i don't know if the conversion on the isa 428 is that good... you're buying 4 good pres at a good cost and then the a/d is 1/4 of it's price... will it be worth it??? (don't know that...)
i wouldn't add a 002 but that's me...

I would leave the lightpipe as your only digital input to the 002

I use an Ai3 from Alesis.

If you want some extra Mic-pre's for your set up them buy the Mic-pre of choice.
Don't get one just because it have an SPDF interface. No-one seems to talk about the clocking issues when using multiple digital sources on stuff that doesn't have a true clock input and distribution.

Most of my latest recording have been at clients homes and on a mobile 001-Ai3 system ... AND on XP !!!

I use the converters I have. As I update the coverters will change.
SO what ?
there si more to worry about them all this converter war.

I then take the project home to my TDM system for more work.

Now....does anyone know if the pres on the Digi 002 rack are any good? It's also nice that I can still add better pres once I come to that point.

I don't have a 002 yet.
does it matter how good the pres are?
I'm sure that if I needed another mic-pre and it was there I would use it .... even if only for talk-back.

Make the most of whatever gear you have.
Get a 002 if you need it and have the budget.
8-)

The pres in the 002 are from the same R&D that went into making the 8ch DigiPre, which is targeted at their pro HD market. People I know who have used them are very happy. But be warned that they are very clean/vanilla (which ever way you look at it.) You won't hear any color. So the 002 pres are more than useable..... boardering on useful. (unlike the 001).

Now....does anyone know if the pres on the Digi 002 rack are any good? It's also nice that I can still add better pres once I come to that point.

Sure. As has been mentioned, they're decent transparent preamps. Not exciting, but useable on just about anything. I haven't done a direct comparison, but I'd say they're on par with the FW1884's preamps.

This is probably going to start a debate, but would it be worth it to add a 002 to my setup?

If you're losing enough business because you don't have Pro Tools that you could cover the cost of the 002 quickly, sure it would be worth it.

Previously I was going to buy an ISA 428 and hook it up with an optical cable to my FW1884. So I can either spend $1,700 on as ISA 428 that brings 4 decent pres to the table with the option to run 4 more pre's through it or I can spend $1,300 that brings 4 pres to the table plus Pro Tools software plus being able to add 4 more pres to it.

The ISA428 is several steps up in terms of quality compared to the 002's and 1884's preamps. Keep in mind, though, that the $1700 price of the ISA428 does not include the A/D card (unless you're looking at used). If taking a step up in audio quality is more important to you right now, then go with the 428. If keeping that business you're losing since you don't have Pro Tools is more important to you right now, then get the 002.

i don't know if the conversion on the isa 428 is that good... you're buying 4 good pres at a good cost and then the a/d is 1/4 of it's price... will it be worth it??? (don't know that...)

The conversion on the 428 is very good. People always forget that Focusrite has a good history in terms of converter design...their high-end Blue mastering converters from a few years back sounded amazing even today. If you think about it, you're getting a gread deal on eight channels of conversion, since you've already paid for the chassis, power supply and so on when you bought the 428, so even though the converter card is only about $600, it'll smoke the other converters that are even close to that price range. I have an Apogee Rosetta and a 428 with the digital card, and while I haven't actually done an A/B comparison, the Focusrite's converters sound good enough that I don't feel the need to.

-Duardo

Thanks, Duardo! You gave me a lot to consider.

If I were you I wouldn't buy an 002. Remember If you get Pro Tools you'll have to update every 6 months. Which also means you'll have to update all you plugs, and sometimes your OS (If your on Mac anyways). It's just a total hassle and will cost $$$ in the long run. Digi will own you.

I have an 002 and must say that I like it to a certain extent. But If your serious about recording YOU WILL OUT GROW IT. I know I have. Not to mention that the updates are a PITA.

I'm not familar with your setup, but I think you should take the money you were gonna spend on the 002, and buy some high quality pres; Avalon, Sebatron ect. This is the best way to upgrade the sound quality of your studio, IMO.

If your losing customers because you don't have Pro Tools than down load Pro Tools free. That way you can tell the customers you have Pro Tools (they won't know the difference :wink: ).

But seriously though, I'm sure there are better ways to spend $2K and improve the sound quality of your studio other than an 002. Sound Quality is all that should matter anyways.

Just my 2 cents.

I think we share the same opinion....sound quality is number one in my book.

Remember If you get Pro Tools you'll have to update every 6 months. Which also means you'll have to update all you plugs, and sometimes your OS (If your on Mac anyways).

Why does everyone think they have to update every six months, or year, or three months, or whatever? You never have to update. This doesn't just apply to Digidesign, either. If you buy a system today, it will still do the same thing it does today in three, six, or twelve months, or two years...

-Duardo

Duardo wrote:

Remember If you get Pro Tools you'll have to update every 6 months. Which also means you'll have to update all you plugs, and sometimes your OS (If your on Mac anyways).

Why does everyone think they have to update every six months, or year, or three months, or whatever? You never have to update. This doesn't just apply to Digidesign, either. If you buy a system today, it will still do the same thing it does today in three, six, or twelve months, or two years...

-Duardo

because they're lemmings Duardo. You don't need to. I am still running a Mix system and do work that sounds as goos as pretty much anybody, regardless of analog/digita etc. It's mostly how you engineer, what choices you make. You can do more good or dammage before you even hit the recording device. A good source (material, musician's , instruments) are ost of it really. I Digi002 is a great peice pof gear for the price. I'd just get the rack version myself and save money for other things..but that's just me. It's a good program to know, many people have it. Easy for networking. Let's you learn something that is pretty much a standard. AND as you've learned, clients who know less (presumably) than "you" ask for it.

Hear hear. 5.3.1 still works for me and many others. Just because features have been added does not mean everyone needs them.

If you're serious about a career in this, PT is the way to go.

Until Yamaha/steinberg charge with some glorious thing :?

Just remember they're is a reason the Digi 002/ Protools LE is cheaper than everything else Digi (except M-Box of course).

because they're lemmings Duardo. You don't need to. I am still running a Mix system and do work that sounds as goos as pretty much anybody, regardless of analog/digita etc.

My point exactly. I just don't understand why there's the misconception that if you use Digidesign products you are forced to pay for every upgrade that comes along.

Just remember they're is a reason the Digi 002/ Protools LE is cheaper than everything else Digi (except M-Box of course).

Of course there is. Nobody...Digidesign included...is trying to hide that fact.

-Duardo