I work with various kinds of music, from traditional acoustic types to very heavy loop based productions. The new beat detection feature allows me to work with loops while keeping everything inside of DP, without disrupting my workflow. The loops can be analyzed in the background while I am working on other tasks. Once ready, I can easily integrate different loops of different tempos from a large sample-based library. Included in DP 4.5 is the ability to now import Apple Loops. As stated above this now increases my options for using additional loops in my productions. I simply love having only one program open to accomplish all of my tasks.

The next feature that I think all of us DSP card owners have been waiting for is the Automatic Delay Compensation feature. As an owner of both the UAD-1 and TC Powercore, DP 4.5 now seamlessly allows the integration of my favorite DSP based plugins without the need to compensate manually or shift my tracks. The ADC feature works automatically, in that you turn it on and start mixing. This feature compensates for all of my plugs, native and DSP card based. This has been not only a real time saver in mixing, but allows me to stay creative in my mixing, without having to get too technical. A recent mix I was working on using the ADC feature saved me at least 2 hours. I felt like I was mixing on analog again, Yahoo!!!

I also love the consolidated windows feature; this is definitely a welcomed addition. In my workflow having multiple windows scattered all of the display can be frustrating. Having my 2 or 3 most used windows available in a nice consolidated view allows me to work faster and more efficiently with having to search for my windows effectively reducing my key commands.

One last welcomed addition for me personally, is the MP3 export feature. When working on projects that need to have rough mixes or dailies sent to clients, the MP3 export feature allow me to just export my current mix to MP3, with out having to do my normal two step process. Another great time saver.