More I/o For Digi002?

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CUSETOWN

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I'm lookin at maybe trying to do some computer recording...

The digi002 rack is in my $ range.. I'm sure others out there are familiar with this. Does anyone know how I could get additional ins & outs for it? I want like 24 but it only has 8.

Is there something I can get to add these ins & outs without going to a mix24 system?

Thanks in advance.
 
The 002 actually has a total of 18 inputs.

4 Pres
4 line
8 ADAT
2 S/PDIF

To the best of my knowledge, you can use all 18 at a time. I've heard that it can be tricky getting the s/pdif and ADAT i/o working at the same time, but that it can be done. We'll see: I have an ADAT coming in a week or so and I'll test it with my 002 and maudio duo. The 8 analog with 8 ADAT is well tested and stable.

All you need is 2 pres worth of s/pdif and 8 adat. A common way to get the ADAT i/o is to use an ADAT and on outboard mixer.

There are no ways to get more inputs with a Pro Tools LE system.

If you aren't dead set on digidesign stuff, there may be other options out there that will give you 24 inputs, but somone else will have to help you there. Definately cheaper than a PT Mix system, and probably more fully featured.

Take care,
Chris
 
THANKS

^Thanks! & Thanks for the reply.. That kinda sucks.. Why do they make it possible to record 32 tracks simultaneously but you only have 8 ins!?! I have 2 adats.. Those combined with the 8 ins on the 002 would give me 24.. But can I use BOTH adats like that?

Also, I need 24 outs too.. What can give me that? Does it work the same with the adat thing? This sucks if you ask me.. My board is a 32x8 & I have outboard stuff I use.. 24 outs would be necessary.

Anyway.. Any feedback is appreciated..
:)
 
You only get 18 ins. Really, for 90% of the LE market (home users), that's enough input (a huge amount of home recorders use 2-4 inputs, believe it or not). The other 10%, the people who can't afford a TDM system, but need more than 18 in, are pretty much forced out of Digidesign and onto other platforms.

As far as them "allowing" you to record on 32 tracks, that's not really uncommon. I mean, Cubase SX allows you to record on probably 999 tracks, but no one out there is complaining because they don't include an interface that has 999 ins and outs. Hardware always has limits.

24 I/O is pretty much the max amount you see. I like the MOTU 24 I/O... 2 rack spaces for 24 analog ins and outs is just awesome. Or the 2408, which will let you use your 2 ADAT I/O, plus 8 channels analog. Than add one more 8 Channel I/O (unfortunately with MOTU you probably have to add another 2408 for another thousand bucks...)

You can also get 32 ins and outs by using something like the RME HDSP9652 (3x ADAT Optical I/O), plus another 8 channel ADAT or analog card (probably from the same manufacturer), plus 1 or 2 more ADAT converters.

32 I/O is a pretty unusual number as you can tell; the commonly available interfaces generally do 8, 16, or 24.
 
hmmm

I uinderstand what you're saying.. I just don't want to throw away my rack and mixer.. lol..

I'm a real hands on person and I know using my outboard stuff will free up processing power as well.. & I want to be PT compatible without the mix 24 price tag..

Thanks for the comments!
 
Well, the ADAT arrived and I bought a whole bunch more cables...

...and the 002 is sounding mighty fat running through even a cheap Alesis analog mixer. I invariablly have more tracks than outputs, but I route things together that go together well and mix them in PT. (i.e. all the backing vocals to 2 outs, all the rythm guitars to 2 outs, all drums to 2 outs, etc.) It usually leaves me with enough room to play with the things that need their own analog channels. More room than I've ever had, anyways.

Seems like the best of both worlds to me. A relatively cheap PT system with a good amount of I/O. I haven't kicked in the S/PDIF I/O, yet, as I don't have anything that gives me S/PDIF I/O. The Duo just outputs to it. Oh, well.

Aw yeah...those lead vocals sure do sound sweet through a real compressor and a real analog channel. :)

Take care,
Chris
 
chris

You dont like the digi rack rtas compressor plugs? So you dont mix in protols(mouse) you choose to mix on a realmixer? besides being able to use outboard rack stuff, you like that better?
 
I actually use both. I don't have much outboard gear, but I've found that the RNC sounds better on some things than the RTAS compressors availible in PT. Also, it just sound fatter running through the analog board- I have no idea why.

So I do a lot of mixing in pro tools- I use the automation, reverb (Waves RenVerb came with the 002 last year- very nice!), delays, some EQ's, any and compression of backing vocals guitar or whatever is needed. On the analog board I will use the sweepable EQ's for more aggressive EQ cutting, pan (because it sounds wider and clearer on the analog board to me), and the RNC on the lead vocals.

Its pretty much a matter of using what sounds best on the most important tracks. The RTAS effects sond fine, but the RNC sounds better for getting a vocal to sparkle like a diamond set perfectly in the mix. The EQ plugs work fine, but the EQ on the board sounds better for some things. And no matter how much I fiddle with mixs in the box and get it to sound good, they instantly sound more real to me when I route it out to the analog mixer. Its not something you'd notice unless you played both mixes side by side or have well adjusted ears.

It totally rocks to have the convenience of plugins and DAW automation with the sweetness of real analog mixing and dynamics.

Anyway, if you have the ability to bus your tracks out of your DAW to an analog mixer, I'd dig out some patch cables and give it a try. If not, don't worry about it because "in the box" mixs sound good as they are. Its just another option for getting different sounds.

Take care,
Chris
 
Chris Shaeffer said:
lots of stuff

Take care,
Chris
Click to expand...

How to do you route it back in? Do you do groups or track for track? Just the mix out?
 
-ADAT i/o to 002 ADAT o/i
-Direct outs from 8 mixer channels to 8 analog ins on the ADAT
-8 Outs from the ADAT to inputs on the mixer.
-Analog outs from the 002 into other mixer channels as needed.

I don't typcially use groups just for routing, though I suppose I could if I needed to add a layer of automation or effects to a bunch of tracks. I usually just route them out to the same hardware or ADAT outputs. I save the groups for effects and such.

The song I was just working on: 2 stereo acoustic guitar tracks out ADAT 1-2 to analog mixer 1-2. Bass out ADAT 3 to mixer 2. Lead vocal out ADAT 4 to mixer 4 with RNC inserted. Accent parts (3 or 4 tracks, mixed in stereo) to ADAT/Mixer 5 -6. Backing vocals to ADAT/Mixer 7-8. Reverb bus goes out 002 analog 1-2 to a stereo channel on the mixer, and the MIDI box (for drums) goes in another.

Mix in both analog and digital, then send the master bus of the mixer back into PT for mixdown.

-C
 
D'oh- misread your question: I don't go back in track for track to avoid multiple redigitization. By this point, I've already done all my editing and such, and just mix through the analog for the final mixdown.

-C
 
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