digi 002 (rack) and the Q10

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shackrock

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So I dont know here...I'm not fully happy with my Q10 at the moment. I keep hearing a recording that is done on digidesign stuff (withere the mbox or the 002 / rack), and it's just got that space and clarity that isn't on my stuff. I even did some stuff myself with the Mbox at a buddies house. Hardley mixed the stuff at all, and it almost still sounded better...(almost).
Well.....I mean it sounded how it should have - sounded like higher quality equipment, and much worse mixing.
haha

anyway, am I just imagining this?! or does this REALLY seem to be the case? I gotta be sure before I cough up ANOTHER 400 to switch my Q10 with an 002rack....

and....

KNOWN INCOMPATABILITIES:
*Computers with motherboards containing SiS (Silicon Integrated Systems) chipsets
*AMD K6, K6-2 or K6-III, K7 processor based computers (newer AMD Athlon XP and AMD Athlon Thunderbird processors are supported)

Here's my computer, is this ok? haha.
-ASUS A7V333 KT333 MB W/ ATA133, USB 2.0, 5.1 AUDIO
-AMD Athlon® XP-2000+ Processor AS22
 
and one more thing...this one more about protools le vs. vegas.

So protools is in it's own little world really..right? can I use my DX plugins with it? VST?

I've read a lot of places that the 002 and 002rack have a lot of trouble working smoothly with any other ASIO applications (once you install the digidesign ASIO driver)....
 
You have VST to RTAS adapter you can buy, that let's you use your VST plugins ion Pro Tools. The Pro Tools protocol is RTAS, but don't you worry, there are heaps of great RTAS plugins.

I've been in several PT discussions on this board, so I am not going to start that all over again.:). I can tell you I am extremely happy with my Digi 002R and for my needs I find PT the best software (an I used several different brands of recording software). The Digi 002 also makes you compatible with the majority of the big studio's, and that has had several advantages for me!
 
Go to the digidesign support site to check for computer compatibility.
 
alexw, I did, see I posted it. haha.

but I don't know enough about computers to see if I have that.
look:

KNOWN INCOMPATABILITIES (with the 002R):
*Computers with motherboards containing SiS (Silicon Integrated Systems) chipsets
*AMD K6, K6-2 or K6-III, K7 processor based computers (newer AMD Athlon XP and AMD Athlon Thunderbird processors are supported)

Here's my computer, is this ok? haha.
-ASUS A7V333 KT333 MB W/ ATA133, USB 2.0, 5.1 AUDIO
-AMD Athlon® XP-2000+ Processor AS22
 
The pres and convertors on the 002 are pretty goodd, so that might be some of what you are hearing. Same with the mBox. Pro Tools doesn't SOUND any different than the other programs, though, so it isn't the software that makes it sound different. The plugs are different, of course, so they will sound different but not necessarily better.

Its worth noting that you can use the digi equipment with other programs so you won't be giving up your exisiting setup.

No DX support in PT. There are lots of great RTAS plugs, but very few free ones. If you can, get the factory bundle- there are several plugs that make it worth it, though not all of them are that useful. The VST to RTAS adapter is fantastic, but not perfect: some plugs still don't work well or at all, but most do.

If you like the sound of the equipment, go for it, but also realize there are probably other options out there that will give you the sound you want. Its not Pro Tools that is giving you that better sound, most likely, its the better signal path. There are many ways to improve your signal path.

Take care,
Chris
 
oh for sure I know it's not the program (or to the slightest amount it is...but these days they are basically unaudible differences).

Which is why i'm asking how the 002 is with Vegas (I've heard in serveral reviews that it's very slow and choppy with cubase, etc.)..and I'd like to keep vegas.

Who else could tell me what's like the 002 in terms of options and especially sound?
I can get the 002 rack for about $867...
 
shackrock said:
alexw, I did, see I posted it. haha.

but I don't know enough about computers to see if I have that.
look:

KNOWN INCOMPATABILITIES (with the 002R):
*Computers with motherboards containing SiS (Silicon Integrated Systems) chipsets
*AMD K6, K6-2 or K6-III, K7 processor based computers (newer AMD Athlon XP and AMD Athlon Thunderbird processors are supported)

Here's my computer, is this ok? haha.
-ASUS A7V333 KT333 MB W/ ATA133, USB 2.0, 5.1 AUDIO
-AMD Athlon® XP-2000+ Processor AS22
Click to expand...

