Computer Media

Rachel Singer Gordon -- Library Journal, 3/15/2007

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Digital Video

While digital photography (see Computer Media, LJ 2/15/07) remains wildly popular, digital video is steadily catching up due to the reach of sites like YouTube and the increasing ease of video production. The following guides describe ways for both consumers and pros to create, edit, and disseminate digital video.

Bolante, Antony. Premiere Pro 2 for Windows: Visual QuickPro Guide. Peachpit. 2006. c.598p. ISBN 0-321-38352-4 [ISBN 978-0-321-38352-5]. pap. $34.99. COMPUTER BOOKS

For beginners and upgraders to v.2.0, gray-scale screen shots and step-by-step instructions walk readers through completing common Premiere Pro 2 tasks. Bolante's guide begins with a brief introduction to Premiere Pro, nonlinear editing, and workflow, then moves from Premiere Pro basics through advanced effects and creating various types of output (DVDs, tapes, audio-only, etc.). A solid introduction; appropriate for all medium and larger libraries—if purchasing only one guide, though, go with Adobe Premiere Pro 2: Hands-On-Training (reviewed below) for its DVD content, more thorough coverage, and full-color illustrations.

Bryant, Stephanie Cottrell. Video blogging for Dummies. Wiley. 2006. c.386p. ISBN 0-471-97177-4 [ISBN 978-0-471-97177-1]. pap. $24.99. COMPUTER BOOKS

Videoblogging moves beyond words to use video as its primary format. Just like regular blogs, videoblog content ranges from personal diaries to corporate productions to citizen journalism. This guide moves from the basics—what videoblogs are and how to find and watch them—to all aspects of videoblog production and postproduction. These include using technical tools, identifying an audience, creating content, shooting video, editing and formatting for the Internet, and hosting and marketing videoblogs. Just enough background is provided to get a new videoblogger up and running, and explanations are clear; recommended for all public libraries.

Carlson, Jeff. iMovie HD 6 & iDVD 6: Visual QuickStart Guide. Peachpit. 2006. c.295p. ISBN 0-321-42327-5 [ISBN 978-0-321-42327-6]. pap. $24.99. COMPUTER BOOKS

For beginning to intermediate users of the iMovie 6 and iDVD HD 6 components of Apple's consumer-oriented iLife suite (included on new Macs and an $80 upgrade for users of older Macs). This manual walks readers through selecting a digital camcorder and shooting basics, then moves through the fundamentals of editing in and sharing from iMovie HD and using iDVD. Full-color labeled screen shots and clear instructions aid in learning the basics, while tips add info. Appendixes cover troubleshooting and resources; a companion web site provides movies, errata and updates, a regularly updated blog, and links to useful sites. A good choice for all public libraries.

Dedman, Jay & Joshua Paul. ExtremeTech: Videoblogging. Wiley. 2006. c.354p. ISBN 978-0-470-03788-1. pap. $29.99. COMPUTER BOOKS

For beginners, this covers the basics of videoblogging from preproduction, production, and postproduction through distribution and finding and watching videoblogs and finishes with a section on how to "pimp your vlog." Sidebar interviews with notable vloggers add real-world cachet, while notes add info and a color insert illustrates some of the techniques discussed. For all public libraries.

Gary, Brian. Compressor Quick-Reference Guide: Essential Techniques and Shortcuts. Peachpit. 2006. c.154p. ISBN 0-321-47408-2 [ISBN 978-0-321-47408-7]. pap. $29.99. COMPUTER BOOKS

Compressor, a component of Apple's Final Cut Studio product for professionals, allows users to format and encode video for different forms of distribution, from commercial DVD to online clips. This tiny full-color quick reference walks beginners through the Compressor interface, providing solutions to common problems, timesaving techniques, and shortcuts for common tasks. A useful supplemental reference for large public libraries and academic institutions serving video production programs.

Hurkman, Alexis Van. Encyclopedia of Color Correction: Field Techniques Using Final Cut Pro. Peachpit. 2006. c.539p. ISBN 0-321-43231-2 [ISBN 978-0-321-43231-5]. pap. $54.99 with DVD. COMPUTER BOOKS

For Final Cut Pro users with some previous knowledge of color correction basics, this full-color guide focuses on correcting color for broadcast but will be useful to those doing professional postproduction in other environments as well. After some introductory material on setting up your environment and managing workflow, the bulk of the book is comprised of an alphabetical "Encyclopedia of Techniques," or self-contained step-by-step lessons on completing common color-correction tasks. Its DVD includes exercises and media files; any updates will be posted online here. Most useful for academic institutions serving video production programs.

