[nigelpry]

No you can’t use the 003 audio inputs, you just use the control surface.

Best of both worlds, the UA apollo audio ins and outs are far superior to the 003.

How many things do you need to record at the same time?

The Twin’s optical input can be set to receive 2 channels of S/PDIF, or 8 channels of ADAT.

So if you need more than the two mic/line inputs simultaneously, you could get an analog to ADAT convertor, something cheap and cheerful like the Behringer ADA8200 for under £200, or the sky’s the limit if you have a bigger budget. That would give you 8 extra analog inputs, so you would have 10 in all.

If you want to record the AES output of the EX5, because you think the analog outputs are distorting, then get an AES to S/PDIF convertor, under £40. Do you think the EX5 analog outputs are faulty? Or is it just a gain staging issue?

Do you need everything connected at the same time just for convenience? Or because multiple people will be playing instruments at the same time.

If just for convenience, and because you don’t want to be continually plugging/unplugging leads from the apollo, you could use a small patchbay.

If multiple people, then Analog to ADAT convertor is the way to go.

PS when using the 003 as a control surface, the midi connections will still work too.