NAMM REPORT (2nd hand): DP SIX!!!!!!!

[auptown]

most uncertain feeling towards a manufacturer: spectrasonics. eric is a genius, his products are amazing...but i still feel really abandoned by the way he handled ( or didn't) the atmosphere and trilogy intel upgrade. omnisphere looks and sounds super...but no ship date and no price. even 50 gigs of sounds can't wash the bad taste out of my mouth...

Thanks for the report, it's great to get first hand info. As for Omnisphere, they have posted a ship date of 9/15/08 and a price of $499, with an unspecified upgrade path. But I hear you that we have been left a bit in the lurch. I feel the same way about East West. Their new release cycles can be measured in years.

[monkey man]

Question:
Will the plug suite be updated in terms of presets and capabilities?
Will MOTU add to the VI set, seeing as much more sophisticated instruments have been developed by the team and you'd think spin-off plugs'd be a no-brainer?

Did anyone notice the amp modelling plug that's built into the keyboard VI?
Seeing as the convolution reverb concept has (as I predicted) made its way across to DP from MOTU's VIs, can we reasonably expect the same of amp modelling?

MOTU's given me an inch, now I want a mile.

[Timeline]

Questions>>>

1. Do the faders have higher resolution and scalable length?
2. Is there any new prefs to automation?
3. Is there any new Direct Monitoring capability for audio in the main mixer?
4. Is functionality of automation improved in any way other than graphics, audio format selection and features?
5. Will Mackie Control still work?
6. Are there any prefs for pans pre meter.
7. Can their be mute automation be active while in SOLO for multiple vocal performance edit and automation selection writes? This is a pet peeve of mine.

[dmuckala]

no instrument tracks????
That seems like a glaring omission.

Ummm... what do you mean?

sorry not more specific.
unified instrument tracks, so one doesn't need a separate MIDI track and an aux (dp calls them instrument) track. Logic was the first, then protools, then cubase. everyone pretty much does it.

i don't mind the separate tracks. very often i have different MIDI channels for one instrument track anyway...

Once you get used to instrument tracks though, you'll never want to go back. one track for MIDI, plugin, outputs. Makes big arrangements MUCH more manageable. Trying to recreate the multi-timbral hardware model is an outdated complicated approach to something that should be and is much more simple when you do it the above way. i hope they implement this.

[Babz]

Well, it does seem odd to me that this is the first time in memory that MOTU has introduced a major update to DP and not posted anything on their website or any screenshots for the press. Even stranger that they seem to be shunning the attention of cameras. I have to assume that they a not just doing this to be cruel to their biggest fans like us. Perhaps this suggests that things are not quite into final shape yet. Thanks so much, Lwilliam, for providing the salivating masses some badly needed methadone in those grainy audience shots.

For what I can tell, the new interface doesn't look too different than the current one, still the same largely gray/silver/light look (more like ProTools than Cubase). Personally, I think DP has been overdue for a new skin and would have preferred a darker, more dramatic makeover, but I suppose it's too soon to tell much since they haven't even posted an official screenshot yet. I am glad to see a more consolidated transport area, and I'm glad to see solid colors for soundbites. What also seems a little odd to me is that the new plugins, like the new virtual instruments introduced in the previous update, all have that "MX4/MachFive" look (obviously designed by their French partners). But this seems rather graphically heterogeneous vis-a-vis the general light gray skin of the main interface. I was kinda hoping that overall interface might be going more in the MX4 direction. But maybe that would have been too much.

Of course, what really matters is how it WORKS...

Babz

P.S. Am I correct in assuming that Electric Keys is a separate product, not bundled w/ DP? If so anyone know the MSRP? Thanks.

[wheever]

It's here! Don't fret DP is the darling of all older composers/mixer/producers - it's here to stay baby!

Ouch.

At least I know I'm in the right place...

I don't follow sorry - bare in mind we are not all American (even though I happen to be an American).

It was a comment on the "older."

