ProTools Digi 001

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Special K

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What do people think of the ProTools Digi 001 sound card?

Is it all that it is jazzed up to be? What equivalent sound cards are there?
What does the Digi 001 offer that other sound cards don't?
Is ProTools a good editing program?

I am looking at setting up a home studio, and I am liking the look of this card.

Also, Mac or PC? I have heard may different things from many different people - which is better in the long run?
 
If you have a Mac you might be ok. But if you have PC you might want to look at some other hardware. A buddy of mine got the PC version and it gave him a lot of problems. Dont know if they worked all the bugs out yet for the windows version. And the user interface was not very impresive either. Seem to be a hard program to learn, but Im used to Logic Audio and I would'nt want to switch. Anyway he got rid of it. It's awful pricey too. You could probobly do better and spend less.
 
Special K,

The Digi 001 seems to be either loved or hated, especially on this board.

I fall into the love it category. I use it on both a PC and a Mac. Believe me when I tell you, if you follow the compatability docs, you will have a fine running setup.

There are more plug-ins available for the Mac side, so that is the plus there. But you can get more bang for the dollar with a PC, especially if you are a PC tweaker. More horsepower, less $.

Do yourself a favor and check on the Digidesign webpage and the DUC.

Good luck with your choice,
C
 
To me, Pro Tools appears to be a big scam.

First, they scam you in to purchasing all this expensive interfaces, computers, peripherals, and mixing stations.

Then, they will periodically come out with newer and supposedly better versions and upgrades, all designed to keep you shelling out even more money in sort of a continuous rip-off stream.

There are interfaces that cost much less and sound much better (that can also do just as much). What you're paying for is the Pro Tools name. It's become an industry standard, and thus enjoys all of the spoils that go with that status.
 
Special K,

There you go! Two completely differing opinions!

Bound to happen.

Good luck,
C
 
the digi 001 sounds great, but for the price and only getting 24 tracks... you can get much better. to me if you run pro tools don't half ass it, get a full tdm studio, and some dual G4's. but we all know they start at what...$12,000
 
I love the Digi. I got it last August, and built a new computer(PC) to support it. So far, I've had not a single problem with the PC issue, and i've done up to 22 tracks with 15 or so plugins. Like Clark said, follow the compatibility docs and you'll be fine. ALSO, since it's an industry standard, the files you create at home, can be taken and dropped straight into a TDM system in a bigger studio...thus, allowing you that extra flexibility. I love it, but hey, it's your dough!

***Justin***
 
There are plenty of advantages to it and plenty of disadvantages. The main advantage to Pro Tools is that you get everything you need--the hardware, the software, and the (basic) plugins--for one price. The main disadvantage is that it's not as open of a platform--you can't use VST effects or instruments with it for example. Most of the nice plugins are now available in Pro Tools formats though too, but you don;t get to use vst instruments.

However, it's a very easy program to use, and there's a nice sized user base.

My advice would be to download Pro Tools Free (www.digidesign.com/ptfree), it's a free version that will let you do up to 8 tracks of audio and a bunch of MIDI tracks, and it includes some basic plugins. Try it out, see if you like it. Also download the demos for the other software packages, like Cubase and Logic, and see how you like htem. When you figure out what you like, buy it.
 
Thanks guys,
you've made my job a lot easier!!!

At the moment, the package I'm looking at is pretty appealing. I am planning to go with a PC, and build it around the card. I like the fact that it seems very easy to use, plus it is an industry standard. I am just beginning in my studio, so advice like this helps.

Can anyone/if anyone has experienced using ProTools recommend what some of the minimum hardware components you need. i.e. does the computer chug a lot when recording 8-tracks, and would 512 mb RAM fix this?....Stuff like that would be very useful.

At the moment my planned setup is

1.4 ghz AMD processor
512 mb RAM
two hard drives: 9.6 Gb and 40 GB
Digi 001 running ProTools
8 channel preamp

would this cope with recording 8 tracks?
 
Special K,

This is my experience and it may have purely been dumb luck....

When I first purchased the Digi001, I did it the dumb way...with very little research beforehand. I KNEW I wanted Protools and so I went out and got it.

I threw it in my machine I had available and it worked. This machine was a PII 400 with 128mb, Win98SE and no name video card, an 8gb IDE drive and a 8gn Seagate SCSI on an Adaptec 2940 card. Look at the Digi compatibility DOCS and this barely makes it as passing.

I was able to record 7 simultaneous tracks at once. Dumb luck? Probably.

I am guessing the faster processer and the faster IDE drives of this month will make your 8 tracks work. I just finished building myself an AMD Xp+1800 with 512mb of memory. With the extra processing power I can apply more plugins. That is the major difference for me.

I think I saw you post somewhere else that you are using an ADAT to track the band? Another thing about the Digi, you can lightpipe those 8 tracks over to the Digi.

