Reddit reviews The Avid Assistant Editor's Handbook (Volume 1)

Been an AE for 2 years now and I'd suggest you try to learn to use multiple Editing Systems (i.e. Avid, FCP, Premiere & DaVinci Resolve). It'll help you in the long run when searching for jobs.

When I was starting out, I bought the book, The Avid Assistant Editors Handbook by Kyra Coffie and found it informative.

Your best bet is to start as a logger and become friendly with the AE's and tell them of your ambition. They'll typically show you the ropes. Try to get hands on as much as you can, as experience is the best way to move forward.

The best advice I can give you is:

If you don't know how to do something, don't lie. People will respect you more if you're honest. People are usually willing to take the time to show you how to do it right.

Own up to your mistakes. They'll happen and it's better to own up than to try and hide them.

Take detailed notes as you're shown how to do something. (Someone else already posted this, but it's worth it to repeat it.) I cannot emphasize this enough, as my note-taking has helped me countless times. Have your own pen and notepad.

Lastly, if you're unsure of something, google it. Creative Cow has good forums when troubleshooting.

Best of luck!

I went to film school and took Avid classes and that didn't come close to preparing me to use it professionally. Literally takes years. But, if you really want to get after it, here's two nice books:

https://www.amazon.com/Avid-Assistant-Editors-Handbook/dp/0615487750

https://www.amazon.com/Avid-Agility-Working-Intuitively-Composer-ebook/dp/B0051ZT4B0

I bet if you read either one cover to cover you'll be ahead of the game

Thanks so much for kicking off this thread /u/klam1987.

I am also in the same boat as you. The one variant is that I am currently an Assistant Editor dealing FCP7 and CS6. I have been turned down for jobs in the past because of my lack of AVID experience and so am keen to get a good solid grounding in AVID and understand the processes that people would expect of a good AE on that system.

Those links provided by /u/LeBunny look excellent and I'm also waiting for delivery of this book.

Good luck and keep us all updated with any further resources you may find.

If you want to work on high end stuff in NYC or LA (longform TV or Film) as well as working for any networks like NBC, ABC etc. you will need to learn avid.

http://www.amazon.com/Avid-Assistant-Editors-Handbook-Volume/dp/0615487750

This helped me out a lot when I was starting out. It will seem daunting but the best thing you can do is learn the software - hit me up if you have any questions. And learning on the job is the only way to learn.

I learned Avid using two books: Avid Editing by Sam Kaufman and The Avid Assistant Editor's Handbook by Kyra Coffie.

The first one comes with a DVD with some scenes I believe, and it's really helpful to use the footage they give you to cut. I had an internship where afterwards I literally just sat down with this book for a couple hours each day, taking notes and practicing on the Avid in front of me. The second one is more up to date but obviously geared towards assistant editors more, and is a little more technical.

I don't think there's something that's specifically for best practices. Perhaps Moviola has a purchasable webinar about it.

Avid classes are fantastic for this; you might also want to glance at the Avid Assistant Editors Handbook - it's probably wrong (as it's aimed at assistant editors, in LA) but it might have some gems.

Hey there. Made the jump from Premiere/FCP7 a year ago. I had been in DC working as an editor for 5 years, going between the two programs. When I moved to NYC to work in TV I had to learn Avid. Smaller production companies and some ad agencies will use Premiere (and to a MUCH lesser extend FCPX), but the bigger production houses that do TV work are all Avid. I highly recommend the Avid for Assistant Editor's Handbook. I bought the kindle version for like 25 bucks or something. I came in as an Editor, but I wanted to learn all the AE stuff just so I wouldn't break the program.

Here's the thing with Avid- general editing isn't going to be THAT much different than Premiere or FCP - you can always set up the keyboard to however you are comfortable. In fact, I know very few editors that don't import their own custom Avid keyboard every time they land on a new machine. Keyboards, where things are in menus etc etc is something that you'll pick up after a week's worth of editing.

However, u/Kichigai is very right that the workflows are much more oldschool. Nothing is easy or where you think it is. Syncing is an entire daylong process that involves setting up a whole new batch of keyboard shortcuts, creating sync ins and outs in every clip that was shot, all kinds of malarky. And uprezzing involves knocking stuff online and reconnecting in finder... AE workflows are not something you'll just 'pick up.' There are only a few ways to get certain things done and if you go about them thinking you'll just learn it on the job, you might find yourself looking for a new job.

Pick up this book and also check out that video series that Kichigai recommended. Regular editing stuff will come naturally; the back end, not so much.

http://www.amazon.com/Avid-Assistant-Editors-Handbook/dp/0615487750/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

I would suggest adobes creative cloud subscription plan. I believe you can gain access to premiere for $20/month rather than having to buy production premium straight up! You could also start with free trials of premiere or avid.

I would suggest getting this book as you will most likely be getting a job as an assistant editor doing mostly digitizing, syncing, and other prep work for a few years before you do any major editing.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0615487750

That's assuming you're planning in getting a job in a post production house. You probably won't be doing much beyond the prep work I mentioned, string outs, and selects. It would be most important for you to learn the ins and outs of the technical side of editing, video codecs, how to handle specific video formats, etc etc.

You can do a class, something like Manhattan Edit Workshop (I assume they have similar classes in LA) but it might be unnecessary if you are already familiar with Premiere. Most differences in NLE is learning the quirks and shortcuts, generally you learn those by actively using the software. If you can find a short at home job (paid or unpaid) I'd suggest you pick it up and do it strictly on AVID. Forcing yourself to learn it through a project is better than using tutorials.

Also the AVID Assistant Editors Handbook is a pretty decent reference. I linked two different books, cause the AVID Assistant Editors is pretty pricey.

https://www.amazon.com/Make-Cut-Becoming-Successful-Assistant/dp/0240813987/ref=pd_bxgy_14_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0240813987&pd_rd_r=FRHM260GT92GNBPPM7SW&pd_rd_w=x9ID6&pd_rd_wg=8fjoq&psc=1&refRID=FRHM260GT92GNBPPM7SW

https://www.amazon.com/Avid-Assistant-Editors-Handbook/dp/0615487750/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480728970&sr=8-1&keywords=AVID+Assistant+Editor

Gosh I wish I was in your shoes.... I have been AEing two years. I like the idea of you trying to figure it out... but this sometimes drives AEs crazy cause things can go wrong so fast. Ide suggest reading The assistant editors handbook http://www.amazon.com/Avid-Assistant-Editors-Handbook-Volume/dp/0615487750/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394505968&sr=8-1&keywords=the+assistant+editors+handbook

I ususally keep one in my bay, just in case!

GL