Ozer, Jan. Adobe Digital Video How-Tos: 100 Essential Techniques with Adobe Production Studio. Adobe, dist. by Peachpit. 2006. c.244p. ISBN 0-321-47381-7 [ISBN 978-0-321-47381-3]. pap. $29.99. COMPUTER BOOKS

Adobe Professional Studio integrates a number of professional-quality video production applications, including Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects. For intermediate Production Studio users, Ozer's manual shows videographers, filmmakers, and visual effects artists how to streamline their workflows and increase productivity by taking advantage of the integration of these applications. Each technique, from "synching clips on the timeline" to "controlling button behavior in motion menus," contains clear step-by-step instructions with accompanying gray-scale screen shots; common questions and additional info appear in sidebars. A good supplemental purchase for large public libraries and academic libraries serving video production programs.

Plumer, Carl. Hollywood Special Effects with Adobe Premiere Elements 3. Peachpit. 2006. c.321p. ISBN 0-7897-3612-8 [ISBN 978-0-7897-3612-3]. pap. $39.99 with DVD. COMPUTER BOOKS

The popular Adobe Premiere Elements offers a variety of special effects to help consumer-produced video gain a certain "wow factor," and this volume walks intermediate readers through 20 of the most well-known or visually impressive techniques. Step-by-step labeled full-color screen shots illustrate each effect; these range from "the Star Wars opening sequence effect" to "the multiple you effect." Its DVD contains project files. Straightforward, thorough instructions mixed with a sense of fun make this a great addition to medium and larger libraries.

Schell, Jeff. Adobe Premiere Pro 2: Hands-On Training. Peachpit. 2006. c.534p. ISBN 0-321-39774-6 [ISBN 978-0-321-39774-4]. pap. $44.99 with DVD. COMPUTER BOOKS

For beginning to intermediate Adobe Premiere Pro users, this full-color self-study guide walks video editors through step-by-step lessons and exercises to teach basic principles and techniques. Tips and notes add info, labeled screen shots illustrate each technique, and appendixes cover tech support and troubleshooting FAQ and Premiere Pro 2 resources. The DVD contains exercise files, two bonus chapters ("editing video from multiple cameras" and "collaborating with clip notes") and video tutorials, which are a fantastic visual supplement to the book's content. Clear and thorough, this is highly recommended for all medium and larger libraries.

Online Searching

As the sheer quantity of online information becomes evermore overwhelming, we need to find new and more effective ways of finding the right information for ourselves and our businesses. These two guides help us do so.

Calishain, Tara. Information Trapping: Real-Time Research on the Web. New Riders: Pearson. 2006. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-321-49171-8. pap. $34.99. COMPUTER BOOKS

"Information trapping," or setting up constant, mostly automated ways of gathering information, lets researchers receive a continuing flow of info on given topics of ongoing interest. Calishain covers using email, RSS feeds, and SMS to create these information traps, from constructing and trapping useful search engine queries to trapping tags and conversations. Chapters on filtering the flow of information, case studies, organizing info, and publishing your information are particularly helpful in outlining ways to manage and use this influx of ongoing info. Clear instructions and useful techniques make this a recommended purchase for medium and larger libraries.

Hock, Ran. The Extreme Searcher's Internet Handbook. 2d ed. CyberAge: Information Today. 2007. c.326p. ISBN 0-910965-76-5 [ISBN 978-0-910965-76-7]. pap. $24.95. COMPUTER BOOKS

For intermediate searchers, this updated guide offers researchers, writers, librarians, teachers, and other "serious searchers" information allowing them to take full advantage of online tools and resources. It covers resources including general and specialized directories, search engines, groups, sites for fast facts, multimedia sites, news resources, and product info, with a final chapter on publishing one's own info online. Each chapter includes background on a given set of resources, information on locating and using these types of resources, and a selected annotated list of resources. A comprehensive guide for those wanting to go beyond typing one or two keywords into Google; for all libraries.

SQL Server 2005

Microsoft's SQL Server 2005 is one of the most widely used relational database management systems, and all medium and larger libraries should stock current guides.

