digi 002 - control surface? or the mouse?

[romerom]

i have a digi 002. i heard that with the control surface, i'm supposed to be able to control the entire session without using the mouse. I haven't figured out how to do this just yet - so I go back and forth between the control sufrace and the mouse..

how many of you use the digi 002's control surface without using the mouse?

[ejwells]

I have the 002 Consol. It's nice, mainly for the ability to move multiple faders at the same time (which can also be done with a mouse, but not with the ease of the consol). I like the physical faders. I likes seein' 'em jump around. It makes me happy.
That being said, I mainly use the mouse and the keyboard. I rarely touch the consol.
Plus, I never have (or will) use the 002 as a standalone mixer. If I had it to do over again, I might have gotten the rack version.

[cruisemates]

Dittos for me...

Here is the rub for me. I came to PT not knowing the software at all, (or any DAW) and I started with the 002 thinking it would work more like the analog consoles I grew up with. I was completely wrong. All it is is an extension of the PT software controls placed into a hardware format. You still need to learn the PT program (mouse & keyboard shortcuts) thoroughly before you understand how to use the Digi002 at all.

People who learn the keyboard shortcuts probably work just as quickly as I do (and probably most people) on the 002.

Having said that, though, people who are already VERY familiar with PT, would probably really like an upgrade to the 002. But I don't recommend starting with it. PT is a fairly steep learning curve if you come in from the cold like I did, and once you learn the software, do you really want to spend another weekend with the 002 manual re-learning how to do what you just learned how to do in the software? No - you want to start making music.

The 002 is great for the faders, transport controls, panning and mix/edit screen buttons. It is nice to have, but if you are on a budget - get the 002r, and buy some outboard gear.

Just about everything else rarely gets touched, and you end up using the mouse most of the time. You are going to have the mouse in your hand most of the time anyway. Why look for the "loop record" button on the 002 if you just highlighted the region with the mouse?

Once in awhile, I switch into EQ mode, but it is much easier to do it on the screen. You can't even see all the bands on the digi002 in EQ mode, and the order they come up as you scroll through the menu seems counter-intuitive to me.

There are many things the 002 will NOT do that a normal analog console will do by second nature, such as routing, & track assignment. You have to go to the software to do anything like a patch-bay re-direct. It seemed logical to me that if you have a piece of hardware with ins/outs that it would have knobs/buttons (cue & effects sends/assign matrix) to help you control signal flow. But it doesn't. You have to go to the software to configure your signal flow. Once you have done that there are ways to flip the faders to turn your channel faders in effects faders, but you have to select the effect faders you want with the mouse first - so once again, why go to the digi when you already have the mouse in your hand?

Once again - if I had a studio where i was working every day, and I did nothing but sessions all day long with different clients and setups constantly, I would probably find lots of ways to use the 002 to my advantage merely because of repetition of doing a new setup every day, But for my little home hobby studio, it is an expensive toy, a BMW when a Ford escort would have worked just as well.

But it does impress your friends when those faders move around on their own. Especially old geezers like me.

[aliengroover]

I disagree that there's a steep learning curve. If you've even been around anyone using PT before and you already have a knack for recording and things of that nature, while there's a lot to learn, it's not that hard. I'd been recording with tape (digital and analog) and analog consoles, as well as standalone HDRs, and the first day I fired up PT I was able to get a grasp of the standard functions. After that, it was learning all the little things to make sessions go better and more smoothly.

As to the control surface. I have the 002R with the Mackie, and I find myself working at about a 60/40 split, in favor of the controller. I wouldn't go to a comp-based system unless I had a controller. I'm an extremely tactile kind-of guy when it comes to recording and mixing. I use the mouse/keyboard for editing, input/output selection, and editing most plug in's parameters. It's gotten second hand for most functions on the controller.

I love having a surface controller, but I understand it just doesn't gel for some (and I mean "some).
Peace

[SimpleNatureSpirit]

How valuable is your desk space?
My Digi001 was a very elegant solution.
Fearing being left in the dust when PTLE V7 comes out, I upgraded.
I upgraded to the 002 control surface only because it gave me the best return on the 001.

If the unit sat right in front of me, maybe I'd use it more.
Since I cannot have the keyboard on my lap, the 002 is off to my right.

In all, the console is too big. Stand alone is the only nice feature I see. Then I can record straight into my MBox with someone at the faders while I record

[romerom]

does anybody have any good documentation on using the digi 002 to control the entire session? the digi 002 getting started guide doesn't really get into it at all..

[albee1952]

my 2 cents worth-I love the combination. I keep the 002 on the left, keyboard center and mouse on the right and find it very efficient. After I set a basic mix, I do a lot of automation edits with the mouse as it is often smoother than physically moving a knob or slider. Meanwhile, the sliders are handy for quick rough-in of mixes and quick adjustments during overdubs. You just gotta find what works best for you.

[cruisemates]

Romeron wrote: "does anybody have any good documentation on using the digi 002 to control the entire session? the digi 002 getting started guide doesn't really get into it at all.."

Dittoes there, too. I wish there was a real Digi 002 manual anywhere, but I have never found one. I have basically figured out what everything does, but some kind of a beginning to end, how to run a session on your Digi002 similar to Keene's "A Musician's Guide to Pro Tools" would be great.

By the way, Romeron, since you are in Phoenix, have we met?

[Straatocastoer]

I have often said ... and I will re-state here ... that I would trade my 002 for a 002R (with some kind of gear thrown in to balance out the cost difference) because I nearly NEVER touch the 002 controls with the exception of the transport keys. Some people live and die by the motorized faders and assignable pots and all the pretty lights and stuff, but my style of mixing is different. I wish I would have taken the extra cash and bought a mic or a pre or plugs or something ... but hindsight is always 20/20, right?

Anyone wanna trade??

[romerom]

Romeron wrote: "does anybody have any good documentation on using the digi 002 to control the entire session? the digi 002 getting started guide doesn't really get into it at all.."

Dittoes there, too. I wish there was a real Digi 002 manual anywhere, but I have never found one. I have basically figured out what everything does, but some kind of a beginning to end, how to run a session on your Digi002 similar to Keene's "A Musician's Guide to Pro Tools" would be great.

By the way, Romeron, since you are in Phoenix, have we met?

haven't met.. have you been to www.602streets.com or www.southwesthiphop.com ? those sites are both excellent and are based in phoenix. i'm co-owner of southwesthiphop.com so i help out with that one quite a bit. i work with alot of artists that frequent those sites.. who do you work with? what type of music are you working on?