An Editor's Guide to Adobe Premiere Pro [Paperback]

I can't recommend this book highly enough for editors scrambling to re-train on Premiere Pro CS5/5.5. The depth of coverage on more advanced topics such as color grading, hardware optimization and media management will be particularly useful for professional editors. The up-to-date section on Adobe's Dynamic Link provides vital information to those wishing to integrate their Premiere workflow with After Effects, Audition, Media Encoder and Encore.

Although this book is aimed at experienced editors, it is appropriate for many intermediate-level/student editors (especially those familiar other Adobe applications). Basic and advanced editing techniques are clearly outlined, but this is not a how-to-learn-to-edit book.

The DVD features short exercises and excellent video tutorials (in both HD and mobile-friendly formats). Useful reference material is also included: keyboard shortcut tables and sections on DSLR, multicamera, Final Cut and Avid workflows.

Another nice touch: purchasers of the Kindle/eBook edition have access to all of the DVD content on the Peachpit Press website. When I had trouble with the download link, customer service was very responsive.

We're making the switch to Adobe Premiere Pro after 10 years of running Final Cut Pro 7. This is the perfect book to get us going. What I love the most is there is no wasted time trying to give us an editing theory. These guys know we're already editors, we've learned the craft, now we just need to take our button and muscle memory knowledge from whatever we've been using to this point and now apply that to Adobe Premiere Pro.

The book itself is worth the price of admission walking us section by section into the operation of Adobe Premiere Pro and comparing it to what "we already know." But then you add in the DVD with additional videos (something like 50 of them) along with complete tutorial media and this book should have you up and running in Premiere Pro in about a week.

The writing style and videos make you feel like you're just sitting there with Richard, Robbie and Jeff. It doesn't feel professorial like many of the training manuals do, so there's a nice relaxing pace to the book.

If you're an editor looking to make the jump to Adobe Premiere Pro, this is the book I would recommend. My entire staff is learning Premiere Pro from this book.

Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Owner
Biscardi Creative Media, Atlanta, GA

Based on the reviews, I was excited to get this book.

However, I quickly found that the earliest examples on the DVD do not match the references in the book.

For instance, in Chapter 4, on page 57, the authors refer to a video clip, MVI_0152.MOV. However, this file cannot be found anywhere in the Chapter 4 files on the DVD.

Additionally, the authors provide a video tutorial that talks about the "Common Media Folder". The video even says that a copy of the Common Media Folder is included on the DVD. Sure enough, there's a zip file with that name, but attempts to open it in Windows 7 only create a file called DS_Store that I believe is an Apple-specific construct.

I checked with the publisher's website, hoping to find some errata, or explanation, but couldn't locate anything.

So at this point, I'd have to warn Windows users to be prepared to work through some errors.

Overall, the book looks good, and I think it will still provide some utility. But if you're attempting to carefully follow the examples on the included DVD, you may be in for some difficulties. If the examples get cleaner, I'll be sure to revise my rating.

(Note: Since I can't find any listing of errors, as I continue to run into them I'll post them here.. especially those mistakes that I think could lead to some confusion. Perhaps that will help other readers, particularly Windows users.)

* Error on Page 75 - Step 5 asks you to choose the 1.2121 ratio, when it's the 0.9091 ratio that will correct the stretched red clip.

* Error on Page 76 - Step 1 says to open the sequence "03 PAR". That actual name of the sequence is "03 Field Order".

* Clarification for Page 108 - Trouble importing some of the .mov files when you load the Chapter 6 project. Some of these files will require the Cineform codec.

The authors provide a link (on page xiii) to the Cineform codec needed to load these files. The codec used to be called "NeoPlayer" but is now called "GoPro Cineform decoder". You'll find the codec not under Support/Downloads, but under Support/Free Decoder.

* Clarification for Page 127 - When you load the project files for Chapter 7, you'll have to specify the location of some files, which are in the Media folder for Chapter 6. You'll also be asked for file "Music_Bed.aif", which can be found in the Media folder for Chaper 7.

* Error on Page 140 - The Authors instruct you to use Ctrl+T to add a transition. On the Windows package, Ctrl+T is the short cut for "New Title". "New Transition is Ctrl+D

* Error on Page 150 - The authors instruct you to load sequence "05 Copy and Paste". The loaded project does not contain this sequence, which would leave you unable to perform this exercise. However, you can create the sequence by...

- Choose the "New Item" button, then "Sequence".
- Select Digital SLR/1080p/DSLR 1080p24
- Drag the file MVI_8595.mov to the timeline, and zoom if necessary to match the book.
- Rename the sequence "05 Copy and Paste".

* Error on Page 154 - In Windows, Ripple Delete is Shift+Delete, not Alt+Delete.

* Error on Page 173 - The timecode the authors ask you to set on the Slip Edit example (In: 02:16:45:10 & Out: 02:16:51:15) are impossible as the clip actually starts 02:16:49:00. I like to slip the In point to 02:16:53:04, so the clip begins panning on the man, and he comes into focus on the word "mortals".

* Error on Page 177 - Trim Monitor: The authors instruct you to choose "Sequence > Trim Edit", or press T. The menu choice opens an effect window, not the Trim Monitor. Pressing "T" will work. To open the Trim Editor via the menus, choose "Window > Trim Monitor".

* Oversight on Page 289 - Loudness: In step 5 the authors assume that you can see the Loudness and other values for the two added clips. However, you can't see this unless you click "Compute average volume..." button (looks like a little magnifying glass) near the top of the Match Volume tab.