ProTools Digi 003 Studio Questions:

[Colonel Monk]

Howdy:

We have a Digi 003 rack setup at our studio. Currently we are using a Behringer Mixer with 8 direct outs on the first 8 channels to supply the Digi 003 with inputs, which allows us to have 8 XLR ins instead of only 4.

Seems to work OK, but now we are going to add another 8 channels of input via a Behringer ADAT interface. The ADAT has XLR connections but I don't know if it's a "mic preamp" per se...

