Cubase Sx Or Digital Performer 4.5 Options

[Milca]

Cubase SX or Digital Performer 4.5

I know guys that this question was here couple of times but even though I went through almost hundred of post covering this topic I did not get my answer.

So this what I currently have G4 – laptop,Pro tools – Digi 002 rack and Reason 2.5 and some VST plug - ins .
I’m pretty happy with Pro tools as far as audio but Midi part as we all know is not that good. Since I’m planning to get Garritan personal orchestra and in general start to work with MIDI - I want to get other application( in addition to pro tools which would be able to handle the Midi better than PT.I’m thinking about Digital Performer 4.5 or Cubase SX – and that’s basically my question.
For now I’m leaning little more towards Cubase so Let me write down couple reasons why – if you have some experience with those issues I would really appreciate if you can give some feedback what do you think about it.

ENOUGH POWER?
Both application requires pretty much the same requirements.
Like I said I have 1GHz – power PC G4,512 MB and my main concern is that after I install the one of those programs - My computer won’t have enough power to run it or there will be other difficulties down the road. Is anybody out there who’s running one of those programs on Mac G4 , 1GHz.
I’ve also heard that cubase SX has so called “offline audio processing “ which might be also a big advantage as far as saving some CPU .I don’t thing DP does have that?

LEARNING CURVE?
I’ve heard a lot of opinions but mostly people claim that cubase is easier to learn than DP?

OPEN SYSTEM ?
Since I have DIGI 002 rack – I would like to use it as hardware front for Cubase or DP .I think I can use it for CUBASE (audio core) but I’m not sure I can use it as a front for DP. Anybody knows?
One thing which was making me thing about getting DP was “Enhanced Pro Tools Support”. But recently I’ve found out this is only for HD system which I do not have .Even here cubase seems like better choice – not to mention that I have couple of VST .

SOUND CARD
I’ve read couple of times that if you want to get maximum out of cubase you better buy some good sound card in order to get great sound.I’m wondering if using cubase together with DIGI 002 rack would solve this problem ?

MIDI
As far as MIDI editing and recording I really don’t know .They’re for sure both great programs for that .
From my experience with PT it’s great to learn the software on real musical examples. Couple days ago I’ve checked out the book – HOW TO GET CREATIVE WITH CUBASE. Even it is not a video tutorial it is a great book with real orch. score ,radio jingle and other mus. examples which is another reason I want to go with cubase . Could not find anything like this for DP.

Sorry for a long post but I was only trying to explain the details.
If you have some advice for me – I would really appreciate that. Hopefully it will be helpful to other guys as well

Milan

[MrDee]

i used protools for the EWQL symphonic orchestra silver - and that chocked protools couldn't really handle it. So i went on to DP for orchestrations (this is DP4, not 4.5) - it saved me bigtime.

You will not go wrong with DP. It has a big learning curve, and i say its like the many features of cubase, with the logic of um... logic, and the audio power of protools.

Midi sequencing is very similar to protools - so you will love it. Cubase uses a separate midi editor i believe.

For DP4 u can't use the DAE, but the Motu Audio System worked fine with the MBox under Core-Audio mode.

My computer that i ran it on was an eMac G4 1GHz with 640Mb RAM running Panther, and it runs beautifully.

You can freeze tracks, you can bounce OFFLINE (which is a godsend) it is what protools should be but isn't.