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lafcpug on DVD: Walter Murch on Editing "Jarhead" (over 2 hours)
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Periodically we will be posting reviews of products we deem worthy of attention. These reviews will be written by our members who we feel most expert in the field that the particular product demonstrates. As the list grows longer we will catergorize our reviews so they will be easy to search for and, we hope, helpful for the FCP user.

If you have a product you are using and you would like to write an unbiased review for us, send an email to Michael Horton with your idea.

Reviews are the opinions of the reviewer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the lafcpug.

-Reviews-

 

 Tutorials/Books

  • Optimizing Your Final Cut Pro System
    I think the title of this book "Optimizing Your Final Cut Pro System" is a bit of a misnomer. The sub-title " A Technical Guide to Real-World Post Production" is more to the point.
  • KenStone Unplugged
    What we have here is the acoustic Ken Stone, the down and dirty Ken Stone, the nitty gritty, get it under your fingernails Ken Stone. What you get is the best of Ken Stone to date. Thankfully, as Apple software and editing challenges evolve in the future another "Best of" is still awaiting us a few more years down the road.
  • Final Cut Pro 5 - Apple Pro training Series
    There is no question that Diana Weynand and Peachpit Press have succeeded at presenting Apple's Final Cut Pro 5 in a manner conducive to sequential learning. If you already have the Final Cut HD volume you will find that coverage of new features as well as completely different media makes it a worthy purchase. If you are just starting out with FCP than this book provides you with a great way to learn.
  • Inside DVD Studio Pro 4
    All in all, what we have here is an excellent updated version of an already fine DVD tutorial on DVD Studio Pro. The media supplied with the disc was well shot and easy to use. Most importantly, it was a simple thing to follow along, go back to 'hear it again' and where I had questions, the tutorials provided the answers.
  • Final Cut Pro 5 for Mac OS X: Visual QuickPro Guide
    To the uninitiated, this is not a FCP book on how to be creative with a load of tutorial projects to follow along with. This is a reference book that brings you up to date with all the workings of Final Cut Pro including, as one would expect, important references to the many new features found in version 5.
  • The Art of Encoding Using Compressor
    It would seem that Brian Gary understood my dilemma when he created his "The Art of Encoding Using Compressor" tutorial DVD. From the very start of this tutorial it is quite clear that Brian is a 'compressionist' (grin), it is obvious that he knows compression and Compressor and his comfort with this subject is evident, transcending what could be overly dry and tedious material.
  • Inside Editing with Final Cut Pro 5
    "Inside Final Cut Pro 5" is an updated version of "Inside FCP 4" and "Inside FCP HD 4.5" and while the 5 version covers all the new features of 5 very thoroughly, many of the lessons from version 4 and HD 4.5 have not been changed.
  • Getting Started with Final Cut Studio
    Getting Started with Final Cut Studio is addressed to the new user of Final Cut Pro, Motion, Studio Pro and DVD Studio Pro 4. It is not meant as a complete and comprehensive reference tool or as a 'How 2' for the many special effects and creative motion graphics that may have inspired them in the first place.
  • Getting Started With Motion - Apple Pro Training Series
    I've created a monster. Sitting on my desk is the newest book hot off the Peachpit Press, Getting Started in Motion, an Introduction to Motion Graphics by Mary Plummer which is a part of the Apple Pro Training Series.
  • Ripple Motion Tutorial 5 and 6
    Steve Martin and Ripple Training now bring forth two more additional tutoring sessions for the ever-expanding number of editors using Apple's Motion.
  • Creating Motion Effects in Final Cut Pro
    Like several of the Ripple Training products I have been fortunate enough to view, this DVD brings the user along at an easy pace with sequential activities and tasks. This disc is directed to any user of Final Cut Pro from the beginner to the advanced user simply because it is so full of useful tips and tricks, many of which I had forgotten about and some that I had no idea existed.
  • Motion for Mac OS X: Visual Quickstart Guide
    Motion has been shipping for several months now and there are several excellent Motion tutorial books on the market. These books teach by providing lessons and exercises along with video material to work with. A good way to learn Motion. So with several good books out there why would one be interested in the Motion for Mac OS X: Visual Quickstart Guide?
  • Easy Guide to DVD Studio Pro 3
    Now this book is different, wonderfully so. Addressed more so to the newer user of DVD Studio Pro 3 than to the experienced professional, Rick Young's book is magnificently studded with beautiful color graphics and illustrations that make it a joy to look at and use.
