MOTU REALLY needs a demo version

[Prime Mover]

I was just on the Native Instruments forum, and someone started a thread inquiring about which DAW to buy. I put in my two cents on DP, and noone blew it off, however, at the end of the day, the person chose to purchase Presonus Studio One (I'm not familliar with it), because he tried a demo and liked it. And really, who can exactly blame him?

If I'm buying a car, am I going to want to buy a car I can't take out for a spin, over one I can? If I'm buying a house, would I want to put money down without being able to walk in and take a look?

Digital Performer, like most professional production software, is a largish investment, as software goes, especially for someone just starting out. I bought it because it was installed on quite a few workstations in college, I probably wouldn't have otherwise.

Look, I know that trying to hook new people by offering a demo is a crap shoot: no one is going to know how good a program really is until they've used it for a while and really learned how to work with it. But at least making a demo would put MOTU on the list. As it goes, there are a large number of young musicians who wouldn't even think about purchasing a software package without being able to try it, and right there, MOTU has lost their business without even being given the chance.

One might poo-poo these individuals for their lack of expertese, but everyone's gotta start somewhere. And in this age where you can find hundreds of people that LOVE and HATE anything, it's very difficult to go by word of mouth anymore. Getting on and trying it out, while flawed, is still probably the best way to evaluate whether or not to purchase software (or anything, for that matter).

So why again doesn't MOTU offer a trial or demo?

[David Polich]

There's no demo for Pro Tools 9 or Logic, as far as I know (unless you
count cracked versions).

[Prime Mover]

There's no demo for Pro Tools 9 or Logic, as far as I know (unless you
count cracked versions).

I didn't realize that (and no I don't count those). PT is understandable because they have the whole hardware dongle thing going on (which I've always felt was a bad idea). Though Logic has a lite version, which meets the need for a demo halfway. And PT is pretty cheep to enter into, seeing as though an MBox Mini can be purchased for $300, $200 on sale (like SweetWater right now). But the difference is that ProTools is legendary, and Apple Logic is a huge name with an army of zealots. They can afford to not have a demo version, because it's so ubiquitous. PT has plummited, and I can't help but notice that the beginning of their fall seems to coincide with the abandonment of ProTools Free. Now, it was the same time a whole slew of other DAWs came into their own, too, so it's hard to really pin it on that, alone.

But the fact remains, a DAW that gets dropped from major publications because of lack of userbase percentage has to use different business strategies than those of industry leaders.

I pose this question then: how IS MOTU putting themselves out there for people to see?

[Michael Canavan]

Honestly what MOTU should do is spend a few thousand on some introduction-al videos and throw them on Youtube etc.

Let people see the typical workflow in DP, and it's strengths. Their site is pretty good for that, but mostly it reads as if for people who might already own a DAW and want to see what DP might offer VS others. When it comes to new customers, DP is in the position of being the only other major DAW besides Logic that isn't cross platform, which means it has to be a little more aggressive marketing wise as Logic is installed on demo Mac Pros at Apple stores in Seattle at least.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Why do they need a demo version when people can download from a PTP site? Of course, they only do so to try it out before they buy it. Yeah, right.

[Prime Mover]

That's a great idea, and I do think it helps, especially in the word-of-mouth department. However, it's surpring how many people don't really base their choices on the quality of learning tools. My biggest case for DP to newcomers is MOTUNation, I've seen just about every question or problem answered quickly and fully worked out. I personally think that means a lot.

I think the best scenario is for MOTU to contract with James Steele and front the money for a Video Tutorials section for this site, and encourage private users, as well as MOTU personel, to create tutorials. The reason for this is that I think a lot of people are warry of corporate tutorials. I think Adobe has benefited greatly from CreativeCow.net, for instance, though I very rarely hear of people talking about Adobe's own tutorial site.

But still, mony people only worry about tutorials after they've bought the program. MOTU needs to get more people onboard in the first place. Demos and Lite editions target people who obviously haven't bought into the product yet.

[FutureLegends]

AudioDesk sort of acts like a very limited demo. And only for people who buy a MOTU audio interface. But why they don't plug DP more, with brochures etc in their hardware boxes is beyond me. Or at least make it clearer that you can upgrade from AudioDesk to DP.

Maybe they should even include DP for free with their interfaces? And make money from a growing user base that upgrade as new versions come out. Or at least have really good deals on Interface + DP.

If they strengthened the bond between CueMix and DP and selling them (interface & DP) together as a complete solution...

Also I feel they need to clean up the interface a bit. Too many things feel like they've been ducttaped on. I've been using DP since 2.72, I don't really mind that much. But for a new user it must be confusing. Maybe it's because I still can't come to grips with the consolidated window and don't use it?

