Pro Tools noob question...

[stepXinXtheXmix]

Hey all. I am wondering about simultaneous track recording with the 003 products. Is there away to expand the number of inputs? For instance, say you're recording a full drum kit and you're wanting at least 11 mics on the kit, plus a scratch guitar or vocal. I know this may be a super simple question for most of you but, like the title says....I'm a noob to this.

[ad_weiss]

The only way to expand the number of inputs for simultaneous recording is by using multiple interfaces. Each digi003 only has 8 analog inputs. You would have to add a second digi003 (which would give you a total of 16 inputs). Unfortunately, that would be the only way.

[stepXinXtheXmix]

Originally Posted by ad_weiss

Unfortunately, that would be the only way.

Hmmm....seems like there would have to be another way, I guess you could have a rack and mixer right? So how would you link the two interfaces?

[sink]

If you are using Pro Tools LE or M-Powered then you are out of luck and can only run 1 interface at a time. If you have PT HD then you can run whatever you want. If LE is your modus operandi then you are in for an expensive solution as you can only use Digidesign products. M-Powered uses M-Audio products as well and they make an 8 input firewire interface for $699.99 via Musician's Friend.

Not sure if that helped but I tried at least.

[stepXinXtheXmix]

Originally Posted by sink

Not sure if that helped but I tried at least.

That helps a ton, any information is good information.

So plain and simple, in order to run pro tools and be able to record more than 8 tracks simultaneously....what do I need?

[sink]

Well, plain and simple you need an interface with 8 inputs. On a side note be sure you are running firewire when recording 8 simultaneous inputs since USB 2.0 cannot handle that much information. There are interfaces with 8 inputs with USB but do not waste your time with these.

However, if you are running the 003 then you are more than likely running LE, correct? If that is the case then you still have to find a Digidesign interface with 8 mic inputs. Like I said before, Digidesign is not cheap but look at their website and then search elsewhere to find a slightly reduced cost product.

Hope that helps.

[steve.h]

Lots of bad/not entirely correct information floating around in this thread. You don't need a new interface to get more channels, you need another pre-amp with ADAT out. If you have a 003, it has an ADAT/"Lightpipe" input on the back that can handle 8 channels of audio by itself, thus giving you 16 channels of audio (or 12 if you don't have any other pre's going into the 4 non-pre-amplified channels on your 003).

I recommend this one:

http://www.gigasonic.com/Presonus-DigimaxLt.html


Or in a pinch, this one will work (although as a general rule, try to avoid Behringer gear):

http://www.gigasonic.com/Behringer-ADA8000.html

[stepXinXtheXmix]

Originally Posted by steve.h

Lots of bad/not entirely correct information floating around in this thread. You don't need a new interface to get more channels, you need another pre-amp with ADAT out. If you have a 003, it has an ADAT/"Lightpipe" input on the back that can handle 8 channels of audio by itself, thus giving you 16 channels of audio (or 12 if you don't have any other pre's going into the 4 non-pre-amplified channels on your 003).

I recommend this one:

http://www.gigasonic.com/Presonus-DigimaxLt.html


Or in a pinch, this one will work (although as a general rule, try to avoid Behringer gear):

http://www.gigasonic.com/Behringer-ADA8000.html

Your band is sick by the way....kudos
Sweet! So if you're running a 003, what's the limit on inputs you can have? Sorry to be so confused about this, just new to it....

[bennychico11]

18 inputs max on the 003
8 analog (4 pres and 4 line), 8 ADAT Optical and 2 S/PDIF

http://protoolsforum.com/ProToolsLE1.html
(a little dated, but 98% complete)

[Gemenhy]

Originally Posted by bennychico11

18 inputs max on the 003
8 analog (4 pres and 4 line), 8 ADAT Optical and 2 S/PDIF

Same thing for M-Powered 18 I/O's. But for M-Powered you will have more options of wich AD/DA you can use.

[steve.h]

Originally Posted by stepXinXtheXmix

Hey all. I am wondering about simultaneous track recording with the 003 products. Is there away to expand the number of inputs? For instance, say you're recording a full drum kit and you're wanting at least 11 mics on the kit, plus a scratch guitar or vocal. I know this may be a super simple question for most of you but, like the title says....I'm a noob to this.

