Periodically we will be posting reviews of products we deem worthy of attention. These reviews will be written by our members who we feel most expert in the field that the particular product demonstrates. As the list grows longer we will catergorize our reviews so they will be easy to search for and, we hope, helpful for the FCP user.

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

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

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• Click Here for Plug-in Reviews
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 Tutorials/Books

• Sound Editing & Mastering in Soundtrack Pro
  When Apple introduced Soundtrack Pro numerous editors saw it as a fun way to make their own musical scores without the worry of paying fees or the expense of buying royalty free music libraries. Yet, Soundtrack Pro has the ability to go far beyond that basic creationistic application which is where Steve Martin's latest product from his Ripple Training series comes in.
• DVD Studio Pro: Special Edition
  DVD Studio Pro: Special Edition continues the tradition of introductory and intermediate CallBox training DVDs directed at the video professional. This particular instructional piece contains shortcuts, tricks, workflow, and tips targeted at the beginning and intermediate DVD Studio Pro user.
• The HD Survivial Handbook
  Help has just arrived in the form of the "HD Survival Handbook (2008)" by Philip Hodgetts. Philip has been providing educational tutorials for us since FCP first shipped and not just about FCP workflow, keyboard shortcuts and the like, but equally about the more technical aspects of video editing. Philip's great gift is not just that he understand the technical aspects of video, but that he can write about all of this in a clear and concise manner, provide the information required, but in a way that non-tech savvy editors can understand and then employ.
• Real World Video Compression
  A very new release from Peachpit Press, Video Compression by Andy Beach is well worth reading for literally anyone either new or experienced to compression tools and techniques.
• Final Cut Pro 6 - Beyond the Basics
  Released recently is a new addition to the arsenal of Final Cut Pro based books, 'Final Cut Pro 6 Beyond the Basics' by Michael Wohl. This book is massive in length coming in at 678 pages and is designed to bring the editor from the basic workings and editing techniques used in Final Cut Pro to the next level of mastery.
• Up and Running in Compressor 3
  Ripple Training just released "Up and Running in Compressor 3" by Brian Gary. Being a fan of Ripple Training tutorials and wanting to take a refresher course in Compressor 3, I decided to take a look.
• Riiple Training's 'Deep Dive into 3D' for Motion 3
  Available both online or as a DVD edition, both at the same price, Ripple's latest contribution follows closely on the heels of their 'Motion 3 Fast Forward' tutorial DVD. Should you choose the online download, all media and project files for the DVD will be supplied as well. 'Motion 3 Deep Dive into 3D' is the sequential epilogue to the Fast Forward Motion 3 tutorial guiding you significantly deeper into Motion 3's myriad abilities.
• Final Cut Studio On the Spot
  There have been several 'On the Spot' releases over the years for Final Cut Pro and After Effects. The one thing I liked about them was that they were packed with many time saving tips and techniques, little insights and tricks of the trade that no matter what your experience level may be, you might never have thought of.
• The Focal Easy Guide to Final Cut Pro 6
  Aimed primarily at the new and intermediate user, Rick Young has successfully updated his Final Cut Pro 5 edition with new sections covering many of the new features found in FCP 6 and additional techniques designed to accomplish a quicker and more efficacious workflow and, more importantly, a deeper understanding of this venerable application.
• Visual QuickPro Guide: Final Cut Pro 6
  With each new version of Final Cut, I anxiously await for Lisa Brenneis to dust off her accumulated notes and author her latest edition updating the long standing Visual QuickPro Guide published by the Peachpit Press.
• Panasonic P2 Workflow with Final Cut Pro and the HVX200
  This DVD is a step-by-step primer on managing p2 card DVCProHD footage acquired with the HVX200 from pre-production through post to archival. But it doesn't stop there. Color correction, HVX200 hardware and software peripherals, metadata management, SD DVD authoring and more are examined – all in a fast-paced, never miss-a-beat presentation.
• Motion 3 Fast Forward
  Ripple Training is now shipping 'Motion 3 Fast Forward' as both a DVD based tutorial as well as an online version (1.37 Gigs) with a run time of 2 hours and 45 minutes. The online version includes all the same files that are found on the DVD; 12 individual chapter lessons and one complete movie of all 12 chapters called 'The Whole Enchilada'. The Project files and attending tutorial media are included so that you can work through the lessons in Motion while watching the movies, and ... as a sign of things to come, Ripple Training has included the entire 12 lesson set in the new 'Apple TV' format.
• Final Cut Pro 6 -Professional Editing in Final Cut Studio 2
  For those who are just becoming familiar with the complexities of Final Cut, for those who wish to review, or for those who have intentions of becoming Apple Certified for Final Cut Pro, this is the must have book.
• Ripple Training's 6 on 6
  There is no reason why anyone shouldn't expect a new onslaught of on-line, DVD, and book tutorials for the New Final Cut Studio 2. Steve Martin and Ripple Training are the first to hit the shores with six on-line tutorials enabling you to become familiar with the newest features to be found in Final Cut, perhaps, even before you have it installed.
• Apple Pro Training Series: QuickTime Pro Quick-Reference Guide
  While the QuickTime Pro Quick Reference Guide is of excellent quality, I do bemoan the increase of price as compared to Brian Gary's last Quick Reference Guide for Compressor. Thirty dollars for a 138-page book seems to be a bit much.
• DVD Authoring in DVD Studio Pro
  Ripple Training DVD tutorial DVDs have brought to the Final Cut Pro community some of the very finest tutorial discs for most of the applications this editing community has utilized. They bring consistent excellence and continuity to their discs and quality is always synonymous with each offering. DVD Authoring in DVD Studio Pro is no exemption to that rule
• Final Cut Pro Foundations
  Final Cut Pro Foundations, prepared and produced by DV Creators, has focused itself for the new user who wishes to clear up the mysteries of Final Cut and learn how to begin editing quickly and painlessly.
• Compressor-Quick Reference Guide
  This book is easy reading, easy to understand and easy to apply. As shown by the previously mentioned chapters, Brian Gary has you working with Compressor quickly getting you up to speed in a useful and sequential manner.
• Pro Apps Tips from Intelligent Assistance
  What we have here is a genuine New Orleans gumbo, you're not 100% sure what's in it but you know you're in for a treat.
• Final Cut 101-Video Editing
  While there are no shortages of supplementary tutorials for most Apple applications, many of them are a bit costly and will often speak over the heads of their intended audience. This disc, which is also available as an on line download from MacPro Video, is intended for the new editor using Final Cut Pro either for the first time or who hasn't quite gotten a handle on much of Final Cut's abilities. Created and narrated by Michael Wolh, who better to introduce the newcomer to Final Cut Pro than one of the founders who designed the application in the first place?
• After Effects Power Start
  Adobe After Effects 7 has certainly made some changes since their last inception and the folks over at DV Creators has jumped in, gotten their feet wet and released a beautifully produced Power Start disc.
• Total Training for Final Cut Studio
  So, its comprehensive you want? Total Training for Final Cut Studio: A Post-Production Workflow just about does it all for the new or experienced user of Final Cut Studio.
• Start Editing Now
  Start Editing Now, produced by Videocraft Workshop has taken a new approach with this 2 DVD disc tutorial set. Designed to get the new editor up and running with the correct approach, Start Editing Now contains 4 basic lessons covering straight cuts and cutaways, pacing of the video and dialogue and the use of the B-roll footage to avoid jump cuts, and affect scene pacing.
• MacVideo Magazine
  Several days ago I received a package from Rick Young which contained his newest venture, MacVideo, a full color magazine devoted to video on the Mac platform.
• How to Setup, Light, & Shoot Great Looking Interviews
  Vortex Media has come out with a fifth way to learn the art of lighting interviews with an excellent and inexpensive 60 minute DVD which covers just about all you need to be aware of and learn for lighting interviews.
• Color Correcting in FCP 5
  At four hours, this tutorial covers everything from the most basic through the very advanced and is meant for all users, from the beginner to the more accomplished.
• Hands On HDV : A Complete Guide to the Sony HDR-HC1, HVR-Z1U & HDR-FX1
  Bottom line is that both of the Vortex Media tutorial DVDs are finely written and excellently produced. With so many features in common between these camcorders, I was able to glean just about everything I needed. When I go back to them I am certain I will be able to derive even more. I can't imagine anyone not preferring to use 'How to Shoot Like a Pro with the Sony HDR-HC1 or the Sony Z1U or FX1' over the supplied manuals.
• Getting Started in Final Cut Pro 5
  My biggest beef is 'Where the heck was this tutorial disc when Final Cut Pro first came out? I sure could have used it in the stone age of non-linear editing applications. Aimed at the beginner to intermediate user of FCP this tutorial disc is just the ticket to getting a new user up and running with confidence in what they are doing.
