Folks tasked with writing manuals for digital audio workstations have a tough job. On the one hand, the copy they generate has to be digestible for the prosumer market, which includes newbies who know little about recording midi and audio-and many who can barely play an instrument. Seasoned pros are another target market; many of them like to learn on the fly, consulting documentation only when they run into a roadblock. Composing inclusive user manuals that cover all of a DAW’s features while still being accessible to the neophyte…like I said, a tough gig.

A number of third party companies have stepped in, offering video tutorials and “how to” books meant to co-exist with manuals. In general, these materials are less concerned with covering every square inch of an application’s potential; rather, they give a relatively breezy walk through a DAW’s main features.

Hal Leonard (www.halleonardbooks.com) tapped long time Mark Of The Unicorn guru, David E. Roberts to pen “The Power in Digital Performer.” Magic Dave is a logical choice-stumping him on any aspect of Digital Performer is a tough task!

In a large print, easy to read, reasonably priced opus (U.S. $16.99) Dave walks the user through all of DP’s main features, and more, without drowning the reader in each and every aspect of the program. Installation, recording, working with tempo maps, it’s all covered, and with a flowing style that’s based on the understanding that everyone who owns DP will be able to pull out the app’s manual to dive more deeply into a specific area.

High power users may not need this kind of gentle massage, but first time DAW owners as well as some who have shifted over to DP from another software application, will find Dave’s relaxed approach quite appealing and instructive.