The Ultimate Digi 001-002 set up

[PRS1JAZZ]

What would you want if you had the Digi 001-002 for a B studio rig for rock, rap, and jazz. I remember a thread a while ago with Jules inquiring about something similar to this. What would you want for A/D converters (yes I am aware that the Digi 001 is 48 and the 002 is 96). What would you want for a console...or no console at all? What would you want for preamps and how many, compressors....etc. Let me know your thoughts!

[XHipHop]

With either of those setups I would definitely end up having to mix in the box so just buy outboard gear that you know you will use during tracking.

Maybe a pair of distressors, a RNC, a tube tech cl1b and maybe an 1176 and you'd be set as far as versatility goes with compressors.

I would definitely spring for a set of nice converters. Maybe Rosetta 800's but this is subjective...whatever fits your budget AND sounds good to you. 2 years ago when i was using a Digi001 I used a Presonus Digimax with it and even that was a HUGE improvement over those converters. The Digi converters are truly garbage (i haven't heard the 002 though).

[Jules]

Benchmark DAC -1 for output D-A ?
Apogee Rosetta 800 for the extra 8 inputs... ?

I've run out of ideas....

[NathanEldred]

That's an open ended question at best. Basically, I would sum out to 10 channels of D/A (most likely a 8 channel Mytek via ADAT lightpipe and a Benchmark DAC-1 via the SPDIF). Minimum I would have a Dangerous 2 bus LT with a patchbay (novel idea), 10-12 channels of the new modular Daking console would be nice...that would cover all the EQ's and compression at a bang up price (compared to buying all seperate outboard pieces, still not "cheap" though), with a warranty. You could find a good deal on a variety of old, but good, analog consoles in the $3-$7K range also. Expect to pay a tech 50% or more of what you bought the board for. I could easily spend $100K on a 002 "B" room, just in gear. What are your goals, and how realistic are your expectations combined with your budget? If it's a room to 'run 'em through the mill', get a couple of quality stereo preamps, compressors, and ADC and go for it. Your room should only be as good as the clients will allow for, unless of course you're indepedently wealthy or crazy.

[David Herbert]

Ah, goodness, to be independently wealthy and crazy... or even independently wealthy and sane.
The Lucid 24/96 AD has served me well. David

[Jay Kahrs]

A lot of it depends on what you want to do with the room. If I were to put together a B room right now it would probably have a two channel micamp, two different compressors, an EQ which would most likely be a Speck ASC. I'd also put in a little console for cue mixes and a verb or two. I'd only be using the B room for overdubs and editing, you may need to do more with it.

[PRS1JAZZ]

I basically just wanted to have the ability to use 16 I/O at will. I would like to use some high end Pre and Comp as well as adaquit A/D without breaking the bank. Keep em going!

[blearyeyes]

When I had a digi 001 I also was looking at the presonus stuff. It would give you the i/o you want. I never did get a chance to hear it though.

[tommyd]

Originally posted by PRS1JAZZ
I basically just wanted to have the ability to use 16 I/O at will. I would like to use some high end Pre and Comp as well as adaquit A/D without breaking the bank. Keep em going!

When I was on the 001 I had an AD/DA unit from Frontier Design Group called the Tango 24. Connected to my Digi system via lightpipe with 8 ins and 8 outs via 1/4" trs jacks. Ins and outs were jumper selectable for +4 or -10. The converters are better than the 001's, don't know about the 002. Also you'd be limited to 48k 24bit if you were to use it with the 002. Here's the link.

http://www.frontierdesign.com/products/tango24main.html

I picked mine up used for a little under 400.00 bucks (some time ago)
This would give you 16 analog channels of I/O, worked for me! Hope this helps, and good luck!
TommyD

[planet red]

Im setting up my new studio now, and due to the amount of people trying to book time I think I might be opening a b room before this summer comes up. The room will probably have an 002 on a G5 (if they're compatible by then), with a pair of decent pres, a distressor, an rnc, a pair of speck eq's and some sort decent 2 channel converter. I might add some kind of digimax type converter/mic pres in case someone on a budget wants to track drums there.

