Help a Newbie Please!! DP 4.5

[Maestro_T]

I've posted this over on bigbluelounge.com, but so far I haven't had any luck so I'll try here.

Ok, I've been scouring the forums in anticipation of my newly arrived (second hand) DP 4.5. It arrived yesterday which made my day at work even harder to deal with than usual.

Before I start, let me state that I am very new to Macs and completely new to DP. As I say, I've scoured the forums, so please don't flame me for requesting help with what very well be a simple problem.

I've installed DP and everything looks fine. But when I open one of the demo projects, the moment I hit the play button DP crashes out "unexpectedly". (Rainbow spinning disk(sometimes), DP closes and OSX offers the choice of Quit, Reopen or Send Report). This happens even with the 'MIDI Only' option. If I start a new blank project, I get the same thing.

I can play external MIDI instruments, (select track, record enable, bang on keyboard, noise comes out ) I can play virtual instruments (same method), but have not attempted to record anything as I cannot play anything back.

I don't know the first thing about allocating memory etc, although I have heard it mentioned and think that this may be a place to begin troubleshooting. Hope this doesn't confuse the issue but, I'm really anxious to get this working as I have people coming into the studio who are all hyped as I've told them I'm "switching" to DP.

I've downloaded the upgrade to 4.6, but don't want to go down that road until I get the original install working properly.

Setup:

Dual G4 450
OSX 10.4
1.5 GB RAM
2 x 120GB Harddrives (one for system one, for audio)
M-Audio Delta1010
Motu MIDI Express XT
Various external MIDI modules, FX units.

[dweiss]

DP 4.5 is not compatible with OS 10.4. You need to download from Motu.com either the 4.52 update or install 4.6.1. That should solve your quitting problem.

[Maestro_T]

That was the quickest answer I've gotten from any forum!! I had not been 'officially told this, but have now come across a few posts which suggest it.

I had already downloaded 4.61, but am now wondering, do I need to go through the upgrade sequence -> 4.5 -> 4.52 -> 4.6.1

Or can I just go to 4.6.1?

Thanks once again.....


T

[dweiss]

You're welcome.

I believe going straight to 4.6.1 should be fine. In any case, if I'm wrong about that the installer will let you know.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

That was the quickest answer I've gotten from any forum!! I had not been 'officially told this, but have now come across a few posts which suggest it.
T

You will like it here, lots of fine pros supoorting DP. You will also find the members protective of the program, with a zero tolerance for piracy (that IS NOT an accusation). Hopefully, your copy came with a manual. DP is really quite deep, and often you will simply get a reference to a chapter or page.

One note: For some of us, the 'notify' feature on the BBS does not work since migrating to a new server. The moderator (owner) James, is aware of this. Also, if you find yourself using the forum a lot, you might also consider a $1 PayPal payment to James for support of the system. Ultimately, it costs a lot less in $$$, time and headaches than calling tech support. But you should call MOTU to transfer ownership of the program so you will qualify for updates at a reduced price.

Have fun!

[Frodo]

Before I start, let me state that I am very new to Macs and completely new to DP. As I say, I've scoured the forums, so please don't flame me for requesting help with what very well be a simple problem.

Hey Maestro_T!

Welcome to U-nation.

Boy, haven't we all been down that path. Not fun, is it?

I have to agree with MLC: you are in the right place. There are a lot of helpful people here-- and these people are well aware that there are human beings behind the anonymous user names who have honest (even urgent) questions and concerns. We are all aware that MOTU support cannot always respond immediately to our questions, and things never go wrong at a convenient time.

Answers to specific questions may not always be easy for others to find, but you will find a lot of common sense DP/Mac housekeeping tips to help eliminate possible causes to any problem. You know the old saying, "give a man a fish and he'll eat for day; teach a man to fish and he'll eat for the rest of his life"... that's probably the best description of how this forum can work for you.

Fortunately, there is a vast array of the most common issues which have already been covered somewhere on the forum. Lots of users have bourne that cross for you already! The first 2-3 pages of threads alone cover a surprising scope of FAQs you won't find on MOTU's site, and in some cases not in the manual.

Speaking of the manual, it is a good one. In the early stages, using the Index may be difficult to do if a specific feature term is not known. So many people come to DP knowing what they want to do, knowing what a feature is called in another app, but not knowing what it's called in DP-- and therefore they get hung up searching for it. Once you've scoured the graphics in the DP manual (the ones that show various windows with most features labeled), don't hesitate to stop by to ask for a page number or a DP-specific feature name.

Be sure to check out the Tips and Tricks thread as well as the Do's and Don'ts thread, both stickied on top of the DP Forum Index page.

Help is available for new DP users:

If you haven't done so, download a version of iTunes that is video compatible and check out the DP tutorial podcasts that are now in progress. http://www.tutorialdepot.com/index2.html

Another great resource and worthy investment is the DP5 training DVD from Mac Audio Lab http://www.motu.com/newsitems/macaudiol ... aining-dvd

Also, as MLC has pointed out, subcsribing to threads can be a little wonky at times-- so I would recommend creating a special U-nation bookmark folder for DP thread links that interest you. Threads move around quite a bit and are not always easy to exhume.

Anyhoo, don't be a stranger!

Cheers--
hobbit in residence.

[emulatorloo]

Cheers--
hobbit in residence.

And all this time I thought you were Fredo Corleone, from the GodFather movies!!!!



Maestro_T, welcome! Good luck and enjoy DP!

[Frodo]

Cheers--
hobbit in residence.

And all this time I thought you were Fredo Corleone, from the GodFather movies!!!!

Hey, e'loo-- what's UP!!??

That's my second cousin on my father's side, twice removed.

(hey-- EWQLSO Gold bundle just arrived!! I'll give you an update by PM in a couple of weeks-- on my way to the Netherlands today!)

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Cheers--
hobbit in residence.

And all this time I thought you were Fredo Corleone, from the GodFather movies!!!!



Maestro_T, welcome! Good luck and enjoy DP!

I got your Fredo Colione right heeuh!