Editing Digital Performer (section)

==Ancestry==
In 1984, Mark of the Unicorn released ''Professional Composer'', one of the first application programs for the [[Apple Macintosh]]. The program used the Macintosh's high-resolution graphics and printing to allow the user to print professional quality [[Sheet music|music scores]].

In 1985, the company released a [[music sequencer]] named ''Performer'', also based on the Macintosh platform, for arranging and performing with synthesizers and other devices which recognized the then-newly developed [[MIDI]] standard. Sending a series of numerical values, such a [[music sequencer|sequencer]] could direct many instruments, commanding which notes to play, at what loudness, and for how long to sustain them. There are many deep features in the MIDI protocol; MOTU developed extended capabilities in Digital Performer for handling these controllers and other actions (including remote operation of the software itself) through user-customizable graphical consoles, allowing the operator direct access to deeper features of instruments, stage lighting and various types of machines, all via MIDI interfaces and custom graphic buttons and sliders.