🎚️ The "Cheat Code" for any console (and how to silence the critics)

Hey team,

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Hey team,

Early in my career, I was mixing at a large multi-site church campus. It was a high-pressure environment. I was siloed from the other engineers; there were no meetings, and zero training. Yet, I was expected to be an absolute expert on the Yamaha console from Day 1.

The truth is, you cannot be an expert on every board, all at once—especially early in your career.

But the team expected otherwise. I recall staff and the lead guitarist ridiculing me for missing an obscure setting buried five menus deep.

I finally snapped. I told the guitarist, "You don't know every jazz chord in every key. If I held you to the same standard you hold me to, you wouldn't be allowed to play."

No one knows everything. But the best engineers know how to find everything.

To compensate, I developed a workaround—my absolute "cheat code." Instead of memorizing the manual, I used AI to turn it into an asset.

Now, I’ll show you how to use AI to master any console in minutes—not years.

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Main Lesson: The "AI Manual" Method

Don’t stress yourself trying to read a 400-page PDF manual on your phone in the dark while the band waits.

AI models (such as ChatGPT Plus, Claude, or Gemini Advanced) let you upload PDF files and ask questions about them. This turns a manual from something you just read into a helpful guide you can interact with.

The Workflow:

• Download the Manual: Go to the company's website (Yamaha, Behringer, Allen & Heath) and download the full, detailed manual as a PDF (not the short beginner's guide).

• Upload to AI: Drag that PDF into the chat window.

• Ask the Contextual Question: Don't search for keywords. Describe the problem.

  • Bad Search: "Dante Patching."

  • AI Prompt: "I have a Yamaha CL5. I need to connect the Rio3224 stage box to the console using Dante Controller, but it says 'Sync Error.' Based on the manual, what are the step-by-step ways to fix this?"

You effectively have the factory engineer sitting next to you.

Deeper Dive: Cross-Reference for Accuracy

AI can sometimes "hallucinate" (make things up). When I was in that high-pressure environment, I didn't rely on just one source. I pitted them against each other.

The "Tribunal" Technique:

If you have a tricky problem (like a sound routing mistake or a special effect you want), ask two different AIs (such as ChatGPT and Gemini) for help.

• Step 1: Ask AI #1 for the solution.

• Step 2: Paste that solution into AI #2 and ask: "Critique this solution based on the Yamaha CL5 manual. Is this accurate?"

This extra step filters errors. It let me quickly solve problems for the team without memorizing everything.

⚠️ Critical Pro Warning: Know When to Use This

A veteran engineer will tell you: "You can't ask AI for help when feedback is ringing out." And they are right.

This method is for Setup, Soundcheck, and Troubleshooting. It is not for Live Fire.

• During the Week: Use AI to learn the routing, set up your scenes, and solve complex problems.

• During the Service, keep your eyes on the stage, not your phone.

Use AI during the week so you’re set for Sunday—no last-minute scrambling needed.

Elite Pro Tip: The "Page Number" Verification

When the lead guitarist or the "expert" volunteer challenges you, you need receipts.

When you ask the AI for a solution, add this phrase to your prompt:

"...and tell me the exact page number in the manual where this is discussed."

• The AI Output: "To change the DCA spill setting, go to User Setup > Preferences. You can find this on Page 142 of the manual."

After AI provides a page number, always verify it in the PDF. Once checked, you're quoting the manufacturer, which builds credibility quickly.

The Big Takeaway

Resourcefulness is more valuable than memorization.

The arrogant musician thinks "being a pro" means knowing everything by heart. The actual pro knows that technology changes too fast for that. Being a pro means knowing how to find the answer faster than anyone else.

Don’t let a tough culture or lack of support make you doubt yourself. You have a supercomputer in your pocket—embrace it and master the console in front of you.

Action Steps for This Week

1. Download Your Manual. Right now, go find the PDF Reference Manual for your specific console (X32, Wing, SQ-5, etc.). Save it to your phone.

2. Build Your "Custom GPT." If you use ChatGPT, create a new chat, upload the manual, and name the chat "Console Tech Support." It will remember the manual for future questions.

3. Test It. Next time you're stuck, or even if you're just curious ("How do I set up a side-chain compressor on this board?"), Ask the AI. See how much faster it is than Googling.

Excellence isn't knowing everything; it's having the grit to figure anything out.

—Madison Jonas, Senior Editor

Quick-Reference Glossary

• Reference Manual: The long and detailed instruction book from a company, different from the short beginner's guide. It explains every button and setting.

• Hallucination (AI): A phenomenon where an AI model confidently generates false information. This is why cross-referencing with the manual page number is critical.

• Dante: Technology that lets you send lots of digital audio signals through a standard computer network cable quickly and without loss.

• Siloed: Being cut off from other teams, so you can't easily share ideas or get help.

About the Author

Madison Jonas is an Eagle Scout and U.S. Navy Reserve veteran with a diverse background in music and business. A multi-instrumentalist with training in piano, voice, violin, percussion, and guitar, he also brings 10 years of automotive sales experience. He served as a volunteer in 2017, which ignited a passion for technical production. He is Pro Tools Certified and has professionally helped elevate the sound for multiple churches. Outside of his media and advertising company, he is a dedicated athlete and passionate about living a life devoted to Christ.