Editorial Review

• Authors are top game designers
• Aspiring game writers and designers must have this complete bible

There are other books about creating video games out there. Sure, they cover the basics. But The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design goes way beyond the basics. The authors, top game designers, focus on creating games that are an involving, emotional experience for the gamer. Topics include integrating story into the game, writing the game script, putting together the game bible, creating the design document, and working on original intellectual property versus working with licenses. Finally, there’s complete information on how to present a visionary new idea to developers and publishers. Got game? Get The Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing and Design. ... Read more

Reviews

A Real "How To" Direct From the Front Lines, March 2, 2008
When I read The Ultimate Guide to Videogame Writing and Design I was expecting quite a lot from a title like that. As a well read veteran game designer with over 34 million units sold to date, as well as game design professor at USC, I thought I had seen every element and angle in game development. Not only that, at USC we have developed a pretty robust curriculum on how to build great narrative into a solid game. To my amazement, my high expectations were not only met, but exceeded by a wide margin with this book! Ultimate Guide is extremely well thought out and presented in a no nonsense manner, with many excellent examples, points, and tips on not only writing, but also how to survive and prosper in the game industry. I guess it comes as no surprise since this book is practically a FedEx straight from the front lines, as these authors are still writing top games, and have written a number of "Story of the Year" games over the last five years. These guys have written for both film and interactive, and they know how to bring solid storytelling craft into the game space. I recommend this book to all my students as well as colleagues as a must read. You will not find a more straight forward and to the point book packed with real world examples anywhere. This is more than a "how to" book, but also a "how come" as it focuses down precisely on the challenges and pitfalls of game design and writing today from a variety of angles. I guarantee it will provide insights and value to both new and veteran game writers, as well as designers who are looking to bridge the gap between solid storytelling and great gameplay. I wish I'd had this book when I was starting out! But I'm sure glad I have it now!

A book that really explores game writing/design and what the entails, June 4, 2008
Though I've been mostly interested in writing for animation and comics, while playing video games I questioned who came up with it's stories. Many games have little to no stories and focus mostly on mindless entertainment...which isn't always a bad thing. But some video game stories really touch the viewer (Half Life 2, Final Fantasy, Bioshock, etc. come to mind.)

On a whim I bought this book and have enjoyed it immensely. Both the authors provided much more than I was hoping for. Both are seasoned game writers/designers who have worked on many games you know, and are still working on games. Stuff like UNCHARTED - DRAKE'S FORTUNE, CRIMSON SKIES, PROJECT ORIGIN, and FRANK MILLER'S SIN CITY - THE GAME. These guys know what they are doing.

The book breaks down not only how to write for games, but what that entails, hardships you will find along the way (both with writing and people), they provide sheets you can fill out to create your own game bible to pitch. And as an added bonus they occasionally have writing exercises to help you hone your craft or understnad a point better.

Leave no stone unturned and that's what these two have done. It has my highest regards! Buy it and truly educate yourself.

For anyone looking to write/design for video games, August 20, 2008
As a screenwriter, I wanted to dive into the challenges of writing for video games as I believe that it is the future medium of choice for storytelling and entertainment. Taking the advice of the many other consumer reviewers before me on Amazon, I bought this book and I haven't looked back since. It is very complete and helpful covering almost every aspect of game design and writing, but more importantly, how writing for games is a totally different craft than writing for film or literature, and how to tackle the many different challenges involved. The book takes you into the psyche of an average gamer and deconstructs what they're expectations are, and should be.

I believe it helps greatly to have some storytelling experience, preferably screenwriting, to make the most use of this book and to understand it better. Otherwise, you might feel a bit confused and left out if you have never written narrative storytelling before.

A great book for noobs and pros alike!

Introduction to writing for video games, October 8, 2009
Overall, the book is a well written introduction to writing for video games. Calling this book an "ultimate guide" is a bit of an exaggeration, but it's a good jumping-off point for an aspiring game writer.

Unfortunately, the book is lacking in content on design. I can't really fault the authors on this one... their experience is primarily in writing, not game design.

The final part of the book contains realistic advice on breaking in to the industry and surviving once you get in.

The book also contains several creative exercises (called "Action Items") peppered throughout. Although they weren't the focus of the book, the action items were (in my opinion) one of the best parts of this book. If I buy this book, it will be because of the exercises.

I recommend picking up this book at your local public library if you're looking to break into the game industry and work as a script writer for games. If you're already writing for games, then chances are that you already know most of what this book has to teach.

Excellent Book, May 12, 2010
The book is an excellent introduction to the subject of video game writing. And with there being no intermediate or advanced book on the topic, this book is the best on this topic. As some other reviewers pointed out, there is not much about game design in here. So don't be misled by the title.

Dog-Eared and Book-marked, October 19, 2008
I haven't even finished this book yet and already it's in rough shape! It's highlighted, dog-eared, bookmarked, etc. This is a fantastic book to use alongside your first project. It's not just a book, it's a work-study course on the subject. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in game writing.

Great help, April 13, 2008
As a member of the student team who needed to produce video game in rather short amount of time, I have found this book extremely helpful. I did like one-sheet summary that allowed us to summarize everything. The content was very helpful. Thank you.

great book for both beginners and pros, March 10, 2008
this book is chock-full of incredibly useful information about writing and game design. many of the classic traps in this area of game development can be avoided by following flint and john's advice here. everything is outlined in a very clean and (not surprisingly) fun and witty read.

as a game developer for 10 years now, i found information in this book that i'll be using in the future and i can't recommend this book enough. these guys get it, and so should you.

Not too fair but these are my thoughts, May 7, 2009
First thing I want to say about this book is that it is indeed well written, easy to understand and gives some good hints and practices for the design of a video game. The last section also is very insightful as to how a game scenario idea should be presented ( this last part is at least worth a star out of five ). These were the pros.
About the cons. I think a book like that should give some more information about the differences between the stages of production and some more information on the stages themselves. Anyone interested in gaming programming will feel a bit disappointed as there is barely a mention in this book regarding it (except the occasional remark that we should consider the programming limitations when thinking of a scenario...). The hints though clever, are nothing that an able storyteller won't be able to find for himself after a good night's sleep and some creative thinking and if you don't have the latter you should not consider making video games either way. All in all maybe a four would also be appropriate but considering I couldn't manage to read it all ( some sections I found too boring to read ) I think for me a three would suffice.

Very basic, February 8, 2010
I don't know why they decided to go with "The Ultimate Guide..." rather than "A Basic Introduction to..."

There are really no advanced ideas in this book. Descriptions of the creative process are presented in an imprecise, unhelpful way. The following is an exaggeration and not a direct quote, but this is how the book felt to me:

"First, think about what type of game you want to make. Next, make something that resembles what you were thinking. Finally, change it until it is more like what you want. Take into consideration that your game will change as you make it."

Maybe there is some use here for other people, but I found absolutely no practical advice anywhere in the book. I do not recommend this. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The ultimate beginner guide to the iPod touch—completely updated and in full-color!

The iPod touch combines three great products—a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a portable game console, and a breakthrough Internet device—into one small and lightweight device. With this new edition, bestselling author Tony Bove walks you through powering up your iPod touch, personalizing it, establishing a Wi-Fi connection, and synchronizing your data. You’ll explore how to surf the web, rent movies, buy songs, send and receive e-mail, get directions, check stocks, organize photos, watch videos, keep a calendar, and much more. Plus, you’ll learn how to access hundreds of thousands of apps that help you do even more with your iPod touch.

• Covers powering up your iPod touch, getting comfortable with the touch controls, personalizing your iPod touch, and establishing a Wi-Fi connection
• Walks you through the basics of iTunes and the iTunes store so you can buy, download, and play music and movies; create playlists; and more
• Demonstrates how to synchronize your data, work with the calendar, organize and share photos, browse the Internet, send and receive e-mail, and get directions
• Offers assistance for using Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter on the iPod touch
• Explains how to browse and download applications from the App Store
• Helps you reset, update, restore, and troubleshoot your iPod touch

iPod touch For Dummies, 2^nd Edition presents you with all the updated information you need to get in touch with your iPod touch today! ... Read more

Reviews

Nifty Little Reference Book For the iPod Touch, August 24, 2010
Author: Tony Bove

Publisher: Wiley Publishing, Inc

ISBN: 978-0-470-50530-4

After listening to my three children brag about how wonderful the Apple`s iPod Touch is and that I must purchase one, I finally succumbed and treated myself to one on my birthday. I thought my kids would pick up the tab, but no such luck!

Did I know how to operate this marvellous invention and what it does? No Way, as I thought my children would come to my rescue. Well, to be fair, they did give me some basic tips, however, I needed something simple that would instruct me in the finer points of the iPod without confusing me. And that is exactly what Tony Bove`s iPod touch for Dummies delivered.

Divided into six sections, Bove takes you on a step-by-step journey with brief, comprehensive descriptions into the world of the iPod Touch where you learn about all of the basics, exploring iTunes and the Online Store, syncing with iTunes, clocking, locking, personalizing, how to access videos, books, podcasts, the safari browser, social sites, apps, email, searching, organizing your music, videos, podcasts, photo albums, maps, and a host of other topics and tips.

What is helpful about this reference text is that you can easily find the information you need when you need it, as there is an accessible table of contents as well as a comprehensive index. Moreover, you can skip sections and plunge into chapters that are of particular interest to you. As Bove mentions in his introduction, ``I didn't have enough pages to cover every detail of every function, and I intentionally left out some detail so that you won't be befuddled with techno-speak when it's not necessary. ``

Looking at one of the sections that was of particular interest to me, Touching the Online World, Bove provided some excellent advice concerning the Safari application to surf the Web. In addition, I learned how to check and send email, visit my stock portfolio, check the weather. I was also shown how to display maps and driving directions. Another section that I found useful was Staying in Touch and Up-to-Date where Bove showed me where to locate and communicate with friends on Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and other social sites and instantly chat with people, provided you were hooked into a WiFi environment.

The organization of the material is well-conceived and user friendly and throughout there are warnings and tips concerning the iPod Touch. For example, we are warned not to fry our iPod touch with some generic power adaptor. Use only the power adaptor from Apple or a certified iPod adaptor, such as the power accessories from Belkin, Griffin, Monster, XtremeMac, and other vendors. Another useful set of tips are the ones provided in the section Saving Power, where Bove has listed nine ways to save battery power. All things considered, Touching the Online World is both very informative and visually appealing and a must read for anyone who owns an iPod Touch.

Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor Bookpleasures

iPod Touch for Dummies from Amazon, January 30, 2010
I had purchased another iPod Touch book by another author before this purchase. This book is by far a better explanation of how to use iTouch.I liked the color graphics in this book plus the "right to the point " text. I bought a second copy from you to give to my daughter who admired my copy.

It Works, July 26, 2010
Let's just say the person I bought this book for is not the most technology-oriented person out there, and they were able to understand this book and figure out the iPod because of the book. What more can I say? It works!

The iPod touch for Dummies, March 18, 2010
The iPod touch for Dummies is very good. I'm glad to have it.
Lorraine

so so, September 18, 2009
The book fell short on a lot of things. I thought it would help show me some things that I didn't know but naaaaaaaaaa. Learn more from the kids down the street.

Helpful but lacked some necessary areas, April 14, 2010
I had several CDs and DVDs that I wanted to transfer to my Ipod. I had to go to the Apple Store to find the answer. It was not the necessary tool that I needed. However, I am a Palm fan for over 15 years and thought I would give the Ipod a chance. I like the Palm OS better but I will not go into my basic reason except to say it was more easy for me to use the Palm OS. Ipod is about a 70% of what I needed and the book was was about 70% of what I needed to learn. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Completely revised and updated for Logic Pro 9 and Logic Express 9, this Apple-certified guide shows you how to record, produce, and polish music files with Apple’s professional audio software. Veteran music producer David Nahmani’s step-by-step, instructions teach you everything from basic music creation to advanced production techniques using Logic’s software synthesizers, samplers, and digital signal processors. Using the book’s DVD files and either Logic Pro 9 or Logic Express 9, you’ll begin making music in the first lesson. Whether you’re looking to use your computer as a digital recording studio, create musical compositions, or transfer that song in your head into music you can share, this comprehensive book/DVD combo will show you how.

•  DVD-ROM includes lesson and media files
  

•  Focused lessons take you step-by-step through professional, real-world projects
  

•  Accessible writing style puts an expert instructor at your side

•  Ample illustrations and keyboard shortcuts help you master techniques fast
  

•  Lesson goals and time estimates help you plan your time

•  Chapter review questions summarize what you’ve learned and prepare you for the Apple Certifi ed Pro Exam
  

Reviews

perfect, really..., November 22, 2009
am a long-time logic user, but needed to go back to basics (plus hey, there's a lot i don't really know).
waited a while for this to come out, got it 2 days ago, and...perfect.
detailed, clear, concise; everything such a book should be.
and the audiofiles included make this a true hands-on experience (for me, better than just reading stuff).

recommended to anyone using logic 9.

Worth every penny, December 10, 2009
I highly recommend that anybody who buys logic pro 9 buys this book concurrently. I got the book months after getting logic, and figured out how to do the basics from the manual, youtube vids and forums. When i received the book, i was expecting to be able to flip through it and cherry pick little tidbits i wanted to bone up on. After a few minutes with the book, i decided to just go through the chapters as intended - what could it hurt?

Well, i am supremely glad i did. The accompanying media is great for getting your hands dirty, the methodology is perfect, and it is an entertaining process and very rewarding. Just by going through the exercises, commands have become second nature. A task that took me an hour now takes me 10 minutes. I was exposed to plenty of stuff i didnt know i wanted to know, and now i cant stop boldy experimenting with these new concepts, which is just plain fun.

I cant recommend this book highly enough. Upon completion of this book, you will absolutely be comfortable using Logic 9.

Excellent book!, December 9, 2009
Nahmani guides you step by step so you learn using Logic almost efortlessly.

The main reason why I think this book is great is a decent collection of examps provided by Nahmani.
Even if you consider yourself familiar with Logic this book is useful because you can always learn a nifty tip, shortcut or a feature you didn' know before.

Anyway, it was a no-brainer for me, since I haven't used Logic Pro before.
Nahmani helped me immensly.

Just another GREAT Apple training book..., December 19, 2009
I've been a Logic User since "the beginning" on my Atari ST, and I've reviewed the various iterations of this book over time since Apple bought the company from Emagic, Logic's initial German developer. As I've seen authorship of this book change with the version changes of the program, I've seen absolutely no drop off in the quality that initially led me to give Sitter's version of the training program (for version 6 or 7..can't remember which I reviewed off the top of my head) a glowing 5 star review. I make it a point to go through each page and every tutorial for each and every review I write, and while there are a few more typographical errors than I've seen before, and some differences in some keystrokes/menu choices later in the book that must've changed later in the "shipping version" of Logic 9, there is little to complain about here, except to wish for more! Each and every chapter gives one a VERY practical lesson in Logic's use that can benefit one's music production immediately. The book does a great job accenting the new features of Logic 9 while still covering all of the basic navigation (although I missed seeing chapters on setting up the workspace, environment, and setting up screensets---these were in the older books) and properties of the "core" program.

