My biggest wish for DP12

[Michael Canavan]

This is verbatum what I sent into motu suggestions. I really see this is the main reason DP is in the top ten, but not top five DAWs these days when 20 years ago it was easily top 4. UX issues like this need to be addressed IMO.

I think it's a good idea for DP to get a simplified way to create and save multi out instruments. Right now it's more complicated than it is in other DAWs, with no advantages. Instantiate a multi out Instrument, in this case the virtual drum machine Atlas which I would like stereo aux or audio outs for each of its 16 pads/samples. This publishes to DP Bundles the 16 outs from the VSTi, but DP does not automatically see them, you will need to create tracks (Add Multiple) in the Bundles window, otherwise Create Tracks and Track Assign do not work.
1. Open instance of multi plugin.
2. Go to Bundles, create tracks (Add Multiple).
3. Open Create Tracks, create tracks aux or audio assigned to the multi outs.
4. Pack into Folder.
5. Save as Clipping.
So now in order to get the clipping to work, drag the track into the Tracks, everything gets renamed “Atlas out 3-4 Copy” etc. in an empty Project. Then you have to go into Bundles to assign the outputs in the new project, then go back to the Tracks and select everything again because even if it has the same in/outs they will be italicized and not work. If you’re working with a control surface of any kind you will want to go back to the Bundles window at an earlier point and get rid of “Copy 1” in the 16 outputs for the virtual instrument.

Compare this to Reaper and Logic which I have here, In Reaper it’s dead easy, when you instantiate a multi it asks you if you want to get audio outs from it and creates the 16 outs along with the instrument. You save it as a Track Assignment and if you include the bus it calls up all of it with no problems in an empty project. In Logic it’s an extra step to get it to show in the Arranger window, but it again saves as a user preset and can be called up in a new project with no setup needed.

This really should change, the modularity of DP is really compromised by not being able to have multis saved to load into new projects without multiple extra steps. I even tried deleting everything in Bundles except the Instrument outputs, but that did not work as it lost it’s L R settings on import into the current project. I feel this is even more important now that we don’t really need VEP for larger projects with modern computers like the M series Apple Silicon etc.

That's the biggest PITA of them all for me but mostly my complaints with DP are all user interface oriented, as in the feature set is fine, the steps it takes to use that feature can really get in the way of creative flow. Things like looking for failed plugins in the Preference window, it doesn't sort by failed, unexamined, passed etc. Plus the Preference window is tiny and not searchable. Someone mentioned that user defined plugin folders are not selectable in the drop down plugin chooser, only if you open the larger popup window. Kind of defeats the purpose of the user folders if they do not speed up the process, etc.

[James Steele]

This is verbatum what I sent into motu suggestions. I really see this is the main reason DP is in the top ten, but not top five DAWs these days when 20 years ago it was easily top 4. UX issues like this need to be addressed IMO.

Hmm... there actually ARE 10 DAWs out there? Just kidding, but being in the "top ten" isn't that reassuring.

I'm guessing DP is behind Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, Reaper... likely fallen behind Studio One as well. This is just all in terms of "popularity," of course. Doesn't mean anything's the best, but when you want to get plug-in developers to pay attention to your issues and many just simply don't test on DP... well...

[James Steele]

I have a brilliant marketing idea for MOTU. Change the name from "Digital Performer" to "Other!"

MOTU Other 12!

We'll be back up in the charts overnight!

[James Steele]

I have a brilliant marketing idea for MOTU. Change the name from "Digital Performer" to "Other!"

MOTU Other 12!

We'll be back up in the charts overnight!

Oh... not to mention all those plug-in developers that will have to update the pop-up menu for which DAW you use in their online support forms!!

Pro Tools
Logic
Cubase
Reaper
FL Studio
Ableton
Other
Other besides "Other"..

[HCMarkus]

Oh... not to mention all those plug-in developers that will have to update the pop-up menu for which DAW you use in their online support forms!!

Pro Tools
Logic
Cubase
Reaper
FL Studio
Ableton
Other
Other besides "Other"..

[Michael Canavan]

I have a brilliant marketing idea for MOTU. Change the name from "Digital Performer" to "Other!"

MOTU Other 12!

We'll be back up in the charts overnight!

Oh... not to mention all those plug-in developers that will have to update the pop-up menu for which DAW you use in their online support forms!!

Pro Tools
Logic
Cubase
Reaper
FL Studio
Ableton
Other
Other besides "Other"..

Oh jeez to add to this, I asked ChatGPT to list DAWs by market share. DP fell into the "Other" category along with Bitwig etc.

[Phil O]

We'll never be able to talk about other DAWs in the same way again. It'll be like, "He must face."

[Phil O]

Or "Snappy"

[rixax@vex.net]

Wish Number 1: Ability to make a default input and output in the POLAR app. I use POLAR for live looping. I have automated 'saved times' so I can pick 3/4, 4/4, 12/8, 7/4 etc (30 times) and create phasing loops LIVE!
But when I switch to another project I lose the ins and outs and have to take time to put Bus7-8 and bus 5-6 back into POLAR. A real pain

Wish number 2: Use BOME MIDI translate and a stream deck to choose my meter, add a new track, start and stop recording etc. I had to record mouse position, mouse up/down on each meter (saved time)., But why can't MOTU allow us to assign saved times to the commands window!

I'd pay for an update that includes this functionality.

[Michael Canavan]

Wish Number 1: Ability to make a default input and output in the POLAR app. I use POLAR for live looping. I have automated 'saved times' so I can pick 3/4, 4/4, 12/8, 7/4 etc (30 times) and create phasing loops LIVE!
But when I switch to another project I lose the ins and outs and have to take time to put Bus7-8 and bus 5-6 back into POLAR. A real pain

Wish number 2: Use BOME MIDI translate and a stream deck to choose my meter, add a new track, start and stop recording etc. I had to record mouse position, mouse up/down on each meter (saved time)., But why can't MOTU allow us to assign saved times to the commands window!

I'd pay for an update that includes this functionality.

Make sure to let them know.

https://motu.com/en-us/suggestions/

[bayswater]

Make sure to let them know.
https://motu.com/en-us/suggestions/

I'd hope it's way too late for that.

[James Steele]

That it ships.