Pro Audio, Music & Mac Blog

MOTU has just released their version 5.1.1 update to Digital Performer. Much touted are the hundreds of new presets for the Virtual Instruments that come with DP5. This is good, as the ones that shipped originally were sort of “eh…”

However, the question of the day (month, season, year…) is: Does the DP 5.1.1 update fix the infamous and “bad, bad, very bad” bug in DP5 that introduced intermittent and random audio dropouts while performing a bounce to disc operation?

I have maintained all along that MOTU had to be working diligently on such a serious workflow fuck up in their software, and the first reports back on MOTU-MAC seem to indicate that if not solved completely (which all reports indicate so far), the problem has definitely been addressed by the update. Time will tell, as they say…

There have been some reports about ensuing wackiness with the Tools menu and/or strange behavior during editing processes after the update. However, trashing of the DP prefs file seems to have cured that problem for the users mentioning it and it sounds like a personal configuration problem more than a new bug.

Having reviewed the Read Me file that came with the update, you are definitely going to find a bunch of niggling bug fixes, a bunch of new VI presets, and – presumably – the ability to bounce to disc with confidence again! But there’s also some excellent workflow/process/gui niceties that are very welcome.

For example, speaking of VI’s, there’s a very nice improvement on the somewhat klunky Virtual Instrument and corresponding MIDI track implementation in DP:

There is a new option in the Project > Add Instrument Tracks menu for adding multiple instruments. You can then choose how many of the selected instrument to add, how many MIDI Tracks to add that will be assigned to the selected instrument, and whether or not the new Instrument and MIDI Tracks get added to a new Track Folder.

Sweet…

But, here’s the kicker for me and for anyone who bounces around with their projects from rig to rig:

There are two new options in the Bundles Window->Mini-Menu named Import Bundles… and Export Bundles….

YES! Seemingly no biggie but in actuality, this is a HUGE pain in my ass, OFTEN!

Export Bundles allows you to export all audio bundles for use in any Digital Performer project.
Import Bundles allows you to import saved bundles for use in any Digital Performer project.

Here’s the Minimum System Requirements for Digital Performer 5.11 : Requires OS 10.4 (Tiger) or later to install and run. MOTU recommends OS 10.4.4 or higher.

Download DP 5.1.1 Update from MOTU.com

M-Audio ProFire Lightbridge FireWire Lightpipe Interface
connects up to four Lightpipe devices with a PC or Mac via FireWire. Shipping for $399 at most retailers, it’s a pretty inexpensive way to connect digital mixers, AD/DA converters and/or ADATs with most popular DAW software.


The unit is capable of 32 channels of Lightpipe I/O, S/PDIF I/O and two-channel analog output for a total of 34 x 36 concurrent channels at 44.1 or 48kHz sample rates. (It also supports 16-channel Lightpipe operation at 88.2 and 96kHz sample rates via the SMUX protocol.)

The ProFire Lightbridge can output word clock as a master, or slave to external sync on any input, and MIDI I/O also accommodates MIDI Time Code and MIDI Machine Control. Independent volume controls are provided for the ¼” balanced outputs and front panel ¼” headphone jack.

The ProFire Lightbridge is compatible with most DAW software. My experience with M-Audio’s drivers, however, tells me to be cautious.

This guy, Eric Mongrain, is just beyond amazing!

Web site turns music fans into investors

“About 600 singers and bands listed on Sellaband have raised $150,000 from 3,000 investors since the site launched on Aug. 15. Fans are allowed to withdraw their investment or move it to another artist any time before a group reaches the $50,000 mark.

Recording veterans have signed up to work with Sellaband because they think it can fill a void left by the industry consolidation that is siphoning profits back to parent companies instead of using them to develop up-and-coming talent.”

I’ve been mixing with NS10’s for more than twenty years…

Poor me, right? Whatever! I know them. My mixes translate well because I am familiar with their particular sonic signature (read shortcomings). I feel comforted by the familiar white NS10 drivers moving in and out in front of me, alright?

Well, making a long story short, I’ve decided I want to get a pair of more “accurate” monitors and see how the other half live. I also want them to be active with the power amp(s) perfectly matched to the speakers.

I’ve been checking out a few different powered monitors and have decided on the Dynaudio BM5A.

Here’s the specs:

Active nearfield monitor with 6.9″ woofer and 1″ silk dome tweeter
Frequency response 50Hz – 21kHz (+/- 3 dB)
Maximum SPL at 1 meter, pair (IEC Long Term) – 115 dB peak
Maximum SPL at 2 meters, 5.1 (IEC Long Term) – 116 dB peak
Amplifier power – Tweeter: 50 watts Woofer: 50 watts
Bass reflex cabinet with radius edges on front baffle
1.1″ Esotec tweeter with soft dome, rear chamber, magnetic fluid cooled
6.9″ one-piece molded polypropylene cone woofer with 3″ pure aluminum wire voice coil
12.5″ h x 12.5″ w x 7.3″ d

You can download Dynaudio’s PDF Product Brochure to read up more about the BM5A, BM6A, and the tremendous geekery involved in their craft. I just know that I have always been very impressed by Dynaudio monitors and believe that this may be the very best active monitor value going!

Also close in the running were the Event Active Studio Precision powered monitors (the ASP6, in particular, because I don’t want a big 8″ woofer). Dynaudio has also announced a new, smaller form factor and slightly different sounding BM5A Compact. I’m not sure, but as of this writing I don’t think they are shipping yet (in any volume, anyway). The BM5A Compact only goes down to 55 Hz on their specs, while the BM5A gets down to 50, so they probably have a slight tonal difference. Not sure about the price differential either, but I AM sure that they will sound great, as does everything Dynaudio makes. They are true pro audio craftsmen.