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Rating: 
Summary: Very Poorly Written
Review: Hofmann does know editing, but he is an absolutely awful writer. Misplaced modifers and convolution abound. Six months after buying this, when I do try to refer to it, I find myself re-reading and re-reading and re-reading the same sentences in an effort to understand him - just like I did months ago when I finally gave up and put the book on a shelf. There are many better FCP books to buy.
Rating:
Summary: Very Poorly Written
Review: Hofmann does know editing, but he is an absolutely awful writer. Misplaced modifers and convolution abound. Six months after buying this, when I do try to refer to it, I find myself re-reading and re-reading and re-reading the same sentences in an effort to understand him - just like I did months ago when I finally gave up and put the book on a shelf. There are many better FCP books to buy.
Rating: 
Summary: Who proof read this book!?
Review: I picked up this book while on Xmas vacation back east. I had nothing to do for the holidays, other than eat the in-laws food. So, I sat down with the book and the material, and went through it all. I edited the movie that was on the DVD supplied with the book.It was just about when I got to the first time you open up the files on the DVD, when I discovered... "oh, it's one of these books". It was the the type of book with no real instruction. Just tells you what to do in the body of a paragraph explaining a function, just as if I told you to type "CMD+F1" in the body of this paragraph. You would read right past it, and not know it's an instruction for the next step in the lesson. So, that's not all. I noticed on at least 30 pages, there were serious typos or instructions that had symbols missing. Example, " +F1"
...what the!? So, it took some hunting around in my FCP4 manual to discover that someone forgot to put "ALT" before the "+F1". So, you get the idea? I found one page that had that happen 4 times. The book is also written like a stream of thought.. I guess that's why it's called "Jerry Hofmann ON Final Cut Pro 4" ....key word, "on". Let's talk about the DVD content. I watched the movie all the way through before working on it, as instructed. Horrible. It's worse than a Hallmark After School Special about fence building. The photography is good, however, the acting and sound are on par with a late night adult film. Dry and untalented. What shocked me... most of all, was the edit. Wow. There were so many times when the camera would cross the line, and in one moment, when you fade up on a man walking toward camera in the snow, and you can clearly tell he's standing, waiting for "ACTION" to be called, and then starts walking as if he's been doing it for hours. How simple is that to fix? So, bottom line, the book had me confused for almost 80% of it. The content was quality to look at, and that's all you need for a lesson, but it just seemed that Mr. Hofmann was so proud of it, that it almost takes you out of wanting to know how he did it. I did learn, but I often had walk away from the book. Good thing I had nothing to do when I read the book. Well, all I have to say.. who proofed the book? Did they also pick the picture for the cover that's out of focus? Good job Jerry on the book, however, please, next time have someone proof and test the book that didn't write it. -J
Rating: 
Summary: A great book from a masterful communicator
Review: Jerry Hofmann is one of the most respected FCP experts in the world, both teaching at the University of Colorado at Denver and holding the distinction of being the top posting guru at both Creativecow.net and Apple.com's Final Cut Pro forums. This is the only book available in which you get to build a complete movie from start to finish. You get all the media files on the book's DVD-ROM disc and by working through the chapters, you will actually understand the process and rationale behind the editing process -- as well as learning the basics of how FCP works. This is unique among all the FCP books we've seen on the market. (You won't find this feature in any other NLE book that we know of for any other editing package.) You also end up creating a 21 layer composite by the end of the book, (the production company logo that ends the film) -- and to learn this type of information, you would have to buy both books 1 & 2 in the Apple Pro series books. Media Manager is also covered in this book, a powerful process that allows editors to both save time and work in the preferred methodology of major editing pros such as Walter Murch, editor of the FCP-edited 'Cold Mountain' film with Nicole Kidman. This is not just a basic entry-level book on how FCP works -- this book will teach you not only how FCP works and the various function keys, etc., but more importantly, how these processes work together to make you an editor. This is not just a 'How To' book but also includes the 'Why' of the editing process. This entire book is one inter-woven tutorial, broken up into topical sections, and is a rich 'Hands-On' experience yielding a finished film as your destination. A great piece of work, Jerry. Ron Lindeboom
creativecow.net
Rating: 
Summary: EXCELLENT BOOK!!!
Review: Jerry Hofmann truly is one of the world's leading experts on Final Cut Pro His documentation of work is evident within the FCP User Group forums on apple.com (www.apple.com/support - Final Cut Pro Discussions) I believe that he has been working upon the book for a while now, and it shows! The lessons are excellent and everything is clearly explained ----- if there is something that you have difficulty understanding, I'm sure he'll be happy to address your prob on the apple discussion boards otherwise, I recommend the book to every type of FCP user! ---- beginner, intermediate, advanced, etc ----- the tips and lessons within the book are worth it alone! Everyone can take away a good lesson from this book, and knowning that it comes from the world's leading FCP genius, only makes it more worthwhile!
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: This book is the best one out there, in my opinion, on Final Cut Pro. The DVD material is great, and really allows you to edit together something interesting. While doing so you learn not only the functions of Final Cut Pro, but also editing technique, which was very valuable in my limited experience in editing. It is also a great reference book, helping explain certain features, and covering the history of Final Cut Pro. This is an all around great book, and you will not go wrong with buying it!!
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