  • Inside Editing with FCP HD/4.5
    Ask any video professional about high definition formats and you'll likely get eight different answers. What is confusing is that all of them would be correct. The good news is that a new DVD ROM training series from DMTS brings some clarity to the mix. The companion disk to the "Inside Editing with FCP HD/4.5" series dedicates two hours to exploring the nuances of HD.
  • Behind the Seen (How Walter Murch edited Cold Mountain Using Apple's Final Cut Pro and What This Means for Cinema)
    This book tells the story of a journey, a journey on a road never traveled before. It is a suspenseful story filled with twists, turns and obstacles, the outcome, not always certain. It's a thriller but don't look for this book in the Fiction section at your local book store.
  • Apple Pro Training Series: Motion
    This is the first major book on Motion to arrive within the Apple editing community and it is all I had been hoping it would be. In actuality, this book serves as the text for the Apple Motion Certification program and provides a thorough documentation of the many possibilities and levels that Motion has to offer.
  • Inside Motion
    It is my distinct pleasure to review Magnet Media's DVD-based Motion training tutorial. This trainer is over 4.5 hours of training, broken down into several categories to really help you get started quickly and easily wherever you left off on training yourself in the ways of Motion.
  • Ripple Motion Tutorial 3 (creating DVD Motion menus in Motion)
    Steve Martin began working with the DV GUYs website developing QuickTime tutorials you could download, use and learn from. Many of those tutorials are still up on that website and Steve's own Ripple Training site. Point is, Steve has been at this for a long time as one of the leading teachers of all things Apple. It stands to reason that he would produce some incredible tutorials for the Motion program and he has.
  • Motion PowerStart
    Once again DVcreators.net is first to market with "Michael Wohl's Motion Powerstart" tutorial. Ken Stone Reviews
  • Exploring Apple Motion: Digital-Tutors
    Motion, like Live Type is simple and intuitive on the outside, but for those who aspire to integrate all there is to know, a deeper delving into the program is mandatory.
  • Michael Wohl's Motion PowerStart
    This DVD-ROM instructional piece provides in three chapters a surprising in depth analysis of some basic, and advanced features in Motion. And like any good movie, the creators have the left option for a series of sequels to explore additional features of Motion.
  • Magnet Media's "Inside DVD Studio Pro 3"
    Magnet Media has composed their DVD-based DVD Studio Pro 3 training on this same principle that Apple uses: to provide both an easy and advanced interface to the authoring process. With this DVD you begin with the basic mode, and as the lessons progress you will grow into the advanced lessons, with Apple's advanced mode leaving you with all the knowledge you need to drive this application...
  • Magnet Media's Zoom In - A DVD-Based Magazine
    Zoom In is a Quarterly DVD Magazine from Magnet Media and "is a way of bringing industry expert interviews and tutorials to an audience much more quickly than was possible before."
  • LiveType PowerStart
    Over the past number of years, since the introduction of FCP 1, DVcreators.net has been producing excellent tutorials that have guided us through, not only FCP, but other Apple applications that work with and support FCP...The LiveType PowerStart DVD Tutorial is no exception.
  • Final Cut Pro HD (4.5) for Mac OSX: Visual QuickPro Guide
    As night follows day, each time Apple updates Final Cut Pro, Lisa Brenneis updates her Visual QuickPro Guide for FCP. The FCP 4.5 free update also know as FCP HD contains bug fixes, program tweaks, a few new features, changes to old procedures but is also about the inclusion of the new video format, DVCPRO HD.
  • Final Cut Pro Advanced Techniques
    This self-paced training DVD in nine video chapters discusses numerous tips and tricks, time savers, media management and other techniques for working FCP HD 4.5. Moderated by Steve Martin, of Ripple Training...
  • Inside Adobe Photoshop CS
    Magnet Media has produced another winner in its impressive Digital Media Training Series (DMTS)
    Inside Adobe Photoshop CS: Working with Digital Photos is an interactive training DVD that is a tremendous resource at a tremendous bargain
  • DV Enlightenment
    DV Enlightenment is the first tutorial from DVcreators.net's new DV Cinematography series and is a complete course in Professional lighting for the beginner, for people ready to learn the art of lighting. If you sit down with this 55 minute tutorial you are going to come away with an excellent understanding of lighting, not just the basics of lighting but how to use light to help tell your story.
  • DVD Authoring with DVD Studio Pro 2
    ..."     For the individual either just learning or the editor already fairly knowledgeable of SP-2, this is a book best read cover to cover. Learning is sequential and, to his and the books credit, Jeff Warmouth builds upon each and every step.
  • Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro
    'Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro' is just what the name implies, a book that teaches how to create special effects using the tools available in FCP.
  • Inside After Effects 6
    Inside After Effects 6, by Magnetic Media, is basic introduction to Adobe's latest incarnation of After Effects, perhaps the premier software-based cross platform animation and compositing program available today. The Director-based DVD provides in twenty-four lessons a simplified introduction to After Effects 6.0 in the context of developing a specific project, which is included on the DVD. This is not an explanation of AE's new tools in version 6. Instead, it introduces After Effects itself.
  • Practical Color Correction
    Practical Color Correction is the newest addition to the Intelligent Assistance stable of tutorial products which include; Final Cut Pro, LiveType, Calligraphy, Boris FX, Boris Graffiti, Boris RED, Cleaner, After Effects and Media 100i.
  • Inside Mac OS X: Panther
    David A Saracino says."I'm a strong believer in video based learning aids, particularly those, such as this one, that provide random, interactive access to the tips, suggestions, and troubleshooting. This DVD is well organized by chapter and section, and the video and narration is nicely paced and informative. More than that, the price is right..."
  • Book Review: Final Cut Pro 4 - On the Spot
    While this book could be called a FCP 4 tutorial, that would be a misnomer. This is not your typical 'tutorial' type book. Rather, it is a book filled with some 350 techniques, tips if you will, that will enhance both the speed and ease with which you work in FCP and also the creative level that you work at. Each technique starts with a general explanation, then provides step by step instructions which are supported by screen shots.
  • Killer Titles:Intelligent Assistance for LiveType and Calligraphy
    Okay, so what is "Killer Titles"?. Good question. It is, of course, a tutorial for LiveType and for Calligraphy, both of which ship with FCP 4. But the way that this product works is unique to products produced by Intelligent Assistance. It is a split personality tutorial and functions in several different ways depending upon your needs.
  • Ripple Training On Line Tutorials
    Taking a cue from the Apple iTunes store's 99 cent per song download Steve (Martin) has developed a series of 6 to 8 minute QT tutorials for a number of different Apple Applications: FCP 4, FCP 3, FCE, DVD Studio Pro 2, LiveType, Shake and Soundtrack. Ken Stone reviews.
  • Final Cut Pro 4 for Mac OS X: Visual QuickPro Guide
    The four essential pieces of hardware that you need to run Final Cut Pro 4 are a Mac, a monitor, a DV device or capture card and Lisa Brenneis' book 'Final Cut Pro 4 for Mac OS X'.
  • Inside Final Cut Pro 4.0
    Magnet Media has produced some fine titles for this purpose and I've reviewed several in the past. This one, however has a new direction, in that it focuses on people already familiar with FCP who want to learn what's new and how best to take advantage of all that is in FCP 4.
  • Inside DVD Studio Pro 2
    Magnet Media's Inside DVD Studio Pro 2 visual tutorial provides over 6 hours of complete visual training broken down into four sections. Alex Alexander reviews.
  • Digital Filmtree's Final Cut Express Training DVD
    While this is clearly a tutorial for the beginner, the tutorial does move into advanced areas of editing and includes topics such as Nesting, Color Correcting, Motion Graphics, Audio, Special Effects, importing Photoshop files, all essential elements in producing a professional project. This is an excellent tutorial. It's what I have come to expect from Steve Martin and DigitalFilm Tree.
  • Zoom In
    Magnet Media, who also brought us "Inside Editing with Final Cut Pro", now debuts a brand new concept: a bi-monthly DVD video magazine for video professionals.
  • Final Cut Pro 101; The Basics & More
    For around $50, this has to be one of the least expensive training videos on the market. Jerry Hoffman teaches the basics of setting up and editing in Final Cut Pro 3."
  • Digital Filmtree's Color Correction for Final Cut Pro
    "The reason that this 'Color Correction' tutorial succeeds so well is simply the quality and clarity of the lessons and its excellent organization. DigitalFilm Tree has set a very high standard. You really have to view this product to see how good the tutorials are." -Ken Stone-
  • "In the Blink of an Eye" by Walter Murch
    Ben Bryant reviews the book many call the definitive book on the "art" of editing.