• Inside Soundtrack Pro
  There are a number of books and tutorials out for Soundtrack Pro and DTMS has its own as well. Consisting of 5 hours of video based instruction divided into 25 lessons, the DTMS is certainly a disc worth considering for the beginner or advanced user.
• The Art of Encoding Using Compressor
  Bringing some clarity to the "art and science" of video compression for distribution is Ripple Training's DVD-ROM 14-chapter series entitled "The Art of Encoding using Compressor." This comprehensive narrative teaches by example, and tips using supplied content that ranges from HDV to web compression.
• Inside Motion 2
  Digital Media Training has released Inside Motion 2. This new training DVD-ROM is an extension of the Motion 1 Training DVD, which I have reviewed already here.
• Optimizing Your Final Cut Pro System
  I think the title of this book "Optimizing Your Final Cut Pro System" is a bit of a misnomer. The sub-title " A Technical Guide to Real-World Post Production" is more to the point.
• KenStone Unplugged
  What we have here is the acoustic Ken Stone, the down and dirty Ken Stone, the nitty gritty, get it under your fingernails Ken Stone. What you get is the best of Ken Stone to date. Thankfully, as Apple software and editing challenges evolve in the future another "Best of" is still awaiting us a few more years down the road.
• Final Cut Pro 5 - Apple Pro training Series
  There is no question that Diana Weynand and Peachpit Press have succeeded at presenting Apple's Final Cut Pro 5 in a manner conducive to sequential learning. If you already have the Final Cut HD volume you will find that coverage of new features as well as completely different media makes it a worthy purchase. If you are just starting out with FCP than this book provides you with a great way to learn.
• Inside DVD Studio Pro 4
  All in all, what we have here is an excellent updated version of an already fine DVD tutorial on DVD Studio Pro. The media supplied with the disc was well shot and easy to use. Most importantly, it was a simple thing to follow along, go back to 'hear it again' and where I had questions, the tutorials provided the answers.
• Final Cut Pro 5 for Mac OS X: Visual QuickPro Guide
  To the uninitiated, this is not a FCP book on how to be creative with a load of tutorial projects to follow along with. This is a reference book that brings you up to date with all the workings of Final Cut Pro including, as one would expect, important references to the many new features found in version 5.
• The Art of Encoding Using Compressor
  It would seem that Brian Gary understood my dilemma when he created his "The Art of Encoding Using Compressor" tutorial DVD. From the very start of this tutorial it is quite clear that Brian is a 'compressionist' (grin), it is obvious that he knows compression and Compressor and his comfort with this subject is evident, transcending what could be overly dry and tedious material.
• Inside Editing with Final Cut Pro 5
  "Inside Final Cut Pro 5" is an updated version of "Inside FCP 4" and "Inside FCP HD 4.5" and while the 5 version covers all the new features of 5 very thoroughly, many of the lessons from version 4 and HD 4.5 have not been changed.
• Getting Started with Final Cut Studio
  Getting Started with Final Cut Studio is addressed to the new user of Final Cut Pro, Motion, Studio Pro and DVD Studio Pro 4. It is not meant as a complete and comprehensive reference tool or as a 'How 2' for the many special effects and creative motion graphics that may have inspired them in the first place.
• Getting Started With Motion - Apple Pro Training Series
  I've created a monster. Sitting on my desk is the newest book hot off the Peachpit Press, Getting Started in Motion, an Introduction to Motion Graphics by Mary Plummer which is a part of the Apple Pro Training Series.
• Ripple Motion Tutorial 5 and 6
  Steve Martin and Ripple Training now bring forth two more additional tutoring sessions for the ever-expanding number of editors using Apple's Motion.
• Creating Motion Effects in Final Cut Pro
  Like several of the Ripple Training products I have been fortunate enough to view, this DVD brings the user along at an easy pace with sequential activities and tasks. This disc is directed to any user of Final Cut Pro from the beginner to the advanced user simply because it is so full of useful tips and tricks, many of which I had forgotten about and some that I had no idea existed.
• Motion for Mac OS X: Visual Quickstart Guide
  Motion has been shipping for several months now and there are several excellent Motion tutorial books on the market. These books teach by providing lessons and exercises along with video material to work with. A good way to learn Motion. So with several good books out there why would one be interested in the Motion for Mac OS X: Visual Quickstart Guide?
• Easy Guide to DVD Studio Pro 3
  Now this book is different, wonderfully so. Addressed more so to the newer user of DVD Studio Pro 3 than to the experienced professional, Rick Young's book is magnificently studded with beautiful color graphics and illustrations that make it a joy to look at and use.
• Inside Editing with FCP HD/4.5
  Ask any video professional about high definition formats and you'll likely get eight different answers. What is confusing is that all of them would be correct. The good news is that a new DVD ROM training series from DMTS brings some clarity to the mix. The companion disk to the "Inside Editing with FCP HD/4.5" series dedicates two hours to exploring the nuances of HD.
• Behind the Seen (How Walter Murch edited Cold Mountain Using Apple's Final Cut Pro and What This Means for Cinema)
  This book tells the story of a journey, a journey on a road never traveled before. It is a suspenseful story filled with twists, turns and obstacles, the outcome, not always certain. It's a thriller but don't look for this book in the Fiction section at your local book store.
• Apple Pro Training Series: Motion
  This is the first major book on Motion to arrive within the Apple editing community and it is all I had been hoping it would be. In actuality, this book serves as the text for the Apple Motion Certification program and provides a thorough documentation of the many possibilities and levels that Motion has to offer.
• Inside Motion
  It is my distinct pleasure to review Magnet Media's DVD-based Motion training tutorial. This trainer is over 4.5 hours of training, broken down into several categories to really help you get started quickly and easily wherever you left off on training yourself in the ways of Motion.
• Ripple Motion Tutorial 3 (creating DVD Motion menus in Motion)
  Steve Martin began working with the DV GUYs website developing QuickTime tutorials you could download, use and learn from. Many of those tutorials are still up on that website and Steve's own Ripple Training site. Point is, Steve has been at this for a long time as one of the leading teachers of all things Apple. It stands to reason that he would produce some incredible tutorials for the Motion program and he has.
• Motion PowerStart
  Once again DVcreators.net is first to market with "Michael Wohl's Motion Powerstart" tutorial. Ken Stone Reviews
• Exploring Apple Motion: Digital-Tutors
  Motion, like Live Type is simple and intuitive on the outside, but for those who aspire to integrate all there is to know, a deeper delving into the program is mandatory.
• Michael Wohl's Motion PowerStart
  This DVD-ROM instructional piece provides in three chapters a surprising in depth analysis of some basic, and advanced features in Motion. And like any good movie, the creators have the left option for a series of sequels to explore additional features of Motion.
• Magnet Media's "Inside DVD Studio Pro 3"
  Magnet Media has composed their DVD-based DVD Studio Pro 3 training on this same principle that Apple uses: to provide both an easy and advanced interface to the authoring process. With this DVD you begin with the basic mode, and as the lessons progress you will grow into the advanced lessons, with Apple's advanced mode leaving you with all the knowledge you need to drive this application...
• Magnet Media's Zoom In - A DVD-Based Magazine
  Zoom In is a Quarterly DVD Magazine from Magnet Media and "is a way of bringing industry expert interviews and tutorials to an audience much more quickly than was possible before."
• LiveType PowerStart
  Over the past number of years, since the introduction of FCP 1, DVcreators.net has been producing excellent tutorials that have guided us through, not only FCP, but other Apple applications that work with and support FCP...The LiveType PowerStart DVD Tutorial is no exception.
• Final Cut Pro HD (4.5) for Mac OSX: Visual QuickPro Guide
  As night follows day, each time Apple updates Final Cut Pro, Lisa Brenneis updates her Visual QuickPro Guide for FCP. The FCP 4.5 free update also know as FCP HD contains bug fixes, program tweaks, a few new features, changes to old procedures but is also about the inclusion of the new video format, DVCPRO HD.
• Final Cut Pro Advanced Techniques
  This self-paced training DVD in nine video chapters discusses numerous tips and tricks, time savers, media management and other techniques for working FCP HD 4.5. Moderated by Steve Martin, of Ripple Training...
• Inside Adobe Photoshop CS
  Magnet Media has produced another winner in its impressive Digital Media Training Series (DMTS)
  Inside Adobe Photoshop CS: Working with Digital Photos is an interactive training DVD that is a tremendous resource at a tremendous bargain
• DV Enlightenment
  DV Enlightenment is the first tutorial from DVcreators.net's new DV Cinematography series and is a complete course in Professional lighting for the beginner, for people ready to learn the art of lighting. If you sit down with this 55 minute tutorial you are going to come away with an excellent understanding of lighting, not just the basics of lighting but how to use light to help tell your story.
• DVD Authoring with DVD Studio Pro 2
  ..." For the individual either just learning or the editor already fairly knowledgeable of SP-2, this is a book best read cover to cover. Learning is sequential and, to his and the books credit, Jeff Warmouth builds upon each and every step.
• Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro
  'Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro' is just what the name implies, a book that teaches how to create special effects using the tools available in FCP.
• Inside After Effects 6
  Inside After Effects 6, by Magnetic Media, is basic introduction to Adobe's latest incarnation of After Effects, perhaps the premier software-based cross platform animation and compositing program available today. The Director-based DVD provides in twenty-four lessons a simplified introduction to After Effects 6.0 in the context of developing a specific project, which is included on the DVD. This is not an explanation of AE's new tools in version 6. Instead, it introduces After Effects itself.
• Practical Color Correction
  Practical Color Correction is the newest addition to the Intelligent Assistance stable of tutorial products which include; Final Cut Pro, LiveType, Calligraphy, Boris FX, Boris Graffiti, Boris RED, Cleaner, After Effects and Media 100i.
• Inside Mac OS X: Panther
  David A Saracino says."I'm a strong believer in video based learning aids, particularly those, such as this one, that provide random, interactive access to the tips, suggestions, and troubleshooting. This DVD is well organized by chapter and section, and the video and narration is nicely paced and informative. More than that, the price is right..."
• Book Review: Final Cut Pro 4 - On the Spot
  While this book could be called a FCP 4 tutorial, that would be a misnomer. This is not your typical 'tutorial' type book. Rather, it is a book filled with some 350 techniques, tips if you will, that will enhance both the speed and ease with which you work in FCP and also the creative level that you work at. Each technique starts with a general explanation, then provides step by step instructions which are supported by screen shots.
• Killer Titles:Intelligent Assistance for LiveType and Calligraphy
  Okay, so what is "Killer Titles"?. Good question. It is, of course, a tutorial for LiveType and for Calligraphy, both of which ship with FCP 4. But the way that this product works is unique to products produced by Intelligent Assistance. It is a split personality tutorial and functions in several different ways depending upon your needs.
• Ripple Training On Line Tutorials
  Taking a cue from the Apple iTunes store's 99 cent per song download Steve (Martin) has developed a series of 6 to 8 minute QT tutorials for a number of different Apple Applications: FCP 4, FCP 3, FCE, DVD Studio Pro 2, LiveType, Shake and Soundtrack. Ken Stone reviews.
• Final Cut Pro 4 for Mac OS X: Visual QuickPro Guide
  The four essential pieces of hardware that you need to run Final Cut Pro 4 are a Mac, a monitor, a DV device or capture card and Lisa Brenneis' book 'Final Cut Pro 4 for Mac OS X'.
• Inside Final Cut Pro 4.0
  Magnet Media has produced some fine titles for this purpose and I've reviewed several in the past. This one, however has a new direction, in that it focuses on people already familiar with FCP who want to learn what's new and how best to take advantage of all that is in FCP 4.
• Inside DVD Studio Pro 2
  Magnet Media's Inside DVD Studio Pro 2 visual tutorial provides over 6 hours of complete visual training broken down into four sections. Alex Alexander reviews.
• Digital Filmtree's Final Cut Express Training DVD
  While this is clearly a tutorial for the beginner, the tutorial does move into advanced areas of editing and includes topics such as Nesting, Color Correcting, Motion Graphics, Audio, Special Effects, importing Photoshop files, all essential elements in producing a professional project.This is an excellent tutorial. It's what I have come to expect from Steve Martin and DigitalFilm Tree.
• Zoom In
  Magnet Media, who also brought us "Inside Editing with Final Cut Pro", now debuts a brand new concept: a bi-monthly DVD video magazine for video professionals.
• Final Cut Pro 101; The Basics & More
  For around $50, this has to be one of the least expensive training videos on the market. Jerry Hoffman teaches the basics of setting up and editing in Final Cut Pro 3."
• Digital Filmtree's Color Correction for Final Cut Pro
  "The reason that this 'Color Correction' tutorial succeeds so well is simply the quality and clarity of the lessons and its excellent organization. DigitalFilm Tree has set a very high standard. You really have to view this product to see how good the tutorials are." -Ken Stone-
• "In the Blink of an Eye" by Walter Murch
  Ben Bryant reviews the book many call the definitive book on the "art" of editing.
• Final Cut Pro 3 - Editing Workshop (2nd Edition) by Tom Wolsky
  Ken Stone reviews the 2nd edition to Toms fine book of tutorials for FCP
• Intelligent Assistant for Boris Graffiti 2
  "For those of you not familiar with Intelligent Assistant it is not a book, tape or CD/DVD. It is like a digital encyclopedia, all content is indexed, linked and searchable. It is unique in that it is installed onto your computer where it is ready to be called up at a moments notice. For Power Book users on the road this is invaluable. IA can be left open, floating above your application while you work. So what is Intelligent Assistant?" Read all about it
• Photoshop 7 - Savvy
  Lets face it. Knowing just FCP is not enough any more. There is all those graphics programs that go along with it. Might as well start with PhotoShop.
• Beginner's Final Cut Pro: Learn to Edit Digital Video
  Beginner's Final Cut Pro' is a book for anyone who is just starting off with FCP
• Nonlinear/4 A Field Guide to Digital video and film editing
  This is the book you need to read before you tackle Final Cut. Ken Stone reviews
• The Little Mac OS X Book OS 10.1 - By Robin Williams
  Mac OS X: The Missing Manual - By David Pogue
  2 new OSX books to add to your library
• Mac OS X: Visual QuickStart Guide OS 10.1
  This book is true to the Peachpit Press Visual QuickStart Guide tradition, coming in at under 300 pages.
• Final Cut Pro 3 and the Art of Filmmaking
  Is a handsome book. It is printed in 'landscape' layout and features full color images throughout.
• InSession Training Series: Final Cut Pro 3
  This 2 DVD instructional set is the first "self paced Title" to be certified by Apple
• Final Cut Pro 3 for Macintosh: Visual QuickPro Guide
  The latest version of the must have reference guide to FCP, by Lisa Brenneis. "The "Grand Mommy" of the FCP books. VQP was out of the block first and sold a 'gazillion' copies when word spread that the manual that came with FCP version 1.0 was less than compelling."
• The Easy Guide to Final Cut Pro
  At 128 pages, "The Easy Guide to Final Cut Pro is very much a 'hand book', a 'primer' if you will. Short, clear and to the point. It provides an excellent quick introduction into FCP editing. It will get you up and running on FCP in short order."
• Final Cut Pro 2 Bible
  Weighing in at 3 pounds 4 ounces and standing 1,094 pages high is the Macworld Final Cut Pro 2 Bible. A review by Ken Stone.
• DV Companion 3.0
  A review of Philip Hodgetts latest version of the must have helper for Final Cut Pro.
• Editing Techniques with Final Cut Pro
  "If you are new to FCP and editing this book by Michael Wohl is a must. 'Editing Techniques with Final Cut Pro' along with one of the other 'Basic' FCP books will provided you with an excellent library that will go a long way to helping you learn your craft." This review includes 3 excerpts from the book
• Making Awesome iMovies
  Another great CD tutorial from DVCreators. This is not just about imovie. It's about pre-production, production, AND then iMovie.
• Inside Editing with Final Cut Pro 2
  HyperCD training in 1-3 CDs to learn setup and use of FCP via work on a real-world project
• Final Cut Pro PowerStart 2 CD Rom Not a sequel to PowerStart but a brand new tutorial for beginner and advanced FCP user
• Secrets of Final Cut Pro 2
  20 tutorial projects on one CD by DV Creators
• (Understanding) Final Cut Pro
  Video Training tape for Final Cut Pro
• Video Compression (with) Cleaner 5
  Video training tape for Cleaner 5
• Extreme Editing
  Video Training Tape for Final Cut Pro
• AE Companion
  Intelligent Assistant for After Effects
• DV Companion
  Intelligent Assistant for Final Cut Pro

Plug-ins that work with FCP and Motion

• Red Giant Software's Magic Bullet Instant HD Advanced
  Back in June 2006 I reviewed Magic Bullets' Instant HD, a program designed to help the editor incorporate Standard Definition footage into an HDV or HD sequence. It was designed for users of Final Cut Pro 4.1+ and Adobe After Effects 6.0+ and worked its magic by up scaling the source footage. It did its job well though it was not accompanied by the easiest workflow in the world.
• Noise Industries' FXFactory Pro 2.0.2
  Motion Graphic Effects Package Update
  Noise Industries continues to refine, update, and expand its FXFactory motion effects package. The company is responsive to user feedback, and responsible in its development package. It quickly hammered out an update to FXFactory when an earlier version proved incompatible with p2 card input.
• Core Melts' PolyChrome Transitions
  The collection of Core Melts' PolyChrome transitions is a set of 40 transition effects, many of which are absolutely necessary within the editors' arsenal of production tools. Compatible with both Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express, the PolyChrome collection of transitions are GPU accelerated on PPC and Intel Macs which will help cut down on your rendering time.
