Quality of Firestudio preamps/converters?

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I've been heavily considering saving for a Digi 003R, because it seems to be of very high quality as far as interfaces go and I don't want to save for a FF800. Aso I could make good use of all the software that comes with it, like Reason etc. And I planned on doing the BLA Mod eventually.

But then I got to thinking whether or not it was really worth saving for rather than getting a FireStudio Project...The DAW I use isn't going to make or break my decision. What is, is the quality of the converters and partially the quality of the preamps. I will most likely only use the onboard preamps for drums, or part of the drumset.

So my question is, how do the converters compare? I would like to be able to hear the end result and know that (if there is something if low quality) it isn't the hardware bringing it down.

So, say I have the room, the mics, the instruments, the amps, the preamps, and the players to achieve a CD quality recording...Will the converters be up to par with everything else to cut a real deal record?
 
The digi 003 converters and mic pre's wont be any better. The firestudio shares with most other budget preamps, including the digi003 some slight trouble when having to crank the gain on extremely quiet sources, but nothing that cant be dealt with
 
So really, I'd just be paying for the Pro Tools compatibility? Good to know, thanks!

I'm not worried about the preamps. If I'm not satisfied with them, I'll get more outboard preamps to cover all 8 ins.

Thanks again for your help!

-Holden
 
well there are other more important differences.

The Firestudio uses the DICE-II chipset. You might want to read up on what that means, as every card so far with the dice 2 set has been a nightmare for a lot of people. Digidesign was very late to the native game and as such had subpar drivers for years, but they really caught up lately.

I'd hate to pick a digidesign product over anything else, but in this case I kind of have to.
 
pipelineaudio said:
well there are other more important differences.

The Firestudio uses the DICE-II chipset. You might want to read up on what that means, as every card so far with the dice 2 set has been a nightmare for a lot of people. Digidesign was very late to the native game and as such had subpar drivers for years, but they really caught up lately.

I'd hate to pick a digidesign product over anything else, but in this case I kind of have to.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info! I'm having a hard time finding any info on Dice II via google, and Wiki couldn't find a match, so I'll just ask: Have you heard of compatability issues with Core 1 Duo Macs?

Is the Motu 8Pre Dice II as well? If not, can the preamps be bypassed on it?

-Holden
 
MOTU makes their own firewire chipsets, NOT DiceII or BeBoB
 
Hard2Hear said:
MOTU makes their own firewire chipsets, NOT DiceII or BeBoB
Click to expand...

Cool, I guess I'll roll with the 8pre then...I don't really need the line outs.

Is it worth looking into the Saffire Pro as well?
 
The motu chips and drivers will kick the living crap out of the digidesign and presonus ones' into last century

DO NOT use the newest motu drivers though, they suck badly, use the 3.6.7.x ones
 
pipelineaudio said:
The motu chips and drivers will kick the living crap out of the digidesign and presonus ones' into last century

DO NOT use the newest motu drivers though, they suck badly, use the 3.6.7.x ones
Click to expand...

How can you say this? did you even read what you typed? so im guessing that you own all three of these products?:rolleyes::D
 
Carter said:
How can you say this? did you even read what you typed? so im guessing that you own all three of these products?:rolleyes::D
Click to expand...

trekwtf_thumb.jpg
 
Carter, we all know you're the one guy who has a Firestudio that works perfectly. :)

I've done well over 100 MOTU installs, over 100 Pro Tools installs, and 30-40 Presonus installs. And Pipeline is correct.
 
Can I bypass the preamps of the 8pre?

Is it worth saving for the 828mk3 or the 896mk3, or getting the Ultralite which is the same price as the 8pre?
 
Depends what feature set you want. For most of my work, the 8pre + a behringer ada8k is perfect

A friend uses the traveller in his field video editing rack
 
Okay, I decided line outs are kinda important to me, as well as ADAT, and the only way to get both is to step up from the Ultralite to the 828, which I think is what I'ma going to do.

Thanks for all your help!
 
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