What’s The Point?
There’s another aspect to this, though. The best way I can describe it is that some of us tend to be, well, addicted to the latest technology, apps, social media or whatever it might be that’s new. Sure, it’s cool to be up on these things but where should we draw the line between professionalism and “cutting-edge” just for the sake of it?
Clearly this is a personal question, but sometimes we don’t ask it enough. Certainly we have to know about the platforms on which we work, including the standard plug-ins, how to do updates, and what the critical updates are for our systems.
But beyond that, it’s not usually wise to get caught up in an endless cycle of keeping up with the Joneses. It’s one thing to be perpetually hip when you’re a free-wheeling college student, but very much another thing when you’re tasked with the responsibility to deliver quality results, night after night, with a complex and powerful sound reinforcement system.
What most training manuals for technical equipment said in the past was along the lines of, “Learn the basics then choose just a few of your favorite settings, and use just those settings until you get really good at it.” This still applies today – if we can’t be fluid and confident with some of the basic setups using cutting-edge equipment and systems, we simply need more practice. Forget the fancy stuff, at least at the beginning of the learning curve, and master the fundamentals.
Potential Or Results?
One thing that I’ve found annoying over the years is an emphasis on potential at the expense of actually producing something of value. In other words, “Wow – look at all of the amazing features and all of the other whiz-bang things in this new box and what we can do with it!”
I love technology, ideas and “what ifs” as much as the next person (and maybe more). But in the final, clear-eyed analysis, we need to be producing consistently good results. This is what it means to be professional.
The “wouldn’t it be cool if” statements must be grounded in reality, and experience is what gives us the ability to determine what might be feasible or productive and what might not. It’s one reason the old salts in pro audio are so hard to impress – they’ve seen it all and then some. And the best of them are the first to acknowledge something useful and beneficial – after they see it proven.
To me, the bottom line is that it’s important to keep up and stay savvy about the latest technology, while at the same time keeping an eye on the real prize: productivity and professionalism. It is still – and will always be – the best path to success and to advancing our careers.
Karl Winkler is director of business development at Lectrosonics and has worked in professional audio for more than 20 years.