With standard and high definition camcorders becoming so affordable that there's really no excuse not to have one. And even if you don't, many digital cameras (and SLR's), as well as mobile phones, record video footage with varying results. However it's not often considered at any point during the buying process, as to how the user will work with the end results.

Many people on daily find themselves shooting excessive amounts of footage taken from family gatherings, parties, weddings and even their own attempts at short films and artistic pieces. A brand new video production company will know that startup costs need to be kept a minimum, and the post production setup can cost a fair whack if not carefully considered. For the professional too, there's many good reasons for reviewing your post production setup and wondering where it can not only be simplified, but be more cost effective. That's where Final Cut Express and Final Cut Studio 2 come into play*.

The affordable Final Cut Express is aimed squarely at the amateur filmmaker, and is essentially a trimmed down version of its big brother, Final Cut Pro. Final Cut Pro itself comes in a package alongside other software that comfortably complements it, giving the user a whole suite of post production facilities; collectively it's called Final Cut Studio**. Both Express and Pro are relatively easy to learn, with the difficulty only ramping up when the user begins to ask more complicated questions of the applications. The Apple hardware that runs these software's can vary in price, but even in a scenario where you're purchasing a (very high end) £7,000 Apple edit suite, you're buying into the same hardware and software that is being used in Hollywood at this very moment. Editing is no longer only for the professional and well-off, it's accessible to all.

I often get asked whether I can give lessons in editing, chiefly in Final Cut Pro 6, and although I'm more than happy to do that, my time generally costs money and it's not always feasible that the average person has money to outlay on training once they've spent money on the hardware and software required. Though most forms of training will require some kind of monetary outlay, it doesn't need to cost you the earth. So I've come up with 7 tips on how to best learn Final Cut software as a beginner, which I hope you find useful:

*It is worth noting that both software's discussed here are for Apple Mac only, though there are great options for PC users too, including Adobe Premiere (Pro).
**The latest version at time of writing is Final Cut Studio 2 (with Final Cut Pro 6).

1) Structured Online/DVD Tutorials
I've used both Lynda.com and Total Training on previous occasions, and have found them both to be incredibly useful. Lynda.com offers great value, giving the user a huge database of video tutorials for a low fee. A massive list of applications are covered, and there are several levels for the user to go in at, with lessons being set so it's easy to drop in and out during your learning process. Though Total Training are getting a little behind on their Apple Post Production DVDs, they are still very good in general and are good value for money. Further to this, Macbreak offer a regular podcast, which more often than not gives the user great tips on how to get the most out of Apple's post production software. I've found myself not only learning new ways to edit and use the applications I have on hand, but also aiding my own progression through software that is brand new to me, like Apple Motion and Color. Highly recommended.

2) Video Hosting Websites
YouTube is always worth checking out, no matter what level you're at. Even though it's less structured you're more than likely to find a video that will teach you exactly what you want to know. In fact, I'm confident you could learn Final Cut Pro from scratch if you had enough time and patience to wade through the videos available on there.  

Continued tomorrow...