No CD-ROM with accompanying materials is included. 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 were in production: importing video, preparing the clips, editing, adding transitions, and rendering for final output. Tips and tricks are sprinkled like gold nuggets throughout the book, offering insight on how an experienced professional might take 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, on the third revision of FCP, soon: Final Cut Pro 3 for Macintosh: Visual QuickPro Guide.

Like all books in the series, Final Cut Pro 2 for Macintosh: Visual QuickPro Guide is concise, complete, and easy on the eyes: it's laid out in a clear two-column format with countless screen shots. Books in this series are designed to get the professional user up and running fast, and this installment reaches that goal. For anyone teaching or learning Final Cut Pro, this is an invaluable book. --Mike Caputo