compasspnt wrote on Sat, 21 June 2008 20:10 |
These units are fine as controllers, and allow you to do professional recording into Protools, with one exception: the converters. In my opinion, the A > D and then D > A converters are the weak link. As far as operability, no problems at all, as long as you don't need more I/O or track count than they provide. If you get one, try to also get something like a Lavry Blue rack for stereo I/O conversion. Good luck. |
Fletcher wrote on Sun, 22 June 2008 07:12 |
The API A2D will give you two great channels of mic-pre and two great channels of A/D conversion for a far better price than the Lavry... this should solve most of your issues [eventually, you should investigate a better D/A solution as the D/A in the 003 is also not very good. Peace. |
compasspnt wrote on Sun, 22 June 2008 13:14 |
Really, if you're just getting started, the 003 will probably do good enough as it is. IF you keep levels reasonable low, and not try to push the thing to its ultimate limits, it should deliver reasonably professional output. Really, it's much more about what music you put into it anyway. I think I would start with the 003, and then add on as I improved myself enough to require the upgrades. (Fletcher's API idea sounds like a good one, by the way...I've just never used that particular unit, so can't comment firsthand.) |
bilco wrote on Sun, 22 June 2008 19:02 |
If you are truly learning how to be an audio engineer from scratch, I don't think the Digi003 is a bad investment at all. (I have a Digi 002 Rack and an Mbox, so no Control surface advice.) The preamp and converters are going to be usable for you for awhile unless you are a particularly gifted and fast learner. I am nowhere in the league of the gentlemen offering you advice, but I can offer you my experience. I am a semi-pro weekend warrior musician and a songwriter, not an engineer, so bear that in mind. I have been making multitrack home recordings since at least the late 70s with 4 track reel to reel decks and Portastudio cassettes. I have been in the digital recording world since about 2001 and after throwing a pretty significant amount of money at this, here is what I have found. *The person doing the engineering is really about 99% of the game. *You have to have a great song and great musicians to record or the whole exercise is pretty pointless. *You will make a much more profound difference in your level of skill by learning mic placement and how to listen than you will in spending lots of money on pro gear. *Apprentice at a local studio for free as time permits if you are really dedicated to this. Don't expect to be paid. Empty the trash, make coffee, whatever they ask. Keep quiet and watch and listen. *Hearing the difference in preamps and convertors is apparently something that pro engineers and maybe animals can hear, but not me. And I think that as a regularly working musician, I have pretty critical, albeit partially lost, hearing. *You asked about Harvey's forum. I think it may serve your needs better since you seem to be new to all of this. *Print the document out at this link and read it constantly. http://www.itrstudio.com/MIC_CHAT.PDF The knowledge in that thread is worth way more than a $2,000 preamp. I am not seeing anywhere whether this is just going to be a hobby for you or if you are recording yourself as a singer or songwriter or musician or whether you intend to do this as a business. If this is just a hobby or you are a part-time musician like me, I say keep it simple and get something along the lines of the Digi 003 or even just an Mbox or the equivalent for learning the basics. None of the pros here are going to be using or recommending those preamps for making commercial release recordings, but for learning purposes and some really high quality demos, they are more than good enough. In all my searching the web for samples of the differences the gear makes, I have concluded a couple of things: *Based on many recordings I have heard from home recordists (not in this forum) who have spent a LOT of money on gear, those recordings still do not sound professional to me. There is always a little something missing. Usually it is the song or the voice because they are trying to do it all. But the recordings do not sound like records to me, just really good demos at best. *Recordings I heard done on a prosumer 1/2" 8 track Tascam by a pro audio engineer here in Austin back in the 80s have a more professional sound than many recordings I have heard done by home recordists with a lot of high end gear. The difference is he did and still does recording for a living. *It has taken me decades to know everything I know about writing a song and playing bass; I am far from the best, but I have grown because I love playing bass and I am obsessed with songwriting. I have been recording for decades, but I have not progressed that much because engineering is not my passion. I spent somewhere around $5,000 to figure that out........ If I had it to do over knowing what I know now, I would have just bought 2 decent mics and an Mbox for demos and if and when I wanted to record a CD, I would take those tracks to a real studio with a real engineer and let them do what they do best. Is recording your passion? One last thought, not sure what kind of truck you drive, but - if I went out and bought the most expensive rig that money can buy..... would it make me a trucker? What makes you a trucker, the years of time you put into it or the brand and quality of the rig you are driving? bilco |
