digi 003, project mix or saphire pro??

[zzzounds]

hi there!
am building an home studio and was trying to decide between m-audio project mix, digi 002 rack and focusrite saphire pro 26 as an audio interface. then, digi 003 came, and i don't know what to choose anymore...
can anyone give me a hint on this?
thanks
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[tech1]

I think the software you plan on using is the first thing you need to decide. If you plan on Pro Tools, then the Saffire won't work. If you plan on anything else, the the 003 won't work.

Decide on the software, and take it from there.

[wfhscoyotes]

The 003 and other digi hardware will work with other DAWs. It's ProTools that is bound to the hardware--not the hardware to the software.

[tech1]

That's correct. My mistake for the bad phrasing. The 003 comes with a separate ASIO driver for use with other programs that support ASIO. However, applications that do not use ASIO drivers will have problems. CD Architect, for example, does not support ASIO, and therefore does not really work with the Digi ASIO driver. Same with Finale. The MMe Helper application can be used as a workaround, but it is clumsy and not 100% reliable, especially with newer versions of Pro Tools.

[Smithcok]

What sort of work are you going to be doing in your studio?
That might help you pick a DAW/hardware.

[zzzounds]

hi there
i do want to use pro tools, but i don't know the difference between LE and M-powered (i used LE some years ago), and my question is mainly about the pre's & AD/DA converters quality. any hint on which to go for?
thanks
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[zzzounds]

What sort of work are you going to be doing in your studio?
That might help you pick a DAW/hardware.


my main work will be recording, plus a bit of production. sure the 8 pre's of project mix made me wonder if it compensates instead of a 4 input of the 002 or 003. the control possibility also marks points! i just wonder the pre's quality & a/d converters.
thanx
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[wfhscoyotes]

I'm sure the reason the Projectmix is cheaper is because of a few things.

1. It doesnt come with protools
2. It lacks several I/O options that the 003 has
3. It doesnt have the name "Digidesign" on it

[JeffBarnett]

The Project Mix looks similar to a Digi 002 / 003 but it's really very, very different.

It will work with Pro Tools M-Powered, but as wfhscoyotes pointed out, it's not included. There are a handful of differences between Pro Tools M-Powered and LE software, but they are very similar. M-Powered is not compatible with the Control 24, or the DV Toolkit. The software bundle included with M-Powered is very lacking compared to what you get bundled with LE. This is especially true if you are comparing the Project Mix to the 003, which comes with the full Factory Bundle (a $400 add-on to the Project Mix).

Although the I/O on the Project Mix works with M-Powered just fine, the control surface is a bit of a hassle, in my opinion. It was designed by M-Audio long before they were bought out by Avid, so it was never intended to control Pro Tools, just Cubase, Sonar, Logic, et. al. Consequently, it's not a great way to control PT. It uses HUI emulation, rather than the customized control surface protocol of the 003.

So, to break it down price-wise:

Project Mix I/O... $1249.97
Pro Tools M-Powered... $249.97
Factory Bundle... $399.97

Total... $1899.91

For an extra $295, you could get the 003 Factory, and get (most of this info is "borrowed" from Digidesign's literature):

- A much better control surface including a shuttle/jog wheel
- Much better converters and mic preamps
- Two independent headphone outputs
- Pro Tools Ignition Pack 2 Pro:

The Pro Tools Ignition Pack 2 Pro bundle provide a wealth of professional plug-ins, virtual instruments, compatible applications, and sounds to inspire your creativity and refine your talents. It also includes special artist promotion services to help you make your talents known to the industry and new fans around the world.

