Digi oo2 - Leave it or turn it off?

[NesNeedsGear]

powering up can be stressful on some sensitive equipment.

I turn almost everything off overnight....haven't had anything crap out on me yet.

[jimbo_baby84]

i've been wondering about this too. so far i've been leaving my 002 on. that's what i was told to do with my atc monitors, and hey, if it's good enough for them...

[chrisp2u]

My opinion is that if it wasn't made to be turned on and off regularly, the engineers wouldn't put the power button on the front.

Honestly, this is one of those things that has been argued by many, in many different forums, about many different electronic devices... and probably stirs up nearly as much controversy as "do cables make a difference in audio quality" (well, maybe not quite as much).

Personally, I don't think turning stuff on and off a few times a day is going to have any adverse affect on most devices, with the exception of computers maybe where the HD spins up and down (it's been said that you should always wait for the drive to spin down fully before turning it back on). For other stuff where there's really no moving parts... meh.

I do however think that good cables make a difference in sound
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c

[firby]

My stuff gets turned off everynight. I use an old Hafler amplifier for my nearfields and that thing gets turned off during tracking. It all has to do with heat in my less than stellar studio. It's been a very hot week and I have to turn off the AC when I am recording tracks. So the method is chill the house cold. I mean COLD. Then keep the AC running while I am getting a sound. Then turn off the AC and you had better nail it pretty quick because it heats up fast brother.

When I do synths or bass then its a pleasure but drums and stuff with mics is a pain.

[PT User]

Well, I hate to say but with the 002's POWER HARNESS ISSUE, and me falling victim to it twice now. NEVER TURN THE DAMN THING OFF!

Originally Posted by chrisp2u

My opinion is that if it wasn't made to be turned on and off regularly, the engineers wouldn't put the power button on the front.

Honestly, this is one of those things that has been argued by many, in many different forums, about many different electronic devices... and probably stirs up nearly as much controversy as "do cables make a difference in audio quality" (well, maybe not quite as much).

Personally, I don't think turning stuff on and off a few times a day is going to have any adverse affect on most devices, with the exception of computers maybe where the HD spins up and down (it's been said that you should always wait for the drive to spin down fully before turning it back on). For other stuff where there's really no moving parts... meh.

I do however think that good cables make a difference in sound
---
c

[chrisp2u]

Originally Posted by PT User

Well, I hate to say but with the 002's POWER HARNESS ISSUE, and me falling victim to it twice now. NEVER TURN THE DAMN THING OFF!

Good point. Fortunately, I've never had an issue with my 002R (knock on wood) in the 4 years I've owned it. Or, you can just have a couple harnesses on hand for such an event... Go Digi

[puls(e)]

What about the possibility of lightening strikes if you live in areas prone to thunderstorms?

just thinkin' out loud, sorta

jwp

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by puls(e)

What about the possibility of lightening strikes if you live in areas prone to thunderstorms?

just thinkin' out loud, sorta

jwp

Yeah, disconnect the AC from the wall.

But beyond that, if your computer is connected to the internet via cable and the 002 is connected to the computer via firewire, disconnect the cable.

I understand that a good amount of lightning strike equipment damage is from the cable, and sometimes it's from the cable getting hit and the bolt seeking ground by going thru your gear to get to the AC power line.

Originally Posted by PT User

Well, I hate to say but with the 002's POWER HARNESS ISSUE, and me falling victim to it twice now. NEVER TURN THE DAMN THING OFF!

The 'dreaded' power harness issue is due to oxidation on the tabs of the connectors on the power harness. I understand the problem is more prevalent in humid climes. I don't remember if Cincinnatti qualifies.

Replacement is hardly necessary; just clean the contacts. In fact, usually unplugging and replugging is all that's required. Takes about 30 seconds (don't lose the screws.)


OTOH, my 002 rack unit has always had that electrical burning smell; do I trust it to not burn my house down? No.

Digi swears up and down that it's ok, though.

[chrisp2u]

Originally Posted by max cooper

OTOH, my 002 rack unit has always had that electrical burning smell; do I trust it to not burn my house down? No.

Digi swears up and down that it's ok, though.

Hmm... I get that too. I had never noticed it before until the last year or so. I've had it racked in a SKB case for about a year and a half, had it closed up for a few months while I was going through a dormant recording period, opened up the rack and it wreaked of that toasted solid-state odor. I was obviously concerned, but everything seemed to be working OK, so I haven't thought much about it since.

I guess I feel better about it knowing that I'm not the only one that's experienced that.
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c

[timotheus]

I'm just gonna note here that since I've isolated the data line between my cable modem, and my router with the ethernet surge sopressor on an APC Back-ups 750 broadband, (everyrhing was already protected on incoming AC by APC Battery units ov various descriptions) I haven't had a single component fail on me.

If there's any likelyhood that it'll be a problem, get a surge supressor.

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by timotheus

If there's any likelyhood that it'll be a problem, get a surge supressor.

I did some digging on surge suppressors and their $100,000 equipment replacement guarantees.

Turns out they're considered nowhere near fast enough to stop a lightning strike. Also, may not be able to stop that much energy by a long shot.

Here's a bit from Underwriters Laboratories:

"Many people assume that surge suppressors can protect their home from lightning damage. Surge suppressors are not lightning protection devices - they cannot protect your home or your home's internal electrical wiring from a direct strike. Surge suppressors can, however, protect your equipment from voltage surges caused by unexpected occurrences such as a utility pole downed by a storm."

http://www.ul.com/consumers/surge.html

[Joe Silence]

this may sound mildly crackpot, but one thing that CAN mitigate the effects of a lightning strike on your computer and associated recording gear it tying a single LOOSE knot in the power cable that runs to the wall from the power distribution unit you use.

i have had this work twice.

downside: if it stops a huge lightning related spike, the power cable may burst into flames as it effectively blocks it.

upside: but your precious computer and 002 will not have fried!

so keep a 123 extinguisher handy!

this should be done along with a UPS providing spike and surge protection.

[max cooper]

I'm guessing the knot in the cable is supposed to work like an inductor.

I'd assume that if your rig starts to draw more power, you're gonna feel the knot get hot.

[Joe Silence]

Originally Posted by max cooper

I'm guessing the knot in the cable is supposed to work like an inductor.

I'd assume that if your rig starts to draw more power, you're gonna feel the knot get hot.

*tries to ignore potential for double entendre*

it'd have to be a HUGE draw before you felt it get hot.stike

[valverec]

I would turn all amps and monitors off overnight, with the exception of tape machines, as turning them on and off throws them out of alignment. I turn on my gear an hour before I use it, so that the electronics have time to settle down. I think this works just as well as leaving it all on all the time, and my electric bill is a LOT less.

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by RefD

*tries to ignore potential for double entendre*

it'd have to be a HUGE draw before you felt it get hot.stike

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