The strength of Final Cut Pro, Apple's top-notch digital video editing application, lies in its ease of use. It makes sense then that one of the best books on Final Cut is also one of the easiest to read and use. Over 600 pages of step-by-step instruction, the Final Cut Pro 2 Visual QuickPro Guide can build the skill set of almost any user looking to edit with Final Cut Pro,.

There is no CD with accompanying materials. Instead, the materials that come with Final Cut are used to strengthen and enhance the lessons and concepts in Apple's own manuals. Beginning with an overview of system requirements and configurations, Brenneis plunges into the Final Cut interface and the first steps in setting up and using the application.

The chapters are structured as if a real project is in production: importing video, preparing the clips, editing, adding transitions, rendering for final output. Throughout the book, tips and tricks are sprinkled like gold nuggets, offering insight to how an experienced professional takes advantage of a particular feature.

Lisa Brenneis is no stranger to editing or writing--her first book on Final Cut Pro was a huge success and became a yardstick against which others were judged. With the release of Final Cut Pro 2, she has updated and enhanced her book to cover the new features. Look for her newest title soon on the 3rd rev of FCP: Final Cut Pro 3 for Macintosh: Visual QuickPro Guide.

Like all books in the series, the Visual QuickPro Guide for Final Cut Pro is concise, complete, and easy on the eyes: it's laid out in a clear two-column format with countless screenshots. Books in this series are designed to get the professional user up and running fast, and this installment doesn't miss the goal. For anyone teaching or learning Final Cut Pro, this is an invaluable book. --Mike Caputo