003 HERE IT IS!!! LOOK AT THE PICTURES!!!

[Kobra]

ouch. an uglier version of 002 with BNC word clock and an extra headphone jack...??? you have got to be kidding.



here's an improvement suggestion for 004: put the phantom power switches on the front of the rack (you know, it would be practical) and oh yeah, -don't make it look stupid.

[Mark Dann]

All these pages of posts, and not a single positive one. That's quite an accomplishment!

Anyone surprised that even features of the mbox 2 pro are missing? Like RCA RIAA inputs? How'd they forget that one?

[Slim Shady]

My favorite part is the new flimsy-lookin' preamp/headphone knobs - they look like oversized versions of the pegs used to hold acoustic guitar strings in place at the bridge. If those things last the life of the box without getting knocked off I'll be extremely surprised.

[Neesley]

I've had a M-Audio Lightbridge in a box for eight weeks... just too frustrated with the first 2 I got that didn't work, couldn't update firmware dance that M-Audio puts the user through.

Bit the bullet and installed the software, started up and voila! - it all worked. Would have preferred to have 24-32 ADAT inputs on an 003 but what the heck.

Of course I'll need to use Digital Performer to record more than the 16-18 channels to which Digi has strangled their LE & M-Powered hardware. And it will probably be a pain to move all those 24-32 live tracks I record only twice a year into PT for editing, and...

At least now I'll get ot use my two Apogee Rosetta 800's now for recording and playback without a 2 space rack dongle. (Also have 2 Presonus DigiMax LT for extra channels up to 32. Wonder if I'll need a Apogee Big Ben to sync or will I be able to daisychain word-clock thru 5 devices? Any advice welcome.)

[antiphase]

003... lol... Digi you crack me up.

[sky88dd]

Digi just launched the upgrade/exchange program.
Looks like its geared towards 001, mbox, and third party users but no upgrade path for 002?
They're throwing in the music production toolkit in the upgrade as well.
It makes me wonder if there will be a line in between le and hd, at least thats what I'm hoping for.

[Phil Jeffers]

hi
OMF = NO
AES = NO
32 Track audio =SAME NO MORE tracks
why why why?????

Hi, OMF ability and track counts are software related, so have nothing to do with what interface you're using. But yeah, an extra digital I/O would have been nice. Wow, talk about shell shocked Digi users!!!

I think we can assume that it isn't any "worse" than the 002,. It seems a little better - but that's it. One does wonder why they bothered with this one. Maybe just to fix all the power harnesses? Oh, and of course to set up the 002 range for pasture within a year!

[SonicAlbert]

It seems pretty clear that the 003 is not intended to be an upgrade 002 users. It is essentially the same product as the 002, i.e. an upgrade path for the mBox and Digi 001.

002 users were hoping for a major upgrade from their product, but the 003 is a minor tweaking. Hence, great dissapointment.

One hopes that Digi has noticed all the 002 users with their hands on their wallets, ready to spend some cash on a true upgrade to the 002. I think there is still plenty of room for a product that is more than the 002/003 but less than an HD system. An 003 "Pro" is the right idea in my opinion.

I think that many 002 users simply have no need for an HD system, but would like more capabilities than the 002/003. Users like these (like myself) will never go to an HD system, as they don't need it. So I believe there is room for an upgraded 003 that Digi won't have to worry about stealing their HD sales.

[LaForestPoetry18]

I spoke to a sales rep today about the DIGI 003, & he told me that the price of the DIGI 003 is the same price as the DIGI 002, so if you are looking for things like word clock, an extra head phone jack and better mentoring options, then I say goes for it. I also asked about the current Control 24 Bundle LE, and he said that basically the DIGI 003 was designed to replace/ honor what had been done with the DIGI 002, so if you are looking to go from the DIGI 001 to the DIGI 003, it's not a big deal.

Also, no there won't be a "Hardware exchange" from the DIGI 002 to the 003, because the price is exactly the same. I've been using Pro-Tools since July 2005, and have been very happy; I went from the original M-Box, to the M-Box 2, to now the DIGI 002... in saying this, I understand that some user's are very disappointed with the lack of upgrades from time to time, but remeber this:

LE= Limited Edition, it's not supposed to be exactly on par with an HD system, it's a bridge, period.

On a final note: This "LE" system is very powerful and creative, I have made music for the following; Time Warner Cable, Warner Bro., Disney, Hummingbird Pictures, FOX and Universal (Music, commercials, jingles, and movie sound tracks). The equipment is only as good as the operator.

