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This forum is for seeking solutions to technical problems involving Digital Performer and/or plug-ins on MacOS, as well as feature requests, criticisms, comparison to other DAWs.
Hi all.
I haven't used DP in some time (other than a couple live shows) so I finally broke down and purchased the DP7 upgrade.
My experiences so far:
The look to me is a good improvement so points there.
Crashing a lot. It seems it doesn't like to change buffers if a project is loaded. PLAY VI is also a culprit.
The first time I loaded K3.5 with one sound the CPU spiked like crazy. Deleted prefs and repair permissions did help the situation and prerender works similar to Logic but not quite as efficient (still a very useful thing!)
The MIDI editing still bugs me to no end. Why is there no MUTE for individual MIDI notes? This is something I use on a constant basis...grrr.
Finally it has savable channel strips! That's the other thing I use all the time.
Mackie Control screen seems erratic during playback.
In the end I need to keep playing with it but I'm not totally blown away or anything.
My system: MacPro 2.66 Quad, 9gigs ram, latest version of Snow Leopard.
Hey Chris - that's quite a jump as you missed all the DP 6 'issues.' Apparently you didn't get the memo that you're supposed to bitch about the lightly colored GUI and then say it's acceptable and then either accept it or use the mods online here (which are pretty damn good if you like darker, more saturated colors and can't work in a pixie colored world). j/k - don't want the pixie union after my ass - although that could be a new look for me.
Sounds like you've upgraded your other stuff such as K3.5. One thing to consider if you are getting spikes with VIs is the shareware app Plogue Bidule to run as a Rewire into DP and other apps as well. This took the load off my ancient G5 and is great when running DP and Finale or Sibelius simultaneously.
Yeah, not being able to unmute MIDI notes can be a PITA and while IMO DP has always has the best MIDI editing in every other area, it is curious why that has not been implemented (unless I missed the memo on that one).
I could do without all the guitar stuff they've added. MOTU must be listening to some guitarist(s) and don't have as many keyboard or drummer buds stroking their lambs. Whatever...
Yep, we all know that DP doesn't have MIDI mutes. So, since it's important to you, let me suggest two workflow methods that I've used since the late 1980's. Both involve the use of temporary tracks, and are very easy to use. I think they are more convenient than mutes, actually, and if given mutes, I would probably still use these methods more than half the time.
First: Just plain-old Scratch Tracks. I create from 1 to several empty scratch tracks, perhaps set to no MIDI output. (or to another MIDI channel, if I need that) When selecting the notes you want to mute, just hold down the shift key until you get them selected, then go to the Tracks Overview Window, hover the cursor over a selected note (the cursor will change to a hand) and drag straight down to the scratch track. If you have trouble dragging in a straight line, hold the shift key before you start dragging to constrain the movement in one direction.
The notes are now safely in the silent track, still in their original positions, just not with the rest of the notes. You can still see them and edit them in the MIDI Edit Window, where you can see all the tracks at once, each in its own color code.
When you are ready to hear them again, you have two choices: set the scratch track to the same MIDI channel as the original track, or simply drag them back in. Want to jump them in and out? Just hit undo.
The other method works the same way, but if you don't have a scratch track created, you simply use "Split Notes" after selecting the notes you want muted. In the Split Notes dialog, you choose "move to a new track," or whatever it says to that effect.
You may also use the Search feature under the Edit Menu to select certain notes within patterns throughout a range of the entire sequence. For instance, maybe you want all the notes in a track that fall on the 3rd 16th note. Set up the search for "Grid," and set up your grid so that it selects notes that fall within a range for that position (you'll see how it's done when you try it). In other words, assuming that your notes aren't quantized, you'll need more than just those that fall on 360, so you'll want to select a range from the beginning of the 16th to the beginning of the next 16th, or some similar kind of setting. Once you set up a search, be sure to save it. When you have a list of searches, you'll find that you reuse most of them, making it very fast and easy since you don't have to set it up again. Once the notes are selected via search, then you can move them to a scratch track or have it split them off for you.
Sounds much more complicated than it is. I just went into detail to try to avoid leaving gaps that don't make any sense. So, there you have actually 3 methods of dealing with the need to mute notes, and it's very easy to unmute them without having to physically touch them with the mute tool again. Maybe it's not perfect; maybe a mute tool would really make it easier for you, but try these. You might like them.
