How many HIGH END studios are running Digital Performer?

[Tony Shepperd]

Originally Posted by acjetnut

DP does everything protools does, but for way less money. It also has built-in plugin delay compensation, which Pro Tools stupidly doesn't really have. However, I do like the user interface a bit better in Pro Tools. Is it worth the extra $$$ though?

Can you option drag aux sends yet in DP?

[shaneoconnor]

i guess you cant drag aux sends in DP or not that i remember. for some reason that was never a problem for me.

there is 100% a solo button.

- there are no hardware inserts.
+ very good intergration with motu hardware
-MOTU HARDWARE.

My old studio, which was commercial, functional, and busy used DP for 3 years. 90% of my clients didn't really mind but importing protools sessions was sort of a time waster.

[Tony Shepperd]

Originally Posted by shaneoconnor

i guess you cant drag aux sends in DP or not that i remember. for some reason that was never a problem for me.

there is 100% a solo button.

- there are no hardware inserts.
+ very good integration with motu hardware
-MOTU HARDWARE.

My old studio, which was commercial, functional, and busy used DP for 3 years. 90% of my clients didn't really mind but importing protools sessions was sort of a time waster.

There is a producer that I work with all the time who uses DP. It has become the black hole of time.
There are many features in Audio processing and mixer functions in Pro Tools, that DP simply doesn't do.
So for someone to say, DP does everything protools does, but for way less money". Seems to be a bit of an overstatement.

[A-List]

i have never been to a high end studio running DP.

[tenkas]

Originally Posted by jbjoubaud

Since you are taking the class and not one of his colleague then what professionalism are you talking about ?

And then your teacher might have won prizes in his domain but he obviously deosn't know how to use DP... so what good are his prices doing for him in this class ?

Anyway, doesn't really matter to me since I'm not one paying for incompetent teachers.

Actually you ARE paying this guy if you live in Quebec (taxes).

I guess he is very thankful.

[stagefright13]

DP? Don' even tell me it is the Motu software wich I know it is.

Absolute NO support. Horrible company and sold ALL my Motu stuff years ago. Sorry to see people still are using that junk...

John

[Allen Wrench]

The only program I’ve ever used was DP… not that I’m an audio pro. I’m more of an audio hobbyist getting drunk and turning knobs in my living room.

A few years ago I considered moving to PT due to the fact that ProFools is the industry standard. But after about 10 minutes of consideration I decided to stay with Digital Performer. The biggest reasons I decided NOT to switch to PT were price of plugs reverbs (seems like prices are DOUBLE for the PT format), and also the price of the PT set up in general. I also think it’s fun NOT to say I’m using ProFools.

I don’t use any of the MOTU converters, I’m running 3 Mytek 8x192 units. For support Motunation.com is GREAT. For questions that haven’t already been answered, I’ve gotten responses in under an hour.

As far as ‘sound quality’ maybe a long time ago there were differences from program to program, but now I think they’re all reasonably the same.

[The MPCist]

I used to be a diehard MOTU user (I've said this a few dozen times) and there's NO WAY I'll ever go back to using their software -- just too much drama involved.

I presently use Logic for arranging and PT HD for recording/mixing. With the rest of the time, I spend with my family so it's pretty cool this way.

[jbjoubaud]

Originally Posted by tenkas

Actually you ARE paying this guy if you live in Quebec (taxes).

I guess he is very thankful.

I'll be damned !!! haha

[Tommy like sound]

Howard Shore (the Lord of the rings guy) is also advertised as a DP user. I started using it because I bought the traveller and it came with it. I found protools less intuitive, and limits in track count and the fact that you have to use their interfaces which most people consider to be shit house make it a poor choice for me. That said, despite the expense, I used a HD system with a control 24 desk and found it hugely stable and a powerful workhorse. Anything under HD would be a waste of time for me.

My troubles with DP are in that it crashes way too much. Mainly because of my powercore which I think is unstable, but there are other instances. I did a computer upgrade fairly recently and that helped a bit, but I probably need to buy a super computer or try another DAW. Do logic users consider it stable? I'm of the opinion that DAW's do pretty much sound the same once you become fluent. I'd happily buy cubase or logic if someone promised me it would stop the crashing!!!

[macmuse]

Originally Posted by beats workin'

DP basically feels like a tape machine to me. Much more than PT and certainly Logic. It can do what other programs do, but on an interactive level, it feels like a tape machine.
david

How so? Am interested as I've never used it (but I used to use Studio Vision back in the day).

[radiospace]

Originally Posted by Tommy like sound

My troubles with DP are in that it crashes way too much. Mainly because of my powercore which I think is unstable, but there are other instances. I did a computer upgrade fairly recently and that helped a bit, but I probably need to buy a super computer or try another DAW. Do logic users consider it stable? I'm of the opinion that DAW's do pretty much sound the same once you become fluent. I'd happily buy cubase or logic if someone promised me it would stop the crashing!!!

