Digital Performer vs. Performer Lite

[reskatze]

Performer Lite has some good approaches, which you could integrate or optimize in Digital Performer. At the moment it looks a bit like two different programs.
So there is a learning curve when changing from Performer Lite to Digital Performer.
Is an approximation of the two programs planned?

[bayswater]

Performer Lite has some good approaches, which you could integrate or optimize in Digital Performer. At the moment it looks a bit like two different programs.

How so? To me, Lite is just a stripped down version of DP. Much like Garageband versus Logic.

[reskatze]

Of course, but the look and feel is more modern. Track colors are more decent, icons instead of tabs, etc.

[mikehalloran]

Most of us aren't going to know. We're in DP.

Much like Garageband versus Logic.

Performer Lite is worlds better than GarageBand.

I do some hand-holding for some of my church musicians who own M2. and M4s so I've some familiarity with Lite. I also hold hands for a few GB and Logic users. I've asked (begged to be precise) my GB users to purchase Logic but haven't felt the need to compel PL users to upgrade to DP unless they need the additional functionality.

I do not use Lite since it requires a MOTU interface to function. I have one but rarely use it. Correction, three but none are used my everyday church work.

Performer Lite 10.13 brings the two closer but how much, I don't know. The new Tutorial window is a big thing, IMO.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... 907DrSKs78

You do get VIs like Model 12, Nanosampler, Ethno, Modulo, ElectricKeys, BassLine, PolySynth and Proton.

UVI Workstation has additional VIs, also. I don't know what instruments are included in the 1.6GB Performer Lite Soundbank but there's enough to get people going. You have a good selection of effects, too.

Here's the hour long Performer Lite Guided Tour of the first version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCCm0Ky8TVE

Although necessary and useful, a large portion of the User Guide is inaccurate, unfortunately. It's a copy and paste job left over from DP 4 and often refers to pages and functions that don't exist such as DP's Waveform Editor. It would surprise me if the rewrite this document needs has been done for 10.13. Perhaps, as Lite users require tech support and info on functionality that does not exist, MOTU will get the documentation corrected.

BTW, the DP 10 Plugins manual also refers to DP 4 but I doubt if it's 53 times like the Lite User Guide (searchable pdfs tell you how many times a search phrase is found).

[mikehalloran]

It just occurred to me that I should probably request a license for Performer Lite. This way I can see what my folks are without doing a Zoom video and screen sharing.

I just watched the hour long webinar. I didn't know that the four MW plugins are included. I like.

[bayswater]

It just occurred to me that I should probably request a license for Performer Lite. This way I can see what my folks are without doing a Zoom video and screen sharing.

I just watched the hour long webinar. I didn't know that the four MW plugins are included. I like.

I have a license from the registration of a 2048-2. Seems like just about anything will do. I played around with Lite for a while, and came to the conclusion it doesn't do anything that DP doesn't do, or do anything better. But I was surprised how much of DP is in Lite, and I'd have to say there isn't much I've done with DP that couldn't be done as effectively with Lite. The luxury of having a dozen ways to do anything is not there.

As you mentioned, it beats Garageband, and the transition to DP would be easier than the transition to Logic, but my point was simply that both are stripped down versions of the paid applications.

[mikehalloran]

Update. I received my Performer Lite license, logged in and installed. 2.5GB download for Mac — not going to bother on my PC. I don't know if owning a MOTU MIDI interface only qualifies for a license. Perhaps I'll ask.

Having DP, it loads my 400+ plugs and VIs so I'm unable to just see what's included vis-á-vis DP. 10.13 has its own plugins and user guides easily accessible from the front window. Very nice for my newbies.

Both are far better than the earlier User Guide. A quick check shows no more references to pages that don't exist such as the nonexistent Waveform Editor. I'm happy to be wrong on my earlier skepticism on when this would happen.

