Feature:
Digital Performer 4.5 has tons of features! A few of the highlights are all the included effects (they are awesome! Look good, sound good, feel good!), support for Auto Plugin Delay Compensation (I use UAD-1 Studio Pack and it works flawlessly!), the "Tracks" view is brilliant as it is how you get a high level view of all your audio, midi, and virtual instruments, and handle all of your audio routing. IT IS SO MUCH BETTER than Logic's environment.
It's also worth mentioning DP 4.5 keeps close integration with Pro Tools. You can use TDM and RTAS plugins inside DP 4.5. The Sequence layout of DP 4.5 resembles Pro Tools (only with better midi and more features available). DP also supports HD TDM and RTAS plugins. Moving back and forth between DP and Pro Tools is seamless, and using HD TDM hardware inside DP is perfect.
Quality:
Would they have scroed Lord of the Rings with DP if it wasn't quality? Simply stated, DP is everything you could ever want.
Value:
If you own any motu audio interface or another DAW you can get the competitive upgrade. This is what I did and I found DP to be a fantastic value. Even at regular price it is still amazing!! So many great effects plugins are included that you won't have to invest a ton of money in more.
Desirability:
Lord of the Rings, Crystal Method, so many top producers are using DP of course people will lust over it. But what makes it real sexy is knowing you have the most powerful DAW available and that the potential is unlimited.
Sound:
How would I characterize the sound? The audio engine is awesome in DP. The included effects are TOP NOTCH and easily compete with Logic. Although there is no included Convolution Reverb, the included reverb is great and uses very little CPU.
Support:
Many people complain about support. Reaching MOTU by phone can be tedious but what many don't realize is MOTU tech support also visits two excellent DP Communities called Unicornation.com and osxaudio.com and you can usually have you're issue resolved in hours. Typically it's not so much problems people are having, they just want to know how to do a particular edit or function and get stuck.
Overall:
You always hear of people hopping from this DAW to that DAW, but rarely do you hear of people moving away from DP. There is a reason for this. Overall, it's the best DAW available.
4 of 5 people (80%) found this review helpful. Did you?
Thanks for your opinion!