And, DON'T skip out on this even if you're an experienced Logic user. Logic 9 is different enough and comes with enough new features to warrant spending a few hours with this book. While online video lessons seem to be all the rage (and I do find them useful on occasion), I still learn much better and more actively with book in hand and using interactive files. This format simply is the best method there is, and this goes for all of Apple's "official" certification series books. There is simply no better method for self-teaching these programs.

OK, I'm ANXIOUSLY awaiting the "Advanced" version now to see how good it can be! HURRY UP with that, please! Would like to see some coverage of Mainstage in one of the books, as that part of Logic is a VALUABLE resource, for sure.

Easy to Understand!, January 30, 2010
This book made using Logic Pro 9 a breeze. It was clear in its directions and provided pictured examples. I would recommend this book to anyone using Logic Pro 9!

new logic user, November 28, 2009
very informative book.a must have for any 1st time logic user. i gave this book only 4 stars because it does not cover,in depth,the software synths and other plug- ins. i'm hoping,"logic pro 9 advanced music production," by david dvorin (not yet released ) will cover these rather glaring (to me) omissions.

Book Of Magic, February 17, 2010
Well I just finished chapter 1 and i just moved from garage band to a world of professionalists (is that even a word? lol) but chapter one showed me the basic pictures, the main ideas, and a whole lot of shortcuts that will save you the composer time! Now everyones got to start somewhere Youtubing how to this and how to that isnt going to get you far well just frankly you cant ask them questions or just didnt meet the answer you were looking for... This book is my music bible right now and yess i hate reading but its exciting when you experience and thats exactly what this book does it makes it exciting and covers all fields, now if i could just figure out how to get my m-audio fast track pro on logic id be HELLA satisfied haha im a musician not a audio engineer but after this book i think ill be able to project my ideas further into the sea than i thought id be able to... This book is great 5 stars easy walk throughs, barney steps 1,2,3 and pictures lots and lots of pictures its great for hands on learners... 5 stars

I wish all textbooks were written like this one, February 10, 2010
I recently switched to Mac and started using Logic Pro 9 as my primary DAW. I had many frustrating moments trying to achieve the effective workflows I was used to from before. This book was my savior.

For a good overview of the contents, I recommend using the 'Look Inside' feature (click on the product image), the table of contents (beginning on page vi) is quite descriptive.

I would love it if every text book were as clearly structured as this one. Each lesson begins with an overview of which project files (included on a CD with the book) you will be using, how long the lesson will approximately take, and what skills you will learn. Then there's a short introduction giving you some background info and showing why the skills you are about to learn are important (this last point is crucial to preparing your brain to take in the information that follows). The chapters go on with step by step instructions. Here, as well, the author first explains what you will achieve, then takes you through it. This helps you put everything into context, or, if you're confident enough, you can skip the individual steps and see if you can achieve the goal by yourself. At the end of every chapter are test questions reviewing the most important aspects of each lesson.
There's an abundance of screenshots (in color!) that help you make sure you're doing the correct things. I just finished the book, and I was never ever lost in its course.
This guy knows his didactics!

What really made this book fun is this: Many lessons are based on project files of high quality songs (e.g. Mitral Valve Prolapse by Joe Hedges). And these lessons let you do something important within the arrangement of these songs. This means you're constantly listenting to something that's entertaining you, and you're making it even better! What could be cooler?
Throughout the lessons you get to know a wide variety of musical styles, electronic music, r&b, pop, rock... This way you also get an initial feel for what's important in different genres.

If you want to set a really firm grounding for your Logic Pro 9 or Logic Express 9 skills, I highly recommend this gem of a book!

Logic Pro a first look, January 30, 2010
For a first-time Logic Pro user this book is essential. No matter how much help text is embedded in software, the handiness of a thorough manual makes problem-solving easy. The online option from Peachpit is a bonus, and with upcoming technology (iPad) this could be a boon to the Training Series.

Highly recommend this book., December 20, 2009
This book is a gem. For anyone beginning their exploration of Logic Pro, and for those who want to expand on their existing knowledge of Logic, it is a must have. A great addition to the Logic manuals. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Completely revised for Final Cut Pro 7 and featuring new footage from TNT’s hit show Leverage and the international music creation event Playing For Change: Peace Through Music, this best-selling, Apple-certified guide provides a strong foundation in all aspects of video editing. Renowned author Diana Weynand starts with basic video editing techniques and takes you all the way through Final Cut Pro’s powerful advanced features.

Each chapter presents a complete lesson in an aspect of video editing and finishing, using professional broadcast footage. After marking and editing clips to create a rough cut, you’ll learn how to trim and refine the cut before moving on to complex tasks such as adding titles, creating transitions and motion effects, applying filters, and working with multi-format and multi-camera footage. The book covers Final Cut Pro’s exciting new features, including iChat Theater support, the redesigned speed tools, and sharing projects on a Blu-ray disc.

•  DVD-ROM includes lesson and media files for over 40 hours of training

•  Focused lessons take you step-by-step through professional, real-world projects

•  Accessible writing style puts an expert instructor at your side

•  Ample illustrations and keyboard shortcuts help you master techniques fast

•  Lesson goals and time estimates help you plan your time

•  Chapter review questions summarize what you’ve learned and prepare you for the Apple Certified Pro Exam

Reviews

Coming from 4 years of vegas video this book has changed the way I work., October 9, 2009
I am already reasonably experienced with video editing in Sony Vegas. When I started using FCP7 I found accomplishing simple tasks was leaving me scratching my head. I decided to order this book from amazon to see if I could get some traction with this new suite of programs.

The book is well organized and does a good job teaching a workflow without just telling you to click one thing and another and then admire the outcome. The book begins with laying out a rough cut and refining it in the following chapters through various editing techniques all the way to project delivery. It maintains interest by changing the project media at the right time. It also does a good job of demonstrating multiple ways to accomplish the same result and giving examples of why one method might be more useful in certain situations. I found the illustrations to be very accurate and helpful.

The 4 video projects on the DVD are great to work with. There are 3 documentaries (Seaworld, music and nature) and one TV series (Leverage). The quality of the media is beautiful but not so perfect that it doesn't take a little bit of effort get results. This is one of the most effective parts of the exercises. It's clear when you preview the project that it needs improvement but it's the editing that makes the result satisfying not the fact that most anything shot on a Red One can look great.

I followed every chapter and performed all the exercises closely even when I already understood the concept being demonstrated. The chapters give a time estimate on how long they should take and personally it took me almost twice as long as the estimate in most cases. I think if I already new the software the estimates would be more accurate. By the end of the book I was coming closer the the stated times but it still took longer.

I thought the workflow and methodology of the book were so well organized that I have started applying the editing strategies into Vegas and learning parts of that program I never really used previously. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn editing on Final Cut Pro.

Superior training guide, September 22, 2009
The footage is really fun to work with. This book is a top-notch tutorial on FCP7; taking a powerful and complex software package and simplifying concepts and methods. It is well-written and well-organized with the learner in mind (instead of just unloading a lot of information on the reader). I wouldn't mind a few more images, but it probably has more than most. Best to have some computer and graphics background. Even with that, it is still taking me longer than the book promises, to go through it. But it is worth every penny; this book is a great value.

To quote a concise and accurate review of the FCP6 edition of this book:
"By Vladimir Nagorniy (Hollywood, CA USA) - This book actually teaches you efficient work flows. All lessons designed in a really smart way, so your progress is well guided. Makes you learn keyboard shortcuts. The footage was fun to work with (not the usual snowboarders and surfers). Highly recommended."

Hnads On, April 21, 2010
This book is fantastic for anyone who wants to learn more about the Final Cut Pro program. I Learned more than I thought I would in the first chapter, it has certainly increased my productivity with the quick-ness and smooth-ness that I can now edit video into a rough final cut sequence. I'm a big Hands On learner and this book catered to that style more than any other book I have read on Final Cut Pro.

Final Cut Pro, October 19, 2010
This book is really helpful. It gives step by step activities in a way that is understandable to the reader. It comes with a cd with media and assignments for learning purposes. It's easy to understand. I am completely new to video editing, and was required to buy this book. It's only been a month and I already know my way around pretty well.

Solid training!, August 22, 2010
Very impressed with the thoroughness of this training book. I've been using Final Cut Pro for about a year and felt that I was not progressing in ability. Within 10 minutes of opening this book I learned 5 things that have made me faster and a better editor. I highly recommend this book.

Excellent Book, March 29, 2010
I love Diana's writing style. This book flows and is easy to follow, easy to learn. She covers all points excellently.
After stating a point or lesson, questions come to mind and it's as if she is reading my mind as she goes right on to answer
those questions. One of the best technical books I've read since 2000. Includes lots of clear color shots as she goes.

Final Cut Pro 7 By Diane Waynard, February 19, 2010
Very Well done. Interesting but sometimes a little difficult to follow. I would love to see the content of this book produced in a video format. Because video offers the student an opportunity to review audio and visual instructions.Therefore, faster learning and better comprehension.

Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 7, February 12, 2010
A very thorough review for the Apple beginning level exam. Includes a CD with excellent files. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The perennial iPod and iTunes bestseller returns—completely updated!

The popularity of iPods is not slowing down—so you need to keep up! Now in its eighth edition, iPod & iTunes For Dummies is the ideal companion for getting started with the iPod and Apple’s iTunes service. Bestselling veteran author Tony Bove helps you get comfortable with using the iPod as more than just a digital music player. You’ll learn to shop at the iTunes store, surf the Web, rent movies, buy songs, send and receive e-mail, get directions, check finances, organize and share photos, watch videos, and much more. Plus, the new and expanded content touches on the latest iPod models, including the iPod classic, iPod nano, iPod shuffle, iPod touch, and the newest version of iTunes.

• Serves as the latest edition in the bestselling lineage of a helpful, easy-to-understand guide to the iPod and iTunes
• Offers straightforward coverage of using your iPod as the ultimate digital music player and shows you how buy and download songs from iTunes, create playlists, share content from your iTunes library, burn CDs from iTunes, play music through your home or car stereo, and more
• Details how to import music, videos, audiobooks, and podcasts; find cool content in the App Store; choose the right accessories; sync your iPod with your Mac or PC; and more
• Reviews updating your iPod, troubleshooting, and maintaining the battery life

iPod and iTunes For Dummies, 8^th Edition guides you through all the latest updates and enhancements so that you can start enjoying your iPod today! ... Read more

Reviews

Great help for Ipod dummies, January 27, 2007
Two weeks ago I did not even know for sure what an Ipod was and only a vague idea of what an MP3 player was. I have never owned anything made by Apple. Today I am the proud owner of an Ipod Nano and believe that much of my happiness with it is due to this book. I read up on the Ipod first before I tried using it. It got me up and running without a hitch and has plenty of information to help me get more and more sophisticated as I go!



This book is a wealth of Ipod information for those of us who are clueless!! I highly recommend it!

iPod and iTunes for Dummies, March 10, 2007
Being relatively new to the iPod and ITunes world I was a bit intimidated by the overwhelming amount of options out there just for music, much less for all the other incredible things that an iPod can do. So when an opportunity came to review "iPod and iTunes for Dummies" I jumped at it.

I was pleasantly surprised as I scanned the book. It was laid out very well for a reference book. The eight-page table of contents is easy and straightforward to negotiate. It is broken down into six parts including an introduction with a short synopsis of each part. The parts include set-up and acquisition of media, managing the media, playing the iPod, advanced techniques, traveling with the iPod, and of course problem solving. The index is also user friendly. A problem I often have with other computer reference books is trying to figure out the right words to identify the problem I am trying to resolve. I did not have that problem with this book. Both the table of contents and the index are easy to use. It was refreshing to say the least.

The book not only is well organized, but it is well written. Great cartoons introduce each new part and the writing style is informative, light and often humorous. In fact, I actually found myself reading some chapters just for pleasure.

This is an invaluable reference book for the beginner and advanced beginner to the iPod and ITunes. It opens up a whole new world of opportunities to music, pictures, videos, pod casts, and audio books. Organizing all these data is also critical to really enjoying the IPod and iTunes. Part II, Managing Your Media Content, covers it all from adding, editing, and deleting to updating and backing up.

The iPod is an incredible. Part V was a real eye opener for me. I had no idea of all the extras an iPod can do. Clock, alarms, games, voice recording, contact lists, and even a hard drive are things your iPod can and will do for you. These are certainly handy features when traveling or to just reduce the amount of files and papers carried around during every day business.

One thing that was useful for me was that the iPod discharges battery power whether or not it is in use. This was very perplexing to me and I thought mine was defective. However, I come to find out with the help of this book that it is OK and normal. A relief to say the least and I have the book to thank for my peace of mind.

"iPod and iTunes for Dummies" is a must have reference book for new and beginning users of iPods. It is pertinent for both Mac and PC users and will make your iPod time much more enjoyable and productive.

iPod & iTunes for Dummies, 3rd Edition, March 17, 2006
Excellent source for help in setting up my new iPod, which I knew nothing about except from my son. The book was easy to navigate and answered my questions without a lot of searching through information to get to them.

Love iTunes, Love iPod, LOVE this book!, December 10, 2003
I've been grooving out on iTunes ever since they made the service available to us pathetic Windows drones. I was a little bummed when I realized that all the music I've downloaded will only play on an iPod, not any other mp3 player. But, since I've checked out this books, I've realized that's OK. Reading this book encouraged me to go for it and get the iPod. The iPod is a great system, with wonderful functionality. And even though it seems really easy to use (it is) there are a lot of things you can do with an iPod that you might not realize until you read this book. From choosing the right iPod, to cataloguing downloaded music and music from your CD collection, to the right way to get through the menus of inof, this is the book you need! Dummies also wrote a book on iLife, so if you're a real Mac user, and want info on iPhoto, etc, check out that book!

A waste of money, January 8, 2008
I was very disappointed by the deficiencies of this book. First, it focuses far more on iTunes shopping and related procedures than on basic use of the iPod itself. iTunes is hopelessly limited for anyone not into popular culture, so that half of the book is worthless to me. Second, the book is useless as a reference tool -- not a single question I've had has been answered, or if the answer is there, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. Example: I wasted a lot of time trying to get an audiobook I own on CD to go into the Audiobook section of the iPod menu. I finally learned from a Genius at the local Apple store that only audiobooks purchased from iTunes will go into that section of the menu. Try finding that information in this book. Third, terms are used as they are understood by the technorati, but never defined for the rest of us. If I wanted a book that told me how to get my iPod to tap dance and butter my toast, I would not have bought one with a title which indicates it deals with basic information. That information isn't here.

i pod & i Tunes for Dummies, April 11, 2007
I am a first time I pod owner. My children had to teach me a lot of things to get started, but even they haven't been able to tell me all I want to know. This book has been a big help.

iPod &iTunes For Dummies, April 5, 2007
After receiving an iPod as a gift and being electronically challenged, I borrowed several books from the library on iPods. This was by far the most informative, up to date and easy to use. It's a great "go to" book .

