CreativeCOW.net leader and contributing editor Tim Kurkoski gives rave reviews to Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 Studio Techniques by Jacob Rosenberg and published by Adobe Press, 504 pages, June 28, 2004, ISBN: 0321220528. Tim says, "If you use Premiere Pro, and your name isn't Jacob Rosenberg (or possibly Tim Kolb), you should look at this book. In fact, you should probably buy it. Jacob, well known for his in-depth Total Training videos, has written the most comprehensive book about Premiere Pro available. From top to bottom, almost everything about Premiere Pro 1.5 is covered in this book and the accompanying DVD, from setting up a computer for editing to exporting for DVD."
The first few chapters of Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 Studio Techniques by Jacob Rosenberg cover the basics: capturing video and working in the timeline. At over 500 pages, though, no stone is left unturned. The beginning user's skills will be built up from editing basics, through creating slide shows, adding effects, working with audio, and designing titles. Experienced users can skip directly to the later chapters for advanced audio techniques, managing a multi-camera edit, color correcting, and matte and keying effects.
Jacob also steps away from the editing desk with tips on how to record the best footage before you start putting the project together. Advice on choosing microphones, setting up multi-camera shoot, and lighting a green screen scene are all here. Having better quality input makes the editing process that much easier, and it's a point that most books pass over because it doesn't directly involve using the program. Bravo to Jacob for stepping beyond the application. The title Studio Techniques has truly been earned.
The layout is very straightforward. The text on most pages is broken up by at least one screen shot, making it easier to read and understand. Side bars that expand on the tutorials or give insight into Jacob's techniques are fairly frequent. Chapters are divided into topic-specific, easily digestible chunks. Occasionally the writing trips over itself, giving the impression that Jacob is more comfortable delivering his tutorials to a live audience rather than a keyboard, but I can sympathize with that.
Half of the power of Studio Techniques isn't in the book, though. It's in the accompanying DVD. Besides including the requisite project and media files so you can follow along with the tutorials, eight appendices (in the form of PDF files) expand the reach of the book. The appendices cover subjects that didn't fit neatly into the tutorials, like setting up a computer for non-linear editing, troubleshooting common problems, and exporting with the Adobe Media Encoder. But wait, there's more! The DVD also has video tutorials, referenced by the book at appropriate points. Produced by Total Training, the videos allow Jacob to demonstrate and articulate points that just don't fit well into written words.
The one big downside to this book, if there is one, is that Jacob has covered almost all of the same material on his Total Training DVD's. Even the sample files used are the same, so if you've watched the videos, the lessons can feel repetitive. The book gives Jacob a chance to go into more detail, though, so even if you've gone through the DVD's it's worth keeping Studio Techniques on hand as a reference to help you through those tough edits.
In Conclusion
It may seem like I'm heaping mountains of praise on Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 Studio Techniques by Jacob Rosenberg, but it deserves it. The DVD and book combo of Studio Techniques is well put together, and the information and instruction is exhaustive. It's the equivalent of Chris and Trish Meyers' Creating Motion Graphics book series for Adobe After Effects. Recommended for anyone who wants to sharpen their skills in Premiere Pro, or anyone who is simply looking for a good reference book.
Cow Rating: 5 Big, Happily Mooing Cows! No bull about it, this is hands-down one of the best references for Premiere Pro, short of having Jacob and his techniques in the studio with you.
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