communication breakdown

[zirkdextron]

I can't get this software to work. OK, this is
not a new experience for me but I usually soldier on until things work out. Just occasionally I seek assistance from the manufacturer. In this case I tried to email MOTU tech support but I have to do it via a .mac account.
I don't have one and I don't want one. How then do I communicate with MOTU. Don't really want to phone from this side of the pond! Time diff and all etc.
I have to say that I find DP the least intuitive and most complex thing I've ever come across. Going back to Protools. At least I can get a sound out of it.

[studiostuff]

In this case I tried to email MOTU tech support but I have to do it via a .mac account.

I don't understand what you mean...? I've emailed MOTU in the past and have never had to use a .MAC account.

Is this due to your location for some reason?

Well... since you CAN get to this group and you CAN'T get to MOTU... (unless I have missed your previous post spelling out the problem...)

What sort of trouble are you having?

Your computer is plugged in... am I right?
It is turned on?
You are seeing a desktop? DP has been installed? Can you open the application?

Help us out here.

And take it from me... However long it will take you to get your sea-legs with DP, it will be worth it as DP offers a lot more options in the MIDI realm than PT.

I think you will find the folks at this site a more immediate source of help than waiting for MOTU to reply. What the hell... you don't have another choice... you can't even contact MOTU.

[chrispick]

Originally posted by zirkdextron:
I can't get this software to work. OK, this is
not a new experience for me but I usually soldier on until things work out. Just occasionally I seek assistance from the manufacturer. In this case I tried to email MOTU tech support but I have to do it via a .mac account.
I don't have one and I don't want one. How then do I communicate with MOTU. Don't really want to phone from this side of the pond! Time diff and all etc.
I have to say that I find DP the least intuitive and most complex thing I've ever come across. Going back to Protools. At least I can get a sound out of it.

We can try to help you.

Let's start with this: What's your specific problem and computer configuration?

[zirkdextron]

OK people, first, thanks for your interest.

1. G4 PowerBook, 1.67mhz, 1 gig ram, Tiger, Edirol FA101, M-Audio 61es keyboard (USB)
2. DP 4.52 installed
3. Audio-MIDI Set-up configured
4. Computer is turned on!

Problem is; midimonitor shows activity. I load an instrument (Applied Acoustics Lounge Lizard) but that's when things start going wrong. I don't know how to arm tracks to record in MIDI or audio. Also, how do I import a loop?

I find the interface confusing but everyone keeps telling me that DP is the one to go for if you use a PowerBook

ZD

[billf]

Originally posted by zirkdextron:
OK people, first, thanks for your interest.

1. G4 PowerBook, 1.67mhz, 1 gig ram, Tiger, Edirol FA101, M-Audio 61es keyboard (USB)
2. DP 4.52 installed
3. Audio-MIDI Set-up configured
4. Computer is turned on!

Problem is; midimonitor shows activity. I load an instrument (Applied Acoustics Lounge Lizard) but that's when things start going wrong. I don't know how to arm tracks to record in MIDI or audio.

Page 198 of your manual: Preparing a MIDI Track for Recording.

Make sure your track outputs (in the Tracks window) are pointing to the proper inputs and outputs, and that the record button for each track is clicked on (it will be red if you've selected it, gray if you haven't).

Also, how do I import a loop?

Page 107 in your manual. You treat the Loop as a Soundbite.

I find the interface confusing but everyone keeps telling me that DP is the one to go for if you use a PowerBook

ZD

It is a deep program, but once you get the basics you'll be fine. Trust me, Logic is far worse and much more arcane.

<small>[ June 07, 2005, 04:00 PM: Message edited by: TimeMist ]</small>

[studiostuff]

To Time: This guy does not have a manual...

To Zirk... Tell me you do not have a manual...

To everyone else:

Ya gotta love this space! Dogs and Cats working together!!

Zirk: Hang in there. You'll be glad you did.

[chrispick]

Originally posted by zirkdextron:
OK people, first, thanks for your interest.

1. G4 PowerBook, 1.67mhz, 1 gig ram, Tiger, Edirol FA101, M-Audio 61es keyboard (USB)
2. DP 4.52 installed
3. Audio-MIDI Set-up configured
4. Computer is turned on!

Problem is; midimonitor shows activity. I load an instrument (Applied Acoustics Lounge Lizard) but that's when things start going wrong. I don't know how to arm tracks to record in MIDI or audio. Also, how do I import a loop?

I find the interface confusing but everyone keeps telling me that DP is the one to go for if you use a PowerBook

ZD

re: Record arming -- The "Getting Started" booklet that shipped with DP can baby-step you through that better than an online post can. Check out chapters 11 and 12, tutorials on recording MIDI and audio respectively. There are also quick-start diagrams regarding this starting on page 74.

