DP 5 v DP 6 v DP Next Update Issue

[MIDI Life Crisis]

What do you think? Here is an excerpt from another thread but the matter is somewhat serious, IMO.

... Having removed DP 6 from my main music computer, I haven't explored it...

I am seeing and hearing of this more and more. Those of us (some of us) who have paid for DP 6 are not using it. If/when MOTU releases an update, and if it is a paid update, will anyone actually do it? I'd certainly download a free update, but I'd wait on a paid one given I and so many others are not using DP 6. And if many users wait to buy it, will MOTU realize the errors of their ways? Will DP 5 be the last viable version?

Just a random thought and I'd be interested in the member responses in regards to this.

Thanks.

Mike M

[Jim]

My guess is that it stands to reason that those who will pay again are those who aren't having problems... which appears to my eye from reading here to be those who aren't using 3rd party VIs.

I have to say that other than the included VI's, ProVerb and MS Limiter, DP has all the features I'd ever need in it already. I don't see what MOTU could do, other than introducing more cool plugs, to attract me to upgrade. I would like to see control over the interface without having to edit the application. Not sure if that's enough to make me pay, though. It may be a good idea to follow the Apple model, and include boat loads of samples, and beef up the included VI's so that nobody needs to look at a third-party with all the incompatibilities they bring. I dunno.

Your post brings up an excellent point, though. Maybe it'd be in MOTU's best interest just to ditch DAW software, and concentrate on more profitable lines.

[FMiguelez]

.

I've used DP 6 in my laptop and iMac only. I've never found any of the problems people talk about, but I can't say I've really put any stress into it. Mostly very simple and straight forward stuff. Like that, I've yet to encounter a single bug.

But I know that if I put it on my main workstation I WILL regret it, so I prefer to stay safe with 4.61.

I truly hope MOTU nails their next release... something as stable as 4.61 or 5.13. That's ALL I ask!

[jgest]

With the economy and raising children, I decided from 5.13 on (after always jumping on every upgrade since 2.7), that I would sit out a few upgrades until either forced (like with snow leopard), or overwhelming new features. Considering all the other programs I own, I sat out DP 6 and don't feel like I am missing much....
I know there are great features, but I don't notice a difference in my productivity.

[kassonica]

With the economy and raising children, I decided from 5.13 on (after always jumping on every upgrade since 2.7), that I would sit out a few upgrades until either forced (like with snow leopard), or overwhelming new features. Considering all the other programs I own, I sat out DP 6 and don't feel like I am missing much....
I know there are great features, but I don't notice a difference in my productivity.

I did precisely that with 5. It worked for me. (and saved me $$)

Comp tool and pro verb were the clincher though with 6.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Comp tool and pro verb were the clincher though with 6.

Indeed, but I don't miss them.

[Mr. Quimper]

Comp tool and pro verb were the clincher though with 6.

Likewise. I don't foresee the ability to swing Altiverb in the near future and I was desperately in need of a half-way decent reverb; also, my vocal wishes for the ability to hover QuickTime movies and the Control Panel above other windows were granted, so I felt obligated to buy it for that alone.

[Shooshie]

I'll probably buy it if they charge for it, but only because I really want them to fix it, and if they don't have an income from it, they'll never be able to do that. I've been saying that for a while now, but I think I'm going to have to put a limit on it this time: this would be their last chance to get payment for an update from me unless they finally fix some major issues. One area in which DP has fallen over the past couple of versions is in editing of continuous controllers in the MIDI Edit Window (and Sequence Editor, though I don't use that window for that purpose). The tools just don't work as they should. A little flakey here and there. For instance, the Limit tool (sets a high or low limit) ends up doing some kind of proportional thing instead with Pitch Bend. There are other issues as well, such as occasionally editing unintended data such as the wrong CC or unselected data. Then there's Tap Tempo (not Record Beats, but the "tap tempo" with which you conduct a MIDI work to follow you by tapping on a MIDI key.) It's been flakey ever since 2003 when DP 4 for OS X first came out. They almost fixed it in DP 5.13, but now in version 6 it's completely busted again.

I don't know if their beta testers don't use these features or if they're just not listening to their beta testers, but these things used to be solid as a rock. I could depend on them professionally. Now, tap tempo doesn't work at all, and CC editing is just not dependable. This stuff needs to be fixed.