Ipod 5.5 help, March 27, 2007
Very imformative since no instruction book comes with ipods get this it will answer some of your questions without insulting your intellgence. don't get hung up on the word dummies. it is not a insult to have this book

Dummies to the rescue, March 25, 2008
I was ready to get rid of my iPod. I was totally frustrated with trying to use it and iTunes was driving me nuts. Finally, I bought this book and all came clear. This should be the manual included with every iPod purchase. The book is well thought out and laid out well. One will easily be able to use this as a reference in the future if need be. If you are about ready to tear your hair out, just want to perhaps learn a few more advanced techniques or you just want a good solid manual for your investment, this is the book for you. What more can I say?

Okay, but not that great., December 24, 2007
Does an okay job of explaining how to use the iPod and iTunes. In many cases, though, terms were just dropped into the text without any explanation of what they meant. Also, it read like a description of how things worked rather than guiding you on how to meet your needs (e.g., "Here's how rack-and-pinion steering works and here's how recirculating-ball steering works." That's great, but what I really want to know is: Which is better for me?).

Haven't read any other books on the topic, but I'm hoping there's something better out there. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Those creative professionals seeking the fastest, easiest, most comprehensive way to learn Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 choose Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 Classroom in a Book from the Adobe Creative Team at Adobe Press.

The 22 project-based lessons in this book show readers step-by-step the key techniques for working in Premiere Pro CS5. Readers learn the basics on things like using audio, creating transitions, producing titles, and adding effects. Once they have the basics down, they'll learn how to take their projects further by sweetening and mixing sound, compositing the footage, adjusting color, authoring DVDs, and much more.

This completely revised CS5 edition covers new features such as Ultra, the new high-performance keyer. New workflows for creative collaboration are also explored, from the script all the way to the screen using Adobe Story, OnLocation, Speech Search, and other Adobe tools that are right at users' fingertips. Best of all, the companion DVD includes lesson files so readers can work step-by-step along with the book. ... Read more

Reviews

An easy-to-follow hands-on guide to what's possible with Premiere Pro CS5, September 14, 2010
I've used Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express for several years now, and while I can't claim to be an expert I know them fairly well. I decided to learn Premiere Pro as an alternative - primarily because you can edit natively with several formats that Final Cut requires you to convert before editing. Since then, and after working through this book and getting to know how it works and what it can do, I've decided to stick with Premiere Pro for most of my editing projects because I find it much easier to work with for a number of advanced editing problems.

This book (which is really the only book available that focuses on teaching how to use Premiere Pro CS5 ) is very clear and straightforward. It would be helpful both for experienced editors ready to try out Premiere Pro (who might decide to skim through a few of the chapters on basics, that are fairly similar to how things work on other editing platforms), and also for those just starting out. This isn't really an introduction to editing, per se - though the authors do include some scattered but helpful advice for beginners. (One of the best and most accessible general introductions to editing principles that is platform neutral is Grammar of the Edit). This book is more an introduction to the range of features available in Premiere Pro CS5 - and it's a pretty impressive range of features, and they are clearly outlined here. The basic approach of this book - like all of the books in the Classroom in a Book series - is to lead you through a series of exercises that show you what's possible with the program. There's not a lot of explanation, but the advantage of this approach is that you get a fairly quick hands-on introduction to the range of what's possible. (I own and have worked through a few of the other books in the series, and found that apart from a few issues mentioned below this was the clearest and easiest to follow - and gave me the quickest introduction to the program.)

The lessons are easy to follow. In each case there is a quick introduction to the basic concepts of the lesson, then there are several hands-on tutorials, that make use of project and asset files on the included CD to lead the reader through a number of practical applications of the concepts. To get the most out of this book, you do need to have Premiere Pro installed and download the files on the CD and follow along. For the most part that's easy, and the CD works fine both for PC and Mac users (a few caveats below).

Lessons start with the basics, getting used to the interface and how to modify it for different kinds of projects and individualize it for personal tastes. It covers importing and managing assets, both from tapes and tapeless formats. Then cutting and fine tuning an edit, adding transitions, creating and animating titles, adding effects, applying motion and slow and fast motion, and messing with sound and compositing and color correcting. It also shows how to use Premiere in conjunction with other CS5 programs, like Soundbooth, OnLocation, Photoshop, After Effects and Encore, and how to export files and author dvd and Blu-Ray discs.

Each lesson is clear and straightforward, and they do a good job with starting out basic and moving forward to show just enough that you can see what could be done with each technique. Most lessons have "before" and "after" timelines so you can see what you were supposed to do and reverse engineer it for guidance in case you didn't follow instructions exactly.

I did notice a few problems, easy to work around, but still problems that could have been fixed. While it claims to be applicable both for Macs and PCs, it does seem that it was written by a PC user, and occasionally things they suggest aren't possible on a Mac or work differently on a Mac.

In one lesson they asked me to upload an .avi file - which is a Windows format and won't play on Macs without special codecs. In the case of this one, even though I can usually play .avi files on my Mac, this one wouldn't play. It turns out that I had a codec installed (3divx) that interfered with playback of this file - and I only figured that out after a search on Adobe's help website which revealed that a few people had the same problem with the previous edition of this book, and an author of that edition was part of that conversation. It would have been nice if they'd included a footnote explaining that the same problem was possible for users of this one.

There were a few other issues like that. For example, there are effects that don't exist on the Mac version of Premiere Pro but do for the Windows/PC version. Sometimes the book mentions this, and sometimes it doesn't - e.g. they mention that the "Camera View" effect doesn't exist for Macs, but not that the "Cross Zoom" is also missing on the Mac edition. So, when, in the course of a lesson they asked me to apply a "Cross Zoom" it took me several minutes before I remembered reading somewhere that some of the effects don't exist on the Mac version, and realized that this must be one of them. In a couple of places they referred to something that sounded like it might have been in the previous edition - e.g. they mention a "bike sound" overlapping with an interview in chapter 12, where it's really the sound of a "medieval hero" threatening a sorcerer. I'm guessing the example that came with this chapter in the previous edition of the book wasn't from a fantasy realm, and they didn't adjust this minor reference to it.

All of these issues are fairly minor - and there are easy workarounds for them - but I thought I'd mention them here in hopes of being helpful for Mac users who pick up this book and run into similar issues or confusions.

Overall, this is an excellent intro, that I found to be quite useful. After working through its various lessons, I feel as confident working with Premiere Pro as I ever did with Final Cut. In fact, more so, because there are some very handy features (like the multi-camera editing feature) that are easier to use than anything I've seen on Final Cut (I have FCE 4 and have an older version of Final Cut Pro Studio - which I haven't upgraded to the latest, so there might be features I'm not aware of there). Additionally, working through this book helped clarify in my mind some concepts I learned a long time ago but that I haven't really used very often - for example I've always been confused by the differences between the ripple, roll, slip and slide tools, and so tend just to fine tune my cuts with the razor (which is precise but not very efficient). After working through this the differences are clear, and I'll use those tools much more often. I'm also glad to have worked through the audio chapters, because I tend to treat audio just like video, and here they make clear that with Premiere it can be treated with greater finesse - especially with Soundbooth, which is a pretty astonishing tool, as illustrated by one of the projects in this book that has you eliminating hum and even removing a phone ring from a voice clip. Highly recommended guide for those starting out editing on Premiere, or for those who want to switch over or are upgrading from an older version.

CIB strikes again, September 8, 2010
There is oodles of references for After Effects; but it seems like Premiere got overlooked after CS3, which is the last version of Premiere who's sole source for written reference wasn't CIB.

I have CIB for Premiere CS5... It's a typical CIB. Lots of how... very little why, which makes retention difficult. I'm having flashbacks of the Dreamweaver CS3 CIB... which I buried in a box after the 2nd chapter, never to be seen again. At least with this book, I'm learning the gist, but I can't say I really know how to apply what I've learned in the real world.

Don't get me wrong... I've learned some cool stuff from the Premiere CS5 CIB (which is more than I can say for the Dreamweaver CS3 CIB), but the majority of it is just "Do: 1, 2, 3"... even going so far as to tell you exactly where to set In/Out points in the clips and other such nonsense. It's like learning algebra by having someone tell you what letters and numbers to write down to solve the equation and then saying... "there you go... now you know algebra". Memorizing the steps doesn't equate to understanding. The way this book is formatted also makes it a less-than-optimal reference book... Want to know how to save a custom transition for use in other projects? Good luck finding that in the the index.

I have used a few different tutorial/reference books for Adobe products: CIB, Missing Manual, Dummies, etc. CIB had always been my least favorite for their lack of flexibility. The others serve well as tutorials for the initial learning curve, and later, as references when I need a quick answer. CIB's are terrible as references and marginal as tutorials -- only working for a certain type of learning style (which really isn't mine).

Bottom Line: if you can learn, retain, and apply knowledge gained from a "click the buttons I tell you to and see what happens" teaching technique, you will do fine with this book. However... if you need a handy reference, or need to know the WHY behind such instructions as: "Dragging the viewing area bar handle in the Program Manger so its current-time indicator is roughly centered will make it easier to set In and Out points"... I'd say: Look Elsewhere (that is, if you can find somewhere else to look).

Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 Classroom in a Book, October 18, 2010
I had purchased Adobe Master Collection CS5 because I am a digital photographer (hobby) and decided to get into HD video. Adobe has such good software but it is very difficult to learn without having some instruction manuals. That is why I purchased four books which will teach me how to be dangerous. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Covers:

iOS4 and

iPod touch, 4th gen

Step-by-step instructions with callouts to iPod touch photos so that you can see exactly what to do

Help when you run into iPod touch problems or limitations

Tips and Notes to help you get the most from your iPod touch

Full-color, step-by-step tasks walk you through getting and keeping your iPod touch working just the way you want.

Learn how to:

• Make the most of Apple’s new iOS 4 software

• Connect to Wi-Fi networks, the Web, and other devices

• Move music, movies, books, and other content onto your iPod touch

• Use iBooks to enjoy a library of ebooks wherever you go

• Play games and share info with other iPod touches, iPhones, and iPads

• Sync Mac or Windows computers and MobileMe or Exchange accounts with your iPod touch

• Listen to music, podcasts, and other audio

• Watch movies, TV shows, music videos, and video podcasts

• Surf the Web and send email

• Create, manage, display, and edit contacts and calendars

• Take, view, and share photos and video

• Download, install, and maintain apps, and manage them with the new App Toolbar

• Customize, maintain, and troubleshoot your iPod touch

Reviews

My I Pod Touch, December 1, 2009
This is a very informative, illustrated book for the beginner that knows nothing about the I Pod touch. It shows you step by step on how it is done and you should be a proficient I Pod Touch user by the time you finest this book. Geeks my find faults in it but for the beginner or the average user wanting to do more with their I Pod Touch it is a great book.

Great for non-techies, December 14, 2009
I found this book at the local B&N and picked it up for my mother. It is the perfect step-by-step book for beginners. It offers full color photos and descriptions for just about anything you can do with the iPod Touch. It's easy to understand and offers a high quality resource at a great price. In fact, I just bought another one on Amazon for my dad! Recommended for beginners only.

Extremely helpful!!, January 13, 2010
I bought this book for my daughter along with her new IPod Touch. It's easy to look up items; nothing is better than pictures and diagrams, which Brad has provided. It really takes you step by step and has great problems solving techniques. Don't mess around with other books, buy this one! There is so much to the IPod Touch and this book will take you through all the avenues!!

Great Book, December 27, 2009
A very helpful book to accompany my 1st I Touch. Very little if any instructions are provided by APPLE with the I Touch, another marketing blunder on APPLE's part. I recommend this book as a needed guide.

Alaskan Apple User Group reviewed by Dave Patterson, June 22, 2010
I have been enjoying the use of my ipod touch since Christmas and thought I had it mastered except for a few idiosyncrasies that continued to pop up. It didn't take many pages before I found myself saying, "Oh, that's what that is for" and " I thought you should be able to do that." This book certainly worked better for me than following the tutorial on line as I had done. The step-by-step instructions and the pictures with numbered callouts make progression through the information, clear and easy. The use of colored graphic blocks to lay out each of the instructional topics really helped and makes it very clear when connecting a action with the proper screen information. A new user will find this book also eliminates guessing about what the ipod program jargon means. I found that my intuitive solutions to setting up the new ipod after many years of being a mac user did not always work. Following the book's sequential approach to each part of the ipod's functions corrected my mistakes.

As the user proceeds through the book there are excellent notes and tips included with each of the functions. Although the book does not go into the in-depth workings of the add-on applications, the tips provide reference to additional resources. Another helpful component is the "Its Not All Good" bubbles in many of the sections, which tell you what the ipod's program will not do. The author's insight into annoying characteristics of the ipod touch which can be corrected by changing a setup item, are very valuable. Also, there are some things you may think the touch should do just like your laptop, but you cannot get it to perform. This section directs you back to your other computer and gives an acceptable explanation of why it won't work.
For the user who wants to keep a copy of the book on their ipod, the book comes with a free online edition. Additional bonus material including tasks and information can be found online on the book's website [...].

My Ipod is operating on OS 3.1.3 and the book is written for OS 3.0. OS 4 has been released and I do not know if an update is in the works. I did not find anything on the website to indicate a 2nd edition was in the works.

If you are new to the ipod or have had one for a while and wonder if you are getting the full array of functions the ipod is capable of, this is the book for you.

The Proof of the Pudding..., July 2, 2010
Like others, I bought this book because it's very handy to have by you when things go wrong, or when you forget how to do something. The iPod Touch is a wonderful little machine, but there's plenty going on 'under the bonnet' so to speak, which you can't remember, and 'My iPod Touch' is a great way of reminding yourself of how to do something that you last did six months ago, but has since escaped you.

At the end, the author offers his email address in case you get into trouble, and boy did I get into trouble trying to download iOS4! The Touch was completely dead. So I sent him a 'Help!' message, and back came good advice which helped resolve the problem. So I can thoroughly recommend Brad Miser and his book.

Very Helpful, April 10, 2010
Found this to be very helpful, has answered many of my questions and taught me how to use my IPOD touch to the fullest potential.

My iPod Touch, December 28, 2009
My iPod touch serves as a detailed manual for OS 3.0. This book takes the iPod user through the processes of setting up and using their iPod. In some cases, the book also includes warnings and potential issues that might occur.

