Thoughts of LE
 

Hi,

I just have to vent. I´ve been using protools (LE at my home and HD3 at our studio) for years now and as I like the HD very much the LE seems just like a joke. It´s way too expensive and very limited, even with the music production toolkit installed. First, I have MBOX 2 Pro at my home and the preamps are really nothing to speak about. Digital I/O is only one way ?! So you can´t record and playback simultaneusly. I thought this would be so obvious that I even didn´t check it and now I´m switching my lavry blue constantly. At least midi in/out works as one would think so perhaps that´s the PRO part here. I also thought that there would be 48 instrument channels, but there´s only 32. Why on earth to limit the count ? The only reason I "upgraded" to Mbox2 Pro was that the original MBOX2 connects via USB and it gave me a constant and very audible (high)tone when I opened Protools. I learnt that this was to do with the USB grounding and since the PRO had wirefire, it now works without "external" voices. Also the build quality looks very cheap. (like the HDs interface boxes also look very cheap, but that´s not really an issue I think..). Btw. I had MIAMIDI card when I had PC years ago, and it had miles better ADDA than the Digi Le hardware still. I think it was 130 euros.

Also the software that comes with the ignition pack 1 (I know it´s discontinued) was pretty lame, with the exception of Reasond and TLSPACE perhaps. XPAND (Which ironically you can´t expand sounds just bad and I would not use it on any commercial project. Ok for scetching though. I´m mostly using Le as a sequencer (external/soft) and doing all the audio processing at our studio, so I thought it would be enough for sequencing only.

I know I´m paying for the software and I very much like it, but all the accessories just yell horror, especially if you even think about the PRO part here. Mayby I´m taking it too literally? Behringer also makes PRO products and I can adjust to that properly (eventhough I don´t own anything else than a cabletester from them). I also understand that Digi really can´t make the LE "better" businesswise. I wouldn´t if I were Digi and would like to sell more HDs.

I´m just saying this because I hope that somebody would have brought this to my attention when I was figuring out what to buy. I would´ve saved a lot of money and perhaps I would´ve spent it on another HD setup (most likely) or something else like Logic/Cubase, but really LE isn´t worth the hassle in my opinion. Especially if you think that Logic/Cubase is lurking out there.


Yours,
Jonne Valtonen

Re: Thoughts of LE
 

Well, there certainly is no lack of material out there that you could have used to research products before you buy. Sorry that no-one miraculously had ESP of your phone number to call you and tell you exactly what to get. Maybe next time, try coming here FIRST and asking about what you should get, some people find it helpful to ask those with experience with products about them before purchasing. Also sorry that your $700 MBox 2 Pro doesn't stack up exactly to your $20,000 HD rig, you'd think they'd be completely identical despite the price difference right?

We could also probably help you with some of your issues, but it sounds like you don't want it. Thanks for posting your rant, now lets watch it quickly drift off the first page and into the DUC black hole of old, pointless posts.

Re: Thoughts of LE
 

I agree that LE can be frustrating. I have HD and LE, I don't expect to get the same performance. But many times I need to open a session, or a prep a session at home, or in a hotel room. And the restrictions on LE are tough. Why can't I have time code? Why can't I have the same session import functionality? Why is my track count limited? So I have to pay $1200 for time code? That feels like I'm being gauged. I'm all for buying the hardware for the performance, but I think the software should be the same. I don't know many folks who only work out of the studio anymore. But Digi is king (for now) so they can do whatever they want.

Re: Thoughts of LE
 

Couldn't agree more Slim. Why people don't do their research first is totally beyond me! Nobody heard of the six P's? .... if not i'm gonna spell it out for you. Perfect Preparation Prevents P*ss Poor Performance

Re: Thoughts of LE
 

I've long subscribed to the 5 P's; Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance, but I LOVE the 6 P's.
I couple it with; Your Lack Of Preparation Is Not My Emergency!
PTLE is amazing for a few hundred dollars compared with the Pro Tools 1.0 system that my studio bought in the early '90's.
For Timecode workarounds look at this forum;
http://www.bigbluelounge.com/forums/...ic.php?t=31671
Jonne:I have been the sound designer on numerous films that have been shown at the Tampere Short Film Festival - it really is an amazing festival - I am jealous that you can go every year!.

Re: Thoughts of LE
 

And when I complain about the same thing other users say that I whining. I totally agree with everything you are saying especially with the track count. 32 tracks may have been good years ago but now with more VI on the market and folks doing production in the box it is a joke

ctmusicman

Re: Thoughts of LE
 

Maybe it's just my awesome rig or something, but I sure as hell can record and playback at the exact same time.

Re: Thoughts of LE
 

This also points to how bad lots of sales people are. Its amazing how often I hear a salesman telling a customer how great the "focusrite" mic pres are on the 002(NOT focusrite pre's) or how Mbox will work on any laptop(NOT as often as will).....Some of THOSE folks need to do some reading as well.

Re: Thoughts of LE
 

Once again am honest attempt to feedback real shortcomings of a LE system, which has multiple compatibility issues and performance issues (how much denial are some you guys in..), and which is over-sold by unscrupulous salespeople who answer every question with "yes Mbox can do that", is met with arrogant nerdish sarcasm by some members of this forum. You know who you are.

There are members on this forum who, through their derision of those newbies with valid frustration looking for help, belittle anyone who's ivory tower doesn't resemble there's, or who isn't IN THE KNOW like they are (the Secret Clubs, do you have handshakes..). Its pathetic.

Why post at all unless you can contribute positively. Why bother posting if just to put [bleep] on people who dare to raise a complaint about the system which they bought in good faith. So shut the F...up if you just want be condescending. This forum is not about wankers putting people down. That must be another forum.

Re: Thoughts of LE
 

Agreed on the timecode situation. It is absurd that Digi attempt to force you into buying a pack full of software you have no need for, or you might have already, just to get timecode functionality. TC is pretty basic, ok charge a bit more for it, but don't take the mickey with with these silly packs of old software (their noise reduction is about 15 years old and not worth a nickel), and charge an arm, a leg and a torso for it. Same for track counts.