old DP3 user checking out DP7...

[studioj]

moved from other sub-forum...

Hi,

Its been since DP3 that I've used DP really...switched to another app several years ago. Just upgraded to 7 though to see what was going on and its a really good update. Seems though there are still some large-ish holes and wondering what other's thoughts were on these... gonna drop them in the suggestion box I think:

1) really, I can't mute individual MIDI notes yet? DP has to be the only app left that doesn't have this feature. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

2) i REALLY would like to have floating plugin windows or at least the option.

3) When I set the start time of a movie, I want to see the current frame update in real-time (where the playhead sits) as I drag the start time up or down. It seems currently I have to either a) edit my QT before importing or b) do some math before I set my start time to line up to a specific bar/beat in the time line. I just want to drag, look, done.

4) Why when I set a track to automate Volume, there is no Volume line there at my current fader level? I would think that the line should automatically live at whatever the current manual volume setting is and then when I set the track to "Volume" I can immediately just start drawing my changes in instead of having to reference the current fader level first, insert that, and then draw. That adds up to a lot of extra time over the course of a large project!

5) This one is a little less of a no-brainer, but it would be great to be able to have more than 1 mixer open at a time. I'm always looking for ways to manage my ever expanding templates and this is something that helps a lot.

Other than these things DP7 seems to be a really great package. love the folder tracks, of course chunks (nothing new but the main thing I've missed over the years), and general look/feel of the new GUI. And wow, the iphone app is just spectacular.

Anybody else think these are things that would bring some more folks over to the DP camp? any of them things that can be done and I overlooked?

-j

[FutureLegends]

I've gone through every version since 2.72 and the DP has never been better.

2) Could be handy. And annoying. Til it becomes an option try the standard Mac shortcut cmd-~ (tilde) to flick through windows...

4) Read up on automation snapshots! (or what they are called. Something with snapshot at least)

5) Agree with you on that one!

[studioj]

Yes, the more I dig into this update the more impressed I am! among other things, DP has become an incredibly customizable app.

Cool, the tilde thing works pretty well for plugin windows, thanks. Still would like the option to make them floating though. and I would guess that many non-DP users are used to/ would expect this functionality because of how Logic and PT work.

Checking out snapshots...yeah that puts the line in there, but its just one more step that seems unnecessary to me. I can see it being useful in some situations but why isn't there always a flat automation line lurking beneath the surface that updates as you dial things in on the mixing board? again, I guess it comes down to what you are used to (PT, Logic)... but I'm always looking for things to reduce the amount of clicks I need to get something done.

On a separate note, does anyone develop for MAS anymore? I was thinking how cool a MAS version of Vienna Ensemble Pro would be to get past the 16 MIDI channel limit of AU. It feels like almost everyone uses VEP these days..I wonder if enough DP users asked VSL to port VEP to MAS if they would listen. It seems DP7 is a force to reckon with unlike some previous years of DP upgrades. or maybe MOTU could support VST 3.5... Anyone wanna place a bet on what is more likely? you can add to that wishlist Apple updating the AU spec.