Having read My iPhone by the same author, I noticed that much of the same technologies (particularly the touch screen technology, the Internet capability, and downloadable apps) are used for the iPod. Unfortunately, nearly the same problems with additional costs and Internet hassles are also the same as noted in My iPhone.

Informative guide, March 22, 2010
I found this book to be easy to read and helpful. Each section of the book guides the reader step by step towards understanding what you can do with your iPod Touch so you can best use it.

New to iTouch, March 19, 2010
I received the iTouch as a gift and wanted to learn how to use it to listen to audio books and get email. The reviews seemed to pick this book over iTouch for Dummies.
If you are using MemoryMe this might be a good choice. I wasn't.
I didn't know how to sync and that is a separate book by this author.
The Apple store helped the most.
An example of the limited help from this book. On page 9, section TYPING ON AN iPOD TOUCH, the explanation is that the keybook pops up automatically. It would have helped if there were directions to locate where it would pop up automatically or how to get it to pop up automatically. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The only Apple-certified guide to Final Cut Express 4, this bookdelivers the techniques you need to make movie magic with DV, HDV, orAVCHD footage. Each chapter presents a complete lesson in an aspect ofvideo editing and finishing, with hands-on projects to complete as yougo. All the files you need are on the included DVD-ROM. You’ll learnhow to make effective edits and adjust them precisely; create polishedtransitions and sophisticated composites; add audio tracks, titles, andspeed and motion effects; then color-correct and finish your video forexport to DVD or the Web. Whether you’re a student, a devoted amateurwho’s serious about digital video, or a professional who needs acomprehensive editing program, you’ll find everything you need to learnFinal Cut Express 4 within the pages of this book. DVD-ROM includeslesson and media files for over 20 hours of training. ... Read more

Reviews

Indispensable Guide, February 15, 2008
When I upgraded from my old PowerBook to a new MacBook I was dismayed to find that a new version of iMovie came with Leopard. After reading disparaging reviews of iMovie '08, I decided to upgrade to Final Cut Express even though my video editing needs are rather modest. After installing the software and seeing that the PDF user manual was over 1100 pages, I knew I wouldn't have the patience to go through it all and I wanted to order something simpler. With FCE4 being quite new, the only choice immediately available was Diana Weynand's book and I ordered it. Now that I've gone through the entire book, I can enthusiastically recommend it. At first I was dismissive of the DVD that came with it, thinking that it would just contain video demonstrations of various editing operations. It turns out, however, that the DVD contains the material for methodical exercises that take you through various lessons so that the book is really an instruction course, not just a guide. Going through the lessons with the book and DVD is actually fun even though I may never use some of the advanced functions FCE4 offers. I believe that for relative beginners like me this book is indispensable. I confess that I will now go through it again to clear up some of the material I didn't quite understand or have forgotten. Also, there are some questions Weynand's book left unanswered for me, but having the background I gained by studying the whole book made it easier for me to turn to the actual user's manual that came with the software. I'm very excited about FCE4, and I owe a lot to this book.

Great Training From The Bottom Up, February 5, 2008
This training book covers it all. The enclosed CD also includes the lesson clips as well as advanced training. The book examples and screens match exactly with the software.

This is not a book to learn Final Cut Express in a couple of hours. Each of the 15 lessons takes 30-90 minutes but well worth it.

Copyright 2008, but content somewhat outdated, April 20, 2008
I received this book yesterday and so far I've only gotten through the first three chapters. But I have already found a few outdated statements. A few examples:
1) "HDV video formats record on tape....AVCHD formats, however, record directly onto disks or hard drives." No mention of memory cards or hybrid options.
2) Lesson Review question (page 30): "What kind of cable do you use to connect your camera to your computer?" Answer: "A FireWire cable."
No mention of USB; in fact, the entire section in chapter 2 covering connecting the camera to the computer only addresses FireWire.
3) The book says after launching the first time FCE looks for any FireWire devices and displays an error message if none are found. This didn't happen, at least not in my case, which makes sense since many newer camcorders don't have firewire.
4) When I opened the first project file (provided on the book's DVD) as instructed, FCE displayed a notice that the file was from an earlier version and asked whether or not to update it. The book doesn't even address this alert, leaving the user to wonder whether or not to select "Yes" or "No" to update the project file. Not updating all the files to version 4 (which they really should have done) is one matter; not even addressing the update prompt is even worse.

None of this is detrimental to my learning experience, however it is evident this is old material merely updated for the 2008 edition, and they missed a few parts during the updating process.

So far the book is VERY basic. I'm a long-time Windows user who just received my first mac about a week ago, and it is simplistic, even for me.

UPDATE: I've progressed through the first 12 chapters, and I'm beginning to realize this book is great for walking (crawling, actually) the user through using the software with the project files included on the book's own DVD, but not so great for real-life applications. For example, I've scanned through the remainder of the book and realized it doesn't eplain how to handle existing video files in different formats (AVI's, for example). FCE can do it, but this book doesn't cover it. I've quit reading the book and started reading the FCE4 User Manual instead. So far, it seems far more applicable to what I need to know; unfortunately, the FCE4 electronic user guide is over 1000 pages long --- more pages than I care to print.

If I could change my rating on this book, I would. It was a waste of money and time. Even for the basic material that is covered, the progression is at a snails pace; it could be much more concise and efficient. Even better, it could cover more useful territory by addressing real-life applications in addition to sterile made-to-order projects.

UPDATE 2:I decided to finish the book and have progressed to the "Appendix", the additional chapters available only on DVD. It is so cumbersome trying to learn this way - read a line, switch to FCE4 to perform the step, re-activate the Preview window to read the next step, reactivate FCD4 to perform it, back and forth, back and forth. See, this is why I actually BOUGHT A BOOK. So I wouldn't have to do this. There are plenty of tutorials on line. I paid money for a book for a reason - to spare myself such inconvenience.

One more thing: The last two chapters used terminology I hadn't seen before (keyframes, for example), with no explanation. However those chapters kept referencing the Appendix. I found explanations for those terms in the Appendix. It seems the Appendix chapters should be completed chronologically before the last chapter, making their absence from the book even more annoying.

P.S. Word to the wise: I sent an email inquiry to the author several days ago. Although I've yet to receive a response (and doubt I ever will), I have begun to receive spam emails from her company.

Very good, but be aware, February 4, 2008
The book is good, thorough and detailed.
But, the "juicy" chapters where Final Cut is outshining iMovie and the rest of the lower lever video editors are on PDF files on the DVD, not included in the book itself.
This is a small annoying item for an otherwise very useful book.

Very elementary, January 22, 2010
This book is pretty simplistic. It explains every little step in great detail, some of which most people should know already, simply by having used a Mac computer before. If you like to be guided by the hand, this is a good book. I was hoping for more on advanced editing techniques and things but so far no luck. Admittedly I've only gotten to page 137 or so but glancing ahead doesn't give me much hope for more than the basics of using the program.

I might not bother writing a review of this product if it weren't for my wanting to tell you where a really useful Final Cut Express learning tool can be found.

For video tutorials on Final Cut 4 look at the IZZY VIDEO website. This is also very easy for a beginner to understand, is a million times faster getting you up and using the software and also teaches some cool and useful effects.

Indispensable, July 1, 2009
Final Cut Express is easy to use, but only after you've overcome its steep learning curve. You could download the user manual (over 1000 pages) from Apple's web site. Or you could use an excellent do-as-you-read workshop book like this one. There's something to be said about following along in the actual FCE application as the book explains and teaches the various lessons.

As others have posted, it requires a bit of time to complete all lessons, and the appendices on the accompanying disc are invaluable.

This book will get you up and running in no time!, March 2, 2008
This book is a truly rare thing - a primer for a complicated and rich application which cuts through the BS and gives you a real, practical working knowledge of the program in a series of easy, brilliantly designed lessons. If you are new to Final Cut Express, this book will have you up and running in no time. It also gives you a good foundation knowledge of basic film technique, so that when you start shooting in earnest, you'll have an idea of where to go. Bravo Diana Weynand!

Learning Final Cut Express 4, January 18, 2008
Apple Pro Training Series "Final Cut Express 4 Movie Making for Everyone" By Diana Weynand is for "Everyone." Each lesson is interactive, read the step, do the step. It makes you use the program and learn it at the same time. When you complete all the lessons and make your 'Final Movie' to show to Family and Friends. You can say thank to Diana Weynand for writing Apple Pro Training Series "Final Cut Express 4 Movie Making for Everyone."

Outstanding Training Manual, February 8, 2008
I am new to mac and wanted to learn final cut express since i bought a new panasonic avchd camcorder which does not import into the old imovie. The book is very informative with numerous practical exercises at the end of each chapter. This book combines great illustration and concepts with hands on exercises. The book also contains a dvd for more advanced features of fce 4. I have learned diligently and feel quite confident with the semi-professional videos i will be producing. This book comes highly recommended and is as intense and informative as you would expect for an official apple training manual.

Final Cut Express 4.0, January 27, 2008
If you want to know how to use Final Cut Express 4.0 and what you can do with it, this book gives a step by step instruction using the included samples on DVD. It is practicle, usefull and easy to understand and follow.
I can recommend it to anybody who wants to know video editing with Final Cut Express 4.0. ... Read more

Editorial Review

When you add Pro Tools to your home recording studio, you have the software used to create hit records. Throw in Pro Tools All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies, Second Edition and you get the insight you need to capture your sounds, edit your tracks, create a mix, and master your songs for the world to hear. Add a generous helping of your own talent and you have the perfect recipe for music stardom.

This fantastic eight-books-in-one package introduces you to Pro Tools audio- and MIDI-recording software and clues you in on basic multitrack recording techniques. You'll get wise to Pro Tools' many features and functions and find out how top recording studios use them to create the biggest hits on the planet. This do-it-now handbook also gets you up to speed on the essential audio-engineering skills you need to make ultra-high-quality recordings. Discover how to:

• Navigate the Pro Tools windows and menus
• Save hours of experimenting and spend more time recording
• Master microphone placement and other home recording basics
• Edit errors out of your tracks
• Equalize (EQ) tracks and add effects
• Work with midi instruments
• Blend your sounds into a stunning final mix
• Assemble and release an album

Don't spend big bucks and many months taking classes in audio engineering and Pro Tools. Get eight quick-reference guides for one great price with Pro Tools All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies, Second Edition and start recording your breakthrough album right away! ... Read more

Reviews

Great time saver, May 25, 2004
I've been working with Pro Tools LE on a Digi 002 for a few weeks. I never took any classes on the software, so it's been slow going. I saw this book and bought it last week. It cleared up a lot of stuff I didn't understand about Pro Tools and now I'm working a lot faster. There's also some pretty good general recording tips I didn't know. Good book. Well worth the price.

Good for beginner and intermediate - great reference too, October 23, 2006
I've been a ProTools user for a few years (Digi 001 and now Digi 002 with ProTools 7 LE), but never took any courses or purchased any courseware. I could do basic tracking, but when it came time for my first large CD project I knew I needed help. Although the tutorial DVD that comes with ProTools 7 LE has some great material in it, the manuals never really seemed to answer my questions.
This book was invaluable in taking the step from "basic user" to semi-pro user. It's well written in a direct and friendly tone with anecdotes that show how the author has "been there too" and shares a musician's perspective on recording.
From understanding microphones and setting up a small studio through recording and even into mastering, this book is an invaluable reference for anyone who is ready to get beyond the basics. It covers step-by-step processes for many common tasks and provides some background on why things are the way they are - which leads to better user comprehension. Not only can you perform the task, but you also have a better understanding of why it is done the way it is.

Too much but not enough, September 21, 2007
A huge book, but I found it very lacking. If you have a question, it might be in here, but I never found answers to most of mine. Almost impossible as a guide to anyone who doesn't already know a lot about Pro Tools. Very disappointed.

Not Good For Beginners, October 26, 2008
This is a "reference" book in the truest sense of the word. Most of the material doesn't tell you how to accomplish sequential tasks, many times you have to look in other sections of the book to get all of the information you need. Index is poor. Descriptions of specific functions of the software are fairly good.

practically useless for the beginner, February 12, 2007
I have some working knowledge of protools but can't find answers to most of my questions in this book. The index is probably the most useless part--this book tells me all about what certain functions are, but nothing about how to use them. Waste of money.

It gives a good overview, but it is hard to look for exact information, January 25, 2009
This is a good book if you are looking for sort of a tutorial on what ProTools does and how it works. However, it is not good as a reference manual.

Very good reference for beginners, February 21, 2007
This is a very good reference for newbies to pro tools like me. The tutuorial dvd that came with my ignition pack was so drab. I honestly fell asleep 3 times watching it before I finally made it all the way through. This book allows you to go at your own pace and build a solid foundation.

True all-in-one, August 12, 2008
I am finding this book is living up to its name - 8 books in 1. I have other ProTools reference guides, but I am finding this is the first place I start when looking for a solution to a problem. For pros, it won't replace the Digitools training, but for serious amateurs like myself it is well worth the price. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Digidesign?s Official Pro Tools 101 Courseware takes a comprehensive approach to learning the fundamentals of Pro Tools|HD?, Pro Tools LE?, or Pro Tools M-Powered? systems. Now updated for Pro Tools 8 software, this new edition from the definitive authority on Pro Tools covers everything you need to know to complete a Pro Tools project. Learn to build sessions that include multitrack recordings of live instruments, MIDI sequences, software synthesizers, and virtual instruments. Through hands-on tutorials, develop essential techniques for recording, editing, and mixing. The included DVD-ROM offers tutorial files and videos, additional documentation, and Pro Tools sessions to accompany the projects in the text. Developed as the foundation course of the official Digidesign Training and Education program, the guide can be used to learn on your own or to pursue formal Pro Tools certification through a Digidesign-authorized school. Join the ranks of audio professionals around the world as you unleash the creative power of your Pro Tools system. ... Read more

Reviews

Excellent Book for the beginner!!!, May 3, 2009
This book is absolutely perfect for the beginner/intermediate user of any DAW outside of protools. I dove into protools before getting this book and managed to do a few recordings on my own; this book allowed me to do basic things that I didn't know were possible or made things I was already doing a bit easier or allowed me to go further with each feature.
The problem many people have with this book is the DVD that comes with it. You need quicktime and you also need to copy the files to your pc; they play horribly from the dvd-rom drive or don't play at all; once you copy the files/folders to your mac or pc; you're good money!!!!

Buy this book; you won't be sorry!

Essentially OK But..., May 15, 2009
This book is OK as far as it goes. It's all technically accurate and fairly well organized. But it's instructionally lacking in my opinion because the exercises aren't integrated into the lessons. Instead there are two exercise projects at the end of the book. It would be much better if you were able to practice a particular procedure related to the specific lessons in the chapters.