But who knows, maybe the number of DP users aren't shrinking at all, might even grow and MOTU are happy with where they are?

[mjmoody]

There's no demo for Pro Tools 9 or Logic, as far as I know (unless you
count cracked versions).

There's Logic Express, which is pretty cheap, and it is an "option" as an add-on when you buy a new computer from the apple store.

There's all kinds of "levels" with Pro Tools and Finale - I don't know about Sibelius.

We got my son a new computer for graduation. He likes music, but I didn't know how he would take to DAWS (he's mainly a drummer). So I added Logic Express to the package - I couldn't see paying for DP when I thought it might end up being an unused program. Turns out he LOVES working with DAWS. He writes "techno music." Now, of course, he knows Logic real well, and is saving up for Logic Pro, or whatever the full version is called. I know he would not be interested in Logic had there not been the entry-level way to get into it.

[kassonica]

There is the non MIDI version that comes with an interface called Audiodesk, to me thats DP,LE

[Michael Canavan]

But still, mony people only worry about tutorials after they've bought the program. MOTU needs to get more people onboard in the first place. Demos and Lite editions target people who obviously haven't bought into the product yet.

Not talking tutorials, not full on "how to's" but showcase videos showing a workflow and various features of DP. Biggest stumbling block in using DP is that it's truly unique among DAWs, best part of DP is the same thing that keeps people going ??? when they first approach it.

I agree that a DP Lite would be a super smart idea. Cubase, Sonar, Logic, and Pro Tools all have Lite versions. a $130 or so version with 16 tacks and 4 VI slots minus some of the advanced features would make total sense. We're not MOTU though.

[bayswater]

Obviously DP doesn't think a demo would give them an advantage. But I would have found it useful at the time. I didn't have Motu hardware, so couldn't access Audiodesk. It was easy around here to find demo systems with Logic and PT, and sometimes Cubase, or to find people that will help you with it. It was easy to get hold of manuals. Not so with DP. You have to be pretty determined to evaluate it, or be prepared to just buy it sight unseen.

[mikehalloran]

There's no demo for Pro Tools 9 or Logic, as far as I know (unless you count cracked versions).

GarageBand is the demo version of Logic. Extremely limited by comparison but still a good intro to the product.

ProToolsLE is bundled with a lot of hardware. There was also a ProTools Free 8x2 version that worked in OS 8 and 9.

I disagree that there needs to be a demo of DP. The problem with a demo version of DP is that it is not intuitive. Until you have it installed, cracked open the manual and help files etc., you will not be able to just make it work. If you have just paid $349 or more for it, well you might invest the time to get to know it - like us.

Honestly what MOTU should do is spend a few thousand on some introduction-al videos and throw them on Youtube etc.

...just like Izotope and others.

Now that I agree with. Show how it works. Gets people interested and cuts down on tech support. Migawd, a quick video on setting up CoreAudio, inputs and outputs in DP would save everyone a lot of time.

[Dan Worley]

I get asked if there's a demo for DP all the time from musicians who record here. That and they ask me how much it costs. Some have heard of it, most have not. They all seem impressed with it, even the Logic, PT, Cubase crowd (though I have had some snobs in here. They get put in their place straightaway. I don't tolerate snobby attitudes in the studio.) If we have the time, I will let them mess around with DP and try it out. I don't mind if someone sits there for an hour or so if I don't have anything else scheduled.

I've always felt MOTU should push DP more so it stays alive and well for me... uh... I mean, us. But then I'm also afraid that they'll dumb it down to make it more appealing to the masses. Ugh!!!

So I don't know. The novel thought is that maybe, just maybe, MOTU knows what they're doing.

c-ya,


Dan Worley

[Killahurts]

This reminds me once again of the question I have had for a long time.. just how many users of DP are there, roughly?

I really like the video idea. Not into the realm of real training, mind you, there are courses like that for sale already. Just some critical workflows and features demonstrated that show how it can do all the stuff the other DAWs can, and maybe some great features that are unique to DP.

[Prime Mover]

Problem is, Light Editions are real investments that require constant updates along with the main line. Where-as, demos are mostly just the innitial investment of developing the usage scheme (save disabling, time limit, etc), once you have that framework complete, it's fairly simple to just tack it on to any version of the mother program as it gets updated. Demos require comparatively little effort to produce. But throw a light edition in the mix, and you can expect longer development times for DP, I don't think we want that.

The one thing that could work is a trail version that comes loaded with tutorial process bubbles. Things like step by step walkthroughs of various windows and features, and differences from traditional DAWs.

But yeah, I'm totally in agreement, video walkthrough tutorials would be a GREAT first step.