Digi-001

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mjames

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Haven't seen any posts on this board about the Digi-001.. just wanted to let you guys know I purchased it for Windows 98 and I love it.. For a long time I have been going to a guy who uses the upscale version of ProTools($10k), and I honestly cannot tell the difference in sound quality. I am amazed at this peice of equipment.. it great, and powered by ProTools, the best audio software ever.

-mark james
 
It's good to hear that. I'm going to purchase a DAW PC in March-April and probably go with the Digi 001 which should suffice for my needs.

Some people on the forum knock the converters and mic preamps. I know RME and MIDIman are supposedly better sounding but I really want the user-friendly Pro Tools LE software. Also, there is no end to this stuff. The only thing to get a negative comment in some magazine reviews is the MIDI. Pro Tools LE 5.1 is supposed to ship next week with better MIDI amonst other things.
 
Make sure you check out the DUC (digidesign user conference)on the digidesign site and their Windows forums...As much as I like the pro-tools interface, it put me off going for the digi001...
 
db51 said:
As much as I like the pro-tools interface, it put me off going for the digi001...
Click to expand...

Why? Digi001 may not be the greatest in the world but I would think it is very good to say the least.

Also, since I'm starting out new to DAW I have gathered PT LE has a shallower learning curve/is more use friendly than Logic Platinum and Cubase. Cakewalk is supposedly user friendly but a decent number of users--not all--seem to wish for something more extensive.
 
Well, I haven't had anything but amazing sounds and zero (0) crashes on my 500mhz Celeron system which Digidesign told me they won't even support.. I think there are just some users out there who.. you know.. are not computer literate enough to be using a PC for audio stuff.

-mark james
 
Sorry, I was being a bit unclear...
What I meant is I really like the interface, protools is in my opinion much more intuitive and user friendly than cubase; what put me off was the abundance of posts on the DUC from pc-users having bought digi001 just to find out it wouldn't work correctly with their DAW.... Unless you buy EXACTLY what digidesign recommends on their website, there's no telling what might go wrong...If you really want to use protools, go for a Mac. If you like me prefer pc's you might want to check out Nuendo...
 
Mark,

One of those computer illiterates may very well be me. I'm not offended, not upset, and clearly not thin-skinned.

Anyway, how am I supposed to get computer literate? Courses at the local Gateway country store seem like a joke. However, I'm willing to give DAW via PC route a go if I can make and record some great sounding tunes to CD. Gee, all I have to lose are thousands of dollars and my sanity. Fortunately I don't own any firearms.
 
hmm

Well- I could talk.. err... type your ear off all day about computers and the Digi-001. I looked over the discussion board on digidesign's website before I purchased the digi-001 and that was one of the things holding me back from getting it, but I took a chance and I am glad I did. Now about being PC literate, you really don't get the experience you need by taking classes or things like that, I would just dive into it and try it out for yourself; or- dun dun dun dun.. get a MAC. I'm sure that the digi-001 runs better on a MAC, just because protools was designed for usage on a MAC, but I'm a PC guy and already had one.. anyways. If you have any questions or do decide to go with it just email me and I can help you out.. I do tech support for a living so its no change for me :)

One more thing.. I'm running the Digi-001 on a 500mhz celeron processor and 256 mb ram.. Digidesign told me that they wouldn't even think about supporting it on a celeron.. I have had zero problems.. maybe luck? I dunno..
 
Hi,
I run pro tools on my 001, and can say that it is rock solid.Most of the griping on the duc has nothing to do with performance but

1.in a infamous marketing desicion digidesign decided to take out smpte, as well as limit other features on the software.
2.On pc there are no asio or direct x drivers, so if you wanted to do something like run fruity loops on the 001 your shit outta luck.On mac the asio and mas drivers are inefficient and dont allow low latency monitoring.

Also the midi interface that comes with it isnt great.But, I personally havent had any troubles with that.

