a mac(or pc)and pro tools digi001 or a mackie 24-8 and a hd24?

  • Thread starter Thread starter maskedman72
  • Start date Start date
M

maskedman72

Member
i have a mackie 8 buss and 2 da 38's. i would like to upgrade to a hd24 recorder but i have been thinking about just going to pro tools.
what would i need to get the same function out of pro tools?
i hear that all i will need is a digi001 and a mac g4 and will be on my way. but what about backing up sessios? what would it cost to add another 8 ins and outs?
if i go this route i would plan on spending about 3k.
could that get me what i need?(i allready have mics and monitors and all of that stuff.)
 
If your Mackie 8bus has 8 analog outs and 8 digital (ADAT optical) outs, then you can use 16 of the Digi001 inputs already. If you have 8 analog ina and 8 digital (ADAT optical) ins, then you can use 16 of the 18 Digi001 outputs. If you also have SPDIF, you can use the last two inputs/outputs.

The advantage of the HD24 is that it is self-contained and portable, and you get 24 ins and outs. The disadvantage is more difficult editing and file maintenance, and you are limited to the plugins on your 8bus.

However, you will have no problem getting killer recordings out of either option.
 
what about setting a cue mix for headphones with pt and also can you eq in real time with pt or do you have to wait for the computer to"process" the eq change each time you make a eq move?
my mackie dosent have any digital ins or outs at all. just 1/4 phono ins and outs. can i still use all 16 of the digi 001's ins and outs at once?
can i use my rack mount reverb units with pt?
 
what about setting a cue mix for headphones with pt
Click to expand...
You can. Set up a stereo aux track, set the input to one of the available busses (you have 16), set the output of the aux track to a stereo pair of outputs, assign the appropriate levels of each track you want in the mix by using a send from each track to the assigned bus. Really works the same as any mixer.
can you eq in real time with pt or do you have to wait for the computer to"process" the eq change each time you make a eq move?
Click to expand...
the eq's are realtime plugins.
my mackie dosent have any digital ins or outs at all. just 1/4 phono ins and outs. can i still use all 16 of the digi 001's ins and outs at once?
Click to expand...
you can only use 8 of the inputs without buying an extra analog-to-ADAT converter. A good converter will cost you $6-800, but a great converter can cost thousands. I assumed you had a Digital 8 Bus, but now I'm guessing you have a standard analog Mackie 8 bus, right? Sorry about that assumption...
can i use my rack mount reverb units with pt?
Click to expand...
Yes. But each (stereo) rack mounted processor you use will eat two inputs and two outputs.

Basically, you route the audio you want to a stereo aux send that is routed to a pair of outputs, then you route the inputs from the reverb to either a stereo aux track in Pro Tools, or to a stereo audio track (if you want to record the reverb to an audio track). Again, the routing is all very simple, and Pro Tools can do some very sophisticated stuff, but it also requires inputs and outputs for everything you do.
 
what about a talkback mic in pt?

yes i have the analog mackie. will pt do all of the things my mackie can do?
 
For a talkback mic, you'll again need to eat an input for that mic, then record-enable it. Unfortunately, you have to mute it and unmute it manually in Pro Tools... there's no dedicated talkback switch or function.

As far as mixing capabilities, Pro Tools can do everything your Mackie can do, and much much more. Effects (from EQ to compression), routing, up to 16 aux tracks, 5 assignable aux sends per channel, 32 audio tracks, master faders, etc... You'll still need your Mackie for mic preamps though.
 
You would want to use your 24*8 with the Digi001. Your board should have a talkback mic on it. Generally, if using 8 inputs, you just set up a bus for each input on the digi. The flexibility of the 8 bus series is one of their strongest points. Then you could let it do all your routing for you. Pro Tools would take care of the actual track mixing, rather than your board, but your mackie would serve as the input and monitoring for everything you do. I can't begin to tell you the number of people I personally know who use a Mackie 8 bus console and Pro Tools LE. It's a really good combination.

H2H
 
the problem is i would have to(and like to) get rid of the mackie so i could get the pc(or mac g4)
i still dont know what type of computer to get. i hear that mac is better for pro tools but the cost is higher.
i will assume that i could route all my mics into the mackie than feed the digi001 with the mackies direct outs right? than i wouldnt have to go buy more outboard pres.
 
I think the platform you choose for Pro Tools LE should be based on your personal preference/budget. If you like macs, get a mac. if you like PCs, get a PC. The differences between platforms are pretty much nil for the LE product, especially for people on a budget. If you could afford to buy every plugin out there, the Mac definitely has an edge, but if you're thinking about hawking your Mackie to make the purchase, you're probably not going to have to worry about that...
 
thats the problem i have no preference computer wise.
is the digi001 a heap of crap? it looks pretty cheap. would digidesigns 882/20 be an upgrade from that and for each 882 added do you need a soundcard for it?
 
The 001 is not a heap of crap. It's also not the nicest thing out there. It's 4 year old technology, so obviously there are newer and better things. It doesn't do 96k, for example...

The 882/20 is actually even older technology than the 001. To use the 882, you would need a TDM system, which requires a Mix card, which is a 3-4 grand investment. If you were going that route it would be best to stick to the newer stuff, Pro Tools HD, which would cost you a lot of money... and this is no longer Pro Tools LE (where the processing is host-based) but Pro Tools TDM (where the porcessing happens on the DSP cards).
 
24.8

my name is bobby bean i live in dekalb il.60115 an i starting a studio/video production here in my house an i just want to ask a question i have an imac with protools 9 an a profire 610 i found a good deal on a mackie 24.8 mixer with meter bar an power supply for 300.00 coming out of this studio in chicago an i was just wondering if u think im going in the rong direction i had it checked out its just like new u may call me @ 815-501-3064 call or txt i would like to get some feed back also .facebook.com/harborboy420]Bob Bean Facebook Bob Bean Facebook is facebook if u would like to see my studio pics thank you
 
I guess the first question I would ask is why you're looking at mixers. Are you just trying to get a bunch of preamps for your Pro Tools setup, or do you have some secondary purpose in mind (e.g. live sound reinforcement)?

If you need a mixer with lots of buses for sound reinforcement, I'd expect that to be a decent choice. However, if you're just trying to get preamps, there are probably other preamps at a similar price point that are better (cleaner gain with lower noise, faster slew rate, etc.) than a Mackie design from two decades back.

P.S. Maybe we should throw this thread a birthday party next weekend or something.... Just saying. Normally you'd start a new thread to ask a barely related question like that instead of digging up an existing thread that's almost eight years old.... :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top