  • Final Cut Pro 3 - Editing Workshop (2nd Edition) by Tom Wolsky
    Ken Stone reviews the 2nd edition to Toms fine book of tutorials for FCP
  • Intelligent Assistant for Boris Graffiti 2
    "For those of you not familiar with Intelligent Assistant it is not a book, tape or CD/DVD. It is like a digital encyclopedia, all content is indexed, linked and searchable. It is unique in that it is installed onto your computer where it is ready to be called up at a moments notice. For Power Book users on the road this is invaluable. IA can be left open, floating above your application while you work. So what is Intelligent Assistant?" Read all about it
  • Photoshop 7 - Savvy
    Lets face it. Knowing just FCP is not enough any more. There is all those graphics programs that go along with it. Might as well start with PhotoShop.
  • Beginner's Final Cut Pro: Learn to Edit Digital Video
    Beginner's Final Cut Pro' is a book for anyone who is just starting off with FCP
  • Nonlinear/4 A Field Guide to Digital video and film editing
    This is the book you need to read before you tackle Final Cut. Ken Stone reviews
  • The Little Mac OS X Book OS 10.1 - By Robin Williams
    Mac OS X: The Missing Manual - By David Pogue
    2 new OSX books to add to your library
  • Mac OS X: Visual QuickStart Guide OS 10.1
    This book is true to the Peachpit Press Visual QuickStart Guide tradition, coming in at under 300 pages.
  • Final Cut Pro 3 and the Art of Filmmaking
    Is a handsome book. It is printed in 'landscape' layout and features full color images throughout.
  • InSession Training Series: Final Cut Pro 3
    This 2 DVD instructional set is the first "self paced Title" to be certified by Apple
  • Final Cut Pro 3 for Macintosh: Visual QuickPro Guide
    The latest version of the must have reference guide to FCP, by Lisa Brenneis. "The "Grand Mommy" of the FCP books. VQP was out of the block first and sold a 'gazillion' copies when word spread that the manual that came with FCP version 1.0 was less than compelling."
  • The Easy Guide to Final Cut Pro
    At 128 pages, "The Easy Guide to Final Cut Pro is very much a 'hand book', a 'primer' if you will. Short, clear and to the point. It provides an excellent quick introduction into FCP editing. It will get you up and running on FCP in short order."
  • Final Cut Pro 2 Bible
    Weighing in at 3 pounds 4 ounces and standing 1,094 pages high is the Macworld Final Cut Pro 2 Bible. A review by Ken Stone.
  • DV Companion 3.0
    A review of Philip Hodgetts latest version of the must have helper for Final Cut Pro.
  • Editing Techniques with Final Cut Pro
    "If you are new to FCP and editing this book by Michael Wohl is a must. 'Editing Techniques with Final Cut Pro' along with one of the other 'Basic' FCP books will provided you with an excellent library that will go a long way to helping you learn your craft." This review includes 3 excerpts from the book
  • Making Awesome iMovies
    Another great CD tutorial from DVCreators. This is not just about imovie. It's about pre-production, production, AND then iMovie.
  • Inside Editing with Final Cut Pro 2
    HyperCD training in 1-3 CDs to learn setup and use of FCP via work on a real-world project
  • Final Cut Pro PowerStart 2 CD Rom Not a sequel to PowerStart but a brand new tutorial for beginner and advanced FCP user
  • Secrets of Final Cut Pro 2
    20 tutorial projects on one CD by DV Creators
  • (Understanding) Final Cut Pro
    Video Training tape for Final Cut Pro
  • Video Compression (with) Cleaner 5
    Video training tape for Cleaner 5
  • Extreme Editing
    Video Training Tape for Final Cut Pro
  • AE Companion
    Intelligent Assistant for After Effects
  • DV Companion
    Intelligent Assistant for Final Cut Pro

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Plug-ins that work with FCP and Motion

  • Digital Film Tools 55mm Plug-ins For FCP
    For those looking for a set of Final Cut Pro Plug-ins featuring wowy, zowy transitions and filters full of exciting shard breakaways, 2 & 3D animated turns and flyaways, morphs and motion trackers....well, time to look elsewhere. They exist, but just not here. This is a very specialized set of plug ins, subtle in their effects but immeasurably more useful to the artist editor who is not just satisfied with the look and feel of standard video.
  • Sapphire Plug-ins for FCP 5
    Sapphire plugs, previously available to the Adobe AfterEffects and Avid community is now here for the Final Cut Pro user as well. The entire package comes with over 175 plug-ins separated into 4 'boxes' which can be purchased separately or bought as a full bundle. They don't come cheap but there is real quality in this package and you get all that you hope to.