Shooshie
|l|OS X 10.12.6 |l| DP 10.0|l|2.4 GHz 12-Core MacPro Mid-2012|l|40GB RAM|l|Mach5.3|l|Waves 9.x|l|Altiverb|l|Ivory 2 New York Steinway |l|Wallander WIVI 2.30 Winds, Brass, Saxes|l|Garritan Aria|l|VSL 5.3.1 and VSL Pro 2.3.1 |l|Yamaha WX-5 MIDI Wind Controller|l|Roland FC-300|l|
Oh, and one more thing: if you've not touched DP since version 5, and you aren't blown away, then you aren't USING this thing. DP has come a long way since version 5. Personally, I find it pretty amazing, by comparison. It's not Logic, and that's a definite plus.
Shoosh
|l|OS X 10.12.6 |l| DP 10.0|l|2.4 GHz 12-Core MacPro Mid-2012|l|40GB RAM|l|Mach5.3|l|Waves 9.x|l|Altiverb|l|Ivory 2 New York Steinway |l|Wallander WIVI 2.30 Winds, Brass, Saxes|l|Garritan Aria|l|VSL 5.3.1 and VSL Pro 2.3.1 |l|Yamaha WX-5 MIDI Wind Controller|l|Roland FC-300|l|
Dragonwind wrote:
Finally it has savable channel strips! That's the other thing I use all the time.
Chris
I've always used custom templates and everything is there so I don't need this feature. Plus, I have my templates set up specifically for my UAD and SSL cards (resource wise) and if you just put a preset in there you'd lock it up for sure because on one channel strip I use a complete UAD card.
Maybe with weak native plugs but you instantiate a chain of complex heavy DSP plugs, a preset could hang your system. I just use a global template for my projects and everything is on in it... I just disable the channel if I'm not using it... it has really helped with my workflow.
I change buffers a lot depending on what I'm doing to save CPU resources and haven't had many crashes w DP7.
MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019) 2.3 GHz 8-Core Intel Core i9 16 GB RAM OSX 12.7.1 Monterey
UAD Apollo Quad, some Waves, Soundtoys, Digital Performer 11.34, Reason 13, iZotope 11, and lots of real instruments to play.
I have suspicions that the Dynamics plug-in can cause crashes!
It crashed DP for me in an earlier version and I don't use it anymore. I told another DP7 user that had lots of crashes to remove all instances of the Dynamics plug-in and DP7 stopped crashing for him (haven't heard anything else after that at least)...
So if you use Dynamics plug, try to remove it!
Has anyone else experienced crashes with Dynamics?? I'm still afraid to use it but since MW Leveler I don't feel I have to...
Hackintosh 6-Core 3.7ghz/32gb ram, macOS Mojave
Hardware: Apollo 8, Apollo 8p, Apollo Twin mkII, MOTU 828mk3 & Original 828 | UA LA-610 | Vanguard V13 Tube Mic | MindPrint En-Voice | Genelec M040AM | Gretsch Guitars & Drums
Software: DP8 | FCPX | Logic Pro X | Play
| EWQL Gypsy, Choirs, Orchestra Gold, VoP | EZDrummer w/ Twizted Kit | Action Strings
FutureLegends wrote:I have suspicions that the Dynamics plug-in can cause crashes!
It crashed DP for me in an earlier version and I don't use it anymore. I told another DP7 user that had lots of crashes to remove all instances of the Dynamics plug-in and DP7 stopped crashing for him (haven't heard anything else after that at least)...
So if you use Dynamics plug, try to remove it!
Has anyone else experienced crashes with Dynamics?? I'm still afraid to use it but since MW Leveler I don't feel I have to...
I'm still on 5.13 but I use the Dynamics plug on almost every project and I've never (I'll repeat that, NEVER!) had a crash in DP 4 or 5. (Seriously!)
I'm close to upgrading to 7 so the Dynamics problem could be a 7 thing but for now, for me, it works beautifully.
My thinking is that DP performs so well that its native plugs can't be a problem, it has to be external.
Huh. I am curious, Shooshie, MIDI Life Crisis, Frodo, Etc. -
I have been busy with a bunch of projects and NAMM - so I didn't know until now there was a 7.1 - Everything I have been doing - which is intensive and involves 4 or 5 different projects using DP 7.02 has been totally solid. I forget about saving because It is so solid. I am reading a lot of crash reports here. Is the consensus to stay with 7.02? I am on OSX 10.6.2.