Galil wrote on Mon, 23 June 2008 17:59 |
Adam The Truck Driver wrote: I have access to a Tascam TSR-8 but can't get tape anymore. Why not? I just got a delivery of some RMGI and ATR Magnetics tape last week. Not saying that you should stay with the TSR-8, but if your lack of tape stock is really forcing this move, it might not really be necessary. Check out: http://www.rmgi-usa.com/rmg_studio.html http://www.atrtape.com/ Galil |
Adam The Truck Driver wrote on Sat, 21 June 2008 18:00 |
Does the Digi 003 table top version get any respect here? On it's own merits is it worth a damn at recording and mixing music? I'm going to teach myself how to record and mix. I had initialy though I'd purchase a respectable collection of microphones, a rack of premium front end gear, premium converters, premium computer, premium DAW software and the rest of the required accessories, but was advised not to. I then had the idea to get the microphones, but instead of seperate preamps and converters, something like the Apogee Ensemble would be the way to go for me, but thats still going to lead to major bucks for me to have to spend, before I even learn proper recording. So now I'm on to the Digi 003 or it's competitors if there are any. I've read that M Audio gear leaves something to be desired in sound quality. I already own a Acer PC tower which I'd like upgrade the memory on if I used it as it only has 512MB I think, and this Acer Aspire 5920 Core 2 Duo, 1.66GHz,667MHz FSB, 2MB L2 cache, 3GB DDR2 laptop, both relatively new, and running on Vista. I am not looking to do this for a living/professionally, but do want something that can be capable of at least damn near professional sound quality if not pro sound quality. I want to do simple recordings i.e. 3 miked drums, DI/miked bass, DI/miked guitar cab, and vox. Might have a real horn come in too, or an electronic keyboard player. Might stereo, or 3 track a local church chior. Will certainly record myself on drums, and singing those sappy ballads I like to sing. Anyway back to the Digi 003...any opinions? Experienced opinions? Options? |
Halfway Competent wrote on Tue, 24 June 2008 19:31 | ||
Hey Adam, I own a Digi-002 Rack and have been using it for several years. The only difference I could see between it and the 003 are the look, and the 003 has a little more flexible monitoring section. Anyway, the 002 converters are decent, though not fantastic. The built-in preamps are pretty unexceptional and unexciting; about Mackie-VLZ grade. (I think the pres in my Mackie Onyx board sound better, actually!) They'll get audio into the unit on a budget. All that said, for what it is, I think it's a great unit. Unless you really want the control surface, though, get the rack version and save a grand. I bought a dbx 386 2-ch mic pre with onboard A/D. It sounds notably better than the pres on the 002. The unit costs $500, and is a really good upgrade to the 002/3. I used it, and an Audio Technica 4047 to record the vocals on this track: http://www.tewsnet.com/dropbox/sample.mp3 The guitars and bass were recorded thru the 002 preamps, using Audio Technica 4033 microphones. |
danickstr wrote on Tue, 24 June 2008 21:48 |
that track by halfway competent is a testament to what can be done on a small budget and still achieve a nice sound. Could have been a much bigger studio and not gotten much more in the way of clarity, if any at all, depending on the myriad of factors that can plague or enhance a recording. If you are just starting, get that setup and when it sounds that good, move on, if you must spend more. |
patrick_pendleton wrote on Wed, 25 June 2008 06:53 |
If I could have stuck with my 001 I'd still be using it today because it sounds better than both the 002 and 003 (all of which I've had). It is so completely frustrating that the quality of these products has been steadily heading down hill. I just bought an apogee ensemble to use as a front end for the 003 (rack) and it sounds incredible. I only wish I could run tools using it alone. I'll be checking out logic I guess. Anyone out there make the switch? |
danickstr wrote on Tue, 24 June 2008 19:48 |
that track by halfway competent is a testament to what can be done on a small budget and still achieve a nice sound. Could have been a much bigger studio and not gotten much more in the way of clarity, if any at all, depending on the myriad of factors that can plague or enhance a recording. If you are just starting, get that setup and when it sounds that good, move on, if you must spend more. |