NAMM - DP8? Who's Going?

[Michael Canavan]

Sounds stupid but I really have a fear of this, and I absolutely don't ever want to see announcements like this: "Windows version to be released this Spring, Mac version to be announced later."

I'm done with that kind of crap.

Visions of Cubase come to mind.
Seriously, it makes me wonder if the rumors that Apple might drop the Mac Pro line aren't true?
That, would be the main reason I could see MOTU taking this on, to protect against a possible migration to PC DAWs.

[bayswater]

Sounds stupid but I really have a fear of this, and I absolutely don't ever want to see announcements like this: "Windows version to be released this Spring, Mac version to be announced later."

I'm done with that kind of crap.

Bothers me too. Cubase VST was originally a Mac app. When it was ported to Windows, support and priority for the Mac version declined to the point where advertised features were simply missing and the UI became slow and unusable. Hope MOTU can keep the quality up on the Mac versions while they struggle with the zillions of Windows/PC configurations and all that entails.

[mikehalloran]

>Well it pretty much cements that I won't be buying a used Mac Pro for use with DP, as now not only can I run VE Pro on a roughly $1000 roll your own 64 bit PC that's comparable to the year old top of the line Mac Pro Apple is currently selling, I can run DP. <

Double, double, toil and trouble... I am gazing into my crystal ball... I see significant growing pains for any Windows version of DP... I see threads of many pages on MOTUNation discussing installing of the simplest drivers...

I will only see those through a Medium - I will avoid those Windows threads.

I hear rumors that Apple is testing a wicked 16 core version of the Mac Pro with Thunderbolt. We can only hope that it ships. MacWorld is next week. I think that there will certainly be some more TB peripherals announced. You think?

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Well it pretty much cements that I won't be buying a used Mac Pro for use with DP, as now not only can I run VE Pro on a roughly $1000 roll your own 64 bit PC that's comparable to the year old top of the line Mac Pro Apple is currently selling, I can run DP.

To tell a family secret, I chose DP subsequent to deciding on Apple. If DP were to go to only PC it would be bye bye for me.

So you're only on a Mac to use DP? Really? Wow, that's some kind of loyalty. I had a dog that was that loyal. If I jumped off a cliff, she'd jump off a cliff. Not too dissimilar an analogy.

[bayswater]

To tell a family secret, I chose DP subsequent to deciding on Apple.

I think a lot of people would say the same thing. But having the choice is a good thing, especially if you want a dedicated outboard system. And Windows can't suck forever can it? Sooner or later it will work, if only by accident.

[Michael Canavan]

>Well it pretty much cements that I won't be buying a used Mac Pro for use with DP, as now not only can I run VE Pro on a roughly $1000 roll your own 64 bit PC that's comparable to the year old top of the line Mac Pro Apple is currently selling, I can run DP. <

Double, double, toil and trouble... I am gazing into my crystal ball... I see significant growing pains for any Windows version of DP... I see threads of many pages on MOTUNation discussing installing of the simplest drivers...

I will only see those through a Medium - I will avoid those Windows threads.

I hear rumors that Apple is testing a wicked 16 core version of the Mac Pro with Thunderbolt. We can only hope that it ships. MacWorld is next week. I think that there will certainly be some more TB peripherals announced. You think?

Yeah, I suppose you have some points. Thing is I'm pretty set on using a laptop for the bulk of my work, I can take it with me etc. and after years of underpowered computers and CPU pig plug ins I'm used to working light. Mostly I would be using a desktop for offloading plug ins, and maybe mix down, so mostly it wouldn't be over tasking DP8 Windblows with anything too tricky but I can't say for sure.
The one thing I do know for sure is I can't afford a new laptop and a nice used Mac Pro in the same year, and I'm probably about done with this 2007 macbook pro. time will tell, and again, if DP8 doesn't support VSTs on both PC and Mac then it's going to be only partially cross platform so I would just end up using DP on the laptop anyway.

I really like the workflow DP 2.7 had with just using a hardware sampler and no MAS plug ins. You could build songs in the Song Window out of Chunks arbitrarily with no worries about overloading DP, V-Racks are cool, but if you want to automate AU's it's not happening unless the AU receives MIDI automation etc. So VE Pro with a Windows box would do it, as long as that Windows box is just used as a music PC and never as a web browser etc.