Thanx. The only thing at NAMM that made me drool is the API 1608 board. Sure do want that. It's a little pricey.
mac pro 2.66 2010 8 core w 48 gig 1600 ddr, Mac OS 10.6.8, DP 7.21, the usual plugs and stuff.
Shooshie wrote:Oh, and one more thing: if you've not touched DP since version 5, and you aren't blown away, then you aren't USING this thing. DP has come a long way since version 5. Personally, I find it pretty amazing, by comparison. It's not Logic, and that's a definite plus.
Shoosh
I have been using Logic 9.1 recently for a couple of smaller projects and still - still - (because this is a DP forum I feel I have a license to say this) - Logic is ridiculously convoluted, in so many ways, compared to DP! And I'm on DP 5.13 - can't wait to upgrade to 7.1..
Ever tried futzing with multiple fade edits in Logic? How about switching a plugin for a particular plugin slot from that very plugin window itself?
I will say the flex-time audio feature is handy but I have decided not to use it for anything serious unless I absolutely have to - it's too much under the hood and hidden as far as what it's actually doing to your audio.
MIDI note mute would be great - and in all likelihood, not that difficult to implement, workarounds aside..
willheim wrote:Huh. I am curious, Shooshie, MIDI Life Crisis, Frodo, Etc. -
I have been busy with a bunch of projects and NAMM - so I didn't know until now there was a 7.1 - Everything I have been doing - which is intensive and involves 4 or 5 different projects using DP 7.02 has been totally solid. I forget about saving because It is so solid. I am reading a lot of crash reports here. Is the consensus to stay with 7.02? I am on OSX 10.6.2.
Thanx. The only thing at NAMM that made me drool is the API 1608 board. Sure do want that. It's a little pricey.
I agree with MLC, it's a little early. I have not installed 7.1 yet, although the installers stare at me from my desktop even now. I'm still in 7.02, and I may stay there a while longer, but I'll probably install 7.1 pretty soon just to start breaking it in. (and seeing if I can break it) Based on the reports, I expect to see some trouble there, but maybe not. I'm usually blessed by good luck in DP, though at the moment I've got a file that crashes every time I do anything. I've got to get to the bottom of that before I update DP, or I won't know what's what.
Shoosh
|l|OS X 10.12.6 |l| DP 10.0|l|2.4 GHz 12-Core MacPro Mid-2012|l|40GB RAM|l|Mach5.3|l|Waves 9.x|l|Altiverb|l|Ivory 2 New York Steinway |l|Wallander WIVI 2.30 Winds, Brass, Saxes|l|Garritan Aria|l|VSL 5.3.1 and VSL Pro 2.3.1 |l|Yamaha WX-5 MIDI Wind Controller|l|Roland FC-300|l|
willheim wrote:Huh. I am curious, Shooshie, MIDI Life Crisis, Frodo, Etc. -
I have been busy with a bunch of projects and NAMM - so I didn't know until now there was a 7.1 - Everything I have been doing - which is intensive and involves 4 or 5 different projects using DP 7.02 has been totally solid. I forget about saving because It is so solid. I am reading a lot of crash reports here. Is the consensus to stay with 7.02? I am on OSX 10.6.2.
Thanx. The only thing at NAMM that made me drool is the API 1608 board. Sure do want that. It's a little pricey.
Okay-- I have a confession to make. I've been a real slow-poke in getting to DP 7, but it arrived today at long last. So far, so good. What I won't do is to try to cram a lot of third-party stuff in before I feel confident that DP 7.1 and SL 6.2 are delivering as promised. After that point, the third-parties will be installed and tested one at a time.... and uninstalled as necessary. PLAY, for example was last updated back in May, 2009. I already know it's not officially compatible with 10.6.2, so it's not even worth pressing that issue. But DP 7.1 was released 5 months AFTER Snow Leopard was. That spells more than hope.
As mentioned-- so far, so good.
As for reading crash reports, one should also take note of what's NOT crashing, which could far outnumber the crashes. I've got a bit of testing ahead of me yet-- and I will retain DP 5.13 in 10.4.11 for a while yet as I continue to digest what's being reported and compare it to my own experiences.
I still think that the internet is a haven for more negatives than positives. I also think that people respond more energetically to negatives than they do to positives This troubles me greatly. I am convinced that the truth resides somewhere in the middle even if the internet does not.