My other criticism is that this book assumes all users are music producers. For good or ill, Pro Tools has become the industry-standard audio production software. But not everyone who uses it makes music. Many of us make radio documentaries and features. We may use the same tools as music producers but how we approach the work is different. It would be good if training material such as this book acknowledged other user types and offered material from their perspective.

protools 101 review, March 26, 2010
informative. helpful. I was looking for more help with various plug-ins. a little more interaction would be nice. more video tutorials would be nice.

The best!, August 17, 2010
I had six audio classes, this should of been the first book we used! I got more from this book than I did taking the classes. If you are new to Pro tools 8, this is a good beginners book! It has two tutorials that walk you through projects that will help you get to know pro tools. The included DVD has additional instructional videos on it.

Very useful and informative...., January 7, 2010
I am half way through this book and find it very informative and useful to learn the Pro Tools interface. There is a lot of information and it's a great resource to have in your library for whenever you have a Pro Tools question. I would get it if I were you!!

very informative textbook, December 11, 2009
Extremely informative book, with a thorough and concise section explaining basic digital music production. This section alone makes the book worth the price of admission, as other texts assume the user has lots of experience in DAW audio production, but this book explains all. Also contains a thorough history of the development of M-Audio/DigiDesign Pro Tools software and the theories and reasoning behind each new product. The only caveat is that the Pro Tools hardware spoken of so highly in this textbook is proprietary and prohibitively expensive, and most authorized DigiDesign repair centers will tell you to return the DigiDesign stuff to the factory for repairs. I say this from personal experience. I wish the hardware was as interchangeable, reliable, and as reasonably priced as this book.

Very Informative Book, February 10, 2010
Great book that explains how to use ProTools but can be a little confusing if not using the book alongside with the software. It would be helpful to use the two together. Overall, very useful book that I strongly recommend.

Better to take the class, February 23, 2010
I selected 2 day shipping from Amazon and it arrived in that time frame.

As for the book, it has a steep learning curve compared to other recording software but if you want to use what the majority of pro studios use then you must learn pro tools. I bought the book in hopes of taking a class to go with it but since I got laid off from work I could not afford the class so I tried to teach myself. Even though I can setup basic tracks for recording audio I would recommend taking the class as I have so many other questions that either the book can not offer or I do not understand. I have had this book for about 3 months and I do not feel confident in using pro tools yet.

Finally, It would have been nice for Pro Tools 101 to instruct you on how to hook up a mixer to the Aux line 3 and 4 of the Mbox Pro. I want to use a mixer to record overhead drums and since the manual doesn't really give any clear indication it's all trial and error. The book is informative but it's a little frustrating that it is taking so long to understand this book completely. Once I get a job I will be taking a class to piece everything together. ... Read more

Editorial Review

If you want to go beyond the basics of creating and producing music with Logic Pro, this Apple-certified guide is for you. Whether you’re a composer, producer, songwriter, engineer, studio programmer, or simply a music-lover who wants to create or produce professional-quality music in your Logic-based studio, you’ll find the self-paced, step-by-step instruction you need to begin creating your audio master works immediately.

As a professional musician, educator, and a former employee of both Emagic and Apple, author David Dvorin knows Logic like no one else. Here, he uses project-based tutorials to guide you through real-world production tasks, revealing Logic’s secrets along the way. In short order you’ll be scoring and composing, creating your own sounds with Logic’s software instruments, and employing advanced mixing, editing, and production techniques. A companion DVD includes the lesson and media files needed to complete the book’s exercises, plus free trial Logic plug-ins from leading manufacturers.

... Read more

Reviews

One word: Wow!, March 31, 2010
As I've written here before, I'll qualify my review by saying I've used Logic in various forms all the way back to the C-Lab days in the early 90's in some form or the other. Since Apple has purchased Logic from Emagic, it has become a lesson in efficiency and design. Never the simple program, Logic has layers and layers of functionality that require years to master.

Until now.

With this one book, the author fills the void that has heretofore been missing for us Logic users wanting to go "the extra mile" with our productions and knowledge.

I purchase and evaluate every single book on Logic, as I teach several courses on recording, mixing, mastering, and production, using various methods. My main program is Logic, even though I had gone through a brief Pro Tools phase (because everyone else was doing it---not a "mistake", but I feel the name "Pro Tools" misleads too many into thinking that it is the "best"---their marketing certainly is).

Succinctly, just let me say if you're a Logic user, you need this book. No matter how advanced: you need this book. If you're a beginner, go through the first volume, then get this book.

Kudos to the authors, and Kudos to Apple for evolving and maintaining such a fantastic and downright magical piece of software. This book helps to unlock "the next layer".

Logic Pro Advanced Music Production, April 5, 2010
Great step by step tutorial of Logic Pro 9. If your new to logic, get the Logic Pro 9 and Logic Express 9 first. That will get you up to speed with the more advanced book.
Midi Man. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Go beyond the mechanics of Final Cut Express 4--learn how to edit with it! More than a button-pushing manual--this workshop give you firsthand experience with the art and technique of editing. You develop a working knowledge with nineteen tutorials that cover each and every essential, including:
* setting up your system and understanding the interface
* ingesting and organizing your material including drive-based and disc-based camera data
* slicing, dicing, and organizing clips
* editing to build and trim a sequence of shots
* adding transitions
* using sound to refine your edit
* titling with FCE and Photoshop
* animating images to create engaging scenes
* adding special effects filters
* compositing to enhance your projects
* outputting your material
The companion DVD contains project media, demo software, and free plug-ins for your use.


* Nineteen tutorial lessons give you firsthand experience with the art and technique of editing
* Covers every essential activity from system set-up to outputting your material
* The companion DVD contains project media files, demo software and plug-ins ... Read more

Reviews

FCE4 revealed, January 17, 2009
After buying the FCE programme I started wading through the 1000 plus pages on-screen manual and got bog downed very quickly.

I was up to about page 350 and fortunately Tom Wolsky's book turned up in the mail before I threw a tantrum and gave up. Problem with learning from the on-screen instructions is that it's not in a useful order so can't practice what they're saying as haven't learnt how to set up and capture yet.

Mr Wolsky's book is in a sensible order. It starts with setting up the computer, then to capture then to edit etc. The DVD that goes with the book, gives you the material you need to practice on until brave enough to start on your own.

Another problem with the manual is it doesn't give you value comments. By that I mean it tells you what the button or command does but usually no information on when to use it or why. Mr Wolsky does. This is so useful at the beginning stage when you need everything set up right or it probably wont work and he's got comments and recommendations on why and when to use a particular setting.

I'd been swapping my short-film-making efforts over from iMovies, so I was quite impatient at having to go right back and start again to get even vaguely close to where I had been. So did appreciate how well-ordered the book was to get me back editing again as soon as possible. Then I carried on with the next few chapters on sound and applied that to my efforts.

I got bogged down for quite some time with the Boris Calligraphy chapter and came to a grinding halt. Then concluded I didn't need to know about twirling, swirling, multi-coloured, rotating text and got moving again. All I needed was 3D text that fades in and out and could ignore the rest. I don't think this is an indictment on the book, more that I was looking for what I needed to get my film effort progressing.

So only got up to chapter 12 so far. Once I've applied that to my movie I shall read the rest and see what I need. And that really is a strength of the book that I can do that - rather than having to absorb it all at once.

Also appreciated that the examples given to practice on in the DVD don't look like professional takes. It's got useful stuff that relates to me - like cutting out the footage where you knocked the camera and how to cope with sound that's jumping all over the place.

Mr Wolsky's book has told me everything I need to get started. (Although I still havent figured why I cant use the editing keyboard commands like F10, F12 etc for insert and over-write, must have missed that bit somewhere.)

I should also point out that now Ive some idea what I'm doing I can now use and appreciate the on-screen manual, but as a complete beginner it was soul-destroying.

Tom's the best, July 16, 2008
I've gotten each new edition of this book, even though there aren't a huge number of changes. It's just nice to see the updates he's made and draw from his rich knowledge and experience with Final Cut Pro/Final Cut Express/iMovie, and the new nuances he throws in with each edition.

You can already learn some key points to keep in mind about the latest version of FCE in the Excerpt from the front of the book available for viewing on Amazon. It's worth the price of the book right there!

Tom works so hard providing lucid and practical support on the Apple Support page for FCE, and no doubt uses that to enhance the next edition. You're going to be getting his free advice sooner or later, so you might as well throw a few bucks his way and give him some credit for all that you will benefit from his wisdom. I've bought several of the other FCE books over the years, but Tom is the best.

Ron Carlson

Great way to learn FCE, July 9, 2008
I plowed through the book in order of the lessons & I can't imagine having learned FCE any other way. While learning, I produced 2 new TV commercials for a local New Orleans gardening & gift shop, & I'm ready for more. The veteran video guys at the tv stations couldn't believe we did the spots in the attic of the store on an iMac. I couldn't have done them in iMovie--and I couldn't have done them so quickly without this book.

Best FCE Series Out There, July 3, 2008
I bought Tom's earlier book on FCE 2, and it was the best purchase I've ever made for any of the software I use. Tom writes like an editor and an artist. He writes in a manner creative people can understand. Practical and to the point. I have been in the broadcast production industry for 28 years and I can tell you Tom is the real thing. If this book doesn't help you then you should find another hobby.

P.S. Ignore the idiotic one star rating. The book is in English.

Excellent learning tool, August 26, 2008
Final Cut Express has a bit of a learning curve to work through. I'm only half-way through this book, and its worth is already more that I paid for it. I'd already been through most of the online help, and also another FCE4 book that I had purchased, when I bought this one. It has provided many valuable insights that have made it possible for me to actually become productive with Final Cut Express.

Do you have FCE? Then get this book!, January 9, 2009
I purchased this book after getting frustrated using Final Cut Express, and realizing it wasn't going to be quite the same easy experience I had with iMovie.

I tend to be rather handy with computer programs, but FCE's interface, as Wolsky's book explains, is NOT 'plug and play.' If you're like me, and tooled around with iMovie (and noticed the inherent limitations iMovie has), you upgraded to FCE with the promise of more powerful editing tools.

Since FCE has the same layout as the professional grade (and aptly named) Final Cut Pro, there is quite a steep learning curve. I thought "Final Cut Express 4 Editing Workshop" makes sense of what I needed to know to effectively use the tools presented.

Easy Step-by-Step Education, September 14, 2009
Tom Wolsky is very deliberate but thorough in explaining the operation of FCE 4, so it's easy to follow with him as he walks through all the features, the setup and the interface of FCE. Apple has given us an impressive piece of editing software, but as with all software, you need to know where to go to get what you want done. This book makes that process less confusing, and offers helpful video clips to let you practice what you learn. Of all the books that claim to teach you skills for FCE, I would definitely recommend this one.

It's in English, June 3, 2008
Admittedly my five star review is biased, but I would appreciate if you didn't rate and review my book based on a stupid mistake on the Amazon web site, which after some time we have still not been able to get corrected.

All the best,

Tom Wolsky

No DVD on Kindle edition, July 31, 2009
This review is just for the Kindle edition:
The book constantly refers to the DVD for examples, but if you buy the Kindle addition it is not provided. There is no link to download the Disc.

Step By Step...anyone can learn to use this program, January 26, 2009
I have had the program on my computer for months now. I was completely overwhelmed by it and figured I might never use it. I had the book but wasn't really ready to take on the task of learning the program. Today I sat down with this book, went page by page (I am only to page 36 now) and I totally get it. Using the book, I could go baby step by baby step to learn the program. I now have renewed confidence and I am ready to take this on! Great book for even the most novice of novices! I highly recommend it! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Great iPod Book For Newbies, December 16, 2010
'iPod: The Missing Manual' by Jude Biersdorfer is the perfect reference for all iPod fans, users, and geeks alike. With nearly 300 pages of material spread out over 13 chapters, you will learn all the ins and outs of your iPod and iTunes better than ever before!! From the basics like general usage of your iPod to learning how to use iTunes to import music and add to your library to creating playlists and working with photos and videos, this truly is a gem. Now in its 9th!!! edition, this newest iPod book covers the newest iPods and iTunes 10, and it describes what makes these newest generation players so amazing!! Full color, glossy paper, wonderful content and a size that fits perfectly in your hand (yes this DOES make a difference), this is an absolute home run of a book by Pogue Press.

My only gripe with this book is that it seems to be updated a bit too often. I know every year there is a new iPod so that is what warrants the update, but I am not sure how much new stuff is really game-changing with the newest version.

However...

If you want to get the most out of you iPod and/or iTunes and want to have fun doing so, pick up this wonderful sidekick to your Apple world and enjoy!!

**** RECOMMENDED ... Read more

Editorial Review

With the advances in digital technology, musicians can now produce their own music at home. Over the years the gear has gotten much better, and musicians have learned a great deal about recording. So why do so many musicians and engineers have difficulty getting truly professional-sounding results? One reason? Acoustics. If the room you're working in has poor acoustics, it will be extremely difficult -- if not impossible -- to produce excellent results. You can't capture a true sound if the microphones don't hear the instruments and vocals correctly. You have to be able to hear what's truly going on with your tracks to make the proper decisions about editing, equalizing, processing, and mixing them. Acoustics can be a complex, math-laden science, but treating a room to make it sound great and function optimally as a recording studio needn't be difficult nor require hours in front of a calculator or computer screen. Improving a studio's acoustics can be simple and inexpensive -- all you need is some guidance. Acoustic Design for the Home Studio focuses on creating a greatsounding home or project studio in an existing room. It teaches the basic principles of acoustics that affect you in your home or project studio and how to solve any acoustical problems you may have without laying out much (or any) money. Whether you're converting abedroom, a garage, a basement, or a corner of the living room, this book will help you improve the sound of the environment in which you're making music.The principles are easy to understand and the materials used for treating a room are readily available. Diagrams and photos of actual rooms created with the designs are included to illustrate concepts. Whether you want to pursue a no-cost solution, use "off -the-shelf" acoustic materials, or even splurgewith an unlimited budget, you'll learn how to put your room together easily and effectively. ... Read more

Reviews

Studio for the home recordist on the cheap, June 26, 2007
There are a lot of books on setting up and working in a home studio - very few on treating the frequency response - fewer on doing it on the cheap using the room you have. This is such a book. The case studies are useful and after seeing a few, a pattern emerges and the mystique falls away and you realize that its not such a black art and you can do it yourself using various inexpensive materials. I definitely found this to be a great reasource for getting my room response under control while spending just a couple hundred dollars.

This book is a gem.

Good Studio Design Regardless of your Budget, October 18, 2006
The equipment available today at the 'advanced amateur' level far exceeds that which was available to the professional only a few years ago. But the quality of the recordings being made do not come up to professional standards. Apart from skill at using the equipment, the biggest difference is the studio where the work is being done.

