What makes DP better than competing programs?

[Prime Mover]

I gather that PT finally added multiple sequences in their latest version. But I doubt they've gotten to V-Racks yet. I don't think anyone does V-Racks. Logic MAY have something similar, if the "alias control strip" function from MainStage is also in Logic, but V-Racks are incredibly nice. Logic added take compositing too, and I haven't heard of anything like that from Pro Tools.

To be honest, I would never use Pro Tools again for several reasons. AVID being the first. If there's ever a company that I know would go out of their way to squeeze every last little dime out of their customers, it's AVID. They've sat in their ivory tower too long, poo-poo'ing everyone else and ignoring perfectly good advancements in software development on the grounds that they're the industry standard. The fact is, PT is always about 3 years behind everyone else, or more. Their proposed workflow strategies are barbaric (put an entire album on one timeline) and they will NEVER adopt any more plugin architectures then the ones they create, because, "WE'RE EFFING AVID!"

About the only good thing I can say about PT upfront is that for quick-and-easy selection and playback, the interface is pretty easy to use. But that comes at the expense of a lot of really in-depth editing functions.

I feel like I have more fondness for Sonar. Granted, it was my very first DAW and I barely knew what I was doing at the time. But they had some nice features that, to this day, I wish I had. They had a dedicated trim pot for every channel, and they had bezier curves on their automation, two things I REALLY wish DP had.

[James Steele]

Okay... again this is largely THEORETICAL discussion, not a real troubleshooting topic. Moved to the "Theoretical/OT" forum.

Anyone not see that one coming?

I LOVE chit-chatting about these thins as much as the next person, but the "Troubleshooting" forum is really for posts that start off "I'm having problems with importing audio files..." etc. Nuts and bolts kinda stuff. One could consider this post "criticism" but not really. It's a very broad, open topic and thus should really go the the "MOTU Theoretical" category.

[Shooshie]

Okay... again this is largely THEORETICAL discussion, not a real troubleshooting topic. Moved to the "Theoretical/OT" forum.

Anyone not see that one coming?

I LOVE chit-chatting about these thins as much as the next person, but the "Troubleshooting" forum is really for posts that start off "I'm having problems with importing audio files..." etc. Nuts and bolts kinda stuff. One could consider this post "criticism" but not really. It's a very broad, open topic and thus should really go the the "MOTU Theoretical" category.

+1
This is an off-topic discussion, though a very good one, and one that is about DP, but it's not about tips, or how-to, how-do-you, or this-needs-fixing.

The off-topic forum is a great place to lay back and talk about things without worrying about getting in the way of the more down-to-business type threads. No shame in having a post moved here. This is one of the three forums that I read daily.

Shooshie

[mikehalloran]

The off-topic forum is a great place to lay back and talk about things without worrying about getting in the way of the more down-to-business type threads. No shame in having a post moved here. This is one of the ... forums that I read daily.

Absolutely!

[nk_e]

SNIP

One note: A lot of folks whom I highly respect as music makers use and like Cubase. I know nothing about that DAW, so no idea how that compares.

It is very much "a musician's DAW" like DP. (Maybe that's why I struggle with it so! ) the recent update seemed to have DP more in its sights than usual IMHO. Maybe the recent platform cross release raised DP's profile for Steinberg? (Observations here: http://www.motunation.com/forum/viewtop ... =9&t=56303)

As to the original question: Things DP has: Chunks, VRacks, tempo tools, MIDI plugins on separate MIDI channels of a multi timbal instrument (can't believe Logic lacks this). Things logic has: more object orientation, a large and nicely integrated instrument and loop library, a price point no one can come close too.

Shooshie's post hit it though. I'm hardly qualified to answer the question in any comprehensive way.

[toodamnhip]

Unfortunately, in discussing what makes DP better, one must factor in standardization and how ubiquitous any given program is. One thing Pro Tools has going for it, and it is a HUGE thing, is that is is almost EVERYWHERE. Yet DP is deeper, full of hidden treasures, and way way more customizable.

Thus I often advocate more PR from MOTU in hopes it can also become the de facto standard in recording studios across the world.
It can be frustrating to interface with the record industry when working in ANY workstation, i.e. DP, when you suddenly learn all others on a given project are passing Logic or Pro Tools files around and you are the odd man out with DP.
So does "better" mean THE BEST or COMPATIBLE with a given project? Depends on ones' working scenario doesn't it? But this question MUST be asked:

Where will you be working and WHAT are they using WHERE you'll be working?

So DP can lose out if you're in a recording area where everyone is passing Pro Tools files around.

That said, I will you tell you this,

DP is so much more flexible than Pro Tools, and has tools under it's hood that no other DAWs have.

Key Commands:
One example being the custom key commands. As a "pro" user that has used DP ever since it came out, I will also tell you that , though I have looked through the key commands menu and even printed it out a few times to "learn it", I utilize so little of it, even after all these yrs. I have gotten used to working how I work and add a new command only occasionally. But for a new person, one inclined to learn all the possibilities of DP, the commands available are absolutely amazing. You could probably design a key command to utilize your elbow if you really wanted to ,,,lol.

Polar:
Anyone who has watched Magic Dave use Polar will experience the true definition of "creation via ram on-the-fly". A truly amazing, underrated tool that I wish I used but rarely do, due to , again, being stuck in my "old ways"..lol But a new guy could learn Polar and truly SOAR creatively. Playing guitar takes until blue in the face without creative interruption.

"Custom Consoles"
Long ago, I created an astounding templet for the ROland VS 880 recording machine, fully automated from inside of "Performer" (no digital). It was BEFORE DP had audio and it allowed me to operate a full function, commercial production studio that led to success with a true who's who in the music industry. It launched my career. No other DAW that I know of had such capability. I stopped using custom consoles once DP went digital, but this is another hidden treasure inside of DP that can truly be amazing.

And these are a couple of the "treasures".

There are any more delineated elsewhere throughout the board here, not the of which is chunks, etc...

It is quite possible that DP has a good 50% more under-the-hood treats than any other workstation out there.

I a sure I have left out quite a few more goodies, but this is a start.

So there ya go, the deepness of DP vs WHO you're working with and WHAT they are using, i.e., project compatibility.

Here is a question that proves my "point".
What audio program does a studio or production facility HAVE to have in order to to operate with the outside music world efficiently?

Yes, I am a DP guy. But I have Pro Tools too. And if I didn't have Pro Tools, that would be a problem for me working with the outside world.

The day I could operate without having Pro Tools in my studio, is the day the idea of BEST program is based off of merit alone.

[Phil O]

The answer is simple. I use it. Shoohie uses it. Frodo uses it. FM, RG, MLC...the list goes on. Nuf said.

Wait, did I mention...

[Phil O]

Tim.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Buzzy do too.

[Phil O]

Buzzy do too.

Yes, and so many more. Truth be told - I was just looking for an excuse to use the one word post, "Tim." I've always wanted to do that.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Agreed.

[Prime Mover]

me

[MIDI Life Crisis]

I'm thinking of moving GarageBand now. LOL

[MIDI Life Crisis]

... j/k...