The Ignition Pack 2 Pro Includes:

* Ableton Live Lite 6 Digidesign Edition
* Propellerhead Software Reason Adapted 3
* Arturia Analog Factory SE
* Digidesign Xpand! by A.I.R.
* FXpansion BFD Lite - 6 Drum kits
* Way Out Ware TimewARP 2600 Lite
* Celemony Melodyne uno essential
* IK Multimedia Amplitube LE
* iZotope Ozone 3 Lite
* iZotope Trash Lite
* iZotope Spectron Lite
* M-Audio ProSessions SE
* Broadjam.com - one year membership
* GarageBand.com 3 contest entries (Ignition Pack 2 has only 1)
* Sonicbids.com - one year subscription
* Pro Tools Method One instructional DVD
* Free plug-in if you attend any Pro Tools Training Facility and get a free school voucher for a Digidesign plug-in of your choice
* Digidesign Synchronic
* TL Labs TL Everyphase
* TL Labs TL Utilitities (TL Metro, MasterMeter & TL Tuner)
* Sound library DVD includes a collection of loops from Big Fish Audio, Cycling ‘74, Sonic Reality and Zero-G, including grooves created by band members of well-known artists.

- 7 Free Bomb Factory Plug-ins (included with all Pro Tools LE systems)

• Bomb Factory BF76 Compressor
• BF Essential Clip Remover
• BF Essential Correlation Meter
• BF Essential Meter Bridge
• BF Essential Noise Meter
• BF Essential Tuner
• Funk Logic Mastererizer

There are other differences, too, but I think this covers all of the biggies. Well worth the extra money, imho.

[zzzounds]

jeezzz... eheh!! think i got the point of it! :D
the problem is the €€ difference; i can get the project mix for 1050€, and the digi 003 for 2655€€!!! :P and that, i cannot afford... the only chance for 003 would be the rack version. i can go for the 002 (rack version also), but then comes the question: this or project mix?
ah, and i have pt 7.3 LE, would the project mix work with it?
thanks once more...
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[JeffBarnett]

Well, at least you'll make an informed decision now. :)

Pro Tools LE will NOT work with the Project Mix I/O. You'll need Pro Tools M-Powered if you want to use it with any M-Audio interface.

[wfhscoyotes]

The 002 Rack is going on eBay with ProTools 7.1 for about half its original cost, you might want to check it out. The 002 Rack is selling here on sweetwater with the factory bundle for cheap too, I believe.

[JeffBarnett]

There is currently a killer deal on the Digi 002 Rack while they last:

Digi002 Rack with factory bundle (normally $1599)
Command | 8 control surface (normally $1195)

Together for $1699. That puts it much more in the Project Mix I/O price range. That's 1250 Euros.

[wfhscoyotes]

WHERE is that deal?!

[JeffBarnett]

I don't believe it's posted anywhere online. Just call your Sweetwater sales engineer (or call me if you don't have one of your own already) and ask for the 002 / Command 8 deal. He'll know what you are talking about.

[wfhscoyotes]

That's a pretty sweet deal. If I had $1600 to drop on music I would do it.

[zzzounds]

hey people!
thanks for all your interest and help on this...
i just read an article on a magazine saying you can use the project mix with protools LE, but they only talk about the controlling section. now i need to know about the audio interface!! :confused:
well, i'm gonna check the prices of the equipment you've mentioned. i cannot buy from america; not only i'll pay a huge import tax, as noone will take care of the garantee if it gets broken... but i'll check around here anyway.
thanks, and keep in touch all of you! i'll buy the equipment end of this month, until then maybe new & better ideas come up!
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[zzzounds]

There is currently a killer deal on the Digi 002 Rack while they last:

Digi002 Rack with factory bundle (normally $1599)
Command | 8 control surface (normally $1195)

Together for $1699. That puts it much more in the Project Mix I/O price range. That's 1250 Euros.


ok, i've just checked music store, and i can get both for around 1600/1700€. i cannot afford that, 'cause i still need to buy some other things.
if i buy the 002 rack, is there any other controller i can work with protools? i've seen many just before, but i don't know if they'll work with protools.
thanks
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[wfhscoyotes]

The Tascam FW-1082 will work. You just cant use its interface.

I believe Mackie Control will work with it too.