If the sound is being bounced all around the room in an uncontrollable manner, this will be recorded faithfully by the equipment. The equipment cannot distinguish the sounds you want (and hear) but takes in what your ears are rejecting.

This is an excellent book that gives a bit of the theory of acoustics and studio design and then gives practical examples of studios that were constructed using these principles. There are a number of designs described which cover a range in cost from near nothing to designs that you'd better discuss with your wife before you start spending money. Most of these designs do not involve altering the basic structure of the room itself, just panels you might attach and then take down when you move.

This book is an excellent introduction to a fairly arcane subject.

Tips on getting the most from such a project., November 5, 2006
It used to be that musicians went to a professional studio to make recordings; but with all the advancements in computer and recording technology, such a studio is affordable for the home - and ACOUSTIC DESIGN FOR THE HOME STUDIO tells how to make a room perfect for the recording sound desired. Tips on how to sound-proof a home or project studio tell how to use an existing room, whether it be garage or bedroom, and provide diagrams, photos of revamped rooms, and tips on getting the most from such a project.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Getting past the basics, May 11, 2008
Before this book I read Basic Home Studio Design by Paul White. This book was very introductory and helped me get somewhat comfortable with the terminology and some standard ways of treating rooms.

Mitch Gallagher's book was definitely a step up from that. It was much more informative and introduced many ways of treating a room (broadband absorbers, bass traps, foam, ceiling clouds, etc.)

This book will without a doubt help one get associated with acoustics. Read the book in its entirety. The only crucial thing that I don't think it focused on much was how to measure your room yourself (acoustically, for flutter echo, decay time, frequency response, etc.)

But, it does give some information that one will be able to figure out and apply properly with a little internet research.

All in all, a very good book that will be very helpful.

Great DIY ideas and info, June 25, 2009
This book helped me to create a dozen acoustic panels from rockwool, covering them with burlap, and helped me figure out where to hang them in my home studio. It was great to be able to see examples of other studios and how the various acoustic treatments were handled. In addition, there is much basic information that explains why these treatments work and why they are necessary.

A great read for the Noivce to Expert!, June 30, 2008
I have read many articles online concerning acoustics as well as have had the pleasure of working in some wonderful million dollar + studios. I must say that this book is perfect for the Novice who is just getting into acoustics as well as someone like me who has a backing and understanding as well as experience in the field. For its price, I recommend it to EVERYONE!

Excellent instructional and reference book, February 12, 2010
This book demonstrates very simple and cost effective ways to improve any space in your home for critical listening. Highly recommended.

Great book, December 29, 2009
This is a really good book. I am in the process of acoustically treating my home studio right now and this book was like my Bible haha! If you are wanting to learn about acoustic treatment and/or are needing to know what to do with your home studio I highly recommend this book! It's really easy to understand and a good read!

Dream Studio within reach!, January 12, 2009
Great book, super practical and makes designing and adapting your space into a serviceable recording space less daunting. Very good. Recommended. ... Read more

Editorial Review

More than just a guide and introduction to the new, free, must-have Kindle for iPhone App, "No Kindle Required" also provides all that you need to unlock a dazzling new "service in a book," the "Lightning Web Navigator for iPhone & iPod Touch." For everything you will ever want to do with your Kindle for iPhone App, and some things you haven't even thought of yet, bestselling Kindle guide author Stephen Windwalker walks you through each step in the clearest, most concise, easy to follow language.

You'll be pleased to see how easy it is to read Kindle books on your iPhone or iPod Touch, and amazed at how the "Lightning Web Navigator for iPhone & iPod Touch," included here in the low 99-cent price, allows you to turn your iPhone or iPod Touch into a seamless, direct, no-extra-steps web-browsing computer.


Includes: The Convergence of Convergence Devices - Why Kindle for iPhone is a Must-Have App For iPhone and iPod Touch Users - Getting Started with the Kindle for iPhone App - Making Your Kindle Books Available on Your iPhone or iPod Touch from the Manage Your Kindle Page - Deleting Books from Your Kindle for iPhone App - Sampling and Buying Content from the Kindle Store with Your iPhone or iPod Touch - Reading with Kindle for iPhone - Shopping Other Amazon Departments from Kindle for iPhone With Our "Lightning Web Navigator For iPhone and iPod Touch" - Unlocking "Lightning Web Navigator For iPhone and iPod Touch" - Index To "Lightning Web Navigator For iPhone And iPod Touch" Links And Bookmarks - Free Book Sites - Kindle Store Bestseller Links - Amazon Store Bestseller Links - Best Blogs - Blog Lists - Book Catalogs - Book Reviews - Business & Finance - Comics - eBook Downloads, Support & Discussions - Entertainment - Hobbies - Kindle Blogs - Kindle Gear - Local Favorites - Magazines - Mail & Message - Mobile RSS Readers - Mobile Transcoders - Mobile Site Lists - News: National - News: Sports - News: Technical - Reference - Shipping Carriers - Shopping - Travel - Weather - Glossary


Plus Free Excerpts from The Complete Guide to the Amazing Amazon Kindle 2: A Sleek New Hardware Package - From an Ugly Duckling to a Swan - No SD Card Slot, but Seven Times the Storage Capacity of the Kindle 1 - The Crisper, Faster Kindle 2 Display - Enhanced Design and Placement of Buttons, Switches, Bars and Keyboard - A 5-Way Joystick Controller for Better On-screen Navigation - Dual Rear-Mounted Stereo - Speakers for Improved Hands-Free Listening - Addition by Subtraction: Designer Covers for the Kindle 2 - The New Kindle Battery and Charging Options - What's Inside the Kindle 2 - An Enhanced, More User-Free Kindle Reading Environment - Let Your Kindle Read to You with a New "Read-to-Me" Feature - Hands-Free Reading Options - Improved Periodical Navigation - Improved Reading and Web Navigation with the Joystick and the Back Button - Zoom in to Enlarge Graphics, Tables and Pictures - Instant On-Screen Dictionary Lookup - WhisperSync Feature Allows Instant Synchronization of Catalog and Reading Place Across Kindles and Other Devices - Slightly Improved Content Management and Sorting - Opening, Deleting, and Restoring Kindle Content - An Electronic Paper, e-Ink Display Screen, Purpose-Built for Long-Form Reading and Easier Navigation - The Best Features of the Original Kindle, Improved - Whispernet Wireless Connectivity: The Kindle's Connection to Millions of Books - Instant Access to a Growing Amazon Catalog - Greatly Improved Free Wireless Web Access - Emailing Content to Your Kindle Address - Traveling with Your Kindle - Using the Kindle to Translate Foreign or Technical Words and Phrases - Making the Most of Your Kindle Connections Overseas - Using the Kindle as a Travel Guide - The Kindle and GPS - Checking Sprint Wireless Coverage for the Kindle 2 - Downloading Kindle Editions via USB Cable - Using Gift Cards, Gift Certificates, and Promotional Certificates to Give or Purchase Kindle Content ... Read more

Reviews

The Good, the Unnecessary, and the Unknown, March 29, 2009
This book has three main topics. If any one of them helps you, it's worth the price.

The author has assembled the best set of web links for e-books I have ever encountered. First, there is a set of links into different parts of the Amazon Kindle store that makes searching and shopping easy. Jumping back and forth between this book and the iPhone's Safari browser sounds clunky, but is easier that doing the same searches using the browser alone. And the links to free e-book web sites--most of which have nothing to do with the Kindle, by the way--are numerous and usefully organized. Both of these sets of links will save you time and money.

The main topic of the book--how to use the iPhone Kindle app--was reasonably well-written, complete, and seemed error-free. It also seemed unnecessary. I read Windwalker's book about a week after downloading the Kindle app. Everything I read I had already figured out either from the app's help file or just by using it. If you are able to purchase, download, and begin reading this book, you don't really need it. Not for this section, anyway.

The book's last section contains generous excerpts from the author's book on the Kindle 2. I don't have one and don't anticipate getting one, so I only skimmed this material. No comments, good or bad.

Overall, I recommend buying this book if you plan to read books on your iPhone--or even if you don't, but want a good set of links to free e-books. It's well worth a buck. And your time.

This ebook actually makes my iPhone work better!, March 11, 2009
This is so awesome! I set up the Kindle for iPhone App, downloaded this book, and now I can go directly to hundreds of websites without trying to type in the address with my thumbs. Ya gotta love it! Oh, yeah, the book also tells me everything I want to know about how to use the App.

Turned out to have quite a lot of useful information, April 24, 2010
It was free when I got it. Was quite surprised at the wealth of information! I would definitely recommend.

Big Disappointment, February 17, 2010
I'm glad this was only a 99-cent purchase. The description sounded like there were all kinds of features in the Kindle for iPhone app that were going to be revealed, but that was simply not the case! Granted, there are lots of weblinks to other sites that are reasonably well-organized, but anyone with any ability to navigate the web could come up with these links and not have to scroll through pages and pages of links, trying to find the right one. And if I have an iPhone, then why do I need all the pages on the Kindle? I don't have a Kindle; that's why I bought this "book". I'm sorry, but I found this a waste of money. Glad it wasn't much.

Not what I expected..., February 1, 2010
I was really dissapointed by this title. Instead of being the ultimate guide for using the iPhone for Kindle Application, what you get is essentially just a bunch of links to various parts of the Amazon store, by category. I'm puzzled why someone would click the links while using their iPhone and suffer through regular Amazon.com webpages when they could more easily search for whatever they what using their iPhone Amazon.com application and get the web pages optimized for the iPhone.

Granted, 99 cents ain't much of an investment, and Stephen Windwalkers other guides are in fact very informative and well done, but this one just falls short...

Addictive, September 12, 2009
I bought this for my husband for his birthday and now he does nothing else! He loves his Kindle. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Audio productions are made or broken by the quality of the recording engineer's ears. The ability to properly discern sounds, identify subtle problems, and act accordingly to apply the necessary fix makes all the difference in the quality of the final tracks and master. The good news is that these crucial skills can be learned.The ability to instantly identify frequencies, hear hidden distortions, and instinctively reconcile conflicts in the EQ of instruments, audio elements, vocals and more are traits of those who have mastered the art of audio production. The best engineers have trained their ears to immediately recognize audio problems that the consumer and those new to recording arts would likely not hear, but that, if left unresolved, would result in an amateurish final product. For more than two decades, students of F. Alton Everest's Critical Listening and Auditory Perception courses have rapidly developed these skills by using the intense lessons found in this book and on the CD. Unfortunately the books and CDs included with the course were usually too expensive for aspiring engineers to purchase and were often available only in colleges, universities, or school libraries. Now for the first time these indispensable training sessions are available with this release of Critical Listening Skills for Audio Professionals. Through hundreds of illustrations and an accompanying disc containing high-resolution MP3 files with nearly five hours of narration of the entire course, you can acquire the audio discernment skills of a seasoned recording engineer by studying this course at your own pace, in your own home. ... Read more

Reviews

Definetely, the book for improving your audio listening skills!, May 2, 2008
This book contains some clear and self explanatory audio exercises. I hate to acknowledge that most of the exercises could have already been performed by using a 'free' (computer) tone generator to explore the different frequency ranges. Beware, it will require time to learn to listen properly. I was very wrong to believe that by listening to the contents once, I was set. I would suggest to make copies of use a separate sheet of paper to answers the exercises. This way you can repeat it, over and over. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in improving his/her audio listening skills.

*PROS:
-Good and helpful exercises
-Nice correlation between the audio exercises and the freq. graphs on the book.
-If you have no patience to play with a tone generator, this book is well suited for you.

*CONS
-The CD without the book or the book without the CD become useless.
-You need to read the book while you listen to the CD.
-The CD is in fact an MP3-CD, so you may not play it anywhere you want.
-I have the impression that the book is kind of expensive. Many of the exercises can already be performed by anyone using a (free) tone generator.
- The book is kind of bulky to take it anywhere.

essential tool for all audio students, May 4, 2008
This book is acutally a compilation of two of Alton Everests ear training books. The first, Critical listening skills, plays different frequencies, amplitudes, bands, filters, amount of total harmonic distorion, and revervbs. Then you are forced to recognize changes within these different areas. These are crucial ear training skills for anyone trying to break into the world of audio. It's not somehting you can go through once and leave. The book should become part of a routine of ear training.

The second book, Auditory perception, discusses issues relating to the differences between how sound occurs and how we actually perceive it. Another valuable tool for understanding how sound works.

Aparantly this book has been around for a long time but was, until this edition, only available in very expensive editions that were catering toward institutions. This is done by puting the 6 cd's onto 1 mp3 cd. This is my one complaint about this book, that people trying to become audio pros shouldn't use compromised quality files when training there ears. That is why I use the cd's as a guide and for the projects that require more acurate listening I use a tone generator in my DAW to recreate the sounds at a higher quality.

All in all an excellent tool that has, in a short time, already proven very helpfull.

Just what I needed, March 15, 2008
I am currently a student in mediaproduction and not too apt in the field of audio. Often I would come across examples in my textbooks on problems concerning EQ, audio levels, sounds masking eachother comb filter effect etc. My biggest problem is that I do not know what I should listen for. I haven't finished this book yet, but I still feel confident enough about in order to praise it in a review. This book is very good. Nice examples on the CD and very helpful. I do not know how useful it is for audio professionals, but for a student I think it is awesome.

In my first review I wrote that I thought the CD was sloppily made. In fact there was no trouble with the tracks, but since I did not realize that the CD contained mp3's rather than ordinary CD tracks my player read track 10 as track 2. Well, I dont know if I would trust mp3's as a listening reference (even if they have a very hight quality). I wish they could have used CD quality Wave files on a DVD instead. Still a helpful book, though.

Classic Book Updated and Inexpensive, August 15, 2006
This book starts out by saying that the maestro on the podium, the recording engineer, and the experienced music critic have suffieiently trained ears to judge if the sound quality of music is acceptable. The beginning student may well have ears that are just as good, perhaps even better, than these professionals. The student can hear, but doesn't know how to listen.

This book is on listening. It is based on the courses the author developed to teach listening. The first half of the book is on the training the ears to detecting the changes in sound frequency, level, band limitations, irregularities, distortion, noise, etc. The second part is more on the psychoacoustics, the human auditory system. Of particular interest in this section is the understanding of the part that perception plays in the hearing of sounds.

The CD included with the book contains some eighteen lectures that essentially make up a course in listening.

This book is based on and expanded from previous books from the author. These earlier books have long been out of print and difficult to find. This new edition has been updated and priced at a price anyone can afford.

GREAT SONIC WISDOM passed on to us, October 3, 2007
Listen carefully !
If you are a Sound Engineer and you dont have a copy of this book, your
missing out on a lot.

This book is all about you and your EAR and how you perceive sound,
your expensive mixers and gadgets are of no use if you dont know
how to listen to the sound criticaly and deftly turn those nobs and slide those sliders on your mixers !

