Warning for n00bs

[Pasz]

Hello,

Digital Performer 4.5 is the worst product of its kind I have ever used. I have used a dozen of different programs in my life and although DP4.5x has a few very nice features (that don't work properly anyway) just isn't worth the money when you compare it to the other programs out there. Do yourself a favor and get get something like Logic or Protools instead. Those programs have some problems too but they're not anywhere near the severity and number of problems DP4.5x has. At least they have real support.

That will be all!

<small>[ April 02, 2005, 03:07 AM: Message edited by: Pascal Altena ]</small>

[Rob Castiglione]

Wow! I am guessing from your post that you dont like DP 4.5? I have used Logic 7 and DP 4.5.Let me tell you Logic 7 has its fair share of problems! I really like DP 4.5. I have had a very positive experience with it and also with MOTU thus far. Maybe if you could tell us what specific problems you are having people could help out.

Rob C

[kwiz]

You've got to be kidding. DP4.5 has some issues for sure, but it is far from being "the worst product of its kind". I don't know what your problems are, and maybe you should state them if you need help. But Logic 7 is waaaaaay more flawed than DP, and the MIDI side of Protools can't touch DP. I make a living using DP everyday and besides the miditiming issue that got solved because of a lot of trouble shooting on my part, DP has been almost flawless. MOTU's customer support has really sucked in the past, but they have gotten better. Should they be better than they currently are.....hell yeah.
Protools HD has issues as well as Logic, Nuendo and Cubase.
Pick your poison, but making broad inaccurate statements like that might cause a "noob" to jump into a deeper vat of sh%t than necessary...........Like Logic 7..........check the link below.
BTW OSX has its issue's as well and some of the problems that ALL of the leading DAW's have stem from coremidi and AU.

http://www.osxaudio.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16854

<small>[ April 02, 2005, 07:18 AM: Message edited by: kwiz ]</small>

[doodles]

very constructive comments, pascal. you described your problems in great detail. well done

[FM]

works fine for me.
sure it's not perefect but has there ever really been a "perfect" piece of software/hardware? perfect in the sense that i has all the features and stability that ANY user would want 100% of the time?
the closest piece of hardware/software i can think of is a Paintbox and even those had their problems, even though they were specifically designed for the work intended which was image manipulation.
i digress.

as the guys said, why don't you post what you're issues are and maybe we can help.
i'm no pro by all means but i can offer you whatever little experience i have.
now, if you just wanted to rant then i can understand that too.
lord knows i do enough of that myself.

FM

FM is all that and a bag of pork rinds.

[thracks]

Originally posted by Pascal Altena:


That will be all!

Let's hope so, because that was one of the lamest posts I've seen on this or any other forum. I'd be gracious and offer help like FM, but what's the point? Enjoy Logic.

[Splinter]

I've got one word for Pascal:

TROLL

Where's James when you need him? This is one of those perfect inflammatory threads that deserves to disappear.

[musicarteca]

Originally posted by Pascal Altena:
I have used a dozen of different programs in my life ...

April fool's joke. Clown included.

[Pasz]

Hi guys.

I admit, it was pretty lame of me to post that. I was pretty pissed at that moment, because yet another strange bug emerged, on top of all the other ones that are keeping me from doing my work.

I had trouble with Logic, I had trouble with Protools, but never before did I have sooo much trouble with one app! I tried a lot of things - and I admit I did not try everything - but nothing made my problems go away.

I even settled with the lamest workaround for the beachball-problem: Closing the soundbites window. It works, yes, but c'mon! That's no real fix! I want full functionality! After two updates MOTU still didn't fix that!

The long save times I didn't find a fix for. Well I guess I just shouldn't save often then. Well that's just LAME!

Then there's the other strange bug: When I'm double clicking a chunk in the chunks window, DP doesn't open the right sequence in the sequence window.

And why does making fades take so long?

And the newest bug (the one that was "the last straw" and made me post this topic): When I select a few regions in the sequence window and select fade, it not only takes forever, it sound weird too. Some regions ust move somehow. Really annoying. When I fade by hand it doesn't happen but that takes ages.

