MEMORANDUM
TO: Ms. Alison Jaenicke
FROM: Hunter Most
DATE: September 8, 2014
SUBJECT: Rhetorical analysis of “Virtual DJ Audio & Video Mixing DJ Software – Quick Setup Guide:
Version 8” (www.virtualdj.com/images/pdf/VirtualDJ8_Getting_Started.pdf).
The purpose of this memo is to examine “Virtual DJ Audio & Video Mixing DJ Software – Quick Setup Guide:
Version 8” for qualities of technical writing. Virtual DJ, a subsidiary of Atomix Productions, is one of the most
popular DJ software platforms available. Because many of the customers use this product in order to make a
living, it is imperative that the developers at Atomix are always making efforts to improve the software, and
more importantly express the changes to the customers in the most effective way. The usability of this document
is described below as an analysis for the six basic principles for technical communication.
Addresses Particular Readers
The primary audience for this document is comprised new customers of Virtual DJ, most likely DJs who are
either new to Virtual DJ 8 or new to Virtual DJ all together. This document is necessary for these customers in
order to make sure that the software is installed and functions correctly.
The secondary audience of this document is likely DJs who do not currently use Virtual DJ. These professionals
may not use a software platform at all, or they may currently use a different platform. This document is helpful
for them to understand the nuances of Virtual DJ as compared to other similar programs in order to make an
educated decision about their software choices.
This document can also serve others who are not as serious about using the software to professionally DJ. Some
of these people might include other types of musicians who would use the software to edit their music, casual
music listeners who want an interesting platform to play with, and those who have no clear purpose for the
software, but an interest in either music or software.
Helps Readers Solve Problems
The document was created to provide guidance for the setup of the newest edition of the Virtual DJ software. It
is a shortened version of the full technical manual and thus must serve with a great deal of efficiency. This
document is designed such that it should be all that a customer needs in order to get the software to be fully
functional on their computers. In order to do this, the document must guide the reader through a number of steps
and decisions that must be made about the future use. The guide focuses primarily on the processes of
installation and first time use.
Reflects the Goals of Atomix Productions
According to the vision on the Virtual DJ website, Atomix Productions focuses on “bringing DJing to the
masses.” In order to do this, the team focuses on lowering the price and increasing the accessibility. The vision
goes on to state, “We believe that nobody cares if you know how to beatmatch tracks in 1 second or 1 minute,
that is not what makes you a better DJ. What you play and how you play it, does. Based on that, we focus on
bringing out technological tools that help the DJs focus on the artistic part of their skills, and relegate the
technical side to the machine.” The focus on making the machine to the work is the entire essence of the
company, but in order to do this, the user must know how to properly use the machine. This challenge creates a
fine line that the document must tow in order to have a document that is technically sufficient but user friendly.
The goal is achieved by using a document serves to educate the readers with the essential skills that allow the
program to function at its highest level.
Is Produced Collaboratively
The Atomix team is a very tight knit group that works together on everything. It is clear that the Quick Setup
Guide for the newest version of Virtual DJ is no exception. The writers of this document included graphic
design specialists, lawyers for the legal section, technical writers. In addition coders are involved ranging from
the lowest ranks all the way to Mr. Stephane Clavel, the CEO of Atomix, who is still an avid coder and very
involved in the day to day operations. It is clear that each of these groups was present and working together in
order to create the most useful document. The writers were able to use the information from the coders and
lawyers simplify it to the best of their ability, particularly in regard to areas like application path settings. Finally
the designers used their skills to create a very appealing document that uses its design to help the reader
understand.
Uses Design to Increase Readability
This document does an excellent job of increasing readability with its design. An otherwise boring and highlytechnical topic of software installation is made to look easy and even fun using this document. The document
begins with a well designed title page to let the readers know exactly what they are getting into. Next, there is a
table of contents that separates the document into the five main sections indicated in bold. The table continues to
simplify the document by adding further subsections within a few of the bolded sections. These categories and
subcategories are also found prominently at the tops of pages with the high contrast of white text on a black
background for the main subjects, and a less contrasting gray scheme for the subcategories. The beginning of the
document is truly the welcome page in which the readers are offered some quick information about Virtual DJ 8
along with a bulleted and bolded list of the newest features. This page is spaced well to make it interesting and
easy to read.
The next several pages of the document are a step by step installation guide using large pictures and screenshots
of the program with a sentence or two to explain each step. These sentences also are formed in such a way that
they intentionally speak to the reader to make it easier to follow. The following pages are filled with more
technical information and no pictures. In order to keep those pages engaging, there is a switch in format to use
more tables and columns, which chunks the text and makes it more palatable. These pages also include
hyperlinks with a different text color so that they are easy to find. These links send the reader to more
information about the software online. Finally, the use of the product logo, document title, and page numbers in
the header and footer help to keep the reader oriented in the document.
Consists of Words or Graphics or Both
Graphics are a key feature in this document. Knowing the audience, DJs who are typically not technically
trained, the creators of the document intentionally used bold images to keep the readers’ attention and express
the steps in the most concise way. The document contains over 20 images, including multiple pages that are
almost entirely images. The words in the document are used in a similar way to the images, and most ideas are
conveyed through both words and images. The words are further utilized by organizing statements into small
sections with bold headings, and by putting them in tables and columns.
Summary
This document is an excellent example of technical communication. Not only does it meet the requirements for a
technical document as set forth by Markel, but it does so in such a way that it accomplishes its goals very well.
Using a diverse team Atomix Productions was able to provide a document specially catered to the expected
primary audience. The masterful interplay between images, words, and other stylistic features leave the
document with a highly professional design. The design offers a clean, engaging, and user friendly interface
which walks the reader through a number of steps necessary to drive the software to optimum functionality.