Balter, Alison. SAMS Teach Yourself Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express in 24 Hours. SAMS. 2006. c.436p. ISBN 978-0-672-32741-4. pap. $34.99 with CD-ROM. COMPUTER BOOKS

For beginning to intermediate DBAs and developers using SQL Server Express, a free, lighter-weight edition of SQL Server 2005. This self-study guide walks readers step-by-step through common tasks, and summaries, Q&A, quizzes, and activities help them learn on their own. Its CD contains Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition and SQL Server 2005 Express Edition; the title says source files are available online, but none could be found at the publisher's site as of this review. For all libraries.

Hamilton, Bill. Programming SQL Server 2005. O'Reilly. 2006. c.571p. ISBN 0-596-00479-6 [ISBN 978-0-596-00479-8]. pap. $49.99. COMPUTER BOOKS

For beginning to intermediate developers and those upgrading from SQL Server 2000; strongest on new features, though, so beginners might want to begin with a more thorough beginner's guide. Code samples and info available online. Programming SQL Server 2005 walks readers step-by-step through common programming tasks and techniques from indexing XML data to integrating reports into applications to programming SQL Server Mobile. An appendix covers ADO.NET 2.0 and most examples use C# and Visual Studio 2005. For larger libraries.

Knight, Brian & others. Professional SQL Server 2005 Administration. Wrox. 2006. c.735p. ISBN 0-470-05520-0 [ISBN 978-0-470-05520-5]. pap. $49.99. COMPUTER BOOKS

For experienced developers and database administrators, this guide focuses on advanced topics, ranging from best practices to troubleshooting, performance tuning, security, monitoring, and configuring and optimizing the server for optimal performance. Later chapters cover indexing, replication, mirroring, backup and recovery, log shipping, and clustering. Source code, errata, and a user forum are online. Thorough explanations and a focus on getting the maximum performance from a SQL Server make this a useful guide for large libraries and academic institutions serving computer science programs.

Nielsen, Paul. SQL Server 2005 Bible. Wiley. 2006. c.1293p. ISBN 0-7645-4256-7 [ISBN 978-0-7645-4256-5]. pap. $49.99. COMPUTER BOOKS

For beginning through advanced users, this lengthy in-depth reference to SQL Server 2005 moves from the basics of information architecture and relational databases through scaling very large databases and designing high-performance data access providers; appendixes include specifications and sample databases. The author's web site at http://sqlserverbible.com offers links to additional info and articles plus sample databases and code; the publisher's web site offers code and additional info. A very useful and thorough reference for large libraries, but more advanced users may prefer the focus on advanced topics in Professional SQL Server 2005 Administration (above) to this all-in-one guide.

Wood, Dan & others. Beginning SQL Server 2005 Administration. Wrox. 2006. c.574p. ISBN 0-470-04704-6 [ISBN 978-0-470-04704-0]. pap. $39.99. COMPUTER BOOKS

For beginning SQL Server 2005 DBAs and developers with some knowledge of relational databases and SQL and those upgrading from SQL Server 2000. This manual walks readers through the basics of maintaining and managing a SQL Server, focusing on common day-to-day tasks. Source code, errata, and a user forum available online. Clear and thorough; a good choice for medium and larger libraries.

Other Ideas:

Comingore, Derek & Douglas Hinson. Professional SQL Server 2005 CLR Programming. Wrox. 2006. 409p. ISBN 0-470-05403-4 [ISBN 978-0-470-05403-1]. pap. $49.99.

Davidson, Louis with Kevin Kline & Kurt Windisch. Pro SQL Server 2005 Database Design and Optimization. Apress. 2006. 644p. ISBN 1-59059-529-7 [ISBN 978-1-59059-529-9]. pap. $59.99.

Ericsson, Rob & Jason Cline. SQL Server 2005 for Developers. Charles River. 2006. 405p. ISBN 1-58450-388-2 [ISBN 978-1-58450-388-0]. pap. $44.95 with CD-ROM.

Nanda, Ashwani. Hands-On Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Integration Services. Osborne. 2006. 570p. ISBN 0-07-226319-9 [ISBN 978-0-07-226319-0]. pap. $49.99.

Vieira, Robert. Professional SQL Server 2005 Programming. Wrox. 2006. 884p. ISBN 0-7645-8434-0 [ISBN 978-0-7645-8434-3]. pap. $49.99.