DP 8.1 Wishlist

[Killahurts]

We need to be able to consolidate virtual instruments with their MIDI tracks. So tired of having to arrange and select everything just so, to do a freeze or bounce. In the old days when external MIDI gear was all the rage, it always made sense to have the Audio and MIDI separate, but now that VI's are what most of us use, we need this functionality.

I wouldn't want to have it that way all the time, like Logic, et al.. just the ability to integrate them, or keep them separate like they are now.

[Prime Mover]

I coming back to "Multiple Consolidated Windows"

Honestly, the whole consolidated window system has become a bit archaic. Back in 2004 or so when it was introduced, it made some sense, and was unique. Now, every program has some kind of window docking, and many of them are much more flexible, and simpler in construction.

I like to have Tracks and Sequences in separate windows. I keep the Tracks list in its own window, with Sequences in the CW. BUT I'd rather have my control strip in the tracks window, and track groups in the Sequences window.

Better then multiple consolidated windows, do away with the whole system and just put in simple window-docking like most other software packages do these days. Drag a window in next to another, and it snaps to the edge, then you can construct groups of windows. Drag a window on top, and you can create a tabbed window. Far simpler and more powerful than the convoluted mess that the CW looks like by modern standards.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

I'd like that. What I hate about the CW is the tabs I'll never use - like the drum tab.

[Prime Mover]

I'd like that. What I hate about the CW is the tabs I'll never use - like the drum tab.

No kidding... however, they need to make that one more usable!

[Shooshie]

While I do love Consolidated Windows, the problem with it is that our central edit windows, where we spend 95% of our time, really need the greatest of vertical and horizontal space. Any windows you open in the margin reduce your horizontal capacity by that much, and if you want to share the CW between Tracks Overview and Sequence Editor, you're going to be scrolling a whole lot.

I find that I have to scroll in the Sequence Editor no matter what I do, so I'm more apt to share the CW between it and the Tracks Overview, than I would be with, say, the MIDI Graphic Edit Window and the Tracks Overview. The MIDI Graphic Edit Window simply HAS to live full time at full screen, so it gets a Space of its own, just like the Mixing Board. Those are my three guaranteed Spaces:
1) Consolidated Windows
2) Mixing Board
3) MIDI Graphic Edit Window.

Then I use spaces 4 and 5 for plugin and instrument windows, although I've got enough room on my monitor to let some plugins share a screen with the Mixing Board.

The advantages of the CW greatly outweigh the disadvantages of it. Also, there is no reason why you shouldn't make all kinds of window sets using the CW and other sets with the windows all free-standing apart from the CW. Then at the touch of a key, you get the best of either world.

Generally, with Spaces I just don't need to change my window setup very often, and when I do it's usually to grow the Sequence Editor to full-height within the CW. I'm always surprised when people tell me they hate the CW and don't use it. How could you dislike something that keeps you so organized? The thing I like most about DP is flexibility, so why use the most flexible DAW out there and then hogtie yourself with rigid rules? Say "no" to "no," and use whatever is dictated by the context of the moment.

Shooshie

[Killahurts]

That's a cool setup Shoosh. I've never used Spaces, simply because I don't know how. I've been telling myself to go find your tips on it. But what I do that gives me sort of the same thing is to use CW, with a limit of 1 window in the "body". On the left I have the channel strip, thin as I can make it, and on the right I have markers and audio inputs, thin as I can make them too. There are commands for the tabs up there- I don't know the key commands, I have buttons on my console programmed to do it- but that body switches to whatever you select, and it fills the whole space, minus the things on the sides.. that's why it was a big problem for me when track selections in TO were not translated to the mixer anymore, with DP8.

I never really had a problem with horizontal screen real estate, it's vertically where I'm always coming up short (pun intended). Especially nowadays when most monitors are 16 X 9. I've been trying out putting DP in full-screen mode lately, and that is very cool, helps a lot.. I couldn't work with something like the TO and the mixer on top of each other in the CW. I just don't have enough top and bottom screen space for it.

[spitfire31]

On top of my wish list is a feature that should be very easy to implement:

Automatic 'new take' generation when loop recording MIDI!

Why can't it work exactly like when you loop record audio? Now, the only option (well, it isn't an option, is it?) is to merge the new 'take' with what's already recorded.

Being at best a mediocre keyboard player, I'd really like to keep adding takes for tricky passages without having to manually stop and create a new take.

That's all I want!

/Joachim

[conleycd]

Not to be one of those people... but this PT 11 separation of input and output buffers so you can record at super low latency live instruments (32 or 64) but keep the output buffers really high (2048 or higher...) for the rest of the non-live instruments is pretty brilliant.

If DP did this... we could essentially eliminate my standing request for hardware delay compensation for external auxes etc.

CC

[bongo_x]

Not to be one of those people... but this PT 11 separation of input and output buffers so you can record at super low latency live instruments (32 or 64) but keep the output buffers really high (2048 or higher...) for the rest of the non-live instruments is pretty brilliant.

CC

I can’t wait to see how that really works. I’m sure everyone will have it pretty soon.

[djwizprod]

We didn't get some features in DP 8 we wanted .... Maybe if we rant hard enough, we'll get these in 9.

1. SOLO button in Sequence editor window
2. Ability to assign Multiple track's Aux sends at once
3. Ability to fly in "session data" (like in PT) from other projects.

The clippings window does a great job of "flying in" just about any data you could imagine.

My biggest request for 8.1 is PLEASE FIX THE QUICKTIME PLAYBACK. The new video engine is not right, I can no longer trust frame accuracy.

[toodamnhip]

Please fix copy and paste of plug in window data.

[Tripi]

My humble request is to allow a key command for the Duplicate Take option. There's one for every other take command except this one, and no way to assign it with a shortcut.

[Dan Worley]

You know the menu at the very bottom of a mixer strips where we can set the input and outputs and delete a track and stuff? I would like MOTU to add Takes to that menu.

[toodamnhip]

You know the menu at the very bottom of a mixer strips where we can set the input and outputs and delete a track and stuff? I would like MOTU to add Takes to that menu.

I wonder if adding everyone’s little quirks and preferences is counter productive to our “GROUP” goal of a more EFFICIENT DP.
The more redundant code there is, the more any window, anyplace, contains all options, , is the moment redundant code has to be written.
I seem to recall DP re-arranging the location of a lot of stuff when it last optimized itself. And I recall some redundant edit options were removed.
Keep that in mind when requesting added pull down options in various areas.
You know where the “add takes” menu is now. Is it worth it to you to have a less efficient DP for MOTU to add everyone’s requests and quirks? Yours is just ONE request. There are 50 others. All of them seem to me to be “I know where the window to do this is but want it easier to do it in this other place”.
If something is OBVIOUSLY dumb about DP, such as NO MIDI muting, ok, that needs to be added.
But “convenience” features should be well thought out before asking for them.
Let’s get the obvious MISSING functionality handled before asking for quirky work flow conveniences.

[bongo_x]

I just want the same functionality in the seq and mixer windows in regards to tracks. I hate having to switch to the mixer to solo, and the seq window to do other things. There are way too many things like this. I don’t need "add takes" in the mix window, that is an obvious seq thing to me, but many things are not specific to the functionality of one particular window.