Experience with ProTools LE and Digi001?

  • Thread starter Thread starter tubedude
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tubedude

tubedude

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I was wondering if anyone here had any hands on with the Digi001 and ProTools LE software that comes with it. I'd like all stories, good and bad.
I also want to raise awareness that if you are interested in ProTools, that it doesn't have to cost you $6000... for about $800 you can get the Digi001 and run it on your normal computer. I plan to go this route in about a year or so, and sell my Aardvark cards.
Heres the link to the Digi001...
www.digidesign.com/products/homestudio/homesystems/
Also, there is ProTools free, which is ProTools, for free. Limited to 8 tracks, though, but its good to test the waters on.
www.digidesign.com/ptfree/ <-- the link to ProTools Free download.
 
I can't say too much about the 001, because I don't have one. But I do know some people who do and they love it. Most of them want to get the full blown PT software and interface after working with it a while though. A studio I was in on Music Row in Nashville a few weeks ago had a full PT rig in one studio and an 001 for demo work in anohter studio. They love the thing. I am really thinking about getting one as well. I am interested in hearing more from users as well.
MIKE
 
The 001 is pretty cool. 18 ins and outs! Beats the whats possible with other sound cards in its range! LE is cool, you can't use the cool tdm plugins but there are some very good ones coming out! 24 tracks, easy routing, ok midi better than what is stated IMHO, good stuff Maynard!
 
I use both practicly every day.
The 001 so far seems to be very stable.

I dont tax the 001 extremly hard as I use it at home to edit things I do on the Pro Tools at the studio. But so far I can only say good things about it.
It does have it's limitations like only 24 tracks and not opened to Directx or VST but It's not a problem to find good plugins for it.
The converters are fine and I have compared them to a DAT a 16bit ADAT and a Tripledat system and the 001 came on top.

Just make sure you follow the instructions from Digi's site on what computer and what components as if it was the gospel and you'll be fine.
 
I use digi001/PTLE on a mac g4 400mhz. The thing one must do is concentrate on all the stuff you do get for $800, not be bitter about the features you don't get. For instance, digidesign intentionally limited PTLE to 24 tracks and intentionally took out smpte timeline. But, I find I can do most of my syncing using just the MTC triggering and mmc to control the transport. I previously had a delta 1010 soundcard and cakewalk metro. Digi001 and PTLE are lightyears ahead of that. PS anybody want to buy a delta 1010 cheap?
 
ertgijweirj

I might buy your delta! Look me up!
I'll be using it with a PC though, so I gotta wait until they get a little more solid on the PC end. I do intend to use it, and I suspect they'll increase the offering eventually, too. they are almost gonna get forced to allow directx in on thier stuff. People are complaining now.
 
Tubedude, what are you using now?

I too have an Aark card, and am using Cakewalk/SONAR. It works, but I badly want to add a hardware controll surface or digital mixer. I have also heard anecdotal reports that the digi does not work as well on a PC. I had also heard the the addtiional standard for the LE plugins limits the choices.

I really need to stay on the PC platform, but would like to get something more "pro".
 
ergeroif

I'm using Sonar too, with the Aark 24/96 with PC.
I'll switch to the Digi in about a year unless other things get way better....
Paul
 
I would say that if you were just starting a DAW for the first time, and you knew you were going with the Pro Tools TDM later on ,and couldnt afford to go straight to the TDM, the Digi 001 would be o k. But if you are already established on the PC platform with Cakewalk
Cubase, or any of the others along with of course a decent audio interface you would be making a backward step if you went with Digi 001.

Just a few reasons why...The Digi will NEVER be upgradable to the TDM format...and you see ,what makes Pro Tools TDM so awesome is the fact that it operates at Double the precision of the programs at the PC level. The Pro tools software, and I mean as far as functionality doesnt actually do anything really, that other programs cannot do although it may do some things differently. I went to a seminar that featured Pro tools and actually found that Cakewalk can do somethings that you could not do in Pro Tools. But again, the key is the double precision. And that means it has to sound better, especially the effects,eq, etc...

Going to Digi 001 means kissing all your direct X plug ins goodbye. Which of course might mean restocking on the RTAS plug ins. Now all of a sudden you are spending more than that initial $800.

The Digi 001 interface is not that great...of the 8 analog outs 1/4...only 2 are balanced. This might not mean anything to some but to me unbalanced means not Pro.
It also has focusrite preamps. What I will say about that is...I have focusrite preamps in my TDM 1000 mixer and
I think they sound awful. But I got what I paid for.

Thats just something to think about. Do your own research. We know that Pro Tools is the bomb! But
remember if aint TDM its pretty much on the same playing field as the others.

Go straight to the Pro mix/24..if youre going...

Just my opinions based on contemplating making
the same decision earlier.
 
gboefo

Some valid points there.

I can't help it though, ProTools just FEELS better than the rest of them, to me. It seems, well, more professional. Dont ask why, it just projects that feeling to me.
I might not go that route, but I want to....
 
have you tried midi on protools. Its frustrating.

The audio side of protools is sweet though. Extremely well laid out. I would say that its the easiest to use for audio after vegas.

I don't know about the digi001 converters though. I just love the software
 
I just installed Pro Tools Free, following tubedude's suggestion, and am still struggling the make the train go. Although I can make multi-track recordings, what's up with the echo I hear while recording? Of course it is probably maladjusted since I haven't gone through all the documentation to properly configure it yet.

Is that echo the result of poor configuration on my part or is it always present while monitoring your recordings?

Also, the slow responsiveness seems like a drag. And I can't seem to hear the delays when applied, which makes me question whether the processing is actually taking place. Could all be my fault. If I'm doing anything wrong that's obvious to you, please fill me in.
 
wallycleaver...

18i/o??? how do you reach that number?

guhlenn
 
guhlenn, it has 8 analog i/o, a lightpipe i/o, and 2 channel s/pdif i/o. 8+8+2=18i/o's

as far as throwing all of your direct X plugs out, if you have waves plugs (native) there is a beta rtas shell for protools le. You can download it at the waves website.

elbenj, I was under the impression that all of the i/o's were balanced. I'll have to check the manual though. The preamps sound fine to me, about the same level as my 1202, with a little edge to the 1202. Very useable though.

If you go the PC route like I did, one thing that helps is to dedicate your PC for nothing but audio tasks, keeps it much cleaner, and less likely to crash. I use a second computer for everything not audio.

Matt...
 
hi pchorman,.

turn off software monitoring and monitor directly from your mixer. that should solve your problem.
 
thanks CyanJaguar. Can you throw me another hint - how do I turn off sw monitoring and listen through the mixer? I believe I've explored every menu option offered and the only options related to the Monitor seem to be under the Operations pull-down menu. These don't do the trick.

As soon as I arm a track for recording and listen through the PC speakers, wild reverberation results.

help! I'd like to put this tool to use.
 
ergowefho

Mute the tracks you dont want coming through, and monitor through the mixer....
 
how?

how do you mute the tracks? what control panel or menu option?
 
For around $800, how great do you expect the 001 mic preamps and converters to be? You're getting those, plus other analogue 1/4" I/0s, spdif, ADAT light pipe, and the Pro Tools software for under a grand. I think it's a pretty good deal for the price. I ordered the 001 and will upgrade the converters with RME ADI-8 Pro (ADC & DAC) for under $1200 and eventually add some nice mic pre's.

As for Focusrite, I wouldn't generalize about them based on the pre's in the board or the 001. The make a slew of mic preamps and I'm sure the high end sound fine; the low end pre's are in the aforementioned products. Did you expect to get a Neve-inspired Focusrite mic pre X 2 in the Digi001?
 
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