Originally Posted by Gemenhy

Same thing for M-Powered 18 I/O's. But for M-Powered you will have more options of wich AD/DA you can use.

I assume he has a 003 already, although I could obviously be wrong!

[stepXinXtheXmix]

Originally Posted by steve.h

I assume he has a 003 already, although I could obviously be wrong!

Nope i'm starting from the ground up....so i'm pretty free to do anything

[steve.h]

Originally Posted by stepXinXtheXmix

Nope i'm starting from the ground up....so i'm pretty free to do anything

Well hot damn! Stay away from Pro Tools then hah

[Gemenhy]

Originally Posted by stepXinXtheXmix

Nope i'm starting from the ground up....so i'm pretty free to do anything

Are you doing just midi or more audio recordings.

[steve.h]

Originally Posted by Gemenhy

Are you doing just midi or more audio recordings.

He said he'd like to do at least 11 drum tracks plus scratch tracks. Did you even read his post?

Originally Posted by stepXinXtheXmix

Hey all. I am wondering about simultaneous track recording with the 003 products. Is there away to expand the number of inputs? For instance, say you're recording a full drum kit and you're wanting at least 11 mics on the kit, plus a scratch guitar or vocal. I know this may be a super simple question for most of you but, like the title says....I'm a noob to this.

[Gemenhy]

Originally Posted by steve.h

He said he'd like to do at least 11 drum tracks plus scratch tracks. Did you even read his post?

Well that's gonna be a short career.

Edit:

He just said:

Originally Posted by stepXinXtheXmix;

For instance, say

[steve.h]

Originally Posted by Gemenhy

Well that's gonna be a short career.

What the hell are you talking about?

[Gemenhy]

He just said "For instance, let say". So he's not gonna do this one time or his whole career...

[aphexus]

Step, have you thought about Ableton Live for recording drums? Some fun beat stretching/editing features and song arrangement stuff that might suit your style.

Plus, you wouldn't be wed to Digidesign hardware and so would have some less expensive options for audio input available.

[stepXinXtheXmix]

Originally Posted by steve.h

Well hot damn! Stay away from Pro Tools then hah

I'm assuming cause the arm and leg you have to give to get your hands on a piece of equipment....granted, but If i want to run with the big dogs i gotta quit eating kibble and get some real meat....bad analogy but hopefully you see where I'm getting at.

I've looked and played around with a lot of different DAW but I keep getting drawn back to P.T. As much as people hate to admit it, it's really becoming the standard in studios, at least that's from my view.

SO this is what I'm looking at running a Digidesign 003 rack, a Presonus Digimax for additional inputs via lightpipe, all Firewire to Pro Tools 8 LE. Would sync'r be necessary or does the 003 take care of that?

[stepXinXtheXmix]

Originally Posted by aphexus

Step, have you thought about Ableton Live for recording drums? Some fun beat stretching/editing features and song arrangement stuff that might suit your style.

Plus, you wouldn't be wed to Digidesign hardware and so would have some less expensive options for audio input available.

No I haven't checked that out but I'll definitely consider it....

[stepXinXtheXmix]

Originally Posted by Gemenhy

He just said "For instance, let say". So he's not gonna do this one time or his whole career...

i don't get it....

[Gemenhy]

Originally Posted by stepXinXtheXmix;

i don't get it....

Originally Posted by Gemenhy

Are you doing just midi or more audio recordings.

Just asked if you're gonna do midi alot or just audio and stev.h responded on that.

[grave]

Originally Posted by stepXinXtheXmix

i don't get it....

use a multi patch and a adatconverter

[steve.h]

TIf compatibility with other studios is of importance to you (as it was to me when I switched), Pro Tools is definitely the way to go. It's not the best software out there, and even many pro's will attest to this, but it's definitely without a doubt the most prevalent.

However, if it's not incredibly important to be able to transfer projects back and forth between studios, there are many fantastic pieces of software that I'd recommend over Pro Tools (Sonar & Logic are fantastic), because Pro Tools drastically limits the hardware you can use, as well as the plugins you can use (although there is a fantastic program out there that allows you to use non-pro-tools plugins)