A manual is a good resource but you can't beat a good training book to get you up and running on a new application. Carbon Sound and Picture offers a wide variety of training books from leading technical publishers including Apple. Some of these books even come with DVD media and projects to make the learning process more interactive.

	Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 5 The scalability, performance and Emmy Award-winning workflow of Final Cut Pro 5 make it the first choice of professional editors everywhere. For those clamoring to get in on the action, this best-selling volume uses a series of class-length lessons designed to provide a strong foundation in all aspects of the digital video editing powerhouse.
	Apple Pro Training Series: DVD Studio Pro 4 Now the best-selling book on DVD Studio Pro is even better. Fully updated for DVD Studio Pro 4 and with complete coverage of the new version of Compressor, the industrial-strength encoder that dramatically speeds up encoding of MPEG-2 and H.264 HD DVD video, this self-paced guide is the fastest way to learn to author professional, interactive DVDs.
	Apple Pro Training Series: Motion This Apple-authorized guide to Motion lifts the curtain on Apple's revolutionary new software for motion graphics design. A comprehensive book-DVD combo, it starts with motion graphics fundamentals and takes you step by step all the way through Motion's powerful advanced features, delivering comprehensive training-the equivalent of a three-day course-in one project-based book. Professional, hands-on projects help you learn as you go.
	Apple Pro Training Series: Shake 4 Talk about making an impact: Apple's Shake compositing and visual effects software has been used in every Academy Award-winning film for visual effects since its debut. It's no wonder that trained Shake artists are in high demand, and there's nowhere better to begin getting that training than with this fully updated (for Shake 4) and comprehensive Apple-approved guide (which includes a free 30-day trial version of this multi-thousand dollar software) Using step-by-step, hands-on instruction, Hollywood effects wizard Marco Paolini takes you through Shake's interface and features, including its color correction tools, tracking and stabilization capabilities, integrated procedural paint, powerful new floating point technology, advanced keyframing, blue and green screen techniques, rotoscoping tools, and more.