In short, with your Lounge Lizard VI, you'll need to create an instrument track, then a MIDI track which you link to the instrument. Once you've recorded the MIDI data, you then open an audio track and link the instrument track out to the audio track's in, then record it, turning the MIDI data to audio file data -- or you conduct a "freeze track" function which does the MIDI-to-audio cooking for you.

re: importing loops -- DP can import loops as WAVs or AIFFs via the soundbite window. However, DP isn't a loop sequencer as such. That is, it's not set up to adjust loop tempos on the fly like GarageBand or Ableton Live, should you not know. DP can conduct beat detection to imported audio file and make tempo adjustments thereafter, but that's complicated process. Right now, DP is better-suited as a MIDI-composition / audio recording and mixing app.

Help any?

[sholland]

A note of what I hope is encouragement: I started out with DP 2.7 a few years back. I was one of those people who "couldn't hear the MIDI." I had no idea what MIDI was. I was struggling to make DP work with a Tascam US-428. I had ZERO experience dealing with this kind of thing.
And yet, despite not being particularly bright, and despite being utterly ignorant, it wasn't long before I was happily using MIDI, recording audio and so on. Part of it was figuring it out, part of it was using the manual, and a HUGE part of it was getting patient advice from people on the Tascam forum (now gone, alas) and in the previous incarnation of this forum.
Now I am upgraded every which way, and I'm pretty comfortable with DP. It has become intuitive, probably because it's the one I learned on. I imagine if I went to ProTools I'd be frustrated and angry because it didn't work the way I have become used to having things work. I bet that's a large part of your frustration: I gather you worked in PT before, and DP doesn't do things the same way. I feel like that when I have to do something on a Windows machine; the little things are different and it is SO ANNOYING! C'est la vie, said the old folks.

[zirkdextron]

Ah! you link the instrument track to a MIDI track? Didn't see that.

Look my friends, I'm sorry I seem so dense. I hang my head in shame at my ignorance and stupidity. It's the look of the thing that confuses me so much but what you have said helps immeasurably.

I'm going to hit the manual hard; (yes I have got one, I'm a registered user). The thing of it is that I've usually managed to work things out intuitively most times before with other software.

Thanks,

I'll no doubt be back; it's nice to know there's a helpful friendly community out there.

ZD (it is pronounced zEE D as you say in the US)

[billf]

Originally posted by studiostuff:
To Time: This guy does not have a manual...

To Zirk... Tell me you do not have a manual...

To everyone else:

Ya gotta love this space! Dogs and Cats working together!!

Zirk: Hang in there. You'll be glad you did.

Nah, ZD has a manual. My brother just bought DP as well and I'm going over tomorrow to help him. He's lost in the manual too.

BTW, my dog gets along very well with cats.

[emulatorloo]

Originally posted by zirkdextron:
I'm going to hit the manual hard; (yes I have got one, I'm a registered user). The thing of it is that I've usually managed to work things out intuitively most times before with other software.

Do the tutorials - there is a MIDI recording one and an Audio Recording one, they are in one of the manuals. They are fun and they will get you going quickly.

<small>[ June 07, 2005, 06:27 PM: Message edited by: emulatorloo ]</small>

[chrispick]

Originally posted by zirkdextron:
Look my friends, I'm sorry I seem so dense. I hang my head in shame at my ignorance and stupidity. It's the look of the thing that confuses me so much but what you have said helps immeasurably.

I'm going to hit the manual hard; (yes I have got one, I'm a registered user). The thing of it is that I've usually managed to work things out intuitively most times before with other software.

Don't sweat it, man.

Definitely check out the "Getting Started" booklet. It covers the basics pretty well. Like many apps, once you suss out a few rudimentary functions in DP you'll find intuiting the rest to be easier.

[Studio615]

ZD, welcome to the powerbook DP club. I am running the same setup and it rocks! If you find the manual hard to understand, I bought a Using DP video off of ebay for $20 a couple weeks ago. Some guy walks you through it all, it is really worth $20. Search ebay, you will find it. Aside from that, I have found that this site is the best source of info about this product IMHO. The people here are great. We all learn from each other here. Good luck. And if anyone else would like the video, I will find the link and post where you can purchase it, I will look when I go home after work.

[nero120]

Actually I found DP much more intuitive than Pro Tools, though I guess my PT experience helped in working with DP to some extent. I havent even touched the manual though, its been all experimentation and online help! Im sure Im missing out on features that I don't know exist, but for the time being Im doing everything I did in Pro Tools and more! This is one serious music-making app!

[zirkdextron]

Wow, you're all so much nicer than people on some other forums I could mention.
Thanks for all the help and encouragement. I'm definitely staying with it!

ZD