  • Dissolve Factory by Buena Vista
    When using the standard Final Cut Pro cross dissolve the pixels from both the source and destination clips fade at equal rates, their transparency equitable on both ends. Nothing wrong with that but suppose we could make that dissolve just a bit more interesting, a touch more dynamic, a little less dull?
  • Ampede LayerLink 1.1 for Motion
    Enter LayerLink for Motion 1.1, a $119.00 plug-in that imports Illustrator multilayer files (including CS) as a project in Motion with separate layers for each of the layers created in Illustrator.
  • Boris Continuum Complete 3.0
    By David Saraceno. After spending three weeks working with this impressive array of FCP plug-ins, I'm convinced its name should be changed Boris Continuum "Wow."
  • 55mm Digital Optical Filters for Photoshop
    Digital Film Tools has created an amazing set of filters in the 55mm filters package which offer an enormous degree of control and flexibility, they work extremely well, the effects generated are excellent.
  • Boris Continuum Complete 3.0
    By Steve Douglas. A year ago I read a review of Boris Continuum 2.0 and was highly intrigued. I knew of the Boris reputation for quality but I also knew of its reputation for having a high learning curve
  • Magic Bullet for Editors
    One more opinion on MBE by David Saracino. "Magic Bullet For Editors (MBE) consists of two elements: the Look suite of filters designed to emulate film; and Misfire, which adds film-like "damage" to your video.
  • Magic Bullet for Editors
    Two years ago, a friend told me about this "amazing" piece of software that would take 60i video and convert it to 24p (twenty-four progressive frames per second) making it look "just like film." In addition, I was told that the software came with a "Look Suite" which contained customizable controls and presets that simulated different film stocks and "looks."The software was called "Magic Bullet..."
  • New on my Cluttered Desktop - The Final Installment
    Ned Soltz clears his messy desk for the final time and reviews:
    Contour Design ShuttlePRO v2, DVRig Pro, Soundtrack Additional Loops, Handwritten Volume 1 for LiveType, LiveType Central for LiveType, Screen Caffeine for LiveType, and A Luna Blue LiveType: 01. Whew!
  • Drawing Tools
    Drawing Tools is a set of very interesting and useful generators for constructing geometric shapes and lines in FCP and FCE.
  • ANIM Jewels NTSC and PAL - by CGM
    The Anim Jewels collection of motion graphics consists of 4 separate themes, 1) Earth Collection 2) Wedding Rings 3) Background Patterns and 4) Curtains, Album and Flags. These can be purchased as separate collections or as a package containing all.
  • A Plethora of Plug-Ins and A Peck of Programs
    Ned Soltz once again clears his desk of all that messes it and takes a look at CGM Plug ins Vol 3 for FCP and FCE, Curious gFX, 55mm 3.0.1, and G Film and G Standards converter. Whew!
  • CGM DVE Complete Digital Video Effects for Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express
    CGM DVE Complete are 131 filters and transistions from Vol 1, 2 and 3 of Klaus Eperlie's CGM DVE plug-ins for FCP and FCE. Steve Dougas reviews
  • Sapphire AE 1.0 for FCP
    The long-awaited release of the GenArts Sapphire filters for AE has come! And, as an added bonus, Sapphire AE 1.0 is fully compatible with FCP.
  • CHV-Electronics - The Clone Collection
    "When Christoph of CHV asked me for suggestions for FCP plugins it took me exactly 2 seconds to reply. "I want a Clone tool like the one found in PhotoShop". Now a short time later I am working with two Clone tools from CHV. The Pre Defined Clone tool with built in shapes and a Variable Shape Clone tool that lets you create an exact custom shape with up to 24 settable points to outline a shape."
  • Automatic Duck Pro Import FCP/Automatic Duck Pro Export
    In development for several months, designed to leverage the industry standard Open Media Framework architecture with FCP's and Avid's new XML metadata support, Automatic Duck's Pro Import/Pro Export plugins for Final Cut Pro have arrived, and they prove to be a quackerjack duo in getting FCP's and Avids to talk to each other.
  • Special Effects Filters for Apple's Final Cut Pro 3 & 4
    As FCP grows in popularity and usage we are seeing more and more third party support. There are now a number of players selling plugins for FCP. While each of these different vendors offer many similar types of plugins, it seems that each package has a few unique plugins that make the package worthwhile. Such is the case with G Filters.
  • Eureka Plugins for FCP 4
    A long time ago, in a version far far way, when the Universe was rendered in RGB, there was a 'first' set of plugins. We knew not their origin nor creator, we knew only the name, Eureka. The forces of YUV swept in around the time of 1.5. driving the leader of Eureka, 'Romantic Text' from the Galaxy. Now, re-written for YUV and FCP 4.0.1, Eureka is back.