Sorry about that. I wish I could be a bit more helpful but I'm not that familiar with PC's and digi-gear compatibility issues. I've seen people provide a link to someplace that can scan your system to generate all the necessary info; then post it on the digidesign support site (DUC) for knowledgeable folks to chime in on. If I run across it again I'll post the link here.

As far as the 002/002R goes, I think it's a very useful unit. It only has 4 mic preamps; but a total of 8 analog inputs and outputs, as well as an additional 8 channels of ADAT I/O and 2 channels of S/PDIF I/O. Things lacking are a BNC word clock input (you can clock externally though over either S/PDIF or ADAT in); reported issues with the power harness (though I haven't had an issue with mine); and a little picky on where you connect the firewire (seems to do best on a separate bus).
 
hmm, ok. Well I have a DMP2 as well as a crappy mixer to make up for other inputs if they were absolutely needed. Mainly though, I really want it for it's awesome sound! ha. I mean I just can't get past how much clearer and crisper it sounds. Even if I'M recording both things, if I did it on digi design's gear it just get's recorded a lot better sounding to me. ...argh! ha.
 
Why not spend some money on better pre's and/or converters?

Seems kinda silly to me to buy a protools setup and not use protools just as an upgrade in pre's /converters.

For the price of a 002r you could get a couple channels of solid pre or convertion that'll be far better than the digi's, or you could always go for something like an RNP for less.
 
Well, for what its worth.

I've recorded folks who take my tracks recorded with a 002's stock pres to a pro studio for final mixes. They never come back and suggest I get better pres and convertors. They aren't the best, but I'm pretty sure your ability to get a 002r for less that $900 is about the cheapest way to upgrade pres and convertors. Especially since you already know you like the sound it gives you.

18 Ins and outs isn't bad for the money, either. PT compatability isn't a bad thing, and the coreaudio/ASIO drivers let you use if with everything else. Especially since you know you like the sound, I don't think its a bad deal.

Take care,
Chris
 
I don't really think the 002r's pres and converters are way better than de Q10's ones, the aardvark's are pretty good actually, and i'm not shure the diference you're hearing is because of better pres and a/d section on the 002r.

Could it be that the recording you heard done on the 002 was done using some nice outboard pres?, better-diferent mic's than yours?, more skilled engineer than you are?, even a better sounding tracking room?

I'm not trying to say you don't know what you're doing, i just think that the Q10 is good enough to get good results, and that if anything of the things i wrote above are true, you'll be really dissapointed when you get your brand new 002r just to realize you can't do any better than what you did on the Q10.

From what you wrote, you don't seem to have lots of great gear, and i'm with "mattamatta" in that you could get a way better sound by investing in some nice outboard preamps, you didn't even said which mic's you have, so maybe you could make some nice aditions to your mic arsenal.

i would think very well before making a choice if i were you, 1000usd is a decent amount of money to spend on some decent gear that could make a way more noticeable improvement on your sound that getting the 002.

just my two cents :o
 
Well the reason I say this is because I did the recording with just sm57's and even in just like a ditorted guitar recording to the mbox pre's on my buddie's laptop, you could TELL that it sounded clearer.

Now, it very well could be the room.

Additionally, It'd only be about $400 extra for me, because I'd be selling the Q10 in addition to buying the 002R.

Lastly, the only outboard pre's I really have is that DMP2 and a crappy MX802a(behringer) which I never use anymore. haha.
If I remember correctly, you can't bypass the "pres" in the Q10. You can set it to 0db gain, but you are still running it throguh thier pre's even if it's just inserted with a 1/4" jack, you know what I mean? Not to say that that's a bad thing...but just something good to know when thinking about better outboard pre's.
I was considering a while ago getting like a mackie vlz-pro 1202 or 1404 or one of those things, because I know I love the sound of those pre's too. But, after getting the Q10 I was hoping to not need any more pre's - it'd be kind of like an "all in one" package. haha!

hmm I don't know then though...maybe I'll keep searching.

Anywhere I'll post ALL of my gear right here now (I think this is it...ha):
-Aardvark Direct Pro Q10
-M-Audio Bx5 Studio Reference Monitors
-Studio Projects C1 Condenser Microphone
-M-Audio DMP2 Preamp
-M-Audio Delta 44 Soundcard
-MXl V63m Condenser Microphone
-Behringer MX802A Eurorack Compact Mixer
-(2) Shure SM58's
-(2) Shure SM57
-(2) MXL 603s
-Audio-Technica PRO 25 kick drum mic

I have also been thinking about getting an AT40**, trying to beef up my rap vocals, with less sillibance (C1 is pretty harsh up there...ha)
 
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