RME Fireface 800 to Digi 002 Rack

[barryjohns]

I think I know the answer to but I want to check for some insight I currently use Logic Pro but am thinking about switching to Protools. Understanding that the converters in the 002R have a lot to be desired, I would want to use the converts on my Fireface 800 and use the 002 Rack as a go between. You can take a look at my gear list below to see what my path would be. My understanding is I can use the Fireface via Optical using my Fireface as the clock. Do I understand this correctly? Are there some obvious things I am missing? The only reason I am looking at the 002 Rack vice M-Protools is at some point I might upgrade to the 48-track toolkit that is available. Right now I think I can get it done with 32, but I don't want to box myself in. I'm spoiled with Logic, I can do as many tracks as I want and don't even come close to maxing out my system. I'm just not a fan of he way Logic and I get along. I'm more old school and have used protools with and Mbox several years ago and remember liking how productive I was with it.

Everyone tells me to stay with what I have that it is far superior, should I listen to that or switch? If I switch how can I do what’s described above.

[amost]

Should work fine...one thing is though if you use the "Low Latency Monitoring" option in Digi 002 I think it has to be assigned through outputs 1-2 which are the analog outs...if you're planning on using the digi outs of the Fireface that is.

[MikeMitchell]

I came from a 002r with ptle 7 to a ff800 with cubase\nuendo and haven't looked back. IMO the fireface pre's & converters blow the 002 away (as you already know) and I'm just as fast with nuendo after a couple of months as I was with pt. Routing is a little different, but the exact same functionality is there and not difficult to figure out. Might be worth checking out cubase SE for only $150 just to see if it rubs you the right way.

All that said, I would base your decision on what program you work well with, be ptle, cubase, logic, whatever. Any of the hardware can eventually be upgraded. If you love pt I would stick with the 002, ditch the ff800, and grab an apogee minime. Got your 002 pres and converters for less important duties and two high quality pre\converter channels for the important stuff.
Good luck, Mike

[barryjohns]

I just bought the RME Fireface. Help me understand, why would I want to sell it to get the same thing in the Mini Me and only have two channels vice 8? Am I missing something?

[MikeMitchell]

Originally Posted by barryjohns

I just bought the RME Fireface. Help me understand, why would I want to sell it to get the same thing in the Mini Me and only have two channels vice 8? Am I missing something?

From the way your original question stated it sounds like you don't want to use the 002 for anything more than a digital in. If it were me I would rather have 2 channels of high quality pre\converter like the minime or an api a2d, and use the 002 for anything more than stereo recording. A total of 6 pres and 10 converters rather than a ff800 with 4 pres and 8 converters.

Like I said it depends on your situation. I'm going to assume you are not tracking an entire band at the same time if you are only shooting for 8 a\ds. I'd rather track vocals, guitars, bass, whatever else you have through a minime and skimp a little on the drums by using the 002 converters. Whatever floats your boat.

[treymonfauntre]

why pro tools? the name?

[MikeMitchell]

I forgot to add... Are you planning on having them both connected firewire to your mac? I don't know if you can select channel 1, 7, and 8 withouth the rme software, might want to look into that. Hell, I don't even know if if can run standalone, and I sure wouldn't want to try to having the pt and rme drivers both installed running at the same time. Just sounds like a mess to me.


Edit: Apparently it can go standalone but...
Using LE & Digi 002 with Fireface....

[barryjohns]

Thanks everyone so far. The only reason I am thinking about going to protools is I find audio editing tedious in Logic. Things in general seem difficult in Logic. I left Protools (Mbox) for Logic 6, and then upgraded to Logic Pro. I really don't use the soft synths much. The sampler for bass, strings, real basic stuff. I do like Space Designer. Since I bought the Liquid Mix, I don't really use logic plugs for anything any longer.

Really, I'm hoping that going back to Protools will made the process more efficient for me. It's probably a hoop dream. I really don't know. I looked into Nuendo, but 2k, ouch; I don't dislike Logic that much. Someone mentioned Cubase SX, I don't know why, but that seems like taking a step back.

I do want to note that I love my new Fireface, I just got it. I was using a Presonus Firepod before. I can really, REALY, tell a big difference over the two units. I personally consider it better than the Apogee stuff, especially since a recent post here comparing the two.

Really, should I just suck it up and keep what I've got and deal with it?

[H-Rezz]

Have you ever considered getting a cheap M-audio card that has adat connections and is M-powered, meaning it can run P.Tools software ? something like a 410 , this way you can keep your current rig Logic Pro and just add a second app being p.tools and still use your FF800.

[quincyg]

maudio now makes a litepipe only card. 32 ins/outs $450.

i also am using logic for a couple of years and have been toying with the idea of nuendo or pt so that i can stop cursing at my audio regions. i don't know if pt is adequate for midi yet and i have mostly au/vst plug-ins. i don't want to buy into pt proprietary stuff anymore. nuendo looks very interesting. you can buy the an academic copy for $1k.
if you can hold out for 6 months maybe logic will come out with a vastly improved version, although this is only rumor and speculation. some think it will still suck for audio editing/tracking.

i feel your pain. no perfect program yet.

[bdevoid]

What did you decide? I actually got the RME ff 400 so that I could run Logic and PT at the same time. It works fine and I use the RME to get into the 002 via lightpipe. I found this thread because I'm looking for the right way to launch everything. When I need to change the master clock or I launch an app that is defaulting to the wrong sample rate, it causes crashes and other chaos. Is anyone else clocking an 002 to an RME?

[barryjohns]

I am taking my fireface into my 002r via light pipe. I set protools to clock to the adat lightpipe (RME). I set the RME as the master clock. It is working great in protools. I have not tried to do anything in logic since setting this up.