Another surprise: Though you do need to own a registered MOTU interface to have a license added to your account, it doesn't require the interface to be active (take that, AudioDesk). It's working fine with my Mackie ProFxv3 mixers. Talking one of my musicians through (whatever) means I can leave my setup in place without plugging in my M4 or 828mkII.

Ok, PL is no substitute for DP if you need any of the additional functionality and there are aspects of the workflow that would drive me nuts. Otherwise, I think MOTU hits it out of the park with Performer Lite 10.13. That you can get it for as little as $169.95 (the price of an M2) is just super sweet.

[Michael Canavan]

Of course, but the look and feel is more modern. Track colors are more decent, icons instead of tabs, etc.

I agree, I like the overall look of Performer lite better than the default DP10 theme. I keep on forgetting to request it, anyway here's the link. https://motu.com/en-us/suggestions/

[bayswater]

I like the tabs over the icons, but can live with both. The problem with the icons right now is, AFAIK, there are no preferences for the Control Panel, so if you scale to more than 100%, some the icons disappear off the right side of the screen. The first to go is the equivalent of the DP Mini Menu, which is pretty useful to have.

[Michael Canavan]

I like the tabs over the icons, but can live with both. The problem with the icons right now is, AFAIK, there are no preferences for the Control Panel, so if you scale to more than 100%, some the icons disappear off the right side of the screen. The first to go is the equivalent of the DP Mini Menu, which is pretty useful to have.

Yeah for sure, I'm OK with then going away completely really. Key commands for the selected window opening the desired MIDI or audio editor etc.

[mikehalloran]

Besides the Waveform Editor and other missing DP features, there are a few other limitations that keep it "Lite". The biggest is track count.

Open a DP track as I did accidentally, and I got the following:

Performer only allows 6 Sequences, 16 Audio Tracks, 16 MIDI Tracks and 16 Aux Tracks per Sequence. The document you are attempting to open is above the limit and will be truncated and any undo history will be cleared. Are you sure you want to open the document?

Uh… right… thanks for the warning.

About that. After installation, it changed the default of all by DP projects to Lite — easily undone in Get Info/Apply to all. It also messed with my DP and alias icons—fortunately, a Safe Boot fixes that. Surprised I had to go there, that's all.

[cuttime]

I guess I am going to have to try it after all. I am curious how DP Lite can handle DAW controllers, something I haven't had the best experiences with in DP in the past. Anyone try?

[monkey man]

About that. After installation, it changed the default of all by DP projects to Lite — easily undone in Get Info/Apply to all. It also messed with my DP and alias icons—fortunately, a Safe Boot fixes that. Surprised I had to go there, that's all.

My guess is it's because you installed Lite after DP, Mike.

Makes sense that MOTU would go this way considering the logical progression from their point of view would be Lite first, then hopefully DP.

[mikehalloran]

About that. After installation, it changed the default of all by DP projects to Lite — easily undone in Get Info/Apply to all. It also messed with my DP and alias icons—fortunately, a Safe Boot fixes that. Surprised I had to go there, that's all.

My guess is it's because you installed Lite after DP, Mike.

Makes sense that MOTU would go this way considering the logical progression from their point of view would be Lite first, then hopefully DP.

I have little doubt that you are 100% spot on (is that redundant?).

Kind of curious to see if it overwrote anything in Shared Resources file. If so, the fix will be to reinstall DP. I cross that bridge if it needs to be built.

I’m glad that I checked it out and now know its limitations. So far, none of my people are doing complete projects in it, only contributing to the group efforts that I’m finalizing. I’m encouraging them to get creative, of course—even those working in GarageBand.

With Lite, the instance they need that 17th track, it’s upgrade time and I can show them the cool features missing from the entry version.

[Giuliano]

Hi, I've been happily using DP 7.2.4 on i mac OSX 10.7.5. In order to install performer lite I have top upgrade to OSX 10.11. It's worth the trouble and the cost just to be able to the 1.6GB of virtual instruments. Thank you for your advise. Giuliano