December 28, 2020
by Tyler Williams
Today I want to encourage respect for instructional manuals.
When learning about something we don't understand, most of us just watch a YouTube video to quickly learn how use it. We all do it! Many manufacturers even encourage you to scan a code on the new "thing" to watch the "how to video." Never mind the best way to use the "thing."
Many of us learn about the "thing" and then get better with experience. I'm finding that this only works up to a point for me. When a program I've been using suddenly updates or I lose some default settings, I get pretty annoyed at having to spend time with the learning process when I really just want to get back to the creating.
Last night this very thing happened to me when using Logic (Apple - DAW) and my Apollo Twin (UAD) interface. With a recent Logic update, some of the default settings needed to be reset. Once I understood this, it turned out to be a quick process. However, it took me a while to finally get there. After fixing a few system preferences and audio settings in Logic, I was up and running, but my own internal frustration lingered.
Using two or more software programs at the same time can be helpful yet frustrating! Knowing the ins and outs of both is imperative and worth the time for the long haul. I've decided to renew my respect for the instructional manual. I need more information in my back pocket before the updates unravel the previous work.
Some of this newfound respect to the manual stems from an interview I heard on the Scoring Notes podcast with the wonderful copyist, Emily Grishman.
Reading your software manual is also a great way to fall asleep at night!