• Magic Bullet Suite 2007
  Don't let that $799.00 scare you off before you read this. In the new Magic Bullet Suite you are actually getting four separate applications which can be used in Final Cut Pro, Motion 3, Adobe After Effects, or all three. Magic Bullet Looks, MB Frames, MB Colorista and Instant HD make up the entire suite.
• idustrial Revolution's SupaWipe
  Wipes have been used as transitions for as long as I can remember. In a sequence, more often then not, they represent the passing of time or a jump to a different location. In feature films they fell out of favor until George Lucas brought them back in a major way in his Star Wars series of epic Science Fiction movies.
• Digital Anarchy's ToonIt 1.0.2
  You have surely seen the many commercials on television and in film where the actors have been transformed to cartoon versions of themselves. It is not a hard process to create but it can be time consuming...
• Boris Continuum Complete 5 FxPlug
  BorisFX Software's recently released BCC5 FXPlug for Motion and FCP6 is as close to a perfect art collection as you'll find. Wide ranging, diverse, and powerful, this collection provides options for just about everyone's palate.
• Conduit
  Conduit is a nodal-based compositor. Instead of working with layers in programs like Final Cut, Motion and After Effects, it uses a flow-chart design similar to programs like Shake and Nuke.
• Particleillusion Pro Emitters Collections 10-12
  For those who find themselves spending endless hours creating special effects in Motion utilizing the particle generators to create flowing water, lower thirds, dynamic texts, animated backgrounds and FX of all kinds, look towards particle illusion to enable you to cut your editing bay time by half or more. Actually, particleIllusion is more powerful than Motion's particle emitters ...
• Core Melt Image Flow Fx 1.0.1
  Noise Industries and Core Melt have brought to their ever growing number of plug ins an exciting new package of 12 Fx plug ins designed to make the creation of motion graphics using still images that much easier. This is not your typical slideshow presentation but is an excellent time saving set of plug-ins which allow you to select multiple styles of frames with your images, adjust animation with multiple presets or manually set animations, and control of tempo.
• CHV FxPlug Emitter Plugin
  There are a number of basic differences between a Motion stock emitter and the Particles Heaven FxPlug plugin. For starters, Particles Heaven is not an emitter, it is a generator and is found in the Generators section in the Library. Additionally, unlike a stock emitter, Particles Heaven's particles are all independent of each other.
• SUGARfx for Final Cut Pro
  Video Wall Pro
  Cinefest Plug-in Package
  Video Wall Pro, and the other plug-ins mentioned here provide excellent tools for creating a variety of motion effects in Final Cut Pro and Motion. If you are a novice, you can start with a stock preset and augment it to meet your particular needs. Or you can mix and match various parameters in 2D and 3D space to create a custom look. Because these are FxPlug-based filters and generators, speed in rendering is directly related to the power of the GPU.
• Lyric Media Final Cut Plug-ins
  Lyric Media has been in business for sometime now having collections of tracking and drawing plug-ins for Final Cut Pro as well as others. This new collection comes to you as a collection of over 50 different video effect filters, many of which provide several of the image correction, photographic and stylized effects found in Photoshop only now applied to video as well. The Lyric Media Final Cut Plug-ins have been separated into Special Effects, Masked Effects and Mattes folders once installed on your system.
• CHV-Electronics Shining FXPlug Plugins
  Plain and simple, Christoph Vonrhein and CHV-Electronics has done it again. With an ever updated collection of excellent plug-ins behind him, he must never be satisfied with his accomplishments for here we have now a new bundle of filters he has entitled Shining FX.
• wondertouch Pro Emitters for particleIlusion
  For those of you who have not discovered the wonders of wondertouch's particleIllusion, I can only ask 'Why not?'
• Nattress' Big Box of Tricks
  Graeme Nattress's latest contribution of plug-ins, which includes eight separate sets of filters, one set of transitions and one of generators. Each group of filters contains several usable and some eclectic plug-ins.
• Digital Anarchy's Plasma FX 1.0
  With Plasma FX, a set of 26 filters, there is almost no learning curve. Application of any of these filters is simple and greatly intuitive whether you use them in Final Cut Pro, Motion or After Effects. Plasma FX 1.0 is built to run in Adobe After Effects 7.0 and higher, Final Cut Pro 5.1.2 and Motion 2.1.2 and only in Macintosh OS 10.4 or higher.
• FxFactory 1.0.1 Final Cut Studio/Motion
  Noise Industries has released FxFactory for Final Cut Studio, a collection of real time visual effects packages available for Final Cut Pro and Motion. More than thirty transitions, generations, and filters are available as a compositing package for Motion and an editing package for Final Cut Pro.
• Volumetrix Light Plug-ins
  I just spent a good part of my weekend putting off writing this review so I could have a ton of fun just playing with the Volumetrix plug-ins for Apple's Motion and Final Cut Pro Studio. It wasn't time wasted as there really is so much you can do with these two plug ins...
• CHV-Electronics FXPlug Plug Ins
  Now we are again treated to Christoph's latest contributions to the Final Cut Pro community with two small collections of plug-ins, the Magic 3D FX and the Morphing FX sets. Both bundles utilize the newest FX plug-in architecture from Apple, which allows for higher render speeds and better system compatibility. Having been introduced with Apple's Motion 2, it is now also available for Final Cut Pro 5.1.2.
• DVFilm Maker
  DVFilm Maker is a unique product designed to provide the Film Look that so many are seeking when shooting with their DV cams.
• Instant HD
  When I heard that Red Giant software, already well known for the Magic Bullet Suite, had come out with a conversion plug-in for After Effects, Final Cut Pro and Premiere Pro that would enable the editor to up-convert standard DV video into a variety of HD formats, I just had to take a look.
• Digital Film Tools 55mm Plug-ins For FCP
  For those looking for a set of Final Cut Pro Plug-ins featuring wowy, zowy transitions and filters full of exciting shard breakaways, 2 & 3D animated turns and flyaways, morphs and motion trackers....well, time to look elsewhere. They exist, but just not here. This is a very specialized set of plug ins, subtle in their effects but immeasurably more useful to the artist editor who is not just satisfied with the look and feel of standard video.
• Sapphire Plug-ins for FCP 5
  Sapphire plugs, previously available to the Adobe AfterEffects and Avid community is now here for the Final Cut Pro user as well. The entire package comes with over 175 plug-ins separated into 4 'boxes' which can be purchased separately or bought as a full bundle. They don't come cheap but there is real quality in this package and you get all that you hope to.
• Dissolve Factory by Buena Vista
  When using the standard Final Cut Pro cross dissolve the pixels from both the source and destination clips fade at equal rates, their transparency equitable on both ends. Nothing wrong with that but suppose we could make that dissolve just a bit more interesting, a touch more dynamic, a little less dull?
• Ampede LayerLink 1.1 for Motion
  Enter LayerLink for Motion 1.1, a $119.00 plug-in that imports Illustrator multilayer files (including CS) as a project in Motion with separate layers for each of the layers created in Illustrator.
• Boris Continuum Complete 3.0
  By David Saraceno. After spending three weeks working with this impressive array of FCP plug-ins, I'm convinced its name should be changed Boris Continuum "Wow."
• 55mm Digital Optical Filters for Photoshop
  Digital Film Tools has created an amazing set of filters in the 55mm filters package which offer an enormous degree of control and flexibility, they work extremely well, the effects generated are excellent.
• Boris Continuum Complete 3.0
  By Steve Douglas. A year ago I read a review of Boris Continuum 2.0 and was highly intrigued. I knew of the Boris reputation for quality but I also knew of its reputation for having a high learning curve
• Magic Bullet for Editors
  One more opinion on MBE by David Saracino. "Magic Bullet For Editors (MBE) consists of two elements: the Look suite of filters designed to emulate film; and Misfire, which adds film-like "damage" to your video.
• Magic Bullet for Editors
  Two years ago, a friend told me about this "amazing" piece of software that would take 60i video and convert it to 24p (twenty-four progressive frames per second) making it look "just like film." In addition, I was told that the software came with a "Look Suite" which contained customizable controls and presets that simulated different film stocks and "looks."The software was called "Magic Bullet..."
• New on my Cluttered Desktop - The Final Installment
  Ned Soltz clears his messy desk for the final time and reviews:
  Contour Design ShuttlePRO v2, DVRig Pro, Soundtrack Additional Loops, Handwritten Volume 1 for LiveType, LiveType Central for LiveType, Screen Caffeine for LiveType, and A Luna Blue LiveType: 01. Whew!
• Drawing Tools
  Drawing Tools is a set of very interesting and useful generators for constructing geometric shapes and lines in FCP and FCE.
