DP: Most comprehensive user manual ever. Ever read it?

[beautypill]

I sometimes see the massive tome of Digital Performer's user manual sitting on our shelves and I feel guilty.

I have been using the software for a decade now and I don't think I've ever read it except to consult about specific problems here and there. Which has happened almost never.

Obviously MOTU has devoted a lot of time and energy to this thing, but I have to wonder: how many people actually read it? I mean, people don't read manuals in general, but DP's is really huge. Does its size intimidate?

Or maybe the program is so user-intuitive that the manual is largely redundant except as a problem-solving thing? Which would be good.

Anyway, I've never even thought to read it cover to cover. I'd probably learn a lot if I did.

I say this as a fan of quite a few long books.

- c

[Shooshie]

I've read nearly all of it, but not linearly. Some parts change after I read them, but generally speaking, I've read all of it or nearly all of it. The parts I had not read for myself I ended up reading as a result of conversations in this forum. I'm not going to tell you it's a great read or anything like that. It's a reference book. But I'll guarantee that there's a ton of stuff to learn that you will not know otherwise. Does its size intimidate? No, why should it? It's a reference book. Most reference books are large, and we just go to them for what we need. Knowing how it is laid out helps you to find those things that are not well-indexed. It never takes me too long to find what I'm looking for.

Why should you read it? If you're happy as things are, then there's probably no good reason. But if you find yourself asking if DP will do such-and-such, then the manual is your friend. Or if you wonder if there's an easier way. There are lots of good reasons to read it. For several editions of it, I created little index tabs which I affixed to sections I was likely to need to return to on short notice. I could pick up my book, go to the tab, and be reading what I needed before I could have looked it up in the index. If you feel bound by limitations, the manual will almost certainly push back some of those limits. If not, then enjoy the bliss!

Shooshie

[williemyers]

BP, a couple of thoughts on your post;

I, like Shooshie - and I expect, many others - have never sat down and read the DP manual, cover to cover. oops, I *did* read the DP 1.0 manual cover to cover.And the Performer manuals but;

...people don't read manuals in general...

This is the first thing I'd take exception to. On my current shelff are DP, PTools, Sibelius, Kontakt, Symph Choirs, TapSpace, GigaStudio and about 15 other misc. Not to be *too* graphic, but rarely do I head for the head without grabbing one of these on the way.

but DP's is really huge. Does its size intimidate?

You oughta see the Finale manual, when printed out. Double-sided, it runs about 28 x 1 inch binders!

maybe the program is so user-intuitive that the manual is largely redundant except as a problem-solving thing?

That's *exactly* what it is! Wait till you've got an issue at 4:15am one morning - with a 9:am deadline. Yes, you can go on this excellent resource of a forum - as we all regularly do - and do a search on your issue, but there a very good chance that you'll find your solution in the manual. And, if it's there, you'll be back to work quicker than plowing thru tons of somewhat-related posts to get exactly what you need. Don't get me wrong...there are tons of things explained in the forum that aren't even touched in the manual. but for many specific topics, the manual is the way to go.

And one final thought on manuals in general. As most pro-notation folks, Sibelius and Finale pretty much run head to head as the top two notation programs. They cost about the same and, while having differing ways to get there, have very similiar sets of features, etc. *But* the one thing that has tilted at least a few pro's in the direction of Sibelius is that they offer an excellent 630+ pg. printed manual. And Finale offers only pdf. And everytime Sibelius floats a trial balloon about discontinuing the manual?
whoa!!

[BobK]

I can't imagine it's intended to be read cover-to-cover, but I've read quite a few chapters and also look up stuff in the heat of the moment. Sometimes I'll run into a problem during a work session, get to the solution, and then go back and read the whole chapter when I have time.

Overall, I think it's very-well written and I like the visual layout. It has a conversational tone that I find refreshing and easy to follow. Of course, it's not perfect: I've discovered what I consider some pretty important shortcomings in the index (which I've sent to MOTU's suggestion box), and would like to see more tutorial-type workflows and more references to key commands. But overall I think they've done a great job. I recommend spending some time with the chapters related to the tasks you perform most often. I've discovered useful stuff in there that I hadn't previously known about.

Also, I think MOTU is to be commended for being one of the last holdouts (or maybe the last one) to include a hard copy of the manual. Whether they do this as a form of copy protection or not (as speculated here) I don't know, but I think it's great that we don't have to pay extra for it. I definitely prefer hard copy to PDF.

[richard]

I've read DP4's manual cover to cover, and v5 about 85%.

Now I'm on page 740(ish) in the Logic Studio 8 Manual. (DP's manual is a better read IMHO)

I think it's worth it if you work with it daily. It goes faster than you might think since there's so many diagrams.

[beautypill]

I think it's a very well-written manual. I just sometimes feel bad when I forget that it is a resource.

When I run into a problem, sometimes my first thought is: "Well, I'll go figure it out on the web."

Meanwhile the manual --- which almost certainly has the answer to almost any question I might want answered --- sits on the shelf, gathering dust.

It's the irony of the post-bricks&mortar age. So much of our culture is web/virtual-oriented. Physical goods get forsaken. Strange times.

The other day I was trying to figure out who mastered a particular CD that I like. My first thought: google it on the web.

