Digital Performer 8 Explained

Digital Performer has been reborn with MOTU's latest version 8! This series by DAW expert Eli Krantzberg is almost 6 hours and takes you from the beginning all the way to exporting your song for all the world to hear. If you're new to Digital Performer 8, or just want to freshen up on this truly deep and powerful DAW, look no further.

Getting Started
Audio Driver Setup (05:47) - See how to configure your MOTU Audio System (MAS) for use with either a single or multiple audio drivers, and how to configure the various settings for optimal performance.
Bundles (07:55) - Discover how to customize how your physical inputs and outputs appear inside Digital performer.
The Consolidated Window (07:16) - Explore Digital Performer's consolidated window. Learn how to customize the number of tabs, add rows, hide / reveal the sidebars, and some of the main window conventions and key commands.
Starting a New Project (07:40) - Learn the basics of file management, saving, startup behavior, using templates, setting audio file formats, and conversion options for imported audio.
Setting Time Formats (05:09) - Discover how to customize the time display formats in the various areas of Digital performer, and how to save them as recallable templates that can be used globally or overridden on a per project basis when necessary.
Concepts (04:26) - Learn how data is organized within Projects. Sequences are the basic unit of organization, they contain tracks along with audio and MIDI data. V-Racks are used to centralize virtual instruments, bus routing, and effects processing within a project. Songs and Chunks are meta units of organization used to lay out and arrange your music.
Recording
Click & Count Off (07:07) - Watch as the various click and count off settings are explored and set for use when recording.
Setting Up Audio Tracks (08:39) - Learn about the various audio track controls, and how they are configured within some of the various Digital Performer windows.
Recording Audio (11:04) - Learn how to monitor your input levels, use the various Auto Input Monitoring modes, and start and stop playback and recording with key commands.
Edge Editing (07:42) - Learn how to edit the boundaries of soundbites using the Pointer, Trim, Roll, Slip, and Slide tools and how the Sequence mini menu edge editing setting affects soundbite copies.
Working with MIDI Tracks (07:38) - Learn how to set up MIDI tracks for multi player recording, to output to multiple destinations simultaneously, and how to easily remap MIDI devices and use the QWERTY keyboard for MIDI input.
Instrument Tracks & V-Racks (08:16) - Explore the different methods of soft synth track creation, and how to move instruments, as well as aux and master fader tracks, into a V-Rack so that they are accessible from multiple sequences within the same project.
MIDI Record & Quantize (05:40) - Watch as a MIDI track is recorded using the Wait function, the events are selected in the Event List, and quantization is applied to correct the timing of the performance that was captured.
Memory Cycle & Playback (06:23) - Discover a variety of playback and recording scenarios that utilize the Memory Cycle functions as well pre and post roll times.
MIDI Overdub & Input Quantize (05:08) - Watch as a short drum loop is recorded using the Memory Cycle, Overdub, and Input Quantize functions.
MIDI Punch In Recording (03:38) - Watch as the Auto record mode is used to drop in and out of record mode at a specified time range to replace some pre-existing notes.
Quantizing Explained (10:36) - Learn how to use real time non destructive MIDI quantizing, and explore all the various and subtle nuances Performer's quantization functions offer.
Track Folders & Groups (09:27) - Discover how Track Folders are used to view multiple tracks in a single container that can be expanded or collapsed and how Track Groups are used to link tracks together for mixing and/or editing tasks.
Multi-Track Drum Recording (03:27) - Watch as a live drum track is recorded in real-time to a Track Group consisting of five mono audio tracks.
Record with Real-Time FX (05:31) - Watch as we get set up for multi-take recording and route a new audio track to an aux track with guitar processing effects for real-time monitoring.
Cycle Record Multiple Takes (06:14) - Watch as live guitar parts are recorded, in overdub mode, while monitoring with effects. Additional takes on the same track are created on each pass.
Editing
The View Filter (04:24) - Learn how to use the View Filter to specify what types of MIDI, audio, or automation information will be effected by the Edit and Region menu operations.
Zooming (05:37) - Discover a variety of ways to navigate the display to efficiently get what you want to edit into view.
Control Panel, Transport & Playback Tips (07:11) - Discover thirteen useful ways to navigate and control playback more efficiently.
Working in the Edit Windows (08:57) - Explore some of the ways of getting into the various edit windows, how to view either single or multiple tracks, and how the Information Windows and Information Bars work.
Tool Tips (09:23) - Learn about some of the basic editing functions performed with the various tools.
Track & Sequence Ergonomics (08:50) - Discover how to sort and organize the Track List Setup in the Tracks Window, and how to control the display of data and markers in the Tracks Overview section. Also see how to use the Track Selector window and control track and marker display in the Sequence Editor.
Working with Markers (08:27) - Learn how to create and manage markers from the Markers Window, as well as several useful marker based navigation functions.
Basic Sound Bite Editing (09:54) - Learn some basic techniques for editing audio directly within the Sequence Editor.
Takes & Comps (09:56) - Learn how to manage multiple takes and how the Comp Tool is used to assemble a composite take containing parts from each take.
Edit Menu Functions (10:38) - Discover some hidden gems in the Edit menu and the powerful editing functions they provide.
The MIDI Editor (06:22) - Discover how the MIDI Editor is used for basic note creation and editing tasks, including editing location, pitch, duration, and velocity.
Mixing and Arranging
Working the Mixing Board (06:39) - Learn how to customize, store, and recall mixing board layouts.
The Plug-In Chooser (05:56) - Explore the Plug-In Chooser. Learn how to sort and store plug-ins in custom groupings, and various ways accessing and working with plug-ins in directly from the Track Inserts.
Working with Sends (10:09) - Discover how Track Sends are used to route signal through a virtual bus pathway, where the signal is processed on an Aux Track with an effect before being passed through to the Master Bus and Main Output
EQ & Compression (10:32) - Explore the basics of how EQ and Compression plug-ins are used to sculpt the frequency response and dynamics of the various elements in your mix, and how to use their channel strip controls for quick access.
Multi Output Instruments (11:00) - Learn how to route sounds from the multitimbral MachFive3 instrument through discreet outputs that are assigned uniquely to inputs of Aux tracks within DP's Mixing Board.
Recording Automation (09:03) - Learn how the various automation modes work, how to attach a MIDI controller to a specific parameter, and how some of the various trim modes are used to scale existing automation.
Snapshot Automate & Multi Mixes (07:39) - Explore two alternate ways of working with automation that involve static parameter changes instead of dynamic changes over time.
Create & Edit Breakpoint Automation (05:37) - Discover how control point automation shapes are drawn and edited directly in the Sequence Editor, and how Soundbite volume automation works.
Conductor Track Quickstart (09:01) - See how the Conductor Track and Event List are used to create and edit meter, tempo, and key change info within a Sequence.
Chunks (07:49) - Learn how the Chunk Window is used, and how to create Chunks based on selections from pre-existing Sequences.
Command, Colors & Themes (07:54) - Explore ways to customize how you control DP functions with key bindings, and how to customize and change the look of the interface with the Themes and Colors features.
The Song Window (10:13) - Watch as Chunks are re-arranged into Songs, and discover how to use markers to establish Song Window columns at hit points which is useful for assembling music cues when working to picture.
Bounce to Disc (10:38) - Learn how to use some gentle master bus compression and limiting to beef up your mix, see how the various bounce to disc options work, and listen to a final run through of the final mix.