[kgdrum]

I don't see why anyone would speculate that Motu would drop the Mac platform, they know how loyal most users are to their chosen platform.
Just look @ the Mac vs Windows threads on GS.
This IMO is a good move for Motu they add users( revenue and visibility) & if Apple abandoned the MacPro line ,which I really doubt, I am sure they will have some new way of addressing power users and sell them newer Macs in some kind of a new form that we don't know about as of yet.
I wouldn't underestimate Apple or Motu's vision towards the future while understanding the marketplace as well as their clientbase.

[Michael Canavan]

To tell a family secret, I chose DP subsequent to deciding on Apple. If DP were to go to only PC it would be bye bye for me.

So you're only on a Mac to use DP? Really? Wow, that's some kind of loyalty. I had a dog that was that loyal. If I jumped off a cliff, she'd jump off a cliff. Not too dissimilar an analogy.

I'm fairly platform agnostic, sorry. I'm no fan of Windows, but it's not as bad as people make it out to be. One thing is certain, if you know a PC hardware expert they can put together a screaming machine for next to nothing. There are caveats to every system and OS, IMO Windows laptops are a dangerous waste of money, but a desktop properly cared for is the opposite.

Don't get me wrong, if I had my way Apple would concentrate all it's resources on the pro line, they wouldn't compete with DAW makers and they would update the AU spec to match what VST can do right now. Truth is none of that is happening. Apple haven't updated the Mac Pro line in over a year, they release Apple branded applications that their developers have to compete with and AU hasn't had an upgrade in years. Rumor has it that the Pro line might be history and MOTU just announced a PC version of a DAW that's been Mac for about 25 years.

Logic is cool, but Logic only on an iMac, with it's single hard drive and limited expandability....
Cubase Mac has latency issue compared to the PC version.

So yeah, DP was the reason I went Mac, in 1987 and again in 1997. Logic was for a while as well in about 03. At this point it's not that big of an issue anymore PC or Mac, besides security and the fact the Windows 7 still looks like crap.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Very convincing arguments. I hope you're wrong and Apple stays competitive in the pro market. Surely doesn't look that way at the moment.

[Michael Canavan]

Very convincing arguments. I hope you're wrong and Apple stays competitive in the pro market. Surely doesn't look that way at the moment.

I hope I'm wrong as well. Windows is ugly as sh*t! Don't care if 7 is stable etc. I hate the installation process on Windows enough to want to strangle cute cuddly animals! Plus that dog makes me ill. The whole Steve Jobs quote about him saying Microsoft have no taste is dead on, and that's maybe not the best reason to choose an OS, but it's been a consideration for sure. Grey for all it's shortcomings is a great neutral color for a browser window.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

I hate the installation process on Windows enough to want to strangle cute cuddly animals! Plus that dog makes me ill.

LOL!

[thracks]

I know it's considered heresy by some mac users, but Windows isn't all that bad. I make my living as an I.T. specialist in the television business, which means I work on PC's all day... Windows 7, XP, Server 2003, server 2008, Active Directory etc. MOTU is smart to make the move to Windows. I've used other cross platform DAW's and the experience is pretty transparent. This will give our favorite DAW maker (MOTU) a huge new market. Smart move MOTU, Kudos.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

[kgdrum]

Well to get some perspective, maybe the naysayers here should look at the reaction on other forums that are not specifically Mac or Motu- centric.
The thread on Vi-control is approaching 2 pages of enthusiastic cheers from Windows users,Mac users of other DAWs and loyal DP users.
KVR the same, GS only has a few posts but all positive! How often do you see that @ GS? lol
I for one have never seen such a groundswell of excitement over a DP upgrade, everywhere you look.I find it ironic and almost puzzling that most of the negative posts are here! lol
I think it's almost like users are nervous that others are noticing their hot girlfriend.
I am sure it will take a couple of revisions and yes there will probably be some growing pains with an upgrade of this magnitude but overall I really do think Motu hit this one out of the park!
Home run? I think a Grand Slam!!!

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Clearly, from marketing and longevity for MOTU, hip hip hooray. From the perspective of possibly moving to a PC, my hip hurts!