Good luck.

C
 
Go with PC, you will be fine....

Just make sure you follow the requirements... My PC has been smooth since day one...

When people get problems and start complaining is when THEY don't follow the requirements and get junk HD's etc....

Digi 001.. is awesome, and for the price it's even better... full automation, easy to use.....

Theres a reason Pro Tools is the industry standard.

Yes Mac's are *better*.. but also twice the price.... Get a pc set up properly with good components, and you will be fine...

any further questions just email me

adrrecordings@hotmail.com

My whole studio is based on PTLE and Digi 001.... And I have pro sounding results...

I can let you hear them if you like...
 
"Digi 001.. is awesome, and for the price it's even better... full automation, easy to use.....

Theres a reason Pro Tools is the industry standard. "


AMEN brother! I could not have said it better. But, you know, we are gonna get mocked for our belief! :)


Side note... I saw the Broadway show "Mama Mia" last night and they were using a Digi001 with a PC as part of the production!

Later,
C
 
Clark_Griswold said:
"Digi 001.. is awesome, and for the price it's even better... full automation, easy to use.....

Theres a reason Pro Tools is the industry standard. "

AMEN brother! I could not have said it better. But, you know, we are gonna get mocked for our belief! :)
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, (for them) our belief is based on fact and user experience..:)

Thats cool about the Mamma Mia Show... The new Garbage album has alot of digi 001 on it.... Aparently they had the big set up at the "real" studio and they would take work home to edit and arrange.... Alot of the album was done that way...

Joe
 
The thing that makes me want to get the digi is the interface of Pro Tools. I've yet to see any program with that good of a mix of easy to do, but really powerful.
 
if 24 tracks is good enough for you get the digi 001. but TO ME pro tools free is compleat junk and Pro tools Le isnt far behind it. i'd run the digi 001 with logic platinum. thats how a partner of mine runs his...
 
I was Anti-DAW... and in love with my adats......

After month and months of bugging me, my friend talked me into purchasing DIGI 001..... I told him, if it sucked, that he was getting the credit card bill.... :D

Within 1 hour of cracking the box, I was set up and recording. took me another hour to get used to PTLE.....

Then I was on my way.. and recording!

Keep in mind I had never even LOOKED at DAW before getting this..... I had never heard about Wav's Nor did I even know what a Plug-in was.. I though the only Plug ins were "Quick time" and "Flash".. :)

My adats have been since sold, and my wife is taping soaps on the old tapes.. (Not really, but I thought it would be funny to add)
 
c9-2001 said:
if 24 tracks is good enough for you get the digi 001. but TO ME pro tools free is compleat junk and Pro tools Le isnt far behind it. i'd run the digi 001 with logic platinum. thats how a partner of mine runs his...
Click to expand...

Pro Tools Free is complete Junk, I agree... But Pro Tools LE is great... I totally disagree with your statement on that.

I guess DAWS are like Beer, everyone gets used to their brand...


"Id Run Digi 001 with Logic Platinum".....

How the hell do you do that?... and if possible, WHY?

I mean thats, funny.....
 
c9-2001 said:
the digi 001 sounds great, but for the price and only getting 24 tracks... you can get much better. to me if you run pro tools don't half ass it, get a full tdm studio, and some dual G4's. but we all know they start at what...$12,000
Click to expand...

And Whats up with this???

The whole IDEA of PTLE and DIGI 001 is to have a pro environment scaled back to be available at a better price..... This comment is silly...

To suggest a person should skip the PTLE and just get a full blown system, is ludicrious..... Remember this website is called "Home Recording"

24 tracks is plenty... by the time your done bussing stuff together and all that, you can get way more, it's just about how you do it...
 
I have a Digi001 set-up in a second studio that is used primarily for song-writing. The computer I built to handle the set up is

Mobo: ASUS A7M266 with 1.4 ghz AMD processor
Memory: 512 mb
Two HD: 20gb main drive and 60gb 7200 rpm for music
Using an outboard Alesis 24 mixer.

I am running a Lexicon MPX-500 via SPDIF into the Digi001.

I do not do the "Bounce to Disk", but have decided to mix down to an Alesis MasterLink. I like this better since I can add some EQ during the mixdown.

I also recommend getting WaveLab for the VST capability. For instance, you want to add a VST effect to a track in Protools. Save the track as a wav and then use WaveLab to apply the VST effect and put it back into Protools. (Not perfect, but it works.)

It runs well and the only gripe I have is that the set up to handle SPDIF needs to be reset each time I start the program. If anyone knows why, let me know.
 
I keep pimping the Roland Studio Pack because for the money it's a great deal.

I was also considering the Digi 001 and if I go with a Mac system I will probably get it.

For PC I would recomend the Roland system at only $700. I have been using it for 2 weeks now and I love it.
 
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