Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 Classroom in a Book

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review




Classroom Book, September 28, 2009
By T. Gombar (Pittsburgh, PA USA)
I bought this book because it was required for an undergraduate class in videographic post-production. Although it is not the definitive source for learning Premiere Pro CS4 it will get you started on the right track. I already had some experience with this software, so I found a lot of this book to be less than what I expected. If you follow the lesson plans and carefully read the instructions for each lesson, you will be able to navigate through the powerful and convoluted software interface on an elementary level. Take note: some of the CD information that must be loaded on your hard drive to follow the lesson plans does not work properly, and more often than not you are required to find "lost" files that lose their pointers. This becomes an annoyance after a while.

This being said, I will repeat: this book is not the definitive source for learning Premiere Pro CS4 even though it was written by Adobe experts as a guide for their software. You should research other sources for more in depth methods for utilizing the nuances of this software. It seems to be more of a beginner's guide for learning to navigate through some of the basic post production manipulations that can be done with video. Having used other Adobe graphics software in the past, I found that I could intuitively navigate Premiere Pro CS4 without the purchase of this textbook and also found that the free video lessons at Adobe's website and those available on other online video websites showed me with greater ease more complex manipulations that are not included in this book.



Excellent Resource, August 25, 2009
By PD (Heartland)
I must be missing something, I don't understand the low ratings on this book. I have several years' experience with Photoshop but am new to the video editing world. I have watched video training on Premiere CS4 to get familiar with non-linear editing and have already done some project work. But I wanted more detail in written form that I could go to as a repeat reference. This Classroom series for Premiere CS4 fills that need VERY well. The writers cover everything from setup of the software through to output with everything in between. I didn't find it too difficult as a beginner like others have mentioned. In fact, it is written in a very understandable style... often I'm reading through sections while not even at my PC and yet I can visualize what's being taught. I have notes and bookmarks all over the book, because it's also quite a good "How-To" reference guide, not just a bunch of lessons. It's obvious the author is passionate about video production because he/she even covers how to best shoot video to then edit later. I've learned a lot about shooting footage, not just "here's how the software works".

By all means, don't skip this book if you've made the investment in Premiere CS4. As as for the other gripes/reviews, I'd take those with a grain of salt. I did buy it thinking I would sell it if it wasn't worth keeping. No WAY am I getting rid of it.



DVD surprisingly sloppy, August 12, 2009
By video newbie (Vancouver, BC)
The book seems to be what I expected, covering the Premiere Pro workspace and workflow well, but the DVD is shockingly poor which is unfortunate and inexcusable given the purpose of the program is all about producing professional work.
Some clips fail to import with an error "codec missing or unavailable." There's actually a random clip in the first lesson that can only be an accident, showing part of a Sureshot chart on a disorganized desk with a handtowel in the background and the sound of coughing in the audio track. Embarrassing, what a mess.



Don't buy from clemieux2499!, August 5, 2009
By Shab Levy (Portland, OR)
I ordered this book a long time ago, the estimated deadline for delivery lapsed but I never received this book. It is sold by clemieux2499 through Amazon. I would never buy another book from that seller again!



Errors from the beginning, June 19, 2009
By Jon Campbell (Greenville, SC)
I just purchased Premiere Pro Classroom in a Book. The Project used for Lesson 01 does not even load. Instead, the grammatically incorrect message "Fileformat not supported" appears. Blogs suggest upgrading/installing QuickTime. It seems odd that Apple software is required to learn Premiere. (And this does not work for me.)

I am working through the book without the software, but an enormous amount of video editing experience is assumed. Page 12 says that "this book is geared to the beginning and intermediate video editor," but spends much of the first chapter discussing very advanced concepts.

I am not sure who the audience is for this book. The experienced editor will probably be more bored than the novice editor is overwhelmed.

Good luck with your projects.