Music software-maker, MOTU, recently unveiled details of the next major upgrade to Digital Performer, the company’s high-end audio application. MOTU also committed to Apple’s Intel Macs, offering some details on when customers can expect those versions.
Among the changes in the new version, Digital Performer 5 includes six new virtual instrument plug-ins, track folders, a flexible Meter Bridge feature, new audio editing tools, a multitude of new film scoring features, new input monitoring modes and clip-based volume automation.
Bundled with Digital Performer 5, new virtual instruments include BassLine (a one oscillator, two-waveform monophonic bass synth); PolySynth (a polyphonic synth that harkens back to the classic Roland Juno 106); Modulo (provides endless possibilities for analog synth sounds); Nanosynth (allows users to drag and drop any sample and then set a start time, end time, loop and crossfade); Model 12 (a twelve-part drum module); and Proton (a two-operator frequency modulation (FM) synthesizer).
Digital Performer 5 will also include other new features like Track folders to make organizing projects easier. Track folders allow you to put tracks into folders and subfolders — the result will appear similar to the Mac OS X Finder list view.
Digital Performer 5 has many other enhancements including changes to the Waveform Editor, Audio voice allocation, Clip-based volume automation and gain, and Count-off enhancements, among others.
Digital Performer 5 will ship in Q1, 2006 and will cost $795. Existing registered users will be offered an upgrade path, although no details were available on the cost of upgrading.
MOTU also confirmed for Macworld that it would be making Intel versions of its applications available for customers. The company said that Intel versions of its instrument products would be available in the first quarter of 2006. An Intel version of Digital Performer 5 will be available in the second quarter of 2006.