These days many companies choose to put product manuals on the web. I have found this phenomenon to be very useful as a way of knowing what you will get when you buy a product. The manual often unveils everything if you learn the language/terms.

For example a few seconds ago I read about the Yamaha MG32/14FX analog mixer. It was supposed to be 14 bus, while this was partly true it was partly false I figured out when I read the manual. The definition was somewhat narrow. In fact it had 4 sub groups, that means you were able to control group 1 and 2 with one button and group 2 and 3 with one button, per channel. So that means I am able to output only four channels to the audio interface, if I want to use more I need to start tweaking around. And I couldn't find any direct outs eiter. So for example when compared to the Behringer MX9000 (marketed as 8-bus), it is in fact more powerful than the Yamaha since the Behringer is really 8-bus (you can control buses with three buttons) with 24 direct outs. This is a typical example of tricks different manufacturers do to make the product look more powerful than it really is. When it comes to audio interfaces they first tell you its a 24 ins/outs interface that handles 96 KHz @ 24-bit resolution, when in fact many cards are able to record only half of those channels on 96 KHz. So the important question to ask is what does it really deliver? Put this in a greater context, by learning what companies market their product in a true way. Those companies that market their products for what they truly are, are telling you they are marketing quality.

So when you compare different products, ALWAYS use the manual. It's a great way of finding out the ugly parts of the product...

[This message has been edited by YamahaAndy (edited 03-08-2005).]

[This message has been edited by YamahaAndy (edited 03-08-2005).]

I absolutely agree with you, Andy. I have always made a point of getting hold of a user manual before buying any significantly complex peice of equipment, and studying it very carefully making notes as I go.

It is very often the case that a product which is well made and sonically good just doesn't happen to be able to function in a way that suits your purpose. On the other hand, another product - which may not immediately strike you as being as good, can sometimes suprise by having hidden abilities under the skin. These extra tricks are often subtle enough that you would not be aware of them without the manual.

As a case in point - my current arranger keyboard is a Roland VA76. Whilst I don't think much of it's overall sound quality and very poor ergonomics when compared with it's obvious rivals, it has a particular way of handling midifiles together with live keyboard parts that made it uniquely suited to my purpose. I only discovered this ability via a borrowed manual - put it to the test - bought one.

Had I not been able to borrow the manual I would never have even given this instrument a second look.

Manufacturers should take note of this point!