DP8 - Audio preview without importing to soundbites

[John Judd]

Hi Guys,

Just looking for a possible workaround for what I see as an EPIC shortfall of DP8 for Windows:

Importing audio: There is no ability to preview audio in DP8 (for Windows specifically) without importing it first. DP8 is amazing all around and I am a huge fan, but this one shortcoming is a workflow killer and I can't imagine why they missed it.

Anyone have any word on if they will be fixing this?

Anyone have a workaround?

Thanks in advance for any help,

John

[buzzsmith]

I don't know about Windows, but on a Mac you can select a soundbite (actually, almost any file) and hit the space bar which quickly opens a "preview" and plays the soundbite.

Maybe Windows has something similar??

Buzzy

[John Judd]

Hi buzzy,

Thanks for the idea, but it appears to be Windows specific. I had talked with support weeks back and they confirmed that Windows DP8 couldn't preview audio audio unless it was actually imported. It is like driving a Ferrari with a flat front tire. They sent me to the suggestion box, which I did send my input.

Just looking for any ideas/workarounds/word of mouth about Motu fixing it/etc.

Thanks!

John

[NazRat]

DP uses the OS file dialog to import audio. If you want to preview a lot of files, it's not very friendly, but a work around is: in the file import dialog, right-click on the file you want to preview, select Open With and pick whatever app works best for you. In my case I have Quicktime for Windows installed and can use that. Maybe there's something like a Workspace Browser ala PT somewhere down the line - the suggestions box is a good start. You may also be able to open the Preview Pane in the file dialog, but for whatever reason OS audio preview does not work here in Win8.

[John Judd]

I have used PT and that browser was fine. I have used FL for the last 8 years and that browser is the best that exists, in my opinion.

I hope Motu works something out with this.

[Ulas]

I bought Cockos Reaper just for it's media browser. I can directly drag and drop files from media browser to DP8.

[Tesionman]

I bought C••••• R••••• just for it's media browser. I can directly drag and drop files from media browser to DP8.

good idea!!

[Michael Canavan]

Doesn't the Windows Browser preview audio files?
I'm one who uses a DAWs browser only when I have to, as usually the OS browser is faster, plus you can keep it open to a specific file etc.

[John Judd]

In DP8.04, the Windows browser does NOT allow for any audio preview.
In order to actually listen to a file, you are required to import it to the sound bites.

Imagine if you couldn't listen to any audio until you imported it. Need a kick drum? Okay, import half of your kick drum samples into DP8, listen and find the one you want, then delete the rest. This slows workflow horribly.

And as for the guys above, buying a separate program to deal with the shortcomings of DP8 seems ridiculous to me. Although I did buy DP8 to deal with shortcomings of another DAW. Hmmmm.

And being that this forum is Motu specific, but not Motu affiliated....were you speaking of Cuckoos Reaper above, Ulas?

I am crossing my fingers for 8.05.

[Phil O]

I doubt that this is impossible to do. Some creative routing in DP is probably all it takes. I'm not a Windows person so I can't tell you how to do it. Perhaps someone here who does Windows can figure this out. Or, contact MOTU.

Phil

[Ulas]

Yes I talked about Reap*r. It's cheap ($60) and it's media browser reads everything.(wav, mp3, rex, acid loops, video files....) You can preview waveform and there is a pitch up/down knob on it...

[NazRat]

After some checking I found that the Windows Media Player has a preview handler that will allow you to preview files in the DP Import Audio file dialog box and the File Explorer if the Preview Pane is open or you can right-click the file and select Play. You need to assign whatever file extensions you want to preview to WMP in the Default Programs control panel (i.e. WAV, AIF, AIFF, MIDI, etc.). This will be problematic for some who are running Windows 8 because the Media Center Pack is a chargeable add-on through the Add Features (instructions and pricing here http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/wind ... ture-packs). It's included in Win7 and lower. I'll never figure out what these guys were thinking by removing features and nickel diming people to get them back. They back-paddled and put it up free for the first few months after the Win8 release because of all the complaints. Oh well . . . Anyway, it's the only app I found that has an audio preview handler that works - doesn't mean there aren't others. Maybe something like Winamp or whatever that media player was - I'm stopping at WMP.