A top pick for both students and aspiring audio engineers., October 15, 2006
The ability of the audio engineer to identify frequencies, hear hidden distortions and reconcile conflicts can make or break a career; but how can such skills be taught? Critical Listening Skills For Audio Professionals is one sure method for gaining expertise: it pairs an audio cd of high-resolution MP3 files containing nearly five hours of narration of the entire course with a text identifying critical listening skills. Students of the author's courses have tested and developed their own skills on the area based on the contents here, but the price tag is affordable enough for non-college aspiring pros to benefit from. A top pick for both students and aspiring audio engineers.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Mixed feelings, January 5, 2010
It's actually kind of neat that someone wrote a book with exercises for gaining a certain skill in the music industry. This is rare, really rare. But these are WAY WAY basic skills. These are as entry level as it gets. If you are hard of hearing though and still insist on a career in audio tweeking, this might just be the book for you. It is hard to criticize this book because it is so thorough and actually does target some listening skills. But I'm thinking the word "Critical" (in the title) should instead say "very very very BASIC (but critical)listening skills". It is a somewhat short book. But I'm tempted to recommend it if you're sure you want to go full time into the mixing or audio tweeking profession, not just learn home recording skills. If you're just looking to improve your home based hobby of mixing audio, I really think this book will sit on the shelf and grow old and lonely.

Affordable Technical Training in Audio, January 12, 2009
This book/cd is amazing. With specific exercises to help you identify frequency ranges, shelving and hi/lo pass filters, thd and lots more. College level work book and exercises to get you thinking about your audio from a solid foundation.
I wish I'd found this book 15 years ago! Excellent. Highly recommended to anyone looking to get into recording/audio as a hobby or career.

The best course!!!, December 28, 2007
i love it!!
This book is all about
develope your skills in order to make better determinations
about EQ,Comp,Reverb,etc./..

You have this natural skills in your brain
but you have to develope it steep by steep
this book is amazing for that!!!

Zombie walking, February 8, 2008
This is a reissue of two earlier publications from a distant era. An old school approach to ear training. The Psychoacoustic section is quite informative. My suggestion would be to pick it up - used.
There are some DVD-Rom software items out there. "Audio wizard pro ear trainning" is a neat little program if you can get past the "turbined, genie in a bottle" thing going on. ... Read more

Editorial Review

With the new Shuffle, the Nano, the Classic, and the Touch, Apple's gotten the world hooked on portable music, pictures, videos--and the iPod. One thing they haven't delivered, though, is an easy guide for getting the most from this sleek entertainment center. Enter iPod: The Missing Manual, 8th Edition--a book as breathtaking, satisfying, and reliable as its subject.

In a handy, travel-friendly size, this new edition provides a no-nonsense view of iTunes and everything in the latest iPod line, with crystal-clear explanations, easy-to-follow color graphics, and guidance on all the amazing things you can do, including:

• Out of the box and into your ears. Find out how to install iTunes and load music on your iPod. And get advice on buying copy-protection-free songs from stores like Amazon and Rhapsody.
• Bopping around the iPod. Learn everything from turning it on and off to shaking your iPod Nano to shuffle your tracks.
• In tune with iTunes. Choose which parts of your iTunes library load onto your iPod, move your sacred iTunes Folder to a bigger hard drive, and add album covers to your collection.
• Picking playlists like a Genius. Let iTunes' new Genius feature whip up smart playlists from your library, and suggest songs from the iTunes Store that fit with what you already own.
• The power of the 'Pod. Download movies and TV shows and learn how to start watching them on your iPod and finish viewing them on your TV. Play photo slideshows, find cool podcasts, and more.
• Welcome to the App Store. Soup up your iPod Touch, from upgrading to the 2.0 firmware to installing the iTunes Store's nifty new collection of programs -- including games that turn the Touch into a pocket 3-D arcade.

Even if you don't buy one of the new iPod models, this Missing Manual has plenty of information on the latest version of iTunes, the App Store, and everything else you want to know about this incredible device.

Reviews

There is a lot missing from this manual., November 9, 2009
I read the 2008 edition and there are no worthwhile additions in this version. It still reads like a sales pub from Apple (who probably was subbed to write it) with heavy emphasis on the iTunes Store, all of the different models of iPods, and, of course, the Genius feature, another Apple sales tool. The Genius feature is a brain child of the Apple marketing department, which suggests songs to buy for those people who don't know what they like. There's nothing genius about the feature, it relies on iTunes Store buying patterns. It shows, for instance, that Megadeth buyers also buy Pantera. Do you need to have someone snooping through your collection to tell you that? Now that you know what the Genius feature really is, you don't need to read the manual. Well, maybe some do...

The book fails to enlighten in areas where it could really shine. Smart Playlists are skimmed over on just two pages, most of which, like the rest of the book, is occupied by space-wasting, life-sized screen displays. There are a lot of Smart Playlist examples and tricks that could have been discussed, but nothing is shared. I use Smart Playlists for many purposes, like telling me which songs haven't been backed-up, controlling what goes into complex playlists which show me which songs haven't been played enough; none of this is in the Missing Manual. How about, nesting Playlists or using the ellipsis feature? Nope, not there, though it's shown on a screen capture!

The manual says that you can control the start and stop times of a song after you rip it, but doesn't suggest that you might do so before you rip a CD, which eliminates space-wasting bytes. Another topic may have been how to eliminate unwanted parts in-between the start and end of a song. This can be done either totally within iTunes (the long way) or with the aid of an external utility. But nothing cool like this is in the book.

Everything that you will ever do on iTunes is dependent on the correctness of the data that you put into it. This isn't so much a problem with iTunes Store purchases, but is a real problem with ripped CDs. The information obtained from the GraceNote database is often either missing or incorrect. There are misspelled song, album and artist titles. There are incorrect or missing recording dates and composer names. All of those errors and omissions will mean that your Playlists will be compromised. The astute user will also want to organize music differently depending on whether the song is classical or rock. Nothing this interesting is discussed or even suggested in the manual. These topics would have been the starting point for a good iTunes manual.

The book contains still contains errors, like misdirecting the user of the iPod Classic to access the (worthless) Alarm Clock through the Extras Menu. You have to go through the Clock feature to get to the Alarm which beeps only 2 times before turning off. I can't imagine ever using it and I can't believe that Apple built speakers into the iPod so it could be used.

I could go on and on, but you get the point. If you're a new user, then save yourself some dough and Goggle the Internet for all of the info that you'll ever need to manage your music. If you need a book to get started, then maybe get this, but be aware that there is a lot missing from this manual.

I expected to learn tricks, but instead, felt tricked. Two stars because of the misleading title.

All is revealed., June 15, 2010
iPod, The Missing Manual (2010 Eighth Edition) by J.D. Biersdorfer with David Pogue is another success story in the Missing Manual series published by O'Reilly Media, Inc.

The book attempts to cover most iPods since 2007 through 2009. The notable exception here are the iPhone and the new iPad. Biersdorfer and Pogue cover in great detail and clarity almost any question an iPod owner might have. Topics are nicely broken down by how most people would experience using the iPod. The blending of the iPod with iTunes is admirably covered. The book also offers a balanced approach for both Windows and Macintosh users. As steps to complete activities with each iPod differ the authors further offer step by step guides from older video iPods to the present iPod Touch.

The effort is to make available almost all information needed for the beginning user. This, of course, limits some of the information more experienced users might desire. But the iPods have developed so many features in their few shorts years that coverage of advanced topics might call for another work. Efforts to cover all topics would yield on unbalanced volume too large to fully understand and usability would suffer greatly.

So if you think you have pretty well conquered your iPod you will be greatly surprised on the many features built into each machine that iPod, The Missing Manual, will reveal.

Found it very helpful, April 5, 2010
Much easier than plowing throught the Apple manuals. Clear cut, easy to use and coverss a wide variety of questions.

I love my iPods and iPod touch and Nano- but being older (58), I am not tchbnology savy and don't really want to have to be- but I want to use my stuff easily and be able to find answres in a more concise centralized place- and this book is GREAT for that!

Necessary, January 9, 2010
I had never touched any iPod before getting a Touch 32G model. Naturally I didn't know beans about using one. The instructions one receives are perfunctory to say the least. This book helped me greatly to get started. I haven't mastered it by any means but am getting there.
NBS

Useful but not exhaustive manual, August 2, 2010
I-Tunes and the various iPods provide intuitive interfaces for their basic functions. This manual goes well beyond the basics and clearly explains many features that are not at all obvious from the Apple video tutorials and other documentation I could find on Apple's site. But it is not a detailed technical manual that includes all significant features that are needed to manage an extensive audio library.

Great Book!, September 21, 2010
I have two of these - one that's a couple of years older that was given to me and the newer one that I purchased on Amazon. I've learned all sorts of things about my iPods that I never knew before (which is why one book is on my nightstand and the other beside my computer). These books have helped me understand different options on the 'Pods and how to get better use out of the memory I have on them.

ipod newbie, June 4, 2010
Still going through it, however, a great help. Easy to understand and usually always 'another way' advice.

iPod Must Need Manual, March 24, 2010
This is indeed the Missing Manual which should have come with the iPod. Great job in writing this one.

Handy Guide, March 8, 2010
This is a very handy guide. It wasn't the same book that I picked up from the library; however, this one seemed to have better illustrations of the same stuff. Very helpful.

The IPod Manual, February 11, 2010
This book is what it says. It is the Missing Manual. It is very clear with its layout. I needed to find out how to move my ITunes from my hard drive to an externial drive. It worked just like the book said to do it. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Bursting with new features, Apple's iMovie '09 is vastly more usable and complete than iMovie '08--amazing right out of the box. But the box doesn't include a good user's guide, so learning these applications is another matter. iMovie '09 and iDVD: The Missing Manual gets you up to speed on everything you need to turn raw digital footage into highly creative video projects.

You get crystal-clear, jargon-free explanations of iMovie's new video effects, slow & fast motion, advanced drag & drop, video stabilization, and more. Author and New York Times tech columnist David Pogue uses an objective lens to scrutinize every step of process, including how to:

From choosing and using a digital camcorder to burning the finished work onto DVDs, posting it online, or creating versions for iPod and iPhone, iMovie '09 & iDVD: The Missing Manual helps you zoom right in on the details. ... Read more

Reviews

Another great manual from Pogue Press, May 17, 2009
When Apple updated, or more accurately, replaced the well-regarded iMovie 6 in late 2007 with iMovie `08, many users were disappointed if not outraged. `08 was an entirely different application and eliminated many features of iMovie 6 which users had grown to depend on. Now, with the new iMovie `09, users have a good reason to be happy again. Some lost features are back, many features are improved, and a whole lot of new features have been added.

Pogue Press/O'Reilly's new book "iMovie `09 and iDVD" covers the new iMovie in a comprehensive way emphasizing the linkages of the new application to iMovie 6. The book is another of the "Missing Manual" series that follows the established brilliant template of comprehensive feature descriptions and explanations, practical guidance and tips, honest critique, and articulate and witty expression. Co-author David Pogue is known as one of the world's greatest communicators. Here he is assisted by Aaron Miller who focuses on updates from the previous edition of the book.

The book is comprised of three parts and four very useful appendices which include a full menu by menu guide, a troubleshooting guide, a master list of keyboard shortcuts, and an unusual visual client sheet describing the various components of the open iMovie project window. Part Three of the book is all about iDVD, which has not changed since the last edition of the book. That part covers the basics of the application; menus, slideshows, and mapping; designing themes; and some advanced techniques.

The opening part covers everything a user needs to know about the iMovie program from importing video and media, to constructing the visual and audio tracks, using special effects, editing with the built-in correction tools (image stabilization, color adjustments, cropping, etc.) adding titles and credits, and a short chapter on the artistic elements of editing. After your masterpiece is done, the authors explain in Part Two how to save and format it, distribute it, back it up and archive it, and adapt it to multiple formats for viewing on the web, iPhone, YouTube, and other hosts.

As usual with any "Missing Manual" book, the book is richly produced with plenty of full-color screenshots and photos, filled with Tips, Notes, FAQs, advanced material, and sidebar material. For those features of iMovie 6 not included in the new application, the authors provide more than adequate workarounds. There are also supplemental sections on Garage Band and QuickTime player applications basics. Pogue is known for including not only practical professional tips on movie making, but also purchasing recommendations and efficiency and production suggestions from his own experience.

This is a top-notch guide to iMovie `09 and iDVD.

Even an 80 year old can learn to create movies with this manual, February 14, 2010
I could not have made my first movie without iMovie '09 & iDVD The Missing Manual.

I am now 80 years old, and learning something new. My wife has been ice skating for 63 years, and had never seen herself skate. She had her second knee replaced, and it would be wonderful if she could show her surgeon how she could skate on her new knee.

It took almost a week using iMovie '09 & iDVD The Missing Manual to learn enough and create the first movie of my wife and myself ice skating. It took less time to create a second movie of my wife skating. She had some ideas for improving it. It only took one day to shoot the ice skating that she wanted to show the surgeon, and create that movie of her skating. She was thrilled, and we hope her surgeon will also be thrilled.

If an 80 year old can use iMovie '09 & iDVD The Missing Manual to make movies, you can too.

iMovie '09 & iDVD The Missing Manual covers a lot more than iMovie and iDVD because it takes a lot more than iMovie to make a movie.

First the book covers the advantages of different camcorders past and present as well as the different ways you import videos from them. I wasted time here trying to find out how to import from my digital camera into iMusic. Later I found the indexed reference to iPhoto Videos which explained they are imported into iPhoto and how iMusic uses them from there.

Next iMovie '09 & iDVD The Missing Manual clearly covers the concept of movie projects, and of events which contain source footage. Then it covers building the movie by reviewing (skimming) your clips, selecting and editing the good stuff, adding the good stuff to your project in the storyboard, and using the editing tools. There was too much to learn all at once. I selected the portions of the information in the manual that I needed to do what I needed to do when I needed it. I found the information I needed to select and insert transitions, run stabilization analysis, and to add titles. I used just a little of the information in chapters about Narration, Music, and Sound, and about photos, to import background music from iTunes and add stills from iPhoto for the beginning and ending.

You could become an expert by learning all there is in iMovie & iDVD The Missing Manual, but not in one month.

Part two covers getting your finished movie to your audience. Using iMovie '09 & iDVD The Missing Manual it was a snap for me to export to iTunes and from there to our iPods, to export to YouTube and MobileMe. It was also easy to create QuickTime versions of my movies and to burn the movies to a CD. There is more in the book about QuickTime and the Quicktime Player that I want to learn.

Part three covers iDVD '09. I will use it to create and burn a DVD containing my movies and slide shows. As with iMovie, I will not need to learn to be an expert, but based upon my experience with the iMovie '09 portion of iMovie '09 & iDVD The Missing Manual, I am sure you could use it to become an expert.

