MOTU Digital Performer 3

sweetwater.com purchased for $470.

Excellent Macintosh-based MIDI sequencing and digital audio tool. It now has user-configurable 3D panning tools, so you can mix for Dolby Digital (5.1) or other surround-sound formats.

DP3 also supports multi-processing on dual-G4 Macs, which is a real boon for those who have multiple real-time inserts in their mixes!

As with any software of this kind, there's a steep learning curve, but that shouldn't scare you off if you're serious about getting a good sequence or mix.

It would be nice if this package would include some patch librarian features, but that's still an extra purchase (Unisyn, also available from MOTU).

software only, so this isn't really an issue.

Excellent sequencer / audio mixer for any serious Mac user. The patch lists feature makes it easy for you to easily identify your MIDI routing, and the new dual-CPU support makes extensive track counts a reality, at last.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

The installation is almost instantaneous. I must say that I'm "all MOTU" (sound card PCI 324 and MIDI for Micro Express by Free Midi), so the intgration is perfect. However I have friends who work with DP and a sound card diffrent or WHO in the South without the slightest problem.
I work with many plug-ins and virtual instruments including VST via "VST Wrapper" and other Pluggo and all is well (except for one hitch, however rsolue, cf. Forum).
The manual is prcis and complete. The translation is sometimes funny but always comprhensible (NB. It is trs, trs pais!)

SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I use a G4 bi-pro 2x1, 25GHz, and for the music, I stay in MacOS9.2 because OSX would require me to spend too updater software and coterait me dearly. However, with this config and DP3.11, I do not feel important limitations face collgues working with newer version.
DP3.11 is optimized to run in dual-processor and I've never done does not limit the number of runs or number of effects or instruments that I use without modration ( Battery, B4, Pro52, and the famous Crystal Ganymed synths, etc. ..) For cons, I sometimes switch to single-processor to use some plug-ins that do not support or harm the trs bi-pro (including the Pluggo) and then I have to monitor the CPU before stacking reverbs ..
Otherwise, the latency is imperceptible (I played and recorded the guitar through "Amplitube" and sundry without any problem).
I had dj simultanment record 8 tracks and I think if we have enough of, it can probably go far del.
Finally, except use a little crappy freeware plugs, DP3 is a model of stability!
.. And then again if need prcisons DP3 silent dj can grate the multi-channel (all the possibilities until 10:2)!

OVERALL OPINION

I use DP3 since its release, it is since .. few years (we had any younger!) I know different versions of Cubase and Logic have their qualities, but for me, Digital Performer is the best squenceur / DTD. Its essential qualities:
- The simplicity and especially the quality of stretching, to the best del hardware samplers. Samples to make its tempo is a glare ease!
- Automation graphic plug-ins (small restriction: VST Wrapper does not support automation, but it can be found by working in the Pluggo VST plug ins, they accept the vast majority.
- My favorite sound is ingnieur rgulirement congratulates the ease there TRANSFR to Pro-Tools work effectus on DP, which can be a big advantage when 'it says its a small ralisations studio. However, in the studio, DP works beautifully in sync with any analog multitrack numrique if only one adding to it a "Midi Timepiece" for example.
I find it hard to reproach. Strictly speaking, the tempo is that penny prcis bpm. Sometimes I want to reset htrognes tracks of 4 minutes or more, and the bpm was in millime apprciable t ..
But hey, overall, APRS years of intensive use, the near-fault!