I'll pay for one more upgrade in hopes that this happens. If it takes a free update or two afterward, that's ok, as long as it happens. But I'll spend no more money on DP if MOTU does not produce a solid version that I can depend on the way I could 10 years ago. I keep paying, then watching these features just sit there as bad as, and sometimes worse than, the previous version. Hey, I can go throw $195 off a bridge and get more enjoyment watching it flutter into the river below and slowly drift out of sight.

'Nuff said.

Shooshie

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Could you let me know what bridge and when so I can rent a boat downstream from you...?

[Frodo]

With the economy and raising children,....

Say no more!

[kgdrum]

I purchase all kinds of music related software (more than i really want to admit:).
I payed for the DP6 upgrade as soon as it was available,with the intention of patiently waiting 2 or maybe 3 months for upgraded working version and then installing it.
Well over 1 year later ,i have never even opened the box! I have never seen such a time lag between an initial release of a new version of software and an upgrade that gets the program working as expected.
I have never waited for a revision in software before like this,sometimes I think,maybe if i install it might work,unfortunately I do not have the patience anymore to use new products unless I see most people say it works.
At 1st I actually thought i was being too cautious but i have never seen so many seasoned users shy away from a latest version of software as we see with DP6,except Windows Vista
I hesitate in saying this,but I think we might see DP6.5 or DP7 with the impending arrival of Snow Leopard and never see a fully realized DP6.13 equivalent.
I think(speculation)there are issues between DP and 10.5 and Motu realized even if they fixed it now, they would have to do the same thing anyway w/ Snow Leopard.
I suspect Motu is trying to avoid doing this twice and they are putting all of their resources into making sure the next version of DP works well with the next operating system all coded for IntelMacs.
Without having to worry about UB,PPC etc.....the software might be easier to write and implement correctly.
Example:NI just released K3.5(I watched the beta testing for about 2 or 3 months)within 3 days of release and numerous posts from happy users I upgraded Kontakt(free) and it works well,I wish I could find a similar consensus of truly happy DP6 users like we see from the majority of Kontakt users.
DP 6 does look promising ,it has features,when fully implemented should be great but until I see this actually straightened out,I will stay w/ DP5.13

my 2 cents

[billf]

I did install DP6, and did run into some of the issues discussed in other threads, so I'm still using 5.13 for my main. As to the specific question in the OP, I will wait to make a decision once the time arrives. I think some dust needs to settle w/regards to Snow Leopard and whatever happens with DP6 going forward, and all of that is just too unclear at the moment. But, what I have right now DP5.13 does work, so I can afford to wait it out.

[Frodo]

I'll probably buy it if they charge for it, but only because I really want them to fix it,....

But here's the irony with this for me----

You'll buy it because you *want* them to fix it-- or is it because they *have actually* fixed it? Why do we buy stuff, anyway?

Here's my thing--- I'm carefully separating my hope from my expectation. Expectation so often leads to disappointment, so I expect NOTHING.

If I expect nothing, then everything else will be a pleasant surprise.... as long as I don't expect it to be... (?)

Okay. Now, I'm all verklempft.

I'll give you a topic:

"DP5 v DP6 Next Update Issue"

Tuik amunkst yua selvz.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Thanks for the posts, KG and others, please keep them coming. I don't intend this to be a moaning session and I don't think it has become one. This is actually a serious issue and needs to be addressed - if not by MOTU then by the users.

As far as the wait, it isn't as important as the results. But for the record, here's a little chart some may find interesting. The # of months isn't exact (I'm not that anal - about this at any rate) but it is interesting to know. Basically, the stats are very general and if you care to have exact numbers, knock yourself out. But here's what I've found:

Version longevity -
DP 3; 15 months
DP 4; 39 months
DP 5; 24 months
DP 6; 12 months to date.

Average wait between upgrades/version; 4 months

Time since last update: 6 months

So basically, in terms of MOTU delivering in some "normal" timeframe is not the issue. The issue is that for the most part (as far as I can tell) people haven't abandoned a version the way they seem to have abandoned DP 6 (again, if I am reading the forum even close to reality).



The prospect if an Intel only update, while a rumor at this point, most assuredly drops me out of the picture.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

If I expect nothing, then everything else will be a pleasant surprise.... as long as I don't expect it to be... (?)

Have you read Lao Tzu? You seem to have adopted his philosophy...

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/autho ... o_tzu.html