FWIW I've used DP5 on a PowerMac with a Powercore PCI card and never had any problems with the two getting along. I moved from DP5 to Logic a couple of years ago and while I think Logic might be a little more stable than DP5, I didn't have many problems with DP5 crashing to begin with. They both have irritating flaws, that's for sure.

[PlatinumSamples]

Originally Posted by andsonic

Isn't Hans Zimmer a user?.

Nope - Cubase

Rail

[Killahurts]

What is the point of this thread? DP bashing?

My favorite is strawberry, but some studios only have vanilla or chocolate, big deal.

[antti]

I've never seen DP in a professional studio here in London, UK. I'm sure it's just as good as anything else.. In fact I know a couple of electro-acoustic nerds who use it as their main sequencer.

[88fingerz]

Originally Posted by shaneoconnor

importing protools sessions was sort of a time waster.

Not billable?

[Loki]

Originally Posted by andsonic

Isn't Hans Zimmer a user? I think most of the "high end" users are in the soundtrack world.

Absolutely not. Cubase and Nuendo (with ProTools as his mixer.) At his facility, there's been only 1 pair of guys who've ever used DP there that I can think of. Everyone uses either Cubase/Nuendo or Logic as the sequencer (close to 50/50 split but now more 70/30 in favour of Steinberg)

Howard Shore doesn't really use a sequencer but his assistants do (who transfer his cues to computer) which is why DP claims him as a user (much like John Williams working method.) Both have their scores tracked and mixed to ProTools.

DP isn't really used in the pro film/score market other than finding it in trailer houses. Motu paid out Berklee to become the default system they teach which is why it has any foothold in the market (though most Berklee grads find out pretty quickly in the real world they need to learn another sequencer/mixer when interning at studios/composers) That's how Shore/Williams have any involvement with DP; their assistants were taught it and the composers themselves aren't sequencer users so they don't care how it is put into a computer for delivery to scoring stages/music editors/temp demos.

In the non film/score market I've found in the US (for the pro song/music groups) it leans heavily Logic and in Europe it leans heavily Steinberg (Cubase/Nuendo.)

[Soundgeeza]

Up until about 5 years ago, I had a professional studio in North London and I absolutely loved D.P.... I would agree with one of the previous posters, that it just felt like tape... I guess I was using it like I would've if I had a RADAR.

One of my frequent clients was the BBC Big Band... 32 channels going down at once and that was on to my old G4!

Once the studio folded and it morphed into my log cabin in the garden, I decided to switch to Cubase due to cost restrictions of upgrading to a state of the art Mac, OS X and upgrading D.P. and all the plugs..

But I always got along famously with D.P. although I found the midi side of it a bit of a 'faff' compared to Cubase.

Funnily enough, I play in a pop band from the '80's called Red Box and we have just finished a new album on D.P. 4 on a Mac G4 recorded in ... wait for it 16bit !!!... (recorded at the singers studio using antiquated Pro Tools front end) sounds great! ...It's all about what you need it for and what you DO with it!

... but getting back to the O.P...

Yes .. I HAD a pro studio using D.P ...

[Soundgeeza]

P.S. ... as a little caveat to that ... the studio was not Quite 'High End', but def the higher end of mid-scale studios!

[fhames]

I use DP6 and have used some form of Performer since '88. I've scored dozens of films, written and recorded hundreds of songs, as well as hundreds of commercial music beds and it works fine. I frequently exchange tracks with pro(tools) studios and have never had any issues.




Bryant - Hames Music

[Lyonel]

Same here.
I work with MOTU softwares and hardware since 1986,
i have composed, arranged and produced songs, library, movies and commercials music by hundreds with it.
Very professional Company... thumbs up MOTU

[henryrobinett]

I've always been a DPer. I have Logic and PT but haven't adjusted to them yet. I don't use the master fader in DP, so my work flows a little different. I don't think there are any significant differences in any of them. It's what the operator and clients are used to.

I'm not a high end commercial studio. But I am professional and somewhat high end, in some respects at least!

[joelpatterson]

I use DP and sometimes there are people who walk in here who are kind of high, so...?

[lobsty]

Originally Posted by stagefright13

DP? Don' even tell me it is the Motu software wich I know it is.

Absolute NO support. Horrible company and sold ALL my Motu stuff years ago. Sorry to see people still are using that junk...

John

really?
That's odd - I've always found them to be one of the best companies for support. Never had trouble getting them on email or phone and always had everything cleared up straight away... Other friends I've spoken to who use it say the same. Nothing but happy times from my end. Only hassles I've ever had were with the old TC Native plugins behaving weirdly but that seems to be because of the old plugins which are no longer updated.

[henryrobinett]

Originally Posted by lobsty

really?
That's odd - I've always found them to be one of the best companies for support. Never had trouble getting them on email or phone and always had everything cleared up straight away... Other friends I've spoken to who use it say the same. Nothing but happy times from my end. Only hassles I've ever had were with the old TC Native plugins behaving weirdly but that seems to be because of the old plugins which are no longer updated.