I highly recommend iMovie '09 & iDVD The Missing Manual. Aaron Miller has written an excellent '09 update. He makes light reading of what could be a heavy subject, but without forcing David Pogue's natural humor.

You can view the movies at
100204_IceSkating
[...].

Best book for the purpose, July 10, 2009
This book has saved me. The book contains more useful information than the manufacturer user manual and in "real people" terminology that is easy to understand. If you want the best performance from your software in lightening speed, buy this book, you will be grateful that you did.

BREAK A LEG!!, June 5, 2009
Do you want to know more about iMovie and iDVD? If you do, then this book is for you! Authors David Pogue and Aaron Miller, have done an outstanding job of writing a book that is designed to be used as the ultimate iMovie and iDVD manual.

Pogue and Miller, begin by showing you how to transfer your footage into iMovie; edit your clips; place them into a timeline; add crossfades and titles; work with your soundtracks; and, more. Next, the authors present step-by-step instructions on how to take your cinematic masterpiece on your screen to the world, by looking at how iMovie excels at exporting your work to- the Web; YouTube; an iPod or iPhone; an Apple TV; a QuickTime file on your hard drive; or, iDVD for burning. Finally, the authors cover the world's easiest-to-use DVD design and burning software.

This most excellent book explores each iMovie feature in depth; offers illustrated catalogs of the various title and transition effects; offers shortcuts and workarounds; and, unearths features that the online help doesn't even mention. More importantly, it provides a complete course in film editing and DVD design.

Like this a lot, June 18, 2009
The author has done a great job both with picture and words. Love those pictorial examples. There are a lot of hidden gems in iMovie 09 that the author reveals and leads one down the path of "mission accomplished." I actually went to the section that I needed first to get a project completed, and am now going back to the beginning and reading both section, iMovie and iDvd, from the beginning.

Excellent as always, June 2, 2009
Ive purchased every volume of this book since iMovie 2 and each one of them fantastic. The new iMovie can be difficult at first but this book made it so easy.

5-Star Winner, April 24, 2009
Another 5-star winner from David Pogue. This new book reveals the power, elegance, and ease-of-use of iMovie 09 in Pogue's usual clear language. You will save an enormous amount of time editing and creating your movies with this book beside you. Stop stumbling around on your own, and buy this book. You'll be glad you did.

Clear and comprehensive, August 31, 2009
I'm about halfway through this book so far, and have found it to be excellent. It's quite clear and readable, even though some of the advanced features are fairly complex. It also seems to be comprehensive, covering all the myriad details. Finally, it is well organized. This is challenging, an art and a science. There are some "by the way" tips that are introduced at a useful time, even though you wouldn't know to look for them there. I'm looking forward the Missing Manual for Snow Leopard.

Save youself the $40 dollars, June 3, 2009
The information presented in the book can be readily gleaned from the tutorials provided by Apple. If you have recorded scenes from, say, "Buffy and Bill's Big Adventure in San Diego" this book and iMovie are for you. Anything more complicated or lengthy is beyond this book. Trying to make a DVD of my daughter's play convinced me that iMovie and iDVD couldn't do the job. I thought the book could help me, but alas, it's simply a repeat of Apple's literature. Troubleshooting was virtually non-existent and utterly irreverent. For example, the one-step DVD routine produced a fuzzy video on playback, although in iMovie and on the camera, the focus is fine. The only change is that the iMovie rendered the movie for DVD, but there is nothing in the book about the rendering process. Another true story -- the book never admits that iMovie can't produce a DVD with chapters that play sequentially. Instead it speaks of the freedom you have to move the clips around. The damnable movie themes seem to be a permanent feature. The only true recommendation the book presents is to upgrade to the professional version or iMovie 06 if you have problems. The whole book comes across as a quick knock-off, rather than the detailed guide to the program.

Grateful, January 22, 2010
"Grateful" is the only word I can think of when I read books like this. I can appreciate one reviewer's comment when they said they were "late for the Video party." I'm so late for the party, I thought everyone would have gone home, the food put away and the lights out. I'm 80 years old and setting forth on an exhileratingly new adventure. Although I've danced (and taught dancing) for over 60 years, it has become obvious that it's almost impossible to pursue my passion without a certain amount of digital and electronic knowledge. I had absolutely none. Not only is this gorgeous Macbook becoming my best friend, this wonderful "iMovie 09" book has transported our dance classes into magical musical productions.

I am so grateful to David Pogue that it brings tears to my eyes. I've spent the last 4 months studying this book. That may sound like an extremely long time to many of you but I'd challenge you to learn dancing in 4 months. :) I started without a clue of how to make a movie, let alone even run a digital camera. My first DVD was absolutely terrific. We started with our Rumba class and then went on to Colombianas. My students are so thrilled, we have started our own little fun video production company.

I'm not Pollyanna saying everything always went "zippity do dah" well. When I made boo boo's it was not the book's fault. Not at all. It was always my lack of basic knowledge. I would like to interject here, that I began my computer knowledge (I use that word lightly) with Pogue's Mac OS X Leopard. But that would be another review.

So all you people who are able to buzz through this book because you already have a background of basic computer and digital, I applaud you and want to remind you how lucky you are to have found this path so much earlier than I have. But Whoopee, I did find it and I found this book as my daily guide. My next challenge is learning to send to YouTube and and Mobileme. Thank you David Pogue. Manzanita ... Read more

Editorial Review

Turn your iPod into a GRE vocabulary review class for on-the-go learning

Reviews

works great, November 30, 2009
I got this to listen in my car during my commute. It plays on my car cd player and the words spell out on the display. The readers are clear and easy to understand. Great poduct!

Great Product, September 12, 2009
This is a good product that I have recently begun using. I do not know if it is very effective; I will not even take the test until next year. However, it does provide everything it says it does. You do not even have to make special playlists because they are already titled on the CD. I am very impressed and look forward to continuing studying on-the-go. Great Product. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A fun and friendly book-and-DVD package gets the music started!

As Apple's bestselling gadget, the iPod is much more than just a digital music player. It allows you to surf the web, rent movies or buy songs, send and receive e-mail, get directions, store photos, watch videos, keep a calendar, play games, and more. iTunes imports music, videos, and podcasts; creates playlists; burns CDs; syncs with iPod; plays music through your home stereo; and much more. Needless to say, a lot of exciting possibilities exist with iTunes and the iPod—and this book-and-DVD package helps you figure it all out!

As the newest edition of a perennial bestseller, this guide is written by a veteran For Dummies author who makes every topic easy to understand. The DVD features 90 minutes of step-by-step video instructions that show you how to set up your iPod, import music into iTunes, set up an account at the iTunes Store, create playlists, sync your iPod, and much more.

• Get more bang for your buck with this book-and-DVD package and get the most up to date information on iTunes and the iPod
• Features a 90-minute instructional DVD that walks you through the most important menus, screens, and tasks you'll encounter when getting started with your iPod and iTunes
• Introduces the different iPod models and shows you how to shop at the iTunes store, add music tracks from a CD to your iTunes library, play content in iTunes, and set up playlists
• Explains how to share content from your iTunes library, manage photos and videos, synchronize devices with iTunes, update and troubleshoot, and more

Get in tune with all that iPod & iTunes has to offer with this book! ... Read more

Reviews

All You Need To Know (Almost), November 9, 2008
Dummies books are well known for being well laid out, with large print and useful tips. While this one isn't as entertaining as the others I've read, it's well-written and clear about using iTunes and iPods in every possible way, from battery life to plug-ins to what you can legally share and how to do it. (It also covers the iPhone, AirTunes, and Apple TV, which I didn't read.) I was clueless about iTunes at the start (hence, getting this book), and now I'm using the program like I've had it for years.

The only fault of the book, and why I docked it a star, is how each section covers every media at once. The author says he wrote the book to be read from start to finish (though, as he says, you can easily skip about), but as soon as he tells you how to load songs off a CD, he doesn't tell you how to play them or sort them, but jumps right to adding audio books, subscribing to podcasts, updating podcasts, scheduling podcast updates, and adding videos. You start into it, and by the end you're either tired of reading the same actions or have gotten confused over all the new information 'cause you haven't yet played a single song yet. Also, when you do get to the chapter on Playing Content, they put the Party Shuffle playlist, including how to open it in a new window, four chapters before we're even told what a playlist is.

The Table of Contents is very clear and helpful in flipping about, but why not have one chapter that collects all the sections on podcasts, another for photos, and another for videos, rather than having them scattered through a dozen chapters?

But again, overall the book is easy to learn from and very in-depth. One really does need a good book to learn all iTunes and iPods can do, and just the DVD alone is a hundred times better than what you can learn from the iTunes Help section or the Apple site.

Note: The book covers iTunes 7.7, and the DVD is up to date with iTunes 8, with its annoying Genius feature.

The DVD

The 90-minute DVD covers all the basics, and it's very helpful to watch on your computer, since you can pause it, click over to iTunes, and carry out the same actions.

Once you get through the intro, which is basically a commercial for the DVD, you can click on Finding Your Way Around iTunes and get information you can start to use. The sections on Importing Music and Ripping from a CD are good, and the Managing, Searching, and Sorting sections are even better - right to the point.

I also like how they highlight sections of the screen when they want to show you something, but the small black arrow pointer could've been larger, and the iTunes screen they show you is slightly blurry in each section, which can get hard on the eyes after a while. Still, a very useful addition to the book.

Update: the Dummies website says the DVD was made to be watched on a TV, which would explain the lack of resolution. Also, it says you have to click on each title twice if viewing on a computer, but that's no problem.

Bonus Chapters

There's also five bonus chapters online, covering everything from earlier iPods, streaming radio stations, and using separate hard drives, which anyone can check out and will give you an idea of how the book is laid out. Just go to the Dummies website, search for iTunes, click on the 6th edition (not the 6th edition with DVD), and click on Bonus Chapters.

(Almost)

Finally, I was disappointed in the book/DVD's coverage of the AAC Import settings, and if you feel like reading the technical aspects of that, I've included it in my Comments.

Great Book For First Timers, April 14, 2009
The DVD didn't really get me excited, just limited info, but the book was great and covered all versions of the iPods as well as the iPhone. It's a lot easier to follow than Apple's instructions.

Too much fluff / not enough compared to previous version, May 2, 2007
for Dummies(6th Edition)


Strengths: Covers about iPod, iPhone and Apple TV model available the latest version of iTunes. It's a good guide to begin with anywhere and find information in that section. There is a helpful front tear (cheat) sheet has information about shortcuts, visual icons target additional information, tips and techniques. Good breadth and depth of information. Last section is most useful for intermediate to advanced users but possibly before chapter 16 as well. There are also companion sites for bonus chapters. Five helpful bonus chapters are located at an alternate dummies website. Comes with 90 minutes step-by-step DVD with instructions concerning how to make the most of your iPod and iTunes. Music Match, PC iPod users may find the information about this application useful.

Weaknesses: Black and white, text and screenshots did not "brighten up the instruction". Too many words in places that don't show/ define the helpful information more easily ( some of these are nested inside the long paragraphs, in and around, Tips and Remember extra notes). Hierarchical shortcut methods would have been easier to notice and read if they were in bold face.

Novice/Intermediate/Advanced



Itunes and iPods have single handily changed and continue to change our thinking about music. This book is a guide to allow music lovers to "get up to speed " about hardware and software development Like many, I have used iTunes since it first came out. I am mainly interested in finding out helpful information about current development with the iTunes and other music developments that I did not know about.

The book includes 22 chapters which span a full range of ideas and information about iPod, iTunes and more. The author, a composer and touring musician, has written books related to computing, desktop publishing and multimedia including for Garageband and more. The main intent was to see if I could learn and more " pearls of wisdom".

There is a nice introduction ( interesting historical information about the first iTunes). Part 1 deals with setting up and working with media content while Part 2 focus is on managing your media content. Part 3 keys on the iPod but also now included the iPhone while while including Wifi information which continues to be be important to me and others. Part 4 includes iPod and Iphone and using these devices on the road. Part 5 outlines additional ways to work with your iPod while includes, "The part of Tens" ( information on problems, solutions and tips )about iPods, IPhones, Apple TV and web resources. The index includes Musicmatch Jukebox, managing the library while the bonus chapter 3, includes advanced Music match techniques.

Conclusions

This book is easy to read and provides much that is useful to beginners and intermediate users. The basics are well covered with helpful hints. But I did not see anything really enlightening in my case.
But the best part I6 found that might be most useful, were the chapters beyond 16: updating your iPod, iphone and Apple TV ; resetting an iPod touch or iphone; synchronizing personal info with your ipod and iPhone.

I'd recommend this book for someone who wants to update their knowledge about their home and multimedia, with iTunes and some of the other equipment. However much of this book looks like previous versions for the most part. If you don't' have an iPhone or iTouch, you won't use those two chapters near the end.
Loads of good information about wireless information, sound and music ideas including nice section about utilizing the equalizer, encoding audio, enhancing your music library, mobile iPod on the move and more. Ten iPod problems and solutions is well done. If you use the PC version of iPod and use Music Match to work with your iPod music library, this book also me helpful for you. If you have a PC, iPod and iTunes this may be most helpful.

All in all, this book is a good resource library for most who are starting with iPod and iTunes on a Mac or PC. But it just did not have enough new information for my particular needs. Most will find this version of this book helpful if they are first time readers of this guide. However if you are like me and don't have an iPod, iTouch or Apple TV player just the iTunes, you already may know most of the information. The bonus DVD did not give me more information that I already knew. Sometime extra multimedia can be over kill. But like I said, if you are still looking for added insights, especially if you are a new comer or have limited use of iTunes or just purchasing iPhone, iTouch, you may find the book and DVD more helpful then I did. It just did not have enough new information for me "even with the fluff".

Does the job, November 25, 2008
I always thought I was tech savvy, but after getting a Touch and trying to set it up with my old cds, I found myself struggling. This book helped me get my head wrapped around the concepts of iTunes and the iPod. I'm still having problems ripping cds, especially compilations or collections and it hasn't answered that issue. I still have multiple albums in my library that hold the songs of an individual artist on a compilation album and I can't seem to get them back together under one album. Its a minor frustration so far. As a general primer for someone trying to learn the iTunes and iPod universe it does a fine job.

general, April 5, 2010
item was received ahead of expected date, very well packed and in good condition. thank you for your attention to this order.

iPod for Dummies, April 26, 2009
One very important piece of information is missing from this book, and it should be a caveat printed on every page: "Apple only allows ONE WAY to accomplish any task. There is no flexibility." If the book had provided this at the beginning, the information in it would have been a lot more helpful. Only after I figured out Apple's inflexibility was I able to apply lessons offered in the book.

Not Much Help, February 2, 2009
Very little help. I learned just as much just playing around on ITunes and making mistakes. The DVD was a little better. ... Read more