So what is up with the 001?
Digidesign makes noithing but rock solid software for professional needs. Unlike some companies(steinberg, cough, cough) they dont use their paying customers as beta testers.For recording,editing and mixing audio its a potent package if your cpu is up to the task.

Pro tools midi is less then plush.If your thing is deep midi editing then youll want something different.For this department you can use logic audio on your 001 and it shoul be pretty darned cool( but this is where the midi interface problems have arisen)

Its good for the price.If you want t\o spend a little more you could do better, but theres little as solid and well conceived as pro tools.

A lot of the griping about digidesign is to do with their bull headedness in lack of support for other formats wich makes it hard if you want to use apps like acid, or cubase with your 001.

Look at motus 828 firewire interface, using that with dp 3.0 would be more flexable then the 001 I'd think.
http://www.motu.com
 
robert jaybird said:
Look at motus 828 firewire interface, using that with dp 3.0 would be more flexable then the 001 I'd think.
http://www.motu.com
Click to expand...

You can say that again. What sold me on MOTU is their flexibility. I am never going to be stuck with 24 audio tracks, and 8 or 10 Inputs and outputs. I can get as much as 72 inputs and 72 outputs with MOTU. Overkill for my needs? Yes, but the artificial track limitation on PTLE really sucks and who knows, maybe someday I will need that many I/O's.

I opted for Digital Performer, but unfortunately for my PC using friends it is only for MACs. If you think you're never going over 24 mono tracks, and are not a MIDI wiz, then the PTLE/DIGI 001 combo is as good a set up as a home recording person can ask for. There are additional issues, and Robert Jaybird addresses them very well.

I've seen it said on the Digidesign DUC, the upgrade path from Digi 001 is MOTU. I think that's true as of today. That may change someday but not in the foreseeable future.

My two cents.

Albert
 
I've been a keen supporter of the Digi001 for quite a while but i must say, with sadness, that im about to trade mine in. :(
Its been great and everything but it just doenst do what i want anymore, or even some things that i though it could.

The things i feel its missing:
No inserts for things like a real compresser
No instrument impedance input
No direct thru for other bits of gear - obviously you can activate tracks in Pro Tools etc but this puts a load on the CPU.
No asio or any other kind of useful windows driver
In Logic its great but you have to disable the midi and wave driver to prevent it from crashing.
Only up to 48Khz

Its a shame coz this really could be the best thing in the world and Pro Tools is simply the best audio editor/mixer in the world and if someone wants to use the actual Digi001 features and Pro Tools then i would always recommend it without question. But for me i need more than it offers and Digidesigns disinterest in the PC side of the business has stretched my patience just that little bit too far.

So what will i replace it with?
Midiman Omni i/o!!! Ugly but useful box with inserts, auxs (inputs and sends), instrument inputs, twin mic pres, twin headphone (one for me one for my vocalist) Direct thrus and a complete set of cool drivers including multiclient directsound, gigasampler and EASI/ASIO so i can finally use all my software through the one card all at once and ditch my old 4 track i use for a mixer.

Sorry to be down on the digi001 and i'll miss its smiling little face but i have to think of what i actually need now that ive decided what that is.

Cheers
Robin
http://www.pc-music.com
 
Are you happy with the sound quality converters and preamps on the Digi 001? I've heard mixed things from great to mediocre ("what do you expect for a complete package for less than $800?").

I'm trying to decide between the Digi 001 on any platform (I have a pretty good budget for the PC or Mac at around +/-$4000)and Cakewalk v.9 with a great converter like Midiman or RME Hammerfall. This is for home recording 99% of the time with one input at a time, yours truly, to record my originals onto CD for fun and maybe copyrighting. I play bass and guitar and will use loops, sampler, or sequencer for keyboards, drums, etc. I don't know MIDI and doubt I'll use it extensively.

I'm not a computer nut and don't want to deal with the learning curve of Logic or Cubase. I want the DAW to work for me and not the other way around.