I have to say my experience with support has been similar. Sometimes it's difficult - OK, almost always, getting the phone support, in a timely, quick, emergency fashion, but I never had a complaint about the thoroughness and care support gave me. And I always had follow up calls. I think motu support has always been great.

That said I haven't had reason for motu support for some years.

[work2do]

Originally Posted by acjetnut

DP does everything protools does, but for way less money. It also has built-in plugin delay compensation, which Pro Tools stupidly doesn't really have. However, I do like the user interface a bit better in Pro Tools. Is it worth the extra $$$ though?

I think it was in regards to High End Studios and I'm quite sure it would entail Pro Tools HD, not LE, and in fact there are so many things DP cannot do, that professional music and post use everyday. Some that has been listed in this thread already.

I havent seen DP in a studio unless it was on someone's personal laptop

[henryrobinett]

I had to use PT recently for some serious elastic audio. I use Metric Halo's ULN-8s for summing and use mostly those plugins. Otherwise the features,-- maybe I don't know what I don't know. But otherwise there isn't anything I can't do in DP that I need. If I get a PT file I immediately export it to DP. I just know it better and am comfortable with it. It's most important for me to be intuitive and musical rather than getting stuck in the "how-do-I-make-it-do-this?," type of deer in the headlights scene. That's all it is for me.

[newrigel]

Originally Posted by Loki

Absolutely not. Cubase and Nuendo (with ProTools as his mixer.) At his facility, there's been only 1 pair of guys who've ever used DP there that I can think of. Everyone uses either Cubase/Nuendo or Logic as the sequencer (close to 50/50 split but now more 70/30 in favour of Steinberg)

Howard Shore doesn't really use a sequencer but his assistants do (who transfer his cues to computer) which is why DP claims him as a user (much like John Williams working method.) Both have their scores tracked and mixed to ProTools.

DP isn't really used in the pro film/score market other than finding it in trailer houses. Motu paid out Berklee to become the default system they teach which is why it has any foothold in the market (though most Berklee grads find out pretty quickly in the real world they need to learn another sequencer/mixer when interning at studios/composers) That's how Shore/Williams have any involvement with DP; their assistants were taught it and the composers themselves aren't sequencer users so they don't care how it is put into a computer for delivery to scoring stages/music editors/temp demos.

In the non film/score market I've found in the US (for the pro song/music groups) it leans heavily Logic and in Europe it leans heavily Steinberg (Cubase/Nuendo.)

Na.. Danny Elfman (the guy that does all those new soundtracks for all the #1 hit movies out lately) uses DP and you'd be AMAZED at who else does too!

Are you using the DM-3200 to control Digital Performer or Pro Tools as a controller?
I'm not yet using it for Digital Performer, and that's what I'd like to do as my next step. Since actually, most of my mixing is through Digital Performer and not Pro Tools. I'd like to do that, that's going to be a cool thing.

DP is JUST as professional as any other DAW... DAW's have their workflows and this is what you should be concerned with, not if it's professional enough or if it's in EVERY major recording facility... ever hear of OMF files?
Believe it or not... DP is what most performing musicians use! It's laid out in an intuitive way for a musician... not an engineer. Most artist have a mindset that unless the engineer is an actual performing, practicing musician... it's hard to translate musical ideas. This is DP's strengths!

[teo]

Originally Posted by newrigel

Na.. Danny Elfman (the guy that does all those new soundtracks for all the #1 hit movies out lately)

That's a bit like saying: "The Pope, you know, the guy that dresses in red and white and it's been on tv lately..."

[kbshearer]

I don'y know that my facility rates as "high end", but I've been making a living at production work since 1984 and my DAW of choice has always been DP for music. Now, for just straight editing, for radio commercials for example, I think Vegas is faster, but that's another story.
I have done several platinum projects on DP and have never had an issue. I can quickly and intuitively edit audio side by side with midi. PT didn't even introduce midi until version 5, and even then it took a while to really get useful.

There have been several features that are now part of PT that were part of DP much earlier.....I can remember a major project that wanted to use a shaker part from one song and fly it into a different song in another tempo. Since DP has had tempos embedded in the segments for many revs, it was a 3 minute procedure. I grabbed the audio segment, brought it into the new project, selected "Adjust soundbite to sequence tempo" and looped it. Their jaws hit the floor as they had just spent 3 hours at another studio trying to do a similar thing in PT.

I can use whatever I/O I want with DP. For me, DP7 and Snow Leopard offers rock solid performance. I have not had a crash. There will always be a program that does one thing better than another, or have a "must have" feature or work flow. But as others have said, I have never run into a situation where I couldn't quickly do what I wanted to in DP. I use PT, Sonar, Vegas and sometimes Logic. Every program has it's strength. I prefer DP.

Kirt Shearer
Paradise Studios