• ANIM Jewels NTSC and PAL - by CGM
  The Anim Jewels collection of motion graphics consists of 4 separate themes, 1) Earth Collection 2) Wedding Rings 3) Background Patterns and 4) Curtains, Album and Flags. These can be purchased as separate collections or as a package containing all.
• A Plethora of Plug-Ins and A Peck of Programs
  Ned Soltz once again clears his desk of all that messes it and takes a look at CGM Plug ins Vol 3 for FCP and FCE, Curious gFX, 55mm 3.0.1, and G Film and G Standards converter. Whew!
• CGM DVE Complete Digital Video Effects for Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Express
  CGM DVE Complete are 131 filters and transistions from Vol 1, 2 and 3 of Klaus Eperlie's CGM DVE plug-ins for FCP and FCE. Steve Dougas reviews
• Sapphire AE 1.0 for FCP
  The long-awaited release of the GenArts Sapphire filters for AE has come! And, as an added bonus, Sapphire AE 1.0 is fully compatible with FCP.
• CHV-Electronics - The Clone Collection
  "When Christoph of CHV asked me for suggestions for FCP plugins it took me exactly 2 seconds to reply. "I want a Clone tool like the one found in PhotoShop". Now a short time later I am working with two Clone tools from CHV. The Pre Defined Clone tool with built in shapes and a Variable Shape Clone tool that lets you create an exact custom shape with up to 24 settable points to outline a shape."
• Automatic Duck Pro Import FCP/Automatic Duck Pro Export
  In development for several months, designed to leverage the industry standard Open Media Framework architecture with FCP's and Avid's new XML metadata support, Automatic Duck's Pro Import/Pro Export plugins for Final Cut Pro have arrived, and they prove to be a quackerjack duo in getting FCP's and Avids to talk to each other.
• Special Effects Filters for Apple's Final Cut Pro 3 & 4
  As FCP grows in popularity and usage we are seeing more and more third party support. There are now a number of players selling plugins for FCP. While each of these different vendors offer many similar types of plugins, it seems that each package has a few unique plugins that make the package worthwhile. Such is the case with G Filters.
• Eureka Plugins for FCP 4
  A long time ago, in a version far far way, when the Universe was rendered in RGB, there was a 'first' set of plugins. We knew not their origin nor creator, we knew only the name, Eureka. The forces of YUV swept in around the time of 1.5. driving the leader of Eureka, 'Romantic Text' from the Galaxy. Now, re-written for YUV and FCP 4.0.1, Eureka is back.
• Automatic Duck Pro Import 2.0
  Automatic Duck has now been upgraded to Automatic Duck Pro Import 2.0 with increased capabilities and merger of multiple import filters for a variety of applications into one import plug-in. The result is that a sequence exported from Final Cut Pro 3 as well as Avid systems can be brought into After Effects or into an exciting new product which will be shipping in the near future, Boris Red 3GL.
• Magic Bullet Suite + Century 16:9 Adapter
  Steven Galvano takes a very comprehensive look at the Magic Bullet Suite of plug ins as well as Century Optics' 16:9 adapter for the GL1 Camcorder
• Boris Continuum Complete
  Ken Stone reviews the latest BCC plug in packaage. Says Ken: "After loading Boris Continuum Complete 2 into FCP, I went through the Effects Menu. I guess that it was a little bit like wandering around NAB and looking at all the new and exciting video equipment, there is almost too much good stuff."
• The FCP Plug-In Scene:
  Product Updates and A Way-Cool New Product
  Ned Soltz looks at updates to CGM, Effects Essentials, Twixtor, and the brand new Text Anarchy from Digital Anarchy
• Virtix Plug-ins for FCP
  Virtix Effects consists of 30 Video Filters which install normally into the FCP plug-ins folder. Just merely reading the effect titles fills the user with anticipation that such a relatively inexpensive package can achieve so many effects.
• CHV-Electronics - Final Cut Pro Plugins - The Text Collection - Credits and Sub-Title
  CHV-Electronics - Final Cut Pro Plugins by Christoph Vonrhein is the new kid on the block and these plugins up the ante. Feature rich, these new plugins are Vector based and work at the sub pixel level, producing excellent motion graphics.
• The Quest For Film-Look
  A look at Dissolve Factory and 55mm, 2 sets of plug ins that achieve the quest for a "film Look."
• Digital Anarchy's Psunami
  Psunami is primarily an Adobe After Effects plug-in whose focus is to create realistic, almost photographic quality, water and atmospheric scenes.
• 2 New Plug in Packages for FCP
  Ned Soltz reviews Artmetic Plug-Ins For FCP and Effect Essentials 1.1.1 for FCP
• Swim 1.1
  Plug in for FCP and AE from the makers of Elastic Reality that make your Pond Ripple plug in look more like Pond Scum.
• Joe's Filters 3
  A set of 24 plug ins for Final Cut Pro 1.25 and above.
• CGM DVE Vol.2+
  Digital Video Effects for Apple Final Cut Pro
  "CGM DVE Vol.2+" is a set of 35 filters and transitions for use in Final Cut Pro 2 and 3. In addition to the professional plug-ins the package also includes a series of Final Cut Pro workshops and 67 "soft wipes."
• CGM Transitions and Filters Vol1 For Final Cut Pro
  56 video filters, transistions and 67 softwipes to use with FCP
• RealSmart Shade/Shape
  Plug-in to add shade, depth and luster to your titles and logos
• Twixtor
  Plug-in to speed up and slow down your clips
• Knoll Light Factory
  Series of plug-ins for FCP and After Effects
• Reelsmart Motion Blur and Video Gogh
  After Effects plug-ins that work with FCP

-Hardware-
Hardware you can use with FCP

• Light & Motion's Fathom 90-Degree Lens
  Any videographer worth his or her salt knows that without a good port on their housing, their images will be reduced in color saturation, resolution and, often size. While a bit more expensive than standard plastic ports, for those wanting to film up to their camcorders very highest standard, the Fathom glass lens, by Light & Motion, is the only way to go.
• CalDigit HDOne
  In early 2008, CalDigit announced their new line of 20Gb/s External PCIe raids called HDOne. The HDOne model is positioned as a low cost ePCIe 3Gb raid capable of raid 0,1,5,6 and JBOD. The HDOne ranges from a 2TB to an 8TB unit and (BHphoto.com) has a list price of about $2,200 for the 2TB unit and $7,600 for the 8TB unit. A 2TB raid 5 unit for around $2,200? This is pretty remarkable!
• Light and Motion Sunray 2000 Video Lights
  When I first saw the Light & Motion Sunray 2000 underwater lights in their proto type stage, I recall salivating at the thought of getting to use them one day.
• Lowepro Dry Zone Camera Bag
  There's not a videographer around who has not been caught in a downpour at one time or another when on a shoot or simply lugging their gear to the airport. It has happened to me a great many times in my travels around the world and usually when I am far from shelter. For the photographer or videographer wishing they had a waterproof camera bag, Lowepro has introduced 2 bags, the DryZone 100 and 200, which do the job and ease the mind.
• CalDigit HDPro
  There's only so much that you can actually write about when you're reviewing a drive system and it gets harder all the time because there are many great products out there, but I've been taking a CalDigit HDPro PCIe RAID for a spin - even got it some work on a film for a couple of weeks - and I thought I'd share my thoughts.
• Three Tools for Tapeless Video Media Backup/Editing
  Solid state or tapeless video workflow provides many benefits to the video professional, but there are challenges as well. Most quickly evaluate strategies to backup, archive, and retrieve footage shot to solid state cards from Panasonic and Sony, or to direct to edit HDDs. No strategy is perfect, however. David Saraceno looks at 3 possible solutions.
• Camhandle
  Camcorders like the HVX200 provide benefits and present challenges. Their smaller size and weight facilitate a less obtrusive presence while shooting, but it's a challenge to stabilize handheld shots particularly when compared to shoulder mounted cams.
• FloLight LED500 Light
  Commercial LEDs were introduced 40 years ago, but only recently have emerged as an option for the video professionals. It's not surprising that the evolution took so long. First generation LED lights required more watts per lumen, and were grossly inefficient compared to the incandescent bulb. How things have changed.
• Litepanels-Micro
  Litepanel's newest offering capitalizes on the latest LED technology providing softlight production in an extraordinarily efficient and compact package. Quality light is no longer limited to those who have the deep pockets to afford it.
• DYMO DiscPainter
  If you regularly print CD/DVDs on a tray-based inkjet printer, you know the whole process is a little wonky - - which literally means crooked, off-center and askew. At best, these printers require patience and a couple of resets to print a disc. But as the only low cost print game in town, they were a necessary evil -- until recently. DYMO, a leader in label printing, has implemented a radial print technology in a dedicated CD/DVD printer that sprays ink onto a spinning disc.