  • Automatic Duck Pro Import 2.0
    Automatic Duck has now been upgraded to Automatic Duck Pro Import 2.0 with increased capabilities and merger of multiple import filters for a variety of applications into one import plug-in. The result is that a sequence exported from Final Cut Pro 3 as well as Avid systems can be brought into After Effects or into an exciting new product which will be shipping in the near future, Boris Red 3GL.
  • Magic Bullet Suite + Century 16:9 Adapter
    Steven Galvano takes a very comprehensive look at the Magic Bullet Suite of plug ins as well as Century Optics' 16:9 adapter for the GL1 Camcorder
  • Boris Continuum Complete
    Ken Stone reviews the latest BCC plug in packaage. Says Ken: "After loading Boris Continuum Complete 2 into FCP, I went through the Effects Menu. I guess that it was a little bit like wandering around NAB and looking at all the new and exciting video equipment, there is almost too much good stuff."
  • The FCP Plug-In Scene:
    Product Updates and A Way-Cool New Product
    Ned Soltz looks at updates to CGM, Effects Essentials, Twixtor, and the brand new Text Anarchy from Digital Anarchy
  • Virtix Plug-ins for FCP
    Virtix Effects consists of 30 Video Filters which install normally into the FCP plug-ins folder. Just merely reading the effect titles fills the user with anticipation that such a relatively inexpensive package can achieve so many effects.
  • CHV-Electronics - Final Cut Pro Plugins - The Text Collection - Credits and Sub-Title
    CHV-Electronics - Final Cut Pro Plugins by Christoph Vonrhein is the new kid on the block and these plugins up the ante. Feature rich, these new plugins are Vector based and work at the sub pixel level, producing excellent motion graphics.
  • The Quest For Film-Look
    A look at Dissolve Factory and 55mm, 2 sets of plug ins that achieve the quest for a "film Look."
  • Digital Anarchy's Psunami
    Psunami is primarily an Adobe After Effects plug-in whose focus is to create realistic, almost photographic quality, water and atmospheric scenes.
  • 2 New Plug in Packages for FCP
    Ned Soltz reviews Artmetic Plug-Ins For FCP and Effect Essentials 1.1.1 for FCP
  • Swim 1.1
    Plug in for FCP and AE from the makers of Elastic Reality that make your Pond Ripple plug in look more like Pond Scum.
  • Joe's Filters 3
    A set of 24 plug ins for Final Cut Pro 1.25 and above.
  • CGM DVE Vol.2+
    Digital Video Effects for Apple Final Cut Pro
    "CGM DVE Vol.2+" is a set of 35 filters and transitions for use in Final Cut Pro 2 and 3. In addition to the professional plug-ins the package also includes a series of Final Cut Pro workshops and 67 "soft wipes."
  • CGM Transitions and Filters Vol1 For Final Cut Pro
    56 video filters, transistions and 67 softwipes to use with FCP
  • RealSmart Shade/Shape
    Plug-in to add shade, depth and luster to your titles and logos
  • Twixtor
    Plug-in to speed up and slow down your clips
  • Knoll Light Factory
    Series of plug-ins for FCP and After Effects
  • Reelsmart Motion Blur and Video Gogh
    After Effects plug-ins that work with FCP

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-Hardware-
Hardware you can use with FCP

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-Software-
Software you can use with or along side FCP

  • Kinemac 1.0
    Kinemac 1.0 offers real-time 3D animation and presentation abilities using OpenGL acceleration and QuickTime support. Add drag-and-drop capabilities for scrolling and 3D text, images, movies, and audio, and you've got something special.
  • particleIllusion 3 for Mac OSX
    I spent the last six weeks working with particleIllusion 3 for Mac OSX. The OS X app is equal to the capabilities of its PC counterpart, and is surprisingly versatile. It ships with over 1300 particle emitters of virtually every effect or look you can imagine. Some are surprisingly "un-emitter like," if that is a word.
  • Digital Heaven's MovieLogger
    If content is king, here's a coronation cloak. MovieLogger is a text-based logging tool for QuickTime movies, mounted in a clean and useful interface, and represents the next of a line of productivity-enhancing products from Digital Heaven.