I'd mostly use the room to track guitar, bass and vocals on cheaper projects, so i can rent out the bigger room. If im doing important stuff I'd be able to rent anything else I'd need.

[David Herbert]

So this is becoming your room to do your work in while other people rent your main room? You are going to want quality gear in that case.
I would keep away from Presonus, digimax, Octopre, mic pre/converter combos. Why not use the main room for your drums? You could always rent stuff for the occasional times when you need more converters. I hear good things about that Tango.
What fun, David

[JBRecording]

Hey all


I eliminated my console from my setup and I definitely like the more streamlined setup - I'm using a HUI as a controller, there are better ones out there but rather than putting a lot of cash towards a console you can get some nice outboard gear.

"kills me how so many guys will set up an 001 room and tell everybody they have a Pro-Tools studio"

A room centered around a 001 IS a "Pro-tools" studio.
What should they call it?


D

[Jules]

SOMETHING ELSE!

I need a lie down...

Tell me your kidding Jules.

Next we'll be saying that we hate people who have TLM103s and say they have a "a Neumann"

I guess what I was trying to say is....

I hate elitist.


D

[Jules]

Only kidding! Damn I just erased a long post! Bummer!

In short

I am looking forward to having the 001 soon. But not the spend on 'treats' like AD' and DA's for it...

(insert scared face here)

[remo]

my 2 cents. I'm trying to save you some $'s here...

get an digi 002R, run it on an AMD box. Hook yourself up with some good quality drum samples and a sound module or two. Channel strip: Mindprint Envoice Mk2
Mic: Rode NTK
Monitors: Alesis MK2 Actives

this gear is by no means "pro" but learn to use it well and you will get great results....and save you thousands.

juz lean to use the plugs in Tools, they will be fine for what you are trying to achive.

treat your room!!!! if you don't do this you can forget about good sounding mixes regardless of gear.

the biggest tip I can give you is spend most of your time working on your songs and learning your equipment, not researching gear on the net for HOURS like I (and I suspect most of us) do!

good luck!


Oh yeah.. and don't forget to hang a sign that says "PRO TOOLS STUDIO" on your door

[manning1]

as a technical aslternative i would look at the following which cant beat beat i,ho for the price. if say you want a small songwriting set up with decent a/d/a
amd barton pc with two drives 7200 rpm, 512 ddr ram.
delta 44 or if you want more channels rme(excellent drivers),
add in n tracxk multitracking software for 60 bucks for unlimted tracks/24bit/96khz or powertracks from pgmusic.com with 48 tracks. for 29 bucks. you'll have a great songwriting daw for not a lot of money. just add a mixer and mics or do what i do and build your own mic pre's. check out the recording.org diy section.
lots of knowledgeable folks there building their own stuff.
just an alternative.

[jeronimo]

Originally posted by remo
my 2 cents. I'm trying to save you some $'s here...

get an digi 002R, run it on an AMD box. Hook yourself up with some good quality drum samples and a sound module or two. Channel strip: Mindprint Envoice Mk2
Mic: Rode NTK
Monitors: Alesis MK2 Actives

this gear is by no means "pro" but learn to use it well and you will get great results....and save you thousands.

juz lean to use the plugs in Tools, they will be fine for what you are trying to achive.

treat your room!!!! if you don't do this you can forget about good sounding mixes regardless of gear.

the biggest tip I can give you is spend most of your time working on your songs and learning your equipment, not researching gear on the net for HOURS like I (and I suspect most of us) do!

good luck!


Oh yeah.. and don't forget to hang a sign that says "PRO TOOLS STUDIO" on your door

Is this post supposed to be serious?

[Wiggy Neve Slut]

Im just about to get this kinda setup goin soon, when my tax return rolls in..

Im getting an IBOOK 1.2 Mgz

002

And either a RADAR with Snyquists or classic I/O and ADAT I/O to sync with PT for tranfers of tracks and to use the RADAR AD/DA.

