Digi 003 vs M-Audio Project mix pre's/convertrs?

[Stixxs]

Hi all,

Has anyone compared these two... Digi 003 vs M-Audio Project mix as far as preamps and converters?

I'll be using LE 8.0 for software, so were just talking the interface sound... just wondering how much of a difference there is between the two?

-thx

[albee1952]

Doesn't really matter as LE only works with the 003. M-Audio interfaces only work with Pro Tools M-Powered.

[TOM@METRO]

Right, unless you are willing to buy the M Powered software there is no point.

[Stixxs]

OK understood...

Between these two interfaces and software. Should i expect a noticeable difference in preamp/converter quality? Trying to figure out where to start... Digi 003/LE or M-Powered 8.0/M-audio ProjectMx?

Thanks much.

[albee1952]

Since I haven't heard the M-Audio piece, all I can offer is some speculation. Since both products were introduced around the same time, I would not expect a major difference in sound. Either one can be dramatically improved by using external preamps and converters via SPDIF or Lightpipe. The 003 with LE allows you a little more in the way of options(DV Toolkit and CPTK). The only advantage I see with the Project Mix is, its cheaper to buy. now if you don't need the control features, the 003 rack puts the prive very close.

[The Weed]

Also an 003 or 003 Rack has Word Clock, so you could buy an external clock and use that to clock the 003/Rack. Not sure if you can externally clock the Project Mix.

Cheers,

[RiF]

Haven't I read somewhere that M-Audio somehow "lost" the source-code for the Project Mix firmware or at least the access rights to it due to licensing issues (they did not program the firmware my themself but outsourced it somehow) and are now unable to fix any bugs in there?

EDIT: I googled a minute and did not find the thread where I got this info from, so regard this information as "unconfirmed".
EDIT #2: You might want to read this: http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-e...-003-rack.html