• OtterBox Laptop Case
  Any expensive investment is worth protecting. Soft cases do a good job of cushioning a laptop from potential damage but there is certainly no guarantee that they will be able to protect your laptop from every mishap. OtterBox, a company known for making hard-shell protective cases for everything from iPods and cell phones to cigar cases and GPSs, has recently released their OtterBox 7030 Laptop Case.
• elgato turbo.264
  Another look at the USB device slightly larger than a thumb drive that greatly accelerates H.264 encodes, particularly on slower Macs.
• Elgato Turbo.264 Video Encoder
  The Turbo.264 is designed to convert your videos using H.264 files for exporting to your iPod, Apple TV and iPhone. It is slightly larger than a USB thumb drive at approximately 83mm x 30mm x 12mm in size and, for those using it on a laptop, a short USB extender cable is supplied providing you room to plug in on your often crowded Macbook.
• G-RAID mini 320GB/5400
  Every so often, a product comes across my desk that sets the standard for its class. I had read extensively about G-Technology HDDs over the last few years, and when I got the opportunity to review its bus powered multi-interface G-RAID mini 320GB/5400, I jumped at it.
• Caldigit HDPro Storage Solution
  Supports Raid 0, 1, 5 or Raid 6
  2.0TB to 8.0TB Capacity
• Video Image's Balance Beam
  Not everyone has at their disposal a tripod of such quality that jerkiness and stuttering during pans are not sometimes a problem. Smooth panning takes practice but even the experienced shooter finds from time to time that a tripod stutter can demand the need for extra takes. Trig Simon has created a novel tool designed to alleviate panning problems while creating smooth pans from beginning to end.
• VIDLED DELUXE LED Light: dayLED-40
  Many on cam or mobile lights use fluorescent bulbs, although the kid on the block -- LED lighting -- has enjoyed growing market acceptance, and for good reason. LEDs are characteristically different than fluorescent bulbs. They are highly efficient light sources, generally last longer per battery charge, can produce white light, and are among the most durable of all lighting.
• CalDigit S2VR Duo and Firewire VR
  "Who is CalDigit? Where did this company come from? Well, they used to be an OEM company...meaning that they designed products for other companies to sell. In fact, they helped design quite a few G-tech products in including the G-RAID....the drive that won BEST IN SHOW at MacWorld the year it was introduced. I have two of these drives and love them."
• Snowball Professional USB Microphone
  USB microphones have never really had much of a good reputation. The Snowball is not a cheap microphone by any sense of the word, and I'm not referring to price. It is not a toy mic with horrid colorations, no bottom end, and a sound that reminds one of someone stuck down a well somewhere in Kansas.
• FireStore FS-100 DTE® (v.3.0 firmware)
  With the release of v.3.0, the FS-100 provides some increased functionality, and impressive capabilities. Recording directly to QuickTime in a variety of functionally equivalent pNative QuickTime formats, further economizes getting footage to your computer for Final Cut Pro users.
• JimmyBox
  Originally engineered as a wireless audio receiver holder for professional digital video cams, the JimmyBox (large) doubles as a lightweight, economical and sturdy cage to house the FS-100 DTE (see lafcpug review) under a HVX200.
• Box-FS Holder for Focus FS-100
  The Box-FS Holder for the Focus FS-100 (see lafcpug review) is a redesign of the company's previous fastening system for securing DTE devices to the HVX200.
• Specialist Keyboard for Apple Final Cut Pro
  The bottom line on World Tech Device's Specialty Keyboard for Final Cut Pro is that this is the perfect keyboard for someone who is just learning Final Cut and needs to see or be reminded of the many shortcuts that will make their job easier.
• DVMultiRig Pro
  In many ways, the DVMultiRig Pro is the Swiss Army knife of camera mounts and braces. It can be used as a basic shoulder mount, as a "multirig stabilizer" in the "fig rig" genre or as a "steadicam" with the stabilizer rod and belt holster.
• MyVu Video Glasses
  The glasses are so slim you can easily see the world around you, over the top and even through the glasses-- transparent tinted viewspace on either side of the screen. This design offers what MicroOptical's founder Mark Spitzer calls "situational awareness."
• HVX 200 - Streets of Birmingham
  Having shot with the HVX-200 for a couple of hours on the streets of Birmingham I've got to say the Panasonic HVX- 200 feels like any other camera I have ever used. It feels like a camera should, all the controls are in the right place, it feels good. I've heard reports that it's chunky, some people have said it's ugly and bulky - I don't have any of those problems at all. I like it!
• Tiffen's Steadicam Merlin
  Tiffen's diminutive Steadicam Merlin was a pleasant surprise, both in delivery and performance. The zippered soft case and fitted foam neatly held the device, stainless steel balance weights, dovetail mounting plate, screws, manual, and instructional DVD. A certificate of authenticity personally signed by its designer, award winning Garret Brown, was included. The Merlin, sans cam and weights, was an impressive 13 ounces. It was something that you might find in a Sharper Image or Apple Store.
• First Look- Arriflex 416
  Got a chance to play with the Arriflex 416 this past week at NAB and talk with Klemens Kehrer, the 416's design engineer and Marc Shipman-Mueller, its product manager. Here's what I found out.
• Warm Cards - White Balancing System
  Anyone who uses a digital camera, being it a still camera or a video camcorder will want to set his/her white balance. Often much time is spent setting up a shot, trying to achieve that "special signature look" that is either characteristic of our style of shooting or desired by the client.
• Gates Underwater Housing for the Sony FX1 & Z1U
  Now that you have invested your hard earned cash in order to buy that High Definition Video Sony FX1 or Z1U you've been wanting, trying to decide which underwater housing to slide it into is a major concern to any underwater film maker. The Sony FX-1 and Z1U are both expensive camcorders for most, and wanting the utmost in protection for them is of prime consideration.
• Lacie D2 DVD+/-RW External Burner LightScribe 16x Technology
  In a perfect world, a CD/DVD burner would be fast, reliable, Macintosh compatible, inexpensive, and would easily produce graphic/text labels. LaCie's LightScribe version of its D2 DVD+/-RW external firewire burner meets or exceeds most, but not all, of these lofty expectations.
• SeriTek/1SEN2 External Dual Drive
  Enclosure and Serial ATA PCI adapter Card
  The SeriTek/1SEN2 bundle, reviewed here, consists of a two-port external Serial ATA PCI adapter, and an external dual-bay enclosure. The product is easy to install, configure and use. Moreover, the overall package is emblematic of value, solid construction, and excellent workmanship.
• Blackmagic Design Decklink HD Pro, HDLink and Apple 23" Cinema Display
  Monitoring solutions for high definition (HD) video, wether it be for 720p or 1080i can get very expensive. CRT based monitoring solutions are pricey indeed, especially when you look at the extreme costs for the optional HD SDI input card. CRT monitors have been the professional choice for monitoring video. However, as the world is moving from standard definition (SD) to high definition, the rules are beginning to change.
• WiebeTech ComboGB 60GB/7200RPM Portable Drive
  There is much to applaud and little to criticize in the design, finish, and accessories provided for the ComboGB portable drives from WiebeTech. Although more pricey than those available from other sites, it is evident that company's attention to detail makes the slight price difference a minor factor...
• Lenses for HD, DV and 16:9
  A look at the next generation of distortion-free underwater lenses
  A pair of visionaries at Fathom Imaging, originally a brainchild of JBV Optical Products and Micro Optech, is working to provide our industry with the highest quality distortion-free lenses to accommodate the new generation of high-definition and wide-screen format digital camcorders and still cameras.
  Jay Garbose takes a look at these high quality underwater lenses.
• Cinewave 4 for FCP 4
  Walter Biscardi is a leader in both the Final Cut Pro and Pinnacle CinéWave forum communities at CreativeCOW.net where Cow members have long appreciated his friendly and insightful input. In this article, Walter explores the new powers found in Pinnacle's CinéWave 4. Walter is a longtime user of CinéWave, having used it in many projects in his studio where he serves a long list of corporate and broadcast clients. How does the new CinéWave meet his demands and expectations, along with those of his clients?
• Varizoom StealthDVX Zoom Controller
  Noah Kadner got a chance to use the StealthDVX Zoom Controller from Varizoom on a shoot, and reports his favorablefindings in this "mini" review.
• Logic Keyboard
  Gretta Wing Miller plays around with the Logic Keyboard for FCP and tells you what she thinks
• Panasonic DMR-T3040 DVD Video Recorder
  "...reading reviews of iDVD3 and all the problems being reported with it, I started to think about alternative ways to produce dvd's for my video business. I began looking into the concept of owning a stand alone DVD recorder deck. "
• Apple Xserve Raid
  With up to 2.5TB of capacity and tools for remote management make this RAID solution a powerful data storage system.