[BobK]

Great to see the pix. I was hoping they'd add real solo and mute buttons in the SE, but no dice. Time for the suggestion box again.

[TheHopiWay]

I can't believe no one has posted any pics....Here ya go, hot off the NAMM floor today!

Pay attention to the filename for extra info. Enjoy!!!

http://public.fotki.com/lwilliam/namm-2008/

....................

Picture #9 saves me a $1000 purchase and allows me to sell my 424/2408mkII, a Dual G4 and several other pieces of gear! Doing the math this upgrade will pay for two weeks in Barra De Navidad with my wife.


Thanks Motu!

[monkey man]

Well, it does seem odd to me that this is the first time in memory that MOTU has introduced a major update to DP and not posted anything on their website or any screenshots for the press. Even stranger that they seem to be shunning the attention of cameras. I have to assume that they a not just doing this to be cruel to their biggest fans like us. Perhaps this suggests that things are not quite into final shape yet.

Or that there's a plenty they still want to keep under wraps.

Thanks so much, Lwilliam, for providing the salivating masses some badly needed methadone in those grainy audience shots.

Yeah, thank you a tonne man.

For what I can tell, the new interface doesn't look too different than the current one, still the same largely gray/silver/light look (more like ProTools than Cubase). Personally, I think DP has been overdue for a new skin and would have preferred a darker, more dramatic makeover, but I suppose it's too soon to tell much since they haven't even posted an official screenshot yet.

I used to think this too, but after having experimented a little with DP's UI (don't ask!) in terms of colour and "darkness", I quickly realised that it's more of an "eyestrain" to read light on dark than the other way around.

DP's new mixer looks so exquisitely clear and legible, I'm impressed and relieved MOTU went this way.

P.S. Am I correct in assuming that Electric Keys is a separate product, not bundled w/ DP? If so anyone know the MSRP? Thanks.

It would seem so, Babz.

[Timeline]

Well, it does seem odd to me that this is the first time in memory that MOTU has introduced a major update to DP and not posted anything on their website or any screenshots for the press. Even stranger that they seem to be shunning the attention of cameras. I have to assume that they a not just doing this to be cruel to their biggest fans like us. Perhaps this suggests that things are not quite into final shape yet. Thanks so much, Lwilliam, for providing the salivating masses some badly needed methadone in those grainy audience shots.

Maybe their website hits have fallen off dramatically and they figured they would ust use NAMM for maximum press coverage and the rumor mill.

I think they should shrink the moving MOTU Mach open which to me is beginning to look a bit cheap.

[jr213]

Just had to chime in that I am very pleased with the GUI from the undercover photos. Although, I do wish it was more on the gray side, it's certainly a step in the right direction! Congratulations, MOTU!!

[zed]

http://public.fotki.com/lwilliam/namm-2008/

Picture #9 saves me...

Looking at that picture more carefully I noticed another feature not previously mentioned in this thread:

--Categorized Effect Menu

I will welcome this gladly.

P.S. Am I correct in assuming that Electric Keys is a separate product, not bundled w/ DP? If so anyone know the MSRP? Thanks.

It would seem so, Babz.

I also expect that electric keys must be a separate product because there are so many keyboards in that collection, that it would be hard to believe that it comes free... but does it seem so only because it seems so? Perhaps MOTU is trying to catch up with Logic in providing a lot more plugins with their product?? Unlikely... but stranger things have happened.

What say the ones who were at Naam on this question?

[Timeline]

Just had to chime in that I am very pleased with the GUI from the undercover photos. Although, I do wish it was more on the gray side, it's certainly a step in the right direction! Congratulations, MOTU!!

I agree too, it looks good. Now on to improvements>>>>>>>>>>

[666]

It seems that all of the shots are using the Consolidated window. I hope that's still optional. I seldom use the Consolidated view.

[ponytrack]

Hey, did anyone at the show happen to notice if those little yellow help balloons reared their ugly heads or were magic Dave's fingers too nimble?
Maybe that's where he earns his nickname.