  • Artbeats - HD Water Effects 1
    Lets face it, HD and HDV is here to stay and pretty soon the used equipment market for mini dv camcorders will be flooded with equipment for sale from those who will earnestly try to upgrade to the newer and better quality formats. As we have seen with the various editing NLEs which have upgraded their own software to HD and HDV compatibility so we will see third party plug ins as well as animations gearing up for this next generation of editing quality.
  • DV Matte Blast for Motion 2
    This is one incredible piece of software.... Its applied quickly, is thoroughly effective and works in real time. I threw on some old, somewhat poorly lit green screen shots in Motion 2, applied the DV Matte Blast as one would do with any filter, made a couple of minor adjustments and viola, an excellent final product.
  • DV Matte Pro
    For those who have been involved in the process of chroma keying or for the hobbyist who has longed to pretend he was the weatherman at his local station, chroma keying is far more involved than the uninitiated might think.
  • G-Man Video - Animated Backgrounds
    I've reviewed many sets of animations over the last few years; some were better than others though all of them were good and had something to offer. Just recently I heard someone mention the G Man Animations and, though never having heard of them, looked them up and received a healthy sampling of what they had to offer.
  • Flip4Mac
    Although many Mac users may consider it sacrilege, we're faced with delivering content for a Windows world. Whether it's the corporate client who's banned QuickTime from their servers or simply reaching the masses of Windows users who fear installing QuickTime, deliver we must. Flip4Mac, by Telestream, enables Mac based content creators to deliver Windows Media 9 files
  • Photo to Movie 3.1
    Software applications targeted at creating the popular "Ken Burns" effect using still images remain a work in progress. Invariably, they are either inexpensive, and produce less than satisfactory output. Or they are pricey with good output, but hard to use.
  • PhotoZoom Pro
    One reality when taking video captures to print is the constrained video resolution of 720/480/72 dpi. The video will look fabulous on a 60-inch plasma screen, but still images intended for print are, for the most part, unacceptable in both size and resolution. PhotoZoom Pro may be the answer
  • Compression Master 3
    Two new applications have been released that allow you to encode Windows Media 9 on your Apple computer. One is Telestream's Flip4Mac, a Quicktime export component used within Quicktime Pro (and eventually within other Quicktime based applications like Cleaner and Squeeze). The other is the focus of this review, Popwire's Compression Master 3.
  • Total Training for After Effects 6.5
    If Adobe After Effects 6.5 is a buried treasure, then the 13 DVD-Video training set from Total Training is a detail-rich treasure map designed to unlock its secrets. Hosted by Brian Maffitt, long-time After Effects aficionado, and Total Training's Director of Animation Training, Steve Holmes, the DVDs provide a detailed look, within the context of real projects, at Adobe latest incarnation of After Effects, v.6.5.
  • Adobe After Effects 6.5 Production Bundle
    ...Adobe continues the legacy in version 6.5 with dozens of new features, performance enhancements, new, and re-released plug-ins that refine a feature rich, versatile interface. While it doesn't have the real time capabilities of Apple's Motion, its hardware requirements aren't as stiff. AE also offers Z-space, parenting, and expressions -- something as yet missing in Motion. AE is supported by dozens of 3rd party developers, web sites and other resources.
  • Total Training for Adobe After Effects 6.5
    If Adobe After Effects 6.5 is a buried treasure, then the 13 DVD-Video training set from Total Training is a detail-rich treasure map designed to unlock its secrets.
  • Post Holes
    Producing inexpensive, well-keyed green screen footage has always been a challenge for motion graphic artists. Not only is it difficult to create correctly lit backgrounds, but the actual keying process is inevitably part art and part science, and often produces uneven results. Enter Post Holes,
  • SoundSoap Pro
    BIAS-Inc has released SoundSoap Pro, the advanced version of their noise reduction plug-in, SoundSoap. At $599 list, SoundSoap Pro is a significant jump up from the $99 SoundSoap, but half the price of the comparable Waves Restoration Bundle.
  • Sorenson Squeeze 4 Compression Suite
    For those Mac users who have been creating high quality Quicktime Movies for the internet, the leading software for the last three years has been Discreet's Cleaner 6 with the Sorenson Video 3 Pro codec installed. It seems like we have been waiting ages for something better to come along. With the release of Sorenson Squeeze 4 Compression Suite, the wait may now be over.
  • Snapz Pro X 2.0
    Screen and/video captures can be an important aspect of any production environment. Recording screen movements in OS X is an entirely different issue for those of us who produce tutorial CDs or DVDs or have similar uses. In most cases, recording via a scan converter has been the only, and pricey option. However, Ambrosia Software's release of an OS X version of its classic SnapZ Pro capture tool has changed the equation.
