Looks like it’s time to move away from DP - wondering if others are doing the same

[BKK-OZ]

I started using DP awhile ago.
One of the main reasons I chose DP was because it supported surround sound formats.

But DP has been lagging behind other DAWs with surround/binaural/Atmos capability for awhile now, and I just don’t see any point in hanging on any longer, waiting for MOTU to catch up. It has been so long since an update, I would not be surprised if MOTU announced their abandonment of the platform.

So, I am wondering if others are going through the same decision making process and what options are being considered.

At the moment, I am strongly thinking of using DaVinci Resolve/Fusion/Fairlight (the paid, $299USD version) for mixing/mastering/finalizing. They offer an Atmos renderer and a pretty comprehensive audio management toolset. There’s no MIDI though, so I would have to do all that work in another DAW (probably DP), exporting audio for mixing/rendering.

There are some DAWs with built in Atmos rendering, so I am checking them out as well.

[bayswater]

Depends on what you mean by moving away. I've always used a few different applications. For a long time, I did the recording and editing in DP, mixing in Mixbus and stages after that in DSP-Q. The emphasis changes from time to time, but for me DP is the easiest to get something started, if only because I know it reasonably well. The only DAW I abandoned entirely is Cubase when it went through issues with performance and stability in macOS.

Looks like you'll keep using DP for similar reasons, even if you do some stages of a project in another application. But I can see your concern. Each company is a mix of innovation and catchup, and it's probably not unfair to argue to that DP is more of the latter now, and doesn't seem to have the ability to set the trend, rather than follow it.

Maybe we'll see DP 12 soon, and maybe it will do what you need.

[James Steele]

Moved this topic to the MOTU Theoretical and off-topic forum.

[HCMarkus]

I look forward to Atmos support in DP, but I'm not getting calls for that at the moment. I'm sticking with DP, and even if Atmos calls started coming in, I'd probably find a workaround, as I'm just too comfortable here.

At the moment, I am strongly thinking of using DaVinci Resolve/Fusion/Fairlight (the paid, $299USD version) for mixing/mastering/finalizing. They offer an Atmos renderer and a pretty comprehensive audio management toolset. There’s no MIDI though, so I would have to do all that work in another DAW (probably DP), exporting audio for mixing/rendering.

This. DP and MIDI is where it's at for me. Once arranging, tracking and editing is done (Audio and MIDI) I could probably work with just about anything if I had to.

[stubbsonic]

I like DP's feature set, and apart from some things I can get via third party plugins, I'm content to stay with DP... BUT...

The latest version is really buggy on my system. Could be my system though. Feels like things are generally wonky but things like the QT notation editor are really messed up.

[Michael Canavan]

This is officially the longest time between versions, so I'm not surprised people are worried etc. I would think without a doubt that Atmos etc. are part of DP12 for sure. I also don't agree fully on the "playing catchup" thought, DP, is the only DAW besides Logic that can do Clips and Articulation Mapping, it's the only DAW I know of where you can instal a plugin, with DP open, and have DP rescan plugins to instantiate it in the project.

As far as using other DAWs, I have something like 6 on this computer, the two that get used more than 90% of the time is DP and Live, and it's 90% DP. I have a Push 3 Standalone and MPC Live so I do use hardware sequencers, but that's a different story.

[andypryce]

it's the only DAW I know of where you can instal a plugin, with DP open, and have DP rescan plugins to instantiate it in the project.

Also Bitwig and Protools. Such a great feature.

[Killahurts]

But DP has been lagging behind other DAWs with surround/binaural/Atmos capability for awhile now, and I just don’t see any point in hanging on any longer, waiting for MOTU to catch up. It has been so long since an update, I would not be surprised if MOTU announced their abandonment of the platform.

That thought crossed my mind as well. They could even be betting on the platform not surviving, like the surround of old, and just quietly walking around it. I think that would be a big mistake.

I started mixing our music in Atmos on Pro Tools about 14 months ago. In that time, Atmos capabilities and features have advanced considerably in that DAW. It has full integration now (no more external renderer), and all the binaural settings problems are sorted out now as well, you can change them on the fly right from the sequencer. You can make multiple re-renders at a time.. I just don't see how MOTU catches up with Avid, Logic, et al at this point, unless they come out full guns from the start, with their own full integration and rich feature set. It can't be a "me too."

I have built a very elaborate, complex system for composing, that I'm pretty sure can only be done in DP, so I'll be staying with it for that, but everything else is Pro Tools now.

[James Steele]

They could even be betting on the platform not surviving, like the surround of old...

I hope it doesn't. Or perhaps remains relevant only to mixing for theatrical release. That's just my curmudgeon opinion.

[mikehalloran]

I use a few DAWs, depending on whom I'm collaborating with. I have no reason to move away from DP.

There's only one that I actively dislike and that's Performer Lite—different enough in all the wrong ways. I wish that my people who use it would upgrade to DP.

[Michael Canavan]

it's the only DAW I know of where you can instal a plugin, with DP open, and have DP rescan plugins to instantiate it in the project.

Also Bitwig and Protools. Such a great feature.

Just in case anyone thinks this is a gimmick feature, you can install the update for a plugin that's acting up and rescan without quitting. Super useful if you're lucky enough that an update solves a bug.

[James Steele]

For the record, I know I've had grips about DP... and very public ones. But MOTU has fixed the issues with the Hardware Insert plugin and along with Avid made major strides with EUCON support.

In all fairness, MOTU has a history of always pleasantly surprising me whenever my faith in the unicorn has wavered.

[monkey man]

Indeed James, IMHO MOTU always delivers.

My faith has never wavered 'though; I'm a dyed-in-the-wool fanboi.

[James Steele]

On the other hand seeing stuff like this is depressing. Go to 27:11 in this video:

https://youtu.be/xYBC1wU09MA?si=7QSFOkJ51-rJx_LC&t=1631

(Updated link to take you directly to 27:11)

[mikehalloran]

On the other hand seeing stuff like this is depressing. Go to 27:11 in this video:

Yikes!