• Panasonic AGDVX100 / Sony PD-150 Comparison Shoot
  A "real world" comparison shoot between the Panasonic DVX100 and the Sony PD-150
• Photoflex's SilverDome NXT Softbox Kit
  A look at the sensual Silverdome plus a brief look at Photoflex's On-Camera "News-Gathering" Light
• Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer
  Who says you can't use a mouse with a scroll wheel with FCP
• AJA Kona Capture Card 2.0/2.1
  A review of the only capture Card available (as of this writing) that supports OSX
• A Review of Two Alternative Camera Eyecups
  Ira Raider's i-cuff Viewfinder Camera Eyecup and VideoSmith's Ikkup Rubber Eyecup are compared
• Aurora Igniter with the Sonnet Tempo ATA100 card
  Review of both products including SoftRAID striping software
• Professional Mini Disc Recorder
  The HHB MDP-500 is reviewed
• Low Cost Shotgun Microphone Comparison
  Audio Technica AT835b, Azden SGM-2X, Sennheiser K-6/ME-66/ME-67
• RT MAC Does Video Editing Right
  A review of the Matrox RT Mac Card for Final Cut Pro
• Post Op EZ Keyboard for Final Cut Pro
  Keyboard shortcuts made easy?
• JVC SR-VS10U Mini DV/S-VHS Recorde
  Dual mini DV and S-VHS deck in one
• ShuttlePro
  Jog shuttle device for Final Cut Pro

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

• Sonicfire Pro 5-Scoring Edition
  Having been a regular user of the SmartSound music application since its earliest inception, I have been able to witness its' evolution from an easy to use music program, supplemented by a small collection of music discs and audio FX, to its' current 5.0 version. Sonicfire is now highlighted by an almost massive library of diverse music and the ability to truly customize any audio selection.
• Two New HD Footage Collections from Artbeats
  Flat out and hands down, Artbeats continues to produce some of the very finest royalty free footage available. Their ever-growing library of collections has evolved into the standard by which other collections should be judged. These two collections, Grow! 2 HD and Liquid Ambience 2 HD offer pristine shots, a good variety of clips, and beautiful color saturation.
• Cinema Craft Encoder MP Plug-In for Compressor 3
  The Cinema Craft line of encoders set the bar within the entertainment industry for Standard Definition DVD, MPEG-2 compression and then once again with AVC/H.264 High Definition encoding for Blu-ray discs. Their résuméof SD titles is quite impressive: The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Spiderman 3, King Kong, Pirates of the Caribbean, the list goes on...
• Sound Ideas 'Underwater' Series
  Having been referred to the Sound Ideas website I found yet another company producing royalty free effects and music. They have a very large and seemingly limitless library of different music forms and effects to choose from so, this time, I focused on the Foley effects rather than the music.
• Abaltat Muse
  According to Albaltat's website, it is 'unique professional soundtrack composition software' which allows the user to 'create original, royalty free, broadcast quality soundtracks in minutes. . .'
• SilkyPix Developer Studio 3.0E
  When Michael Horton asked me if I wanted to review a raw photo converter, I said "Sure." I thought that a simple raw image converter review should be pretty simple. Comparing a few of the same images run through this converter and my favorite, Adobe Camera Raw. Boy, was I in for a surprise.
• Visual Hub
  This time I will start with a bottom line. Visual Hub is simple to use and takes three minutes to learn. It enables you to compress any sequence quickly and cleanly. You don't need extensive training, or a PhD in computer engineering to master Visual Hub.
• Adobe CS3 Production Premium Suite
  The CS3 Production Premium suite, optimized for Intel Macintoshes and incrementally certified for Leopard, continues Adobe's legacy of excellent, useful and widely-supported applications for video professionals. The new bundle adds a few wrinkles as well. Premiere returns to the Mac after a multi-year absence, Encore is welcomed to the Mac, and Adobe includes Windows-only On Location CS3 in the Mac suite for use in Bootcamp on Intel Macs.
• DVDxDV Pro
  I really haven't had the need to rip files from DVDs in the past, yet I found the need recently and was concerned with any loss of resolution I might find when doing so. It was suggested that I take a good look at DVDxDV Pro and so I had a go with it.
• Sonic Fire Pro 4.5 Network Edition
  Sonic Fire Pro has been available for some time now having evolved over the years from its original Smart Sound application. When Sonic Fire 4.0 was first released it came with several new features that were far more than fluff. What they called 'Mood Mapping' was really the ability to affect the tone or mood of any of the Strata series music pieces to fit the needs of the video.
• Adobe Creative Suite 3-Production Premium
  While Apple continues to more fully integrate their applications within Final Cut Suite, the same goals have been brought to fruition by Adobe with their new Adobe Creative Suite 3-Production Premium.
• GridIron Nucleo Pro 2 for Adobe After Effects CS3
  It was a year ago that I first became aware of GridIron's Nucleo Pro 1 and was impressed with how much easier it made my workflow when using Adobe After Effects. With the advent of GridIron's Nucleo Pro 2, I thought it was worth the time to take a second look to see what, if any, new features they had come up with.
• Jumpbacks HD Animations
  Ethereal, Base Camp II and Subtle Impact Collections
• Digital Hotcakes High Definition Series
  Generally, footage and animation houses can be very expensive. They do save time and, thus, money, as opposed to getting to similar destinations and shooting the same scenes yourself or working at creating animations in Motion or After Effects. However, with the Digital Hotcakes collections, money is not going to be the issue, as their footage collections are not going to break anyone's bank and present a most reasonable price alternative.
• Artbeats Mayhem HD Collection
  Having reviewed two of the Artbeats HD Water Collections I was given the opportunity to take a solid look at one of their new releases, the Artbeats Mayhem HD portfolio.
• Three for 3D
  For filmmakers who want to stretch their skillsets, a range of excellent 3D programs exists for Macintosh and Windows these days. Here I'd like to introduce three of my favorites: Kinemac, SketchUp and Cinema 4D, which represent small, medium and large of these applications.
• Sorenson Squeeze 4.5 Compression Suite
  The Sorenson Squeeze 4.5 Compression Suite, capable of running either on a Mac or PC, brings with it several new features and capabilities not the least of which is much improved support for H.264, speed boosts for both pre processing and encoding, the ability to run natively on the Intel based Macs and DVD burning straight to disc.
• GridIron Nucleo Pro for Adobe After Effects 7.0
  Nucleo Pro is specifically designed to maximize CPU usage that results in both faster previews and renders. It has been designed strictly for this purpose for those on multi-processor computers and what a benefit you will reap when you see what it can do.
• Digital Hotcakes Home Movie Essentials Vol 1
  Digital Hotcakes animations have been on the market for quite some time. They have had numerous collections available for the video hobbyist and professional relating to weddings and worship, animated backgrounds of all kinds, water animations and much more.
• HD Log Gold
  As its core, HD Log Gold is a highly customizable database used to log analog, digital or previously captured video files. The Gold version of HD Log can also capture video using firewire and serial interfaces.
• Artbeats HD Water Effects Vol 2
  After having reviewed Artbeats Water Effects Vol. 1 last year and being very impressed with the sparkling quality of their HD collection I was most interested in seeing what the second volume would have to offer. I was not disappointed in that this collection, though somewhat smaller, offers stunningly produced, highly detailed water animations aimed at the producer/editor looking for only the most exquisite images.
• Final Draft 7 and Final Draft AV
  On vacation from film editing 20 years ago (Final Cut Steenbeck V 3.0), I got myself an Atari ST, started writing, and explored script automation. I built a dream specification for total scriptwriting support. I even sent it to a British company who like the spec. End of story, except that, in the beginning was the need.
• MetaSAN by Tiger-Technology
  MetaSAN is a SAN solution for OS X, Linux and Windows, but in this review, I'll only be talking about how it works under OS X, and especially how it works with Apple's Final Cut Pro video editing software.
• LiveType Expansion Packs
  Two years following its first expansion pack debut, LiveTypeCentral reenters the fray with the release of three new collections of design elements, canned animations, text treatments, objects, textures, and templates for version 2 of LiveType.
• Kinemac 1.0
  Kinemac 1.0 offers real-time 3D animation and presentation abilities using OpenGL acceleration and QuickTime support. Add drag-and-drop capabilities for scrolling and 3D text, images, movies, and audio, and you've got something special.
• particleIllusion 3 for Mac OSX
  I spent the last six weeks working with particleIllusion 3 for Mac OSX. The OS X app is equal to the capabilities of its PC counterpart, and is surprisingly versatile. It ships with over 1300 particle emitters of virtually every effect or look you can imagine. Some are surprisingly "un-emitter like," if that is a word.
• Digital Heaven's MovieLogger
  If content is king, here's a coronation cloak. MovieLogger is a text-based logging tool for QuickTime movies, mounted in a clean and useful interface, and represents the next of a line of productivity-enhancing products from Digital Heaven.