Your thoughts/experiences/commentary?
 
Of the choices you mention, there is no real competition. Go with Protools on a MAC Platform. That's the platform the software was written for. Forget Cakewalk or any other similarly situated program.

I would still suggest you look into a MOTU I/O box with Digital Performer (They only do MACS). You will have many more options and will not have to suffer with the limitations that baby protools imposes.

Again my two cents.

Albert
 
The promotional video for the Digi 001 with Protools LE is extremely seductive. The software seems phenomenal. For my needs there are enought RTAS plug-in in either Mac or PC platform. It seems the Digi clan is split on PC vs Mac platform.

Even if the converters and mic preamps are very good but not sterling, I could run into an RME ADI 96 Pro and uses its SPDIF out into Digi001 SPDIF in. But I'll check out the Digi 001 by itself first.
 
That promotional video was an embarrassment to muscians with an I.Q. over 50. I bought the SoundScape card because it works with everything I can throw at it. The oo1 is a good card if what you want to do is record live instruments and you can't beat the price but there are just so many amazing applications that digidesign just doesn't seem to want you to use....
 
uhh-- does anyone know how easy it would be to use an external AD converter (ie. rosetta) with Digi001/mac running ProTools LE? (just this one last question before I blow all my vacation $ on this setup and be disowned by the missus)

jk
 
In the Digidesign discussion forum http://duc.digidesign.com do a search to find several threads regarding Dig001 owner's use of Apogee Rosetta or the cheaper but supposedly phenomenal RME converters in front of the Digi 001. This allows you to use the LE software. It's supposedly very easy to use and clock them together. I'll try the Digi 001 for a while. If I think I need better quality converters and mic preamps for my easrs and home (not pro) recording environment then I'll purchase the RME ADI 96 PRO which has good mic preamps and some processing features or DIGI 96/8 PST to run into the Digi 001 SPIDF Input.
 
but why buy the digi001 in the first place if you are going to have to buy better preamps and a digital converter.

the rosetta retails for $1295. that is money that can be better spent if you go another route.

I looked hard into the digi001 , but with the system I have now there is nothing that the digi001 can do that I can't, except punch in/punch out VIA footswitch, but I have 96khz and true 24 bits and i am not limited to 24 tracks or digi plugins.
 
CyanJaguar said:
but why buy the digi001 in the first place if you are going to have to buy better preamps and a digital converter.

the rosetta retails for $1295. that is money that can be better spent if you go another route.
Click to expand...

Why? To have the Protools LE user-friendly software. I don't need more than 24 tracks and the RTAS and audiosuite plug-ins should be enough for me. I'll admit it would be sweet to use Steinberg Recycle.

I looked hard into the digi001 , but with the system I have now there is nothing that the digi001 can do that I can't, except punch in/punch out VIA footswitch, but I have 96khz and true 24 bits and i am not limited to 24 tracks or digi plugins.
Click to expand...

Oscilloscopes and waveforms can tell but can we hear a difference with a 96khz system? BTW, CyanJaguar, what system do you have?
 
hi Jim S,

I have a delta 1010 card, which, if you read online reviews ,is the beast of them all.

you can hear the difference between 44.1 and 96 khz. 44.1 is cool, but 96 k is just generally sweeter, smoother, nicer.

When I said that I can do anything and I mean anything that protools le can do, I meant the software itself.

Crossfades, punch-ins- virtual takes, effects. editting. I can do everything

I am using vegas pro, which is not the beast of them all, but upgrade to logic platinum or digital performer, and digi-001 will be totally left in the dust.

Other than that. Digidesign converters in general leave much to be desired. the 888/16 is a piece of crap. the 888/20 is slightly better.

dyk most serious protools owners use outboard d/a converters. the higher end use apogee, and the lower end use RME.

And many protools owners dont even edit in protools. they edit in Logic audio platinum.

peace
 
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