I posted topics about all these bugs (minus the last) but all the suggestions in there just didn't help me.

Oh, and I'm sorry about the post. It was a lame thing to do. I just was pissed. And still am.

[Pasz]

Originally posted by shanabit:
Splinter:

I dont think Pascal is a Troll as you put it. I would say hes ticked at the program because of the work flow of DP. It seems that he LOVED the program back in January,take a look at this:
thread:
http://www.unicornation.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001199#000000
One has to ask; what has changed? I would guess that hes so used to ProTools that he cant adjust to DP. If DP were that bad, no composer in his right mind would use it. Just the difference between SX3 and ProTools gets me confused sometimes, let alone adding DP to it

Hey, I was writing my post around the time you posted it so I didn't catch it.

Anyways, I would still love DP if it would just WORK.

What changed? Nothing, maybe that's what made me snap too.

[Pasz]

Though there would still be things I would hate. From the thread Shanabit reffered to:

"DP doesn't record outside the punch in/out, so when you punched in by hand slightly too late, you can't drag the edge back later (like in PTLE). Or maybe this is a setting I missed? "

David Polich replied

"Yes, you did miss something. You have to put DP in OVERDUB mode when recording, then you can "drag the edge back later" just like you want."

Well that didn't work, so I think David Polich thought I meant something else.

[musicarteca]

Originally posted by Pascal Altena:

"DP doesn't record outside the punch in/out, so when you punched in by hand slightly too late, you can't drag the edge back later (like in PTLE). Or maybe this is a setting I missed? "

Yes, that is a nice PT feature that DP doesn't have, but the solution is very easy, just punch in a little before the spot. You probably have to edge edit and cross fade your punch ins/out later on any way, at least I do.

There was a time a long time ago when you had tape machines, and had to punch in and punch out "exactly" on the spot or you could miss or erase the perfect take forever.

<small>[ April 02, 2005, 11:08 AM: Message edited by: musicarteca ]</small>

[musicarteca]

Originally posted by Pascal Altena:


I even settled with the lamest workaround for the beachball-problem: Closing the soundbites window. It works, yes, but c'mon! That's no real fix! I want full functionality! After two updates MOTU still didn't fix that!

The long save times I didn't find a fix for. Well I guess I just shouldn't save often then. Well that's just LAME!

Then there's the other strange bug: When I'm double clicking a chunk in the chunks window, DP doesn't open the right sequence in the sequence window.

And why does making fades take so long?

And the newest bug (the one that was "the last straw" and made me post this topic): When I select a few regions in the sequence window and select fade, it not only takes forever, it sound weird too. Some regions ust move somehow. Really annoying. When I fade by hand it doesn't happen but that takes ages.

I posted topics about all these bugs (minus the last) but all the suggestions in there just didn't help me.

Oh, and I'm sorry about the post. It was a lame thing to do. I just was pissed. And still am.

I have almost the exact setup as yours, but I don't have any of the problems that you are describing, so believe me it is not DP, but probably something in your configuration or the way you are handling the tools.

To activate a sequence you don't double click on it, but press the blue play button in the chunks window next to the sequence that you want to make active.

I don't have problems with the soundbites window nor long save times, unless is a very large file.

Fades take long to render if they are long fades, an alternative to long fade in, fade outs, is using volume automation. I don't understand what you mean when you say that your fades sound weird. Are you crossfading between soundbites or just fading in and out?

[mastermix]

Most beachball problems are related to bad user/admin accounts,...or poorly maintained or configured OS X systems.

Also, the beachball problem may be more accute with certain programs -- depending on use and how they are set up within OS X-- simply put.

Create a new user/admin account and reinstall DP and you may be ok.

It is a good idea to create an separate account for running music apps -- separate from the account used for chores like surfing the web, playing games...etc...

Kris...

<small>[ April 02, 2005, 01:06 PM: Message edited by: mastermix ]</small>

[visiblecow]

Try finding one studio in LA which doesn't have DP in use in it's studio...It's a serious bit of kit and whilst every bit of software has its faults, the hard part is admitting that YOU might be the problem and not your software.