Members MFenkner Posted May 20, 2007 Members Share Posted May 20, 2007 Sorry for the profanity, but I wanted to get your attention. So I'm looking for a DAW to go with my MacBook Pro and MOTU Traveler (along with an Oasys, MMV, and various guitars) - the competing products for me are Digital Performer and Logic Pro. Since I'm taking some classes at the local uni, I can get a student disount, making the prices similar. Toe-to-toe, I think LP is the better of the two, but I think Apple is going to release a new version sometime in the next year, and my edu version won't be upgradable. I can get a cross-grade version of DP for the same price, with full upgradability. So #1 feature for me is ease of use. I only have 8-16 hours a week to devote to recording, so I want something that I can use without requiring a lifetime of study. Yeah, I want the basics of effects; LP has the edge, but DP doesn't seem so bad. Soft-synths are cool, but I have the Oasys & MMV for good synth sounds. Do you have any recommendation... LP or DP? Or should I wait in hopes that Apple releases the next verions of LP in the reasonable future? Thanks for the advice. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members keybdwizrd Posted May 20, 2007 Members Share Posted May 20, 2007 I don't really have an answer for you, not having worked with Logic. When I switched from a PC to Mac for music several years ago I had the same choice. Did lots of reading about both and finally decided on DP. Electronic Musician mag had just given it their sequencer/audio software of the year award (or something like that), and it was half the price of Logic. Both products are highly-developed, feature-rich pieces of software, each with their own quirks and annoyances. A good website to hang out in is Big Blue Lounge (formerly OSX Audio): http://www.bigbluelounge.com/forums/index.php There are forums for DP, Logic, Live, Pro Tools, Cubase, etc. Another one is http://www.unicornation.com which is for MOTU product users, including DP. Anyhows, I've been using DP for several years and haven't had a desire/need to investigate anything else. I can create MIDI sequences and record my synths - that's about all I do with it. I wouldn't consider myself an advanced user, but still, it works for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rouqmirg Posted May 20, 2007 Members Share Posted May 20, 2007 I'm pretty much in the same position as you except I am not considering Logic Pro. I got Logic Express pre-installed on my iMac, and don't like it at all. Digital Performer seems like a good choice, that or Cubase 4 which is much more expensive and apparently pretty buggy...then there's Cubase Studio 4, which is not quite as expensive but I don't like buying cutdown versions...Logic Express was the exception, and it was a mistake. Tried the Ableton Live demo but it doesnt seem to work well with external synths as far as latency goes. Very seriously considering DP right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tuba Four Posted May 20, 2007 Members Share Posted May 20, 2007 I've been using DP since version 2.7 (2000). I love it! It's a great program... very deep, yet easy to learn. If you can work with a 4 track you can in DP. It now comes with several soft instruments (but I haven't explored them in any detail)... Logic is different, and although I understand it is also a deep program, there's a steep learning curve to it, so I'm told. You probably can't go wrong with either program, but for ease of use, to me DP wins hands down!!! aL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members stikygum Posted May 20, 2007 Members Share Posted May 20, 2007 I like Logic. Very configurable. Assigning Key Commands is great and saves time. I'm sure DP is nice. Logic 8 is coming sometime soon, so that might play to. Buy a cheap used Logic 7 and upgrade for $300 or whatever they'll charge. It will cost you a lot less that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Lancaster Posted May 20, 2007 Members Share Posted May 20, 2007 So #1 feature for me is ease of use. Then the choice is simple: Digital Performer, hands down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members feralmusic Posted May 20, 2007 Members Share Posted May 20, 2007 i started with DP3 and evolved to DP5. i love it, but i think more commercial studios (not using pro-tools) have logic pro rather than DP5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members swardle Posted May 20, 2007 Members Share Posted May 20, 2007 Go with Cubase. I just upgraded to CB4 and love it. Make sure to download the 4.0.2 update. Just go for it and be prepared for a huge learning curve. It's well worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MFenkner Posted May 20, 2007 Author Members Share Posted May 20, 2007 What do you think about Tracktion 3? I have some friends that use Tracktion 2 and swear by it. I see it's available for $99, and at that price it's worth a try, even as a secondary DAW. I'll probably still go ahead and buy DP or Logic for more advanced features. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rouqmirg Posted May 21, 2007 Members Share Posted May 21, 2007 I could never get it to work well. Always had bugs and froze up for me. You can try the demo for that one though.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members crufty Posted May 21, 2007 Members Share Posted May 21, 2007 DP is very good, very easy to use. I like it. But, it does have its quirks. Midi mapping leaves a lot to be desired--nrpn/rpn mapping is challenging from the daw itself (unless your controller does it). Also, queing loops etc ala live isn't so easy to do. but outside of those two nits... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members girevik Posted May 21, 2007 Members Share Posted May 21, 2007 Didn't your MOTU Traveler come with a free copy of Audio Desk2? Audio Desk2 is a stripped down Digital Performer. Work with that for a bit and write down what you like and don't like about it as you work with it. I like some of what I've heard of Logic Pro, but want to know more about where this application is headed (eg. will there be a Version 8 or not???) before investing seriously into that DAW. Audio Desk2 works fine for me at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tuba Four Posted May 21, 2007 Members Share Posted May 21, 2007 Audio Desk doesn't have any midi though!! But, you give good advice in the sense that if you can handle Audio Desk and anyone should, you should be able to graduate to DP without any trouble!!! aL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MFenkner Posted May 22, 2007 Author Members Share Posted May 22, 2007 Audio Desk doesn't have any midi though!! Yeah, that's my problem with Audio Desk, since I want to do a lot of my stuff in MIDI. I like to sequence my performace, tweak it some, then play it back and record it. I wish MOTU had crippled Audio Desk is a different way than omitting MIDI support. I am leaning towards DP. I can pick up the crossgrade (from Audio Desk) for $330. Then I'll start reading the manual (despite what people say, it doesn't seem to be software that is easily learnt without the manual). Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members girevik Posted May 23, 2007 Members Share Posted May 23, 2007 Ah, I missed the part about you needing MIDI. I didn't think of that because any MIDI sequencing I've done is just on my Emu Command Station or the Numerology software - I use Audio Desk strictly to capture whatever audio comes out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ChromaLord Posted June 5, 2007 Members Share Posted June 5, 2007 If you only have limited time to work on music ( as your questions states) then Logic would be a huge mistake- its learning curve is truly vast, even for the sequencer saavy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members crufty Posted June 5, 2007 Members Share Posted June 5, 2007 whoops--i have recently soured on DP. DP & Access Virus do not mix, and midi mapping controllers to nrpn is way too hard...so if thats in the plan, best look elsewhere... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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