with a cd that has footage you work with that he refers to. it also has videos on the cd to show exctly what to do. you could even skip the book if you just want the absoulte basics and can learn that way. really, try it.

April 25th, 2006, 06:42 PM	#2
Andrew Khalil Major Player Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 424	I learned FCP in school so I never really read books or went on sites, but this site (http://www.larryjordan.biz/) has some good tips and articles on it and I refer to it a lot, but it may be for more advanced users, either way, should be worth a look. Also, the discussion board on Apple's site is quite useful if you have specific questions as is the forum you're on right now:D, so if you have any questions on how to use it, feel free to ask. Also, if you need to do something specific, the manuals that come with it can be pretty useful, especially the software ones that allow you to just search for what you need. Is FCP the first editor you've used, or did you migrate from something else? If you've migrated, you'll find out that it's very similar to most others.

April 25th, 2006, 07:11 PM	#3
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,802	I learned FCP by myself and the transition was very easy (and refreshing :-) after having used Adobe Premiere. But I got a couple third party books which were also quite helpful. I suggest browsing around the big bookstores in your area, like Borders and Barnes & Noble. You should find a number of FCP books there and you can choose one which presents the info in a manner you like.

April 25th, 2006, 07:18 PM	#4
Mitch Buss Regular Crew Join Date: May 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 184	I have used Vegas 5 and 6 for everything before this and decided that I wanted to try out FCP because it is supposedly the be-all-end-all. I've tried Premiere and really just did not take the time to learn it. I suppose I'm just going to have to sit down with it for a day and figure it out, but any other places of info would be great.

April 26th, 2006, 12:11 AM	#6
Rob McCardle Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 99	Well, I post regularly over on the Apple FCP forum and here a bit as well. Honestly, really do take the time to read the manual. It's very good - ok not the easiest thing in the world to refer to but then the on-line manual under the Help menu is the same thing. Work through the tutorials as well, they'll get you into it. So many people jump on the program without really understanding what they're doing - or they run into problems because they're not doing things in the right way. Use it. "rtfm" is one of the catch cry's across there.

April 27th, 2006, 08:48 AM	#7
David Roseland New Boot Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Cedar Park, TX Posts: 9	Get the ApplePro Training Series book. GET IT! It comes with a CD full of content to go along with lessons in the book. It's easy to understand and walks you through everything you could think of (and things you don't.) They also have books for DVD Studio, Motion, Soundtrack, and just about all the apple applications. It is GREAT!! Go to apple.com and search the store for Apple Pro Training. The books are about $45 each and MORE then worth it. Check it out. D