“Learn” That VO Software? Tuesday Tech Tip

This past month, I held my bi-monthly Twisted Wave: Deep Dive session – a small group workshop digging into a few of the lesser known tools in my favorite recording software. As the attendees were sharing their goals, the idea of “learning” Twisted Wave came up.

That approach – completely learning the entire software application – comes up in most classes and workshops I teach. I don’t really think it’s possible to completely “learn” any software. When you frame things that way, it becomes overwhelming.

Even in a well-designed working environment such as Twisted Wave, when you start digging into the various menus and settings and preference options… there’s a heck of a lot to learn!

Make it easy on yourself

But here’s the secret – you don’t ever have to learn the program. That misnomer has been around since the earliest days of software, when we had to “learn Word!” or whatever new tool stood between you and getting your work done.

I think there’s a better approach.
Ask a simple question “What do I want to do?”

Every workflow hack or trick I’ve created in Twisted Wave – or any software program – all flowed from that idea.

That approach also makes the task of gaining proficiency much more manageable. If you never work with multiple files needing sequential adjustments, then you might never need a Batch Processor. Even though that tool is patiently waiting for you in the menus, you don’t have to use it. And your software is no less appropriate for your needs.

What you use, you learn

If you don’t need to solve anything, there’s no need to reach for a tool. It can remain quietly on the shelf until it can actually improve your workflow. That is one of the reasons I like the working environment of Twisted Wave: it doesn’t force a specific approach upon my creativity.

When you are starting out, your needs are fairly direct – record, save, edit and output a shareable audio file. That is one of the reasons to keep things simple in the VO studio. Unnecessary steps weigh us down at the worst possible moment – when we are trying to be creative behind the mic.

So don’t ever feel as though the software is mocking you, or needs to be completely mastered down to the last option in the most obscure submenu. Simply get it to do what you want it to do.

Thank you. Now go be brilliant!

This information recently went out to my email community.
If you would like to join in to receive these the day they publish, please take a moment to share your contact information through this secure sign up form.
Thank you.