We are getting FCP4 and are new to Macs and video editing. What is the best way to train our family on using FCP4? We have kids in jr high, high school, and the parents that want to learn. What books or DVD training do you recommend? Also, do you need to be a professional to use FCP? Are we getting a product beyond the capabilities of beginners/novices? Thanks for your time.
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Whats the best way to get trained on FCP4? DVD training or books
- Thread starter macharrington
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you should be getting final cut express instead. i would say at least 70% of the features you will never use in final cut pro.
the best way to learn is to sit there and dedicate lots of time to just fooling around with what you've got.
the best way to learn is to sit there and dedicate lots of time to just fooling around with what you've got.
Whether to use books or video depends how you learn the best. Some people can read something in a book and get it. Other people need to see it/hear it. Some people need both. Some can experiment with something and make it work (though I think that knowing why it works is very important).
As for beginners/novices--Final Cut Pro is definitely aimed at professionals. It's way overkill for home movies and that kind of thing. You can do some pretty incredible things with iMovie and it's very friendly to beginners--and iMovie comes on the computer so there's no need to spend an extra thousand dollars. If you outgrow iMovie then Final Cut Express is a good move. If you're buying a new Mac you can get Final Cut Express for $99. If you know you'll be doing a lot of video it would be a good move to buy it with the Mac. But leave it in the box until you need it. Start with iMovie.
As for beginners/novices--Final Cut Pro is definitely aimed at professionals. It's way overkill for home movies and that kind of thing. You can do some pretty incredible things with iMovie and it's very friendly to beginners--and iMovie comes on the computer so there's no need to spend an extra thousand dollars. If you outgrow iMovie then Final Cut Express is a good move. If you're buying a new Mac you can get Final Cut Express for $99. If you know you'll be doing a lot of video it would be a good move to buy it with the Mac. But leave it in the box until you need it. Start with iMovie.