• Artbeats - HD Water Effects 1
  Lets face it, HD and HDV is here to stay and pretty soon the used equipment market for mini dv camcorders will be flooded with equipment for sale from those who will earnestly try to upgrade to the newer and better quality formats. As we have seen with the various editing NLEs which have upgraded their own software to HD and HDV compatibility so we will see third party plug ins as well as animations gearing up for this next generation of editing quality.
• DV Matte Blast for Motion 2
  This is one incredible piece of software.... Its applied quickly, is thoroughly effective and works in real time. I threw on some old, somewhat poorly lit green screen shots in Motion 2, applied the DV Matte Blast as one would do with any filter, made a couple of minor adjustments and viola, an excellent final product.
• DV Matte Pro
  For those who have been involved in the process of chroma keying or for the hobbyist who has longed to pretend he was the weatherman at his local station, chroma keying is far more involved than the uninitiated might think.
• G-Man Video - Animated Backgrounds
  I've reviewed many sets of animations over the last few years; some were better than others though all of them were good and had something to offer. Just recently I heard someone mention the G Man Animations and, though never having heard of them, looked them up and received a healthy sampling of what they had to offer.
• Flip4Mac
  Although many Mac users may consider it sacrilege, we're faced with delivering content for a Windows world. Whether it's the corporate client who's banned QuickTime from their servers or simply reaching the masses of Windows users who fear installing QuickTime, deliver we must. Flip4Mac, by Telestream, enables Mac based content creators to deliver Windows Media 9 files
• Photo to Movie 3.1
  Software applications targeted at creating the popular "Ken Burns" effect using still images remain a work in progress. Invariably, they are either inexpensive, and produce less than satisfactory output. Or they are pricey with good output, but hard to use.
• PhotoZoom Pro
  One reality when taking video captures to print is the constrained video resolution of 720/480/72 dpi. The video will look fabulous on a 60-inch plasma screen, but still images intended for print are, for the most part, unacceptable in both size and resolution. PhotoZoom Pro may be the answer
• Compression Master 3
  Two new applications have been released that allow you to encode Windows Media 9 on your Apple computer. One is Telestream's Flip4Mac, a Quicktime export component used within Quicktime Pro (and eventually within other Quicktime based applications like Cleaner and Squeeze). The other is the focus of this review, Popwire's Compression Master 3.
• Total Training for After Effects 6.5
  If Adobe After Effects 6.5 is a buried treasure, then the 13 DVD-Video training set from Total Training is a detail-rich treasure map designed to unlock its secrets. Hosted by Brian Maffitt, long-time After Effects aficionado, and Total Training's Director of Animation Training, Steve Holmes, the DVDs provide a detailed look, within the context of real projects, at Adobe latest incarnation of After Effects, v.6.5.
• Adobe After Effects 6.5 Production Bundle
  ...Adobe continues the legacy in version 6.5 with dozens of new features, performance enhancements, new, and re-released plug-ins that refine a feature rich, versatile interface. While it doesn't have the real time capabilities of Apple's Motion, its hardware requirements aren't as stiff. AE also offers Z-space, parenting, and expressions -- something as yet missing in Motion. AE is supported by dozens of 3rd party developers, web sites and other resources.
• Total Training for Adobe After Effects 6.5
  If Adobe After Effects 6.5 is a buried treasure, then the 13 DVD-Video training set from Total Training is a detail-rich treasure map designed to unlock its secrets.
• Post Holes
  Producing inexpensive, well-keyed green screen footage has always been a challenge for motion graphic artists. Not only is it difficult to create correctly lit backgrounds, but the actual keying process is inevitably part art and part science, and often produces uneven results. Enter Post Holes,
• SoundSoap Pro
  BIAS-Inc has released SoundSoap Pro, the advanced version of their noise reduction plug-in, SoundSoap. At $599 list, SoundSoap Pro is a significant jump up from the $99 SoundSoap, but half the price of the comparable Waves Restoration Bundle.
• Sorenson Squeeze 4 Compression Suite
  For those Mac users who have been creating high quality Quicktime Movies for the internet, the leading software for the last three years has been Discreet's Cleaner 6 with the Sorenson Video 3 Pro codec installed. It seems like we have been waiting ages for something better to come along. With the release of Sorenson Squeeze 4 Compression Suite, the wait may now be over.
• Snapz Pro X 2.0
  Screen and/video captures can be an important aspect of any production environment. Recording screen movements in OS X is an entirely different issue for those of us who produce tutorial CDs or DVDs or have similar uses. In most cases, recording via a scan converter has been the only, and pricey option. However, Ambrosia Software's release of an OS X version of its classic SnapZ Pro capture tool has changed the equation.
• DVD ThemePak for DVDSP 2 and iDVD 3/4
  The templates that ship with iDVD and SP 2 are of very good quality, the problem is that there are just not enough of them.
• SonicFire Pro 3.1
  "While Final Cut Pro 4 has come out with a super music creation application in Soundtrack, it is very time consuming to create complete musical pieces from scratch. While I find Soundtrack a whole lot of fun and extremely addictive to use, I find that I still utilize the Sonic Fire Program a great deal for its simplicity of use..."
• MovingPicture Producer
  The so called "Ken Burns" effect, popularized by the documentary film maker of the same name, has breathed new life in the art of using still images to tell a story. David Saraceno evaluates MovingPicture Producer (MPP) which functions as a standalone program that works independently of an editing program.
• ProAnimator 3.0
  With the arrival of Zax Dow's ProAnimator 3.0, for Macintosh and Windows, comes new functionality and ease of use in creating sophisticated animated logos.
• SheerVideo Pro codec for Mac OS X
  Video codecs - the clever software that compress and decompress your video footage for a variety of uses, come in many kinds. The two main kinds of codecs are those that achieve smaller files by throwing away information (lossy codecs) and those that preserve every bit of information (lossless codecs). BitJazz make some fairly serious claims for their SheerVideo codec, but fortunately, these claims are easy to test.
• TFDVDEdit 2
  TFDVDEdit 2 is not a stand-alone DVD authoring package, but instead a sophisticated .IFO and .VOB editor. This refers to the .IFO and .VOB files contained inside the VIDEO_TS folder of any DVD project that has been sent through the BUILD (Multiplexed) process after authoring. One of the biggest reasons you would likely buy this application is that you are looking to fill some kind of a shortcoming in your own authoring application.
• iStopMotion
  iStopMotion is the brain-child of two live-action animators in Munich who longed to be able to do in video what they had achieved as kids in Super8. Yet their solution goes far beyond the constraints of traditional stop-motion photography, in which a single frame is shot, objects are slightly moved in the frame, another frame is shot, and so on, to simulate live action.
• LiveType Central
  LiveTypeCentral recently "went live" with its web site that offers various add ons to LiveType. Its first efforts are both nicely done and affordable.
• BIAS SoundSoap
  SoundSoap is a product from BIAS, Inc. (maker of Peak and Deck, versions of which are variously packaged with Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro) which claims to make removing noise one-click simple.
• FCP 4
  Steve Martin gives us a hands on sneak peak at some of his favorite features in this, the latest and perhaps greatest version of FCP set to ship in June 2003.
• iDVD 3
  Ken Stone has some things to say about the latest edition of iDVD. And not all that wonderful either.
• Final Cut Express
  Steve Martin gives his impressions and removes the confusion surrounding Final Cut "Lite"
• Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0
  Ken Stone takes a look at PS Elements and asks, "Can Elements pull the load for Final Cut Pro?
• A Final Cut Pro user looks at Avid Xpress DV 3.5
  A Final Cut Pro User takes a look at XDV 3.5, takes it for a spin, and tells you all about it.
• Boris Graffiti 2.0
  Billed as an "Integrated 2D and 3D Vector Title Animation" application, but it truly is much more. This is an extremely powerful animation program.
• Introducing DVD Studio Pro 1.5
  A look at what's new in DVDSP 1.5 by DVD Guy Bruce Nazarian
• Automatic Composition Import for FCP
  From Automatic Duck, this magical app allows you to seamlessly export your entire timeline complete with clip positions, rotations, dissolves, even keyframed animations from FCP to After Effects with a couple clicks of the mouse.
• India Pro Special Effects Titler
  Tool to quickly create over 1300 dynamic effects from the supplied pre-animated DVFonts, textures, and objects.
• Totally Hip's HipFlics and Sorenson Squeeze
  Review of two brand new "affordable" compression tools from two companies that know how to do it.
• Color Theory
  Plug in for Final Cut Pro that takes away the guessing when choosing color combinations.
• Final Cut pro 2.0
  Hands on review of the new upgrade to FCP
• Deck 2.7
  multitrack Audio recording, editing & processing solution
• SonicFirePro
  Soundtrack Creation For All Your Production Needs
• Cleaner 5
  Video compression tool
• Commotion Pro
  Compositing, painting, keyframing and other tools for creating visual effects.
• DVD StudioPro
  DVD authoring software