  • DVD ThemePak for DVDSP 2 and iDVD 3/4
    The templates that ship with iDVD and SP 2 are of very good quality, the problem is that there are just not enough of them.
  • SonicFire Pro 3.1
    "    While Final Cut Pro 4 has come out with a super music creation application in Soundtrack, it is very time consuming to create complete musical pieces from scratch. While I find Soundtrack a whole lot of fun and extremely addictive to use, I find that I still utilize the Sonic Fire Program a great deal for its simplicity of use..."
  • MovingPicture Producer
    The so called "Ken Burns" effect, popularized by the documentary film maker of the same name, has breathed new life in the art of using still images to tell a story. David Saraceno evaluates MovingPicture Producer (MPP) which functions as a standalone program that works independently of an editing program.
  • ProAnimator 3.0
    With the arrival of Zax Dow's ProAnimator 3.0, for Macintosh and Windows, comes new functionality and ease of use in creating sophisticated animated logos.
  • SheerVideo Pro codec for Mac OS X
    Video codecs - the clever software that compress and decompress your video footage for a variety of uses, come in many kinds. The two main kinds of codecs are those that achieve smaller files by throwing away information (lossy codecs) and those that preserve every bit of information (lossless codecs). BitJazz make some fairly serious claims for their SheerVideo codec, but fortunately, these claims are easy to test.
  • TFDVDEdit 2
    TFDVDEdit 2 is not a stand-alone DVD authoring package, but instead a sophisticated .IFO and .VOB editor. This refers to the .IFO and .VOB files contained inside the VIDEO_TS folder of any DVD project that has been sent through the BUILD (Multiplexed) process after authoring. One of the biggest reasons you would likely buy this application is that you are looking to fill some kind of a shortcoming in your own authoring application.
  • iStopMotion
    iStopMotion is the brain-child of two live-action animators in Munich who longed to be able to do in video what they had achieved as kids in Super8. Yet their solution goes far beyond the constraints of traditional stop-motion photography, in which a single frame is shot, objects are slightly moved in the frame, another frame is shot, and so on, to simulate live action.
  • LiveType Central
    LiveTypeCentral recently "went live" with its web site that offers various add ons to LiveType. Its first efforts are both nicely done and affordable.
  • BIAS SoundSoap
    SoundSoap is a product from BIAS, Inc. (maker of Peak and Deck, versions of which are variously packaged with Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro) which claims to make removing noise one-click simple.
  • FCP 4
    Steve Martin gives us a hands on sneak peak at some of his favorite features in this, the latest and perhaps greatest version of FCP set to ship in June 2003.
  • iDVD 3
    Ken Stone has some things to say about the latest edition of iDVD. And not all that wonderful either.
  • Final Cut Express
    Steve Martin gives his impressions and removes the confusion surrounding Final Cut "Lite"
  • Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0
    Ken Stone takes a look at PS Elements and asks, "Can Elements pull the load for Final Cut Pro?
  • A Final Cut Pro user looks at Avid Xpress DV 3.5
    A Final Cut Pro User takes a look at XDV 3.5, takes it for a spin, and tells you all about it.
  • Boris Graffiti 2.0
    Billed as an "Integrated 2D and 3D Vector Title Animation" application, but it truly is much more. This is an extremely powerful animation program.
  • Introducing DVD Studio Pro 1.5
    A look at what's new in DVDSP 1.5 by DVD Guy Bruce Nazarian
  • Automatic Composition Import for FCP
    From Automatic Duck, this magical app allows you to seamlessly export your entire timeline complete with clip positions, rotations, dissolves, even keyframed animations from FCP to After Effects with a couple clicks of the mouse.
  • India Pro Special Effects Titler
    Tool to quickly create over 1300 dynamic effects from the supplied pre-animated DVFonts, textures, and objects.
  • Totally Hip's HipFlics and Sorenson Squeeze
    Review of two brand new "affordable" compression tools from two companies that know how to do it.
  • Color Theory
    Plug in for Final Cut Pro that takes away the guessing when choosing color combinations.
  • Final Cut pro 2.0
    Hands on review of the new upgrade to FCP
  • Deck 2.7
    multitrack Audio recording, editing & processing solution
  • SonicFirePro
    Soundtrack Creation For All Your Production Needs
  • Cleaner 5
    Video compression tool
  • Commotion Pro
    Compositing, painting, keyframing and other tools for creating visual effects.
  • DVD StudioPro
    DVD authoring software

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