Final Cut Pro 4 on the Spot: Timesaving Tips and Shortcuts from the Pros

What a breath of fresh air! What we're seeing here is the first of a new breed of books for more advanced users of FCP. As Certified Apple Instructors of FCP, (Richard is also the author of the excellent book, Photoshop for NLE editors) it is obvious that these guys know their stuff. However, delivering the material with wit and humor as they do, makes it a breezy yet informative read, indeed. You can either go through the book from cover to cover or in bite sized pieces between renders. Amongst all my FCP books, "Final Cut Pro 4 On the Spot" is quickly becoming one of the most dog-eared! I highly recommend this book for folks that are motivated to take their knowledge of FCP to new heights.Bravo Gentlemen!Kevin MonahanAuthor-"Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro"Apple Certified Instructor, Final Cut ProCo-Chair SF Cutters, San Francisco FCP User Groupwww.fcpworld.com

I am a high school teacher that uses Final Cut Pro on a daily level in and out of the classroom (the class produces weekly programming). Looking for printed materials for FCP usually brings HUGE step-by-step manual-like books. This new book brings a refeshing look at Final Cut Pro. It offers insightful, useful tips, and instructions I can use and share with my students. It reminds me of the Photoshop WOW books. Since I have shared this book with students, three purchased it immediately. Other reviews offer great details about this book; I HIGHLY recommend this book. It is a must have in your FCP library.

There are few technical books that, once read, leave one wishing for even more... "Final Cut Pro 4 On The Spot" is not only a tome of superb hints and tips for using Final Cut Pro 4 to its utmost, but also packages together suggestions for those "rare" times your Macintosh decides to present you with various problems. Everything from the PRAM bustle to the use of the Unix command FSCK is presented to the reader, enabling you to correct many of the minor problems that can afflict your work, your OS and your machine. This book presents all of the information in bite-sized, easily digestible and well-written, concise paragraphs. With topics that run the gamet from learning how to set-up your own FCP 4.0 interface, to establishing user settings that'll save you time and agony, to creating titles and transitions that are truly amazing, this book does it all. Included are sections on how to manage your media, how to export your videos, enhancing and troubleshooting your audio mixes... this book is worth FAR more than the price of entry. In fact, Apple Computer should consider packaging this book in with the FCP software itself, it's that competent in its serving of knowledge. As an ex-Apple employee, and a publisher with dozens of magazines and books to my credit during my chequered history, this is one of the finest techincal books I have had the pleasure to read and employ in gaining a better understanding of Apple's superior NLE, FCP 4.0. CMP Books should certainly continue to access the talents of authors Richard Harrington and Abba Shapiro for their future DV Expert Series publications. If you work with FCP, purchase this book and learn how to truly professionalize your work with some amazing tips and shortcuts. "Final Cut Pro 4 On The Spot" is definitely an award-winner, in and of itself.

In whats becoming a crowded field of Final Cut reading options, this book stands out. This book is a must have for FCP users of all levels. A clever combination of practical tips in combination with power user and even system troubleshooting that will keep your FCP sessions purring. Kudos to the Authors!

I like the forrmat of this book! the information is in small, concise nuggets, and it's a great mix of some of the more obscure features of FCP, practical tips on how to use features of the progam to make your work look and sound better, system tips, and ideas about your creativity and workflow. The fact that it's not just about "where are the buttons in FCP" makes this a much more valuable book. The authors are obviously familiar with real-world post-production situations. It's a keeper.