Like anything else, it depends on what you put into it. The digi002 comes in 2 versions, a rack mounted version with no mixer, and the mixer version, which I own. They are about $1000 and $2000 respectively (US$). I added a kickass silenced computer, about another $2000, and a flat monitor. The 002 has 8 channels, 4 with preamps and 4 without. I already had some pretty good preamps for the other 4 channels. Those are the analog ins. It also has a S/PDIF in (2 channels), and an optical input (8 more channels). I added Behringer ADA8000 to take advantage of the optical input, bringing the system to a maximum of 18 simultaneous inputs. Soon, I hope to upgrade the Behringer to an M-Audio octane or a Presonus octopre. So- channels 1-4 are the Digi002 itself. Channels 5-6 are Avalon AD2022, 7-8 are M-Audio DMP-3. 9-10 are Joemeek twinQ by S/PDIF, and 11-18 are ADA8000 by optical ADAT. Most of the time, I'm just using either the Avalon or the Joemeek. The only time I use the other channels is when I'm recording an entire band live, or on a radio play I'm recording for a paying customer.
There are a lot of options. The Avalon cost me $2100 for 2 channels. The DMP-3 cost me $119. The ADA8000- 8 channels for $229. The Joe meek involved a trade-in, but it's basically an $800 2 channel unit. The point is, there are cheaper ways to set up a Digi002 rig than the way I did it. At this point, I'm right on that fine line between kickass project studio and fly-by-night pro level, which is pretty much where I want to be. I look forward to upgrading the 8 optical channels, replacing the DMP-3 with 2 colored tube channels (Pendulum), and adding a kickass tube mic. I've got about $6,000 in mics, but my only tube mic is Rode NTK. I will probably add Lawson L47MKII or Soundelux U99. When you add in the monitor chain, cables, stands, instruments, cabs, acoustic treatment, and everything else, I'm almost at $30,000. Let's not even contemplate the 4,000+ CD-R's I've gone through in the last 3 years. What the hell? That's the cost of a new Acura.
The Acura just guzzles gas, and the studio has paid for half of itself in 3 years. I may even break even before all this gear is worn out. You only live once. Just get the toys you want.-Richie
