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Rating: 
Summary: An invaluable guide worth every penny
Review: Finally, finally, I was able to become adept at Pro Tools -- software known for its steep learning curve -- after reading the first edition of this book. Now I've learned a whole new spate of tricks and trouble-shooting techniques from this newly expanded and highly useful guide.
I teach broadcast writing part time at the University of Georgia. I'm also an independent producer for Georgia Public Radio. I worked through this new version of Keane's book because I wanted to know whether to recommend it to students. The answer is: yes, I'd recommend it highly.
Almost everyone who has worked with Pro Tools gets bogged down at first. Things can go awry because you've toggled something accidentally or used the wrong mode or tool. Then, you're lost -- or more critically, you may have lost something you've been working on for hours. But Keane's book guides you through the thicket, showing you the pitfalls to avoid and the ways to get out of inevitable tangles. He does this by systematically introducing tools just when you need them. He then anticipates common mistakes and teaches remedies to fix or prevent each one.
It's pretty remarkable how well and relatively seamlessly the guide serves all types of readers (Mac and Windows users - with each group further differentiated by those using the latest or earlier versions of operating systems and Pro Tools). The information about moving to Mac's OS X is especially useful for the many producers out there making the switch, finally, with trepidation.
The book is geared primarily toward musicians - as the book's name underscores -- but the information has been just as suitable for my work producing features and commentaries for public radio.
I bet John Keane could pretty much offer a guarantee that readers will feel they've gotten their money's worth. I learned invaluable new shortcuts, tricks, and safety mechanisms for this industry-standard audio editing software -- and actually for my computer generally. The book has a great chapter on trouble-shooting and provides crucial information about hard drives and improving system efficiency.
Everyone striving to master Pro Tools faces the same challenges on the steep climb in. Keane shows us the way -- all the while stressing tactics that save space and time and avert disaster. Learning those good habits right at the outset is worth every penny.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific book!
Review: I am new protools operator and have about 3 other protools "help" books. This is the one I have been looking for. It is clear, concise, well organized, informative, fun to read/learn, well laid out and accurately written. It takes you by the hand and walks you through the program in a very logical and intuitive way and gets you through the foundation and most-used functions of protools. It may not be so helpful/insightful for an experienced protools user, but if you are just starting out, or feel you don't quite "grok" the program, you would be hard pressed to find a better book! NOW I feel that I understand the program, how it "thinks" and can tackle any other aspect of it without intimidation!
Rating:
Summary: Terrific book!
Review: I am new protools operator and have about 3 other protools "help" books. This is the one I have been looking for. It is clear, concise, well organized, informative, fun to read/learn, well laid out and accurately written. It takes you by the hand and walks you through the program in a very logical and intuitive way and gets you through the foundation and most-used functions of protools. It may not be so helpful/insightful for an experienced protools user, but if you are just starting out, or feel you don't quite "grok" the program, you would be hard pressed to find a better book! NOW I feel that I understand the program, how it "thinks" and can tackle any other aspect of it without intimidation!
Rating: 
Summary: Beware - no CD!
Review: I just received this book. There is no CD. The back cover SAYS there is an enclosed CD, but there isn't even a CD sleeve or mark/indication that there ever was one.Note that all previous reviews predate the release date and refer to an older edition, which I guess had a CD. I went to the Osborne website, and there was no download for the book. I wrote an e-mail to them. Hopefully they will make the contents of the CD available. But, don't buy this book if you are planning to do the exercises from the CD.
Rating:
Summary: Got the CD. This IS a good learning tool for beginners.
Review: I purchased three other Pro Tools books before this, to get up and running with Pro Tools as a newbie to the software/hardware. Then, I got this one. This book rocks as it is a hands on, practical tutorial taking the reader step by step through the user interface, recording, editing, tweaking things the way you'll eventually use the software. I've just rebuilt my system and ready to continue on with the book. I can't recommend it too highly! Nice work John Keane!!!
Rating:
Summary: This should have been the first Pro Tools book I bought!
Review: I purchased three other Pro Tools books before this, to get up and running with Pro Tools as a newbie to the software/hardware. Then, I got this one. This book rocks as it is a hands on, practical tutorial taking the reader step by step through the user interface, recording, editing, tweaking things the way you'll eventually use the software. I've just rebuilt my system and ready to continue on with the book. I can't recommend it too highly! Nice work John Keane!!!
Rating:
Summary: Great for a beginner and still good for an experienced user
Review: I've been using Pro Tools LE for a little over a year now, but am always willing to learn some new tricks. I bought this book hoping for just that and was not disappointed. While it is definitely geared more towards someone just starting out with Pro Tools, I found quite a few little tricks and tips that I hadn't thought of before. It leads you through everything from creating and recording a session to some fairly advanced editing. I haven't gotten to try out the CD-ROM yet, as I'm 6000 miles away from my audio PC on tour, but I will be home in a few weeks and plan to play around with the numerous editing exercises that Keane has included. One thing I thought was neat was how he really encourages the user to use keyboard shortcuts instead of "mousing around the screen". He even includes handy shortcut key cut-outs for both Mac and PC that you can position close to your monitor and also a cut-out that you can tape above the function keys for people, like me, that can't remember what all the buttons do. After recording and mixing a few albums the "wrong way", I think my arm and wrist will be very glad I got this book. I would recommend it to anyone from the beginner on up. Sarah Sydow
Far From Nowhere
www.farfromnowhere.com
Rating:
Summary: Love this book.
Review: This is the right tool for learning Pro Tools! You won't be disappointed by this book. John Keane has the great gift of being able to create tutorials that are concentrated yet not overwhelming, elegant, cool, AND humorous. Learning his approach will allow you to get the most out of the software with a minimum of stress, in other words, THIS IS FUN.
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