V/R

La Forest(El Paso, TX)

Apple Power Mac G5, 2.0GHz, 2.5 gigs of RAM (2)
Apple Mac Book Pro 2.16GHz, 2 gigs of RAM
Apple Cinema Display 20" (3)
DIGI 002 (2), M-Box 2
Roland Fantom X6, Roland XR, Roland MV-8000, Roland VS-2480DVD
AKIA MPC 60, 2000
SP-1200
KORG microKORG, microKONTROL, padKONTROL, Triton-Rack
Yamaha Motif-Rack ES,
(Monitors)
BerhINGer Truth , Alesis M1 Active 620, Tapco S5 w/SW10 sub, Roland DM10. Yamaha NS10 & HS80
(Mics)
Blue Bluebird/Baby Bottle, Neumann TLM103/TLM149, Charter Oak sa538
(Preamps)
Avalon Ad 2022/ VT-737sp, Presonus BlueTube Dp, Groove Tube The Brick, Art’s Tube MP
(monitoring system)
Mackie Big Knob, Presonus HP4
(Surge Protectors/UPS)
Monster Pro Power 3500(4), 2500(2), HT UPS 1000(2), APC 1500 UPS(1)
(AD/DA Converters/MIDI Interface)
Apogee BIG Ben/Rosetta 200, MOTU MIDI Express XT USB(2)
(Vocal Booth)
Seulax Acoustic 4 x 6 x 7, 3 x 5 x 7(built into house)
(Pug-ins)
Waves Diamond/Platinum, URS, McDSP, UAD-Ultra Pak, Focurite Liquid Mix, Serato Pitch n' Time, WAVES Powers Suite 5, DIGI MP Toolkit, Reason 3.0, LIVE 5, BFD Drums, DFH Superior

[Windshore]

I spoke to a sales rep today about the DIGI 003, & he told me that the price of the DIGI 003 is the same price as the DIGI 002, so if you are looking for things like word clock, an extra head phone jack and better mentoring options, then I say goes for it. I also asked about the current Control 24 Bundle LE, and he said that basically the DIGI 003 was designed to replace/ honor what had been done with the DIGI 002, so if you are looking to go from the DIGI 001 to the DIGI 003, it's not a big deal.

Also, no there won't be a "Hardware exchange" from the DIGI 002 to the 003, because the price is exactly the same. I've been using Pro-Tools since July 2005, and have been very happy; I went from the original M-Box, to the M-Box 2, to now the DIGI 002... in saying this, I understand that some user's are very disappointed with the lack of upgrades from time to time, but remeber this:

LE= Limited Edition, it's not supposed to be exactly on par with an HD system, it's a bridge, period.

On a final note: This "LE" system is very powerful and creative, I have made music for the following; Time Warner Cable, Warner Bro., Disney, Hummingbird Pictures, FOX and Universal (Music, commercials, jingles, and movie sound tracks). The equipment is only as good as the operator.

V/R

La Forest(El Paso, TX)

Apple Power Mac G5, 2.0GHz, 2.5 gigs of RAM (2)
Apple Mac Book Pro 2.16GHz, 2 gigs of RAM
Apple Cinema Display 20" (3)
DIGI 002 (2), M-Box 2
Roland Fantom X6, Roland XR, Roland MV-8000, Roland VS-2480DVD
AKIA MPC 60, 2000
SP-1200
KORG microKORG, microKONTROL, padKONTROL, Triton-Rack
Yamaha Motif-Rack ES,
(Monitors)
BerhINGer Truth , Alesis M1 Active 620, Tapco S5 w/SW10 sub, Roland DM10. Yamaha NS10 & HS80
(Mics)
Blue Bluebird/Baby Bottle, Neumann TLM103/TLM149, Charter Oak sa538
(Preamps)
Avalon Ad 2022/ VT-737sp, Presonus BlueTube Dp, Groove Tube The Brick, Art’s Tube MP
(monitoring system)
Mackie Big Knob, Presonus HP4
(Surge Protectors/UPS)
Monster Pro Power 3500(4), 2500(2), HT UPS 1000(2), APC 1500 UPS(1)
(AD/DA Converters/MIDI Interface)
Apogee BIG Ben/Rosetta 200, MOTU MIDI Express XT USB(2)
(Vocal Booth)
Seulax Acoustic 4 x 6 x 7, 3 x 5 x 7(built into house)
(Pug-ins)
Waves Diamond/Platinum, URS, McDSP, UAD-Ultra Pak, Focurite Liquid Mix, Serato Pitch n' Time, WAVES Powers Suite 5, DIGI MP Toolkit, Reason 3.0, LIVE 5, BFD Drums, DFH Superior

Dude,....Nice of you to list your credits for us, and every piece of gear and software you own!

A lot of people have made great music with Black-faced Adats, or Tape... the point is that there is no choice with digi except that you HAVE to use THEIR hardware.... Check out the Apogee Ensemble .... if you weren't anchored to the hardware dongle with digi, you would have a point,... yes LE is limited, but the main limitations are imposed by Digi, and not by the hardware.

Without a product that is in between $1500 and $10K.... many of us feel like we're held hostage by the lack of a real upgrade here.