Pete Townshend uses DP

[Jim]

I read that in the August issue of EQ in an interview with Pete.

He's also fond of Ableton Live.


.

[monkey man]

I've been reading the August 2006 issue of Audio Technology, a brilliant Aussie mag, and there was an article about the soundtrack of "The Sentinal" starring Michael Douglas.

Chris Beck, billed "busiest composer" of 2005 by the Hollywood Reporter, uses DP and Live.
From the article:

Beck: I use Ableton Live for the non-orchestral component of my creative process and I use [MOTU] Digital Performer for all the MIDI work - controlling the "fake" orchestra, which is eventually going to get replaced by the real thing.
I love both of those software programs as they work very well together and they're perfect for rendering my ideas...

Yay!

[jgest]

I am rather silly with that combo my self these days. Live is just Fantastic, coupled with DP for the nice glossy finnish.

[FMiguelez]

.

Cool. I'm digging that soundtrack! I just love that aggressive little theme that goes DO-RE-ME,,, DO-ME-RE, with the DBs and VCs in 5ths, really pushing the strings. Very simple, really, but very effective.

I love those sythy percussion sounds he uses. Well, no wonder. He's definitely got THE combo.

I know PT owns the market for post production stuff, but I wonder how well DP scores amongst composers? It seems that A LOT of big timers use DP for composing. Surely it beats the Steinberg stuff, right? And Logic? (in terms of composing/orchestrating)

[blue]

.I know PT owns the market for post production stuff, but I wonder how well DP scores amongst composers? It seems that A LOT of big timers use DP for composing. Surely it beats the Steinberg stuff, right? And Logic? (in terms of composing/orchestrating)

I think it used to be true that DP was the app of choice for film composers, but these days I feel like we're in the minority. Seems like everyone is using Logic, Cubase and even Sonar now. Sad, but true.

[FMiguelez]

.

Wow!! How did MOTU ever lost their place in that market !?!?!?

I really thought that at least for composers we were still number 1????

SONAR?!??!? PPPPPLLLLLLEEEEEEAAAAAASSSSSSSEEEEEEEE


Ok. THEIR Loss.

[blue]

I really thought that at least for composers we were still number 1????

Not from what I see here in Hollywood. I can think of a few big time composers who still use DP. Shore, Beck, Giacchino, etc. But a lot of the younger up-and-comers are using Logic and Cubase and, yes, even Sonar. I'm certainly in the minority among my peers.

SONAR?!??!? PPPPPLLLLLLEEEEEEAAAAAASSSSSSSEEEEEEEE

Yea, I know. But I have heard that Sonar has come a long way with versions 5 and 6.

[chrispick]

Yea, I know. But I have heard that Sonar has come a long way with versions 5 and 6.

Yeah, Sonar is the real deal now. If I were on WinPC, I'd seriously consider it.

In truth, DP is the only app that compellingly keeps me on Macs. I prefer other Mac things too (e.g., OS, internal ergonomics of their workstations, a few other small things), but DP is the real reason for me.

[FMiguelez]

.

So, what would you guys think is the reason that MOTU lost popularity for new commers, and lost their composer-preferencial status? Was it that other DAWS offered more features?
Did DP just fail to keep up with the trends?

Was it a marketting thing?

At least, I hope MOTU realized this, and learns a lesson quick, so they ammend their mistakes? and catch up again, by grabbing more market share.

Thoughts?

[blue]

I'm not entirely sure why MOTU lost some of the market, but I think it has something to do with their poor transition to OSX as well as the simultaneous emergence of VIs and in-the-box mixing. In the early days of DP on OSX, MOTU fell way behind the competition. Things have gotten better, but they never fully recovered. That's my guess.

In the meantime, MOTU has incorporated some new features into DP that really benefit film and TV composers. Things like V-Racks makes chunks workable again, and the click and QT options are incredible. If they can compete someday with Logic for efficiency, I don't see why they can't grab the market back. With Apple's recently sluggish upgrade schedule, there are quite a few disgruntled Logic users these days. Though I do hear there is a totally redesigned Logic on the horizon.

[Mr_Clifford]

I think it used to be true that DP was the app of choice for film composers, but these days I feel like we're in the minority. Seems like everyone is using Logic, Cubase and even Sonar now. Sad, but true.

Here in Australia, it seems that the majority of the big name film-composers (yeah, we have a couple) use DP. I always had a feeling that guys were laughing at me behind my back when I used Cubase.

Does Hans Zimmer still use Cubase, or has he moved on to something else now? I noticed that his crew stayed on Cubase VST 5 long after the SX transisition - which I think proved to be a very good call considering that it was a superior program for what they were doing.

[billf]

In the meantime, MOTU has incorporated some new features into DP that really benefit film and TV composers. Things like V-Racks makes chunks workable again, and the click and QT options are incredible. If they can compete someday with Logic for efficiency, I don't see why they can't grab the market back. With Apple's recently sluggish upgrade schedule, there are quite a few disgruntled Logic users these days. Though I do hear there is a totally redesigned Logic on the horizon.

Re MOTU and DP, I wonder if that is why MOTU is moving into the video hardware space... perhaps better interoperability with Final Cut et al is on the roadmap.

Regarding a Logic upgrade, some speculation pegs it for the next couple weeks with a completely updated interface, but we shall see.

[blue]

Does Hans Zimmer still use Cubase, or has he moved on to something else now? I noticed that his crew stayed on Cubase VST 5 long after the SX transisition - which I think proved to be a very good call considering that it was a superior program for what they were doing.

Last I heard he was using Nuendo on a PC. Newton Howard was using VST on OS9 up until about 2 years ago. He switched to PC when they collaborated on Batman.

[monkey man]

I am rather silly with that combo my self these days. Live is just Fantastic, coupled with DP for the nice glossy finnish.

I almost mentioned you after quoting the mag, Josh, but figured it was probably a popular combination for many DP users.

Yea, I know. But I have heard that Sonar has come a long way with versions 5 and 6.

Yeah, Sonar is the real deal now. If I were on WinPC, I'd seriously consider it.

Me too, Chris. I can't stand anything that reminds me of Gates and consequently that business paradigm though, so PCs are strictly no-nos for me.

I raved about Sonar last year here, based on a review I read, and agree with your judgement.
I reckon, well for me at least, it's the plugs that make the difference.
Fine enough quality to negate a whole lot of peripheral spending.

When MOTU sorts DP's offering here, we'll be rockin, and your patience will be justified.
It's probably just the usual, "MOTU gets there... eventually, and eats its competitors for breakfast".
Let's hope the trend continues; I for one could use a decent 'verb, a channel strip, amp simulation, de-hissing, de-essing, colourful compression and mastering plugs, the professional versions of which I've not yet been able to afford.

In truth, DP is the only app that compellingly keeps me on Macs. I prefer other Mac things too (e.g., OS, internal ergonomics of their workstations, a few other small things), but DP is the real reason for me.

[nicken]

Regarding a Logic upgrade, some speculation pegs it for the next couple weeks with a completely updated interface, but we shall see.

Just curious, where have you heard about this? Just about everything i have read about it has been pure speculation.