A molecular modeling webinar can be useful—and still be hard to learn from. If you are trying to inspect a structure, align proteins, or make an interaction diagram, sitting through an hour-long recording to find one relevant demonstration is an unnecessary obstacle. A more practical approach is to start with the task in front of you and use the webinar chapters as a searchable learning map.
The SAMSON webinar recordings on the webinars page include chapter timestamps, so you can jump directly to a topic instead of watching from the beginning. That small change makes the recordings easier to use as references during a project: identify the task, open the closest chapter, watch the relevant portion, and return to your model.
Start with the problem you need to solve
For example, suppose a structure is difficult to inspect because the area of interest is buried or visually crowded. In the SAMSON 2025 recording, the Progressive Clipping demonstration begins at 7:27. If your immediate challenge is managing a set of atoms or other selections, look at View and Point selection editors at 1:30 and Quick Groups at 14:42.
These chapters address different parts of a common modeling task: identifying what to work with, keeping useful selections organized, and examining the structure. You do not need to memorize every feature in the recording. Use the chapter that matches your current obstacle, then try the demonstrated feature on a copy or a non-critical working example before making it part of your routine.
Use the chapters to build a workflow, not just a feature list
Some modeling tasks span more than one tool. If you are comparing proteins, the 2025 webinar’s Protein Aligner chapter starts at 20:33 and covers aligning multiple protein sequences and structures. If you need to communicate protein–ligand contacts, the Interaction designer chapter starts at 30:02 and demonstrates creating and editing 2D and 3D interaction diagrams.
A useful way to watch is to write down the question you want answered before opening a chapter. For instance: “How can I compare these protein structures?” or “How can I present the interactions clearly?” Then note the feature name and the point in your task where it may help. This keeps the viewing focused and gives you a short reference to revisit later. The recording also includes a Pattern Builders chapter at 44:59 for viewers interested in rapidly creating advanced designs.
Choose the recording that fits your question
The 2025 recording is a good starting point for its selection editors, Progressive Clipping, Quick Groups, protein alignment, interaction diagrams, and Pattern Builders. The 2024 recording is more relevant if you want to explore a broader set of workflows. Its chapters include SAMSON AI at 9:00, the Cycles rendering workflow at 23:47, the Cloud Job Manager at 33:39, and importing and visualizing GROMACS simulations at 36:40.
There is also no need to treat a webinar as a course you must complete in one sitting. A chapter can answer one question; a later chapter can be useful when your work changes. Keeping the relevant timestamps close at hand turns a long recording into a practical, on-demand reference.
Explore the recordings and their chapter lists on the SAMSON webinars documentation page.
Note: SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. Get SAMSON.