Specific Software Handy Links

When you have a problem with software (be it editing, effects, sound, whatever) and you can't find someone who can help you out, there are many resources on the Net that can help you out. First place you should visit is the company that makes the software (the applications official support page) as this will more than likely have news on common problems, their solutions, or updates to download which fix the problem. Most support sites have a Knowledgebase, what this is, is a database of all problems that technical support has fielded and the answers the support team have come up with, ...these are the best places to try and find an answer (you can be pretty sure someone before you has asked the same question, or has had the same problem you have, so with a bit of luck the experts will have the answer already there for you). To use the knowledgebase on a site, you just type your problem (a few key words) into a special search box, and it'll return a list of all articles that contain those words.

If visiting the official site doesn't help you out, its best to then try the online forums and newsgroups that run for your software/ These are vast online communities of users, a place where professionals and amateurs can meet to help each other out and share creative ideas. tips and tricks. Just sign on, ask your question, then come back to the site a few hours later (or the next day) to see what the replies are (some sites are better than others, but if you get on a good forum, you'll have at least a few people offering helpful suggestions, even if they themselves don't know the answer). One of the more useful functions of the Internet thats for sure, plus you'll make a number of friends in other countries through participating on such newsgroups/forums.

Below you will find links to various resources to do with specific software applications, including support sites, newsgroups and tutorial sites. This page should provide you with a good jumping off point for getting info, tips, tricks and answers to your questions, if you use any of the below applications. Enjoy!! :-)

Avid

Avids Troubleshooting Support Page
The official support Avid support area for online answers to problems as well as downloads. Use the pulldown at the top right hand side of the screen to select which type of Avid you wish to search for info on)

Avids Tips and Techniques page
The official Avid page of tips for users

Avid Forums
Avids own online support forums (where to ask help of other editors and Avid staff)

WWUG Forums
This is one of the bigger online creative communities on the Net with a great number of forums for various creative software applications, I will list the Avid links below.
WWUG Avid Media Composer
WWUG Avid Xpress
WWUG Avid DV Xpress
WWUG Avid MCXpress

Avid-L Mailing List
Newsgroup which also has extensive archives which are searchable (handy for finding answers to questions)

Avid Tips
All sorts of goodies here

Australian Screen Editors Avid Tips
More tips

Wes Plates Handy Avid Stuff
Has tips for working in Avid and using After Effects with Avid

Misc Avid Tips
Some old Avid Tips and tricks (might still have some gems of info)

Avid Graphics FAQ
Avid Graphics Frequently Asked Questions

Avid Calculator
Beginners guide to using the Avid Calculator

FinalCut Pro

Apples Finalcut Online forum
The official forum where you can ask questions and find answers to problems from Apple techs and other users

LAFCPUG Los Angeles Finalcut Pro User Group
A great range of tutorials and other info on FCP

2POP
One of the most popular FCP online community with forums and articles

WWUG FinalCut Pro
Another good online forum for FCP

FCP - Capturing Offline quality video
Okay, this isn't sort of a general link like the rest, but it is a handy article for anyone wanting to capture offline resolution footage on versions of Finalcut earlier than v3 (version3 added a special new codec for offline capture).

Protools

Protools Support
This is the official online troubleshooting answerbase for Protools

WWUG Protools
Good online forum for Protools

Protools tutorials
This is a great site with basically everything you could want to know about Protools procedures covered step by step

Adobe After Effects

Adobe Technical Knowledgebase
This is the official online knowledgebase as used by the phone support people at Adobe, this is the place to go if you have any problems with Adobe software (not just After Effects).

Adobes online After Effects tutorials
This is an online beginners guide by Adobe

AE Freemart
This is (in my humble opinion) the best After Effects site on the Net, heaps of tutotials, articles, tips, tricks and links for After Effects Users.

AE Portal
Lots of links to good resources at this site, including tutorials, tips and tricks

Adobe tips and tricks
The official After Effects online learning resources

WWUG After Effects
Good online Forum for After Effects

Creative Cow
Another site with various articles and tutorials (not just for After Effects, but other applications too)

Discreet Flint/Flame/Inferno

Visual Effects Network
Online community for Discreet's high-end compositing systems

More links for more applications to come soon!!!

If you have any links you think are worth listing here, please let me know.