Class on Demand: Final Cut Pro 101 with Jerry Hofmann:
A review on the new DVD training title for newcommers to FCPMarco Solorio Reviews Final Cut Pro 101 with Jerry Hofmann
Class On Demand, a company that's known for its selection of instructional videos for applications like Newtek Lightwave 3D and Pinnacle Alladin with hosts by the likes of Dan Ablan and Paul Holtz, have brought us a new video; Final Cut Pro 101 hosted by Creative Cow's own infamous Jerry Hofmann. Jerry is an instructor at the Colorado Film & Video Instructional Studios (a facility with 20 Final Cut Pro bays) and has a Final Cut Pro book credit to his name, "The Final Cut Pro X Project" published by New Riders. You know you're getting top-notch video instruction here!
As a preface, the video is based around Final Cut Pro 3 on OSX, but Jerry does instruct users how to perform equivalent operations in OS9.
This video can be bought as either a VHS video in PAL or NTSC format, or on DVD. Both options include two accompanying CD-ROMs for instructional material to use with the video. The people at Class On Demand wanted to send me a copy on DVD so I could give them feedback on their new product... now how could I deny that offer! And while I'm at it, I'll post a review on the Cow! The DVD really makes picking chapters much quicker and easier. I got my 12" turkey sandwich ready in one hand and the remote in the other. Let's start the show!
The entire video is about 75 minutes in length. The pace is a little quick, but there wasn't really a choice to make it shorter because Jerry does cover a lot of essential ground from setup to capturing to mastering to tape. Besides, that's what the pause and rewind button are for. I also like watching Jerry in super slow motion, but maybe that's just me.
The production value is great... nice lighting, nice camera work, scan rate conversion seems to hold up well, the editing flows naturally and the text overlays and highlights add to the instructional process. Creative Cow's own Walter Biscardi edited (and directed) the video together and his work looks great. Jerry obviously seems comfortable with the camera which is nice, although he does fumble a couple words here and there, which makes for some added entertainment in my book. No monotone drab here. Everything is refreshing, dynamic and positive.
The beef
The video starts out with the very basics of how a Final Cut Pro system incorporates different pieces of gear to work together as one, complete system. Jerry then goes into basic instruction on how to set up your Final Cut Pro system via the setting windows and tabs. He really goes through the nuts and bolts. Soon we delve into the finer points of Final Cut Pro.
The real meat of the video is the instructional material you can use in conjunction with the DVD presentation. Supplied from the accompanying CD-ROMs, you get to work with footage from a real television pilot, which will really make the learning process more enjoyable for the end user. What's also nice is that Jerry teaches you basic editing methods and then builds upon that. He also approaches tasks differently to show the variety Final Cut Pro gives users for editing options. Not to forget of course the good coverage he presents on digital audio. All this in only 75 minutes!
A perspective I really like are the "mistakes" he does on purpose. If you as a user encounter this, you'll know why it happened and how to fix it. This is a very nice touch I wish other instructional videos incorporated. Instead of just "this is how it's done" Jerry also shows, "this is how it's done if you goof up".
By the end of the DVD, you'll have put together an intro of a real pilot with supplied clips, graphics and audio with enough basic editing techniques to really make you shine. Even an experienced Final Cut Pro user such as myself learned a few things! Thanks Jerry! But for the Final Cut Pro user just starting out, this is a fine instructional product indeed. New users wont feel intimidated thanks to Jerry's inviting and positive attitude.
The gizzards
The only thing I would have added to this great product (and this is a small nit-pick) is to have added a mic to the mouse for better audible mouse-click sounds. Sometimes windows pop up without the accompanying mouse click and it feels a little strange. This seemed to have only happened in the very first portion of the video, so for the majority, you can hear the mouse clicks, but it would have been nice to have those clicks louder.
As for the instructional television pilot on the CD-ROM, I would have changed the muscle car show with a European car show using a German woman hosting the demo with a thick German accent; "Here vee have deh BMW E46 M3 CSL with accompanyink coil-oveh suspension, und 5-way adjustable svay-bars."
Ohhhhh... I get goose bumps just thinking about it. Oh well, maybe a future installment will bring this to us! I can only dream of such, but I digress.
Bottom line
This is a great production, with valuable content hosted by the knowledgeable Jerry Hofmann and directed and edited by the talented Walter Biscardi. How can it get better than that? Yes, a German woman in the instructional CD-ROM footage, I know. But besides that, this is a wonderful product to learn Final Cut Pro on. My advice is to purchase the DVD over the VHS tape as with any video purchase. I also advise watching the video in its entirety then going back and following along with the CD-ROM material. Take your time and use the pause and rewind buttons liberally. For the new user, you'll learn a lot of valuable information from Jerry on a very competitively priced video. Good stuff.
I give this video 4.5 out of 5 Cows.
Prices:
$39.95 USD - Final Cut Pro 101 VHS NTSC
$44.95 USD - Final Cut Pro 101 VHS PAL
$54.95 USD - Final Cut Pro 101 DVD
Latest discount offering from Class On Demand as quoted from the Creative Cow's Cowmunications page:
"If you call Class On Demand at (847) 843-9939 and tell them you saw this on the Cow, you will get 50% off the price of FCP 101!!! They'll even take 30% off anything of their other titles! How about that? But you gotta call! You can order the product from the website, but you won't get the discount. Sale ends 12/31/02 so don't miss out on this great value in Final Cut Pro training."
Marco Solorio is a multi-award winning digital media producer in the San Francisco bay area. He owns and operates OneRiver Media, which focuses on producing animated content for broadcast, as well as serving production needs for content developers. And of course, The Jetsons is one of his all-time most favorite cartoons in the world.
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Class On Demand, a company that's known for its selection of instructional videos for applications like Newtek Lightwave 3D and Pinnacle Alladin with hosts by the likes of Dan Ablan and Paul Holtz, have brought us a new video; Final Cut Pro 101 hosted by Creative Cow's own infamous Jerry Hofmann. Jerry is an instructor at the Colorado Film & Video Instructional Studios (a facility with 20 Final Cut Pro bays) and has a Final Cut Pro book credit to his name, "The Final Cut Pro X Project" published by New Riders. You know you're getting top-notch video instruction here!
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