DP4 vs. DP5 for live performance

[RTLdan]

Hey all,
I do not own DP at all, but just recently got a mac.
I want to use DP live for click tracks and sequencing type of stuff.
(I refused to use Ableton Live on my old PC because of it's stupid tempo system...you HAD to name your track what tempo you wanted it play at. If Ableton would be smart and add some flexible tempo options, I would use it in a heartbeat.)
Anyhow, because of stability reports and all of that, I wondered which might be more reasonable to get: DP4 used, or DP5.

I know that DP5 has some upgrades to the live performance features, but I never used DP so I don't know how well DP4 worked for live.

All advice is appreciated.
Thanks,
-Daniel

[Klaus]

If you want to get DP, buy DP 4 now, once DP 5 is established, MotU won't sell DP 4 anymore, AFAIK

Best

Klaus

[bongo_john_uk]

Yet buy DP4.5 if you can get in now. DP5 will take a while before it settles down. Right now I can't seem to keep it open without crashing shortly after - I wouldn't risk that live. DP4.5 for me was solid as a rock..

[Spikey Horse]

If you have a new mac set up and have never used DP before then it's not like you are on any kind of known, 'safe' DP territory at the moment anyway .....you've got to weigh the cost/hassle of an upgrade from 4 to 5 (should you decide to) against the new-version-bugs in DP5 which *may* or *may not* affect you, your particular set up and your way of working with DP.

DP5 has some nice features for live especially in the click track/tempo department ..... hmmmm

Whatever, I hope it works out for you

- for what it's worth, I'm upgrading my old G4 'live machine' from 4.61 to 5 so that I have the new features, as well as ease of project transfer from my studio G5. But I should add if anything goes wrong it's only me who is up there on stage and I am happy to take that risk ....

[Kazrog]

My band has been using DP5 live and in-studio with no problems whatsoever. Specifically - live we run multiple audio and MIDI tracks with a Traveler and a Micro Express, and control DP5 with a Frontier Design Tranzport. It rocks!

[bongo_john_uk]

How did some people manage to upgrade without problems? What did people actually do? My system just fell apart immediately after the upgrade and behaves very oddly now even if I save a project in 4.6 format and open in that. It spontaneously quits when doing certain operations (ones that are hard to avoid using in normal operation unfortunately).

[Klaus]

Since my first steps with OS X ( 10.3.0 ),
I *only* installed as admin, no user account.
No Dashboard ( what's that ? )
No Widgets ( what's that ? )
No Spotlight ( not even starting up )
No Network ( I have to enable to connect )
Not on the web though with OS X...
Risk ? Maybe if someone gets at the computer, but
my backup strategy is
- partitions for OS X 5.000GB ( down to the bit )
- Bit per bit clones via DiskUtility
- Restore with Netrestore in 2.5 minutes.
Gives me 4 CDs to burn...and otherwise no hassles.
I also go back to a previous version this way, if I don't like some *new* software or OS.
I have
2 disks internally
3 OS 9 partitions 650 MB
2 Panther partitions 5.000GB
2 Tiger partitions 5.000GB
4 rec partitions audio on opposite disk as bootdisk
1 partition video on opposite disk as bootdisk
1 partition samples
1 partition presets ( incl. whole project presets )
I use DiskWarrior and DiskUtility from opposite disk as bootdisk
I clone and restore from opposite disk as bootdisk
I use iPartition to do my partitioning, and eventually iDefrag, if needed.
One thing to note :
If you have Panther and Tiger on your machine, only use the corresponding OS approved tools, i.e. DiskUtility behaves differently in / for different versions of OS X.
Mike Bombich is good reading for this ( and other stuff too )


Best

Klaus

[RTLdan]

thanks for the replies everyone.
It sounds like I might just play the waiting game for the
DP5 click track features. Just until it "settles down"
Thanks again,
-Daniel