OR

UA 2192 and Benchmark DAC1 for 4 ch of kik ass AD/DA

The real kicker here is that as awesome as the AD/DA of the UA and Benchmark are for that kinda $$$ i could go the RADAR path and have a fully functional HD recroder which i can rent out and use for location and gig recordings.

On the outboard front im gona be pretty sorted with an assortment of Phoenix gear, Neuman FET47, TT CL1B. maybe grab a distressor etc and im sorted.

All in all a decent mobil rig that is easily portable and highly useable in a lot of different situations, and what i dont have i will hire as needed.

Cheers
Wiggy

[djui5]

Originally posted by dpasch
"kills me how so many guys will set up an 001 room and tell everybody they have a Pro-Tools studio"

A room centered around a 001 IS a "Pro-tools" studio.
What should they call it?


D

They can call it a pro-tools studio...just don't use professional in the same sentence

[blackcatdigi]

Originally posted by Wiggy Neve Slut
Im just about to get this kinda setup goin soon, when my tax return rolls in..

Im getting an IBOOK 1.2 Mgz

002

Wiggy,

I've been testing an 002R with an Imac G4 1.25Mgz, and I gotta tell you, it's not quite there. If you're just gonna record/playback tracks, it may work, but serious edits and a few plugins and my system starts choking...

YMMV.

[renshen]

Please so I understand, is Professional defined by:

1. Audio quality
or
2. Financial aspect, as in clients & cash flow, employees, business license, Etc...

Renshen

[blackcatdigi]

Originally posted by djui5
They can call it a pro-tools studio...just don't use professional in the same sentence

So, which one of you guys wants to break the news to Bob Olhsson that he's not a 'professional' studio?

[manning1]

as a computer engineer , i'm surprised anyone would consider a 1
ghz processor. the amd processors are the way to go.
more of everything really. more plug ins/track counts/performance. just check around on this site and others on the net like cakewalk for benchmarks.
you really cant beat also rme sound cards for solid drivers and audio performance.
i dont know why people feel they have to spend so much.
i know people doing great stuff with an amd system , delta 44
sound card and the songs sound great.

[g.longest]

Originally posted by manning1
[B]as a computer engineer , i'm surprised anyone would consider a 1
ghz processor.

Just curious, but why do you say that?

[manning1]

because a faster amd processor plus motherboard is so dirt cheap. pc builder stores here are offering complete systems minus monitor at 299. hers an example canadasys.com - click on desktops.

[g.longest]

Originally posted by manning1
because a faster amd processor plus motherboard is so dirt cheap.

But if you like working on a mac, then homebrew systems are somewhat out of the question.

FWIW, I think the RADAR I use runs a 1 ghz celeron chip, works great. Which strenghtens the argument that the majority of "speed" has to do more with software/hardware efficiency and tuning, than raw clock frequency.

These proc speed generalities can be somewhat confusing. I think even Intel is actually stepping the clock speeds down on their highest units comming down the pike...

[manning1]

we are in an interim consolidation phase - thats all.
before the next push up. the problem is HEAT.
as more transistors are crammed on vlsi circuits and as speed increases. read the thread on slutz about the dual opterons and the significant performance increases obtained with these amd processors. ghz does matter as does memory and disk speed.
some guys are reporting on upper end amd systems getting 80 plus tracks or more. so all you need is a good soundcard like rme or lynx and youve got it.
but if your happy right now. there is a coming sweet spot at around 5 to 8 ghz when such processors arrive.
wait for them to get cheap and make your buying move.
i was hoping we would see them in a couple of years , but it looks like its going to be longer.
my next move will probably be 5ghz and once sata drives reach about 200mb/sec i'll make my move. that will be enough to keep me happy till they put me in a retirement home.
for your interest the computer industry will probably suffer massive job losses i'm predicating because once speeds hit these high figures most folks needs - even us gear crazies will be sated. wo needs more than 100 tracks ? yeh - i know - someone will....!!

[Wiggy Neve Slut]

hmmm.. thats quite interesting.