What are you using to expand your 003 I/O?

[poaprex]

Years ago if you had 16 channels of good mic pre, you could get something like the Alesis A13 8 channel ADAT Optical converter to get extra I/O, but they seem to be off the market. Are people using the SM ProAudio A08 box? Maybe some MOTU unit and just bypass the pre's? I don't want a more mic pre's like the digimax or octopre, I just need a way to get the extra channels. Suggestions would be helpful, thanks in advance folks.

[albee1952]

I took a slightly different route and went with a Focusrite ISA428 with the digital option card. Not only does it have 4 excellent preamps but the digital card has 4 line level inputs where you can input any analog mic pre. Right now I have a UA LA-610 patched and plan on another UA pre and a pair of API's when $ allows. Since I mix "in the box" I have not felt the need for D/A converters yet but have read that better D/A will make a difference in monitoring. You may want to check the specs on the Digimax D8 to see if it will allow line level input as it is a good deal. The SM unit looks pretty interesting as well.

[therecordinghouse]

apogee ensemble in standalone mode here... use it both of AD and DA conversion. the 002 conversion is awefull

[Rob0214]

I'm trying hard to not expand my 003 I/O, because I know my gear lust will cause my pocket book to lighten considerably to fill out those extra I/O slots

[koka]

Apogee Ensemble is very good choice for the money Im totaly satisfaid.

[Michael Hurwitz]

I'm using a Presonus Digimax FS - works and sound great!
http://www.presonus.com/products/Det...x?ProductId=13
I use it as the master clock and slave my 003 Factory to it.


Michael

[chicken]

I've used all sorts of outboard gear but I'm using the ISA 428 (with digital ADAT output) for some years now, very satisfying ! I really like the sound of the pre amps and the possibility to use it for ribbon mics. I clock/sync to the ISA 428.

Although the 003 has the possibility to swich between 2 pairs of monitors, I last year expanded the 003 with the Presonus central station for DA conversion. You can easiliy hear the difference.

And I use an older UA LA2A and UA LA610 because the Bombfactory BF2A does not cut it for me.


cheers,
Chicken

[marcioguitar]

I am using M-Audio Octane, its perfect and sounds great!

[magnoliaman]

I have M-Audio Octane too. It's great in more ways than one!! The inserts on each channel are great also.

[Stiff]

For Ensemble users,

I've been curious if it would interface well with Digidesign interfaces. Everything running smoothly? Any problems?