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Mark of the Unicorn (MOTU) Digital Performer Software (Macintosh OSX)

Digital Performer 6 offers new features, enhanced operation and improved performance at all levels, from hundreds of small enhancements driven by user requests to major new features and plug-ins that add unprecedented value. Features like track comping will transform your everyday work, while industry-leading features like DP6's new Final Cut Pro integration could very well transform the way film scoring is done. If you are an existing DP user, upgrade today to discover the many enhancements you've been waiting for. If you are new to Digital Performer, there has never been a better time to try DP. Learn More...

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Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10

Individual User Ratings

Overall:
* * * . . . . . . . 3 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Value:
* * * . . . . . . . 3 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * . . . . . 5 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
Support:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10

Feature:
There's certainly alot of tools here but just try following the logic of the manual and you'll be frustrated to find they talk all around it but never give a step by step 'set up' and it only comes with one demo seq/program. I got 2 HD 896 and all the DP and xtras software about a year a go with a Macbook Pro w/2 gig ram and 1 ter of drive space -> and it's still not working to this day. Even crashes with their own demo.??// I'd say its a wonderful system "potentially" with so many upgrades to date (I purchased it Mar 2007) that it hasn't worked yet//

Quality:
maybe it gets better - I'm wishing on a star?

Value:
no clue - right now it's valued about the same to me as a boat anchor

Desirability:
I bought the nine yards and now sorta more than sorry I did. Once it I get it working (hopefully someday soon) I'll comment again.

Sound:
It's a nice package with horrible documentation. Actually my old 16 bit Dynacords from 20 years ago that sound fatter and richer with better sounding strings, horns, and drums.

Ease of Use:
I actually I found out they didn't support macbookPro until August/// Ethno has never worked yet and Mach5 II crashes the MacbookPro. I have been on the phone from Hawaii on my dime for alol these months - and they just revealed that it didn't run on MacBaook when I bought although it was their recommendation and their salesman that sent me to the mainland (dealer) for the purchase - The Motu people are really off in La la land selling vaporware and when it comes to service, they have one phone line that you pay for long distance -> that's always busy.

Support:
I'll never buy another Motu product as long as I live on this planet -

Overall:
It crashes and the documentation they provide "sucks BIG time". I called the president of the company to offer to help them write a cheat sheet that would get people up and running. (he never returned my call) I was a systems consultant to Sony Broadcast, Ikegami, CCTV Beijing, and Turner Entertainment Co. for many years - and consultant to Universal Pictures and numerous indepoendants and others over the years.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

Feature:
Lots of productivity enhancements. Window sets are cool... with one click, I can make it look just like PT. Clients never know the diff, visiting engineer types feel at home, and I can work much faster. Really versatile import/export features. Can open & save OMF files without expensive "translator" software. Every type of editing feature imaginable. Bundled softsynths are cool and AU support allows access to tons of 3rd party plugs. Midi editing features very powerful.

Quality:
Has not crashed once on my system.

Value:
Competitive upgrade a good deal.

Desirability:
A real workhorse program. I rarely use a 2 track editor, file utility, mp3 converter, or even ProTools anymore. Not flashy or gimmicky, just really powerful.

Sound:
Sound quality as good as anything out there. Nice bundle of plug-ins included. Bounce to disk happens faster than real time... kicks ProTools' butt.

Ease of Use:
Fast and easy recording/editing. Fully customizable commands. Interface easy to look at for long periods.

Support:
Have not yet needed support.

Overall:
Gonna stay with Motu. The hardware sounds fantastic. Love the 896HD. Digi 002 is going on ebay...

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

Feature:
Needs to include a VST wrapper in my opinion and some soft synths.

Quality:
The UI is beautiful, the sound is great. Stability? I've done 8 hour lieve recroding sessions. No crashes!

Value:
Needs some basic soft synths. Bundle with Mach 5 or some NI instruments?

Desirability:
Gorgeous. Just gorgeous to look at and use!

Sound:
Sounds amazing. The new EQ is really versatile. The AU support allows a wide range of products to be integrated hassle free! Great Masterworks effects.

Overall:
I own Logic and PT. The never get used. I always go back to DP.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10

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.

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Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * . . . . . . . 3 out of 10

Feature:
I have been a sequencer hunter for all of my 4 years recording experience I started with Cubase, then Sonar even tried messing with nuendo. When I tried DP I finally found what I have been looking for, a really user friendly high end sequencer with good Protools emplementation cause I DP at my home and Protools at the studio. But the thing that really sold me here is it's MIDI capabilities completely untouchable by any sequencer in the market today. Good support as well for my third party plugs and soft synths.

Quality:
Motu never sacrifices anything whenit comes to quality just look at their AD/DA converters so they probably won't do either in their flagship software.

Value:
A great value just for it's MIDI capabilities alone no to mention the ease of use and the plugs.

Desirability:
I use to be a PC user with experience with a lot of PC based sequencers before I jumped over to Mac and I'm staying with the Mac because of DP but if your a veteran PC user and thinking of swithching might want to think it through because it is a big change, if your already accustomed to your current PC sequencer and work flow it might be hard at first, but is defintely worth it just for what DP offers but if your choosing your first sequencer, I suggest you jump on board now I'm pretty sure you'll never leave once you try it.

Sound:
Coupled with a good AD converter this thing is impeccable. As far as the quality of included plug-ins are concerned this has got to be one of the best along with Protools. Motu doesn't attract buyers by flooding DP with synth and sampler plug-ins it leaves those things to the user but what it does have are some really high quality and usable plug-ins like reverbs, delays, pre-amps etc.. not to mention a high quality suite of mastering plug-ins, a lot of them too.

Support:
Probably the worst I've ever encountered expect email replies in about a week or more but the program is so stable once you get setup you never need to contact them at all.

Overall:
DP is definitely best all around sequencer out there by this I mean as far as the combination of MIDI and Audio quality, although Protools dominates the audio side of the sequencer market, it really sucks on MIDI big time but with DP you get the best of both worlds. I like how easy to use it is and is not filled with synths and samplers cause some users might not need those things at all but what it does have are high quality features that you really need to get your work done from beggining to end.

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