MotU - a truly incredible company

[richiebee]

I mean that in a bad way.

Our electronic studio teaches on Digital Performer. I hate it, but I don't have to teach it, so I don't really care. We do upgrades frequently, but the hoops we have to jump through to get those upgrades are amazing - We ALWAYS have to give our serial number to MotU for previous versions. No big deal, except that the ONLY place you can get the serial number is on page 2 of the manual. There are other serial numbers in the manual too - there's the one that you have to enter to unlock the software when you install it... but this isn't the serial number they need. We always end up too-ing and fro-ing a little to get it sorted out, and it always ends up with MotU telling us what our serial number was... well if they have it, why the hell do they make us jump through these hoops?

This has pretty much put MotU close to the bottom of my list of software developers, but today they went even further. We bought three new iMac's to improve the electronic studio's teaching capabilities. We bought new versions of Digital Performer and all four of MotU's flagship VI's - a sampler (Mach Five), a synth (MX4), a symphonic sample library (Symphonic Instrument) and an ethnic percussion sample library (Ethno). It took me quite a while to get these installed, and one of the first CD's I get to won't read - not a good start. But that's okay, because I have others here. I fire up Digital Performer... but I can't see any of the new libraries. I try everything in the manuals, but still no luck. I go to MotU's independently run forum, and find out that neither Mach Five, nor MX4 are universal binaries. I can't use them. Okay, so I'm without two of the purchased VI's... that's okay, there are two more, and I'm ultra confident here, because for them, it says Universal Binary right on the box. So what's up with them? I contact tech support and get pointed to this page - http://www.motu.com/techsupport/tech...-msi-ethno-mx4 which I think is actually pretty cryptic for someone who really doesn't know Digital Performer. Basically what it means is, that if you use ProTools, Cubase or any number of other sequencers, these VI's are Universal Binary. However, if you use MotU's sequencer, they're not. How incredible is that? Out of four VI's, I can use zero. Actually that's not strictly true... there is a work around for one or two of these VI's. However, they're being used in a teaching envirnomnet - that means you have to teach students how NOT to use them for the first few months til MotU gets their finger out, and then teach them how they are supposed to work when things get sorted out (if they ever do).

[brandondrury]

Wow! So I'm assuming that you just didn't randomly buy virtual instruments that aren't supposed to work with Digital Performer. I'm assuming that these plugins are supposed to work with Motu Digital Performer without much need for crazy research.

This is truly surprising! But it makes me glad that I went with Cubase!

Brandon

[dach]

I have a PT system with Logic, DP and SVP.... all older versions of course.... with the exception of Studio Vision Pro, all of those companies have their own proprietary formats (mostly).... not to mention there are so many considerations to take into account... what will work with what and what version, etc. I got so sick of having to keep up with software/hardware requirements and going through hoops to make something work.... and I'm pretty handy with computers...

Mac and Mac software development, to me at least, has always been under the presumption that the consumer will upgrade machines and software often. There used to be zero to limited backwards compatibility... so that means always upgarding software as a default...

What i find amusing is that everytime something I'm interested is released, there is ALWAYS workarounds that have to be done for Logic and Cakewalk (pc), PT and DP... not to mention all the compatibility issues.

I like easy!

[snoopy]

With all this positive MOTU energy in the room........one of you guys will surly buy my Traveler!!!!
; :

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by brandondrury

Wow!? So I'm assuming that you just didn't randomly buy virtual instruments that aren't supposed to work with Digital Performer.? I'm assuming that these plugins are supposed to work with Motu Digital Performer without much need for crazy research.?

Had it been my choice, none of it would have been MotU, but the prof teaching wanted it all to be seamless, and decided to go 100% MotU.? That'll teach him! Yesterday, I had a quick play with Symphonic and Ethno which work standalone on an Intel Mac. Not only is this horrible software, it sounds crap too!?

I don't understand why users are prepared to put up with such mediocrity these days.?

I'm so glad I went Cubase too, although, I'd not be able to sell that to the teaching studio since they run Intel Mac's and Steinberg aren't releasing a compatible version of Cubase SX or Nuendo in its current form...? Universal Binary won't be supported until the next full version.? I have to wonder whether the fact that audio manufacturers are having trouble converting to the new Mac's is a deliberate plot by Apple to steal users of other sequencers over to Apple's own Logic.? There has to be a reason other than laziness for why major manufacturers such as Steinberg, Native Instruments, Digidesign and MotU aren't yet supporting a technology that was released to the public more than six months ago and which accounts for all Apple's current models. Glad I use a PC at home. The waiting game would be unbearable!

[dach]

Snoopy, I'm actually considering it for my laptop... but I have to do some research, and I have been known to procrastinate...