Digi 003 announced

ullanta

ullanta

Veteran
Just a note that Digidesign has at long last announced the Digi003 and Digi003 Rack.

For anyone waiting years for this, well... prepare to be a bit disappointed.

Just like the Mbox 2, the Digi003 doesn't really add anything - no major big increase in capabilities. Still 96KHz max, still only 48K on the ADAT, same channels. Adds word clock, and a second headphone out; gets rid of alt source ins and outs on RCA jacks. Standalone mode on the console seems to be gone, too.

The full Digi003 console has a few extra buttons and a jog/shuttle wheel that add some convenience.

Ah, well. I was hoping the Rack would shrink to 1U, add bus-powering (a la Traveler); or that the ADAT would be upgraded to S/MUX for 96K, at least...

-Barry
 
The 003 (with faders) finally updated the midi stand alone mode so you can use it with other midi applications. They also include presets for some of their software synths.

The mic pre design is newer and has better specs.

It's the same price as the 002 but you get way more plug-ins included.
 
carlone said:
The mic pre design is newer and has better specs.
Click to expand...

I wonder... that's what they say about the Mbox 2, and perhaps it specs better, but the old Mbox still sounds better (IMHO).


It's the same price as the 002 but you get way more plug-ins included.
Click to expand...

Well, yes, the 003 Factory bundle is better priced than the 002 factory... though those of us lucky enough to be early-002 adopters got the original 002Pack, which was a lot nicer... included a number of Waves plug-ins that remain indispensible to me today...!

Anyway, yes, I guess the 003 console has a few things improved - though nothing I'd call major or even tempting - but the 003 Rack has almost nothing...
 
I agree, it does not seem like much of an upgrade. I don't think th 96k thing is a big deal however. Personally I don't record above 48k on my HD system. Technically I did once, but I didn't find it worth the extra space and processing overhead. Hopefully the preamps are better, because they are probably easily 10X more important than sampling rate.

If I could control my system with it, I would consider getting one, because it would be pretty handy, and I could use it for recording at locations. That would be pretty cool.

You can't expect too much from a box that basically costs 2k when high quality analog gear usually runs 500-1k a channel.
 
Yes, well... I hardly ever use the 002 preamps themselves; I use Millennia for critical tracks, and tend to run into the 002 via ADAT... and those sopranos do indeed benefit from the higher sampling rates!

I am not saying the preamps don't matter, but in an 18-track system with 4 built-in preamps, I think importance does swing away from the built-in preamps a bit for many uses.

...but it's more a question of why Digi has taken to releasing new products that don't really improve upon the old ones... I mean, if the Mbox II Pro was the new Mbox, it'd be a reasonable improvement. If the Mbox 2 Pro had ADAT I/O, it would add significant utility and have a useful niche as a "little brother" to the 002.

MOTU seems to keep coming up with new products that differ significantly and have unique benefits. I just wish digi would, well, rip off some of their ideas (or, of course, open ProTools to work with MOTU hardware... but that seems an even longer shot).
 
I'm a tenor, so I live with my 48k :)

I also can't understand why the 003 isnt a bit cooler than it is. I have to assume it will be the came case when they finally release new HD cards.
 
I don't like the look of the 003 Rack... (what the hell are those mushrooms?!?!)... but I have to say I'm uncertain (not having seen a real one) whether the 003 console is better looking than the 002... the 002 always seemed a tad awkward to me. Kinda Star-Trek-y. But... mushrooms?
 
I am with you on that Ullanta, although not so much the look but those "mushroom" knobs will be more difficult to use for those with big hands. Really seems like a poor design choice.

Overall Digidesign/Avid does make great stuff but since they are the "industry standard" they tend to really screw you on features...just because they can. Don't plan on them working with MOTU anytime soon, they have nothing to gain by it.

I wish I could say I haven't looked back since switching over to Nuendo but I have.

(BTW, David Fisk is looking to sell his Digi002 system at a pretty price to anyone interested)

Cheers
 
On the other hand, of course, I'm really happy, as I feel no temptation whatsoever to replace any of my 002's with 003's!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top