Meanwhile, the perfectly accessible liner notes sat on the table, sad and lonely...



- c

[Frodo]

I've read most of the DP manual. Certainly, I could use another gander at some chapters such as Custom Consoles. Chapters such as the DAE setup get routinely skipped only because I'm not using DAE.

It is a very good manual. There are issues with the Index, however, but I often forget to check the table of contents first-- which is easier to do today than it was when I first got the app because the menus are now much more familiar. The index really could be more complete-- some common terms do not appear, and not all page references are cited. The info is in the book, however. There are just times when gathering all the bits and pieces one needs to accomplish a single task requires a lot of cross-referencing through pages often containing only a phrase or two.

I agree-- much of my experience with DP from day 1 has been very intuitive, but I will also say that my DP manuals are anything but pristine! I keep the manual du jour within reach at all times, but there's no harm in making use of cyber sources, either....

--- Not everything is in the manual. There are PDF addenda with each update. Generally, these new feature tweaks are what become more confusing at first glance and require further reading. The PDFs come in handy.

--- motu's support pages often have more detailed or even more straight-forward explanations about how to accomplish certain tasks. It takes some time to nab the right search criteria, but there are some gems buried within the online support pages.

--- reports about possible bugs are certainly not going to appear in the manual. One of the resources that has kept me sane over the past few years is Unicornation. The tips, tricks, and workarounds alone are encouraging lessons in how other people put DP to task.

[Dave Bourke]

Reading this thread has made me realise just how sad my life must be. I started out with Performer 5 and I'm now on DP 5.13. With every new version I've read the manual from cover to cover, each one at least twice, and I still have all of them.

I'm a firm believer that the real power of any piece of software or hardware is in the manual. I read manuals at bedtime, on journeys, on the throne, whenever I have a spare half-hour.

I've only ever been banned from one mailing list ••“ the Opcode list ••“ and it was for blowing my top at one guy who continually asked questions whose answers could easily be found in the manual.

I've read all the manuals for all my software, and so far I've only balked at one ••“ the Final Cut Pro manual (more than 2,000 pages).

Someday my head will explode.

Kind regards.

[FMiguelez]

.

I haven't read it all linearly, but mostly on a need-to-know basis. At this point I'm just missing some of the more exotic chapters (consoles, etc.)

I'm almost embarrassed to admit the DP manual has been my de-facto reading for some of my vacation time (while taking the sun in the pool, etc).

My manual proudly shows coffee, sun-lotion, and who knows how many other stains

I must be a nerd...

[mikebeckmotu]

I read the DP 4 manual all the way through, and speed-read the DP5 manual, which I keep within arm's reach. I actually enjoy reading these things, like a few others here. Much as I enjoy being able to download plugins and use them immediately, having only the PDF manual is a letdown - and I realize I could print it out, but it isn't the same. I guess this partly explains why I've been in the printing business all my life.
Books make me happy.

[tripit@earthlink.net]

Never read it except to look stuff up as needed. But, it's chock full of good info. I must say though, that I miss not having it in PDF. Pretty much every other manual I use has a version in PDF, which I can just look up quickly on my Macbook while working. The search features using an electronic manual is much faster and easier than the old fashion way.
I know that the DP manual has kind of acted as an anti piracy device to some degree, but it sure would nice if they gave us the electronic version as well. I had one situtation several years ago where I was traveling overseas and working. I had to travel light and didn't take the manual. I had a question that I wasn't able to get answered, but then I turned to our other electric manual - this forum, where I found the answer.

[beautypill]

Never read it except to look stuff up as needed. But, it's chock full of good info. I must say though, that I miss not having it in PDF. Pretty much every other manual I use has a version in PDF, which I can just look up quickly on my Macbook while working. The search features using an electronic manual is much faster and easier than the old fashion way.
I know that the DP manual has kind of acted as an anti piracy device to some degree, but it sure would nice if they gave us the electronic version as well. I had one situtation several years ago where I was traveling overseas and working. I had to travel light and didn't take the manual. I had a question that I wasn't able to get answered, but then I turned to our other electric manual - this forum, where I found the answer.

I hadn't noticed that DP doesn't have the manual in pdf form.

That's an interesting point about it preventing privacy. I can't imagine that's deliberate on their part, though. Or maybe I'm naive.

- c

[beautypill]

I must be a nerd...

Dude, you're not a nerd. The other day my wife and I started using the word "frack" in a dinner conversation.

That's nerdy, let me tell you.

- c

[npatton]

I must be a nerd...

Dude, you're not a nerd. The other day my wife and I started using the word "frack" in a dinner conversation.

That's nerdy, let me tell you.

- c

[monkey man]

I've attempted to read each offering since DP2.7, but never seem to quite make it all the way through.
Perhaps it's all the cross-referencing that MOTU insists on (wisely, IMHO) and subsequent flicking around, or the dryness of the read.

I agree with Shoosh - it's a reference book.
If Shooshie doesn't read it all the way through, we're all excused, AFAIC, 'cause the guy's a voracious reader, tackling up to 30 books at a time.
I've always felt silly and guilty that I've not quite made it through one yet, but no longer.

Three cheers for the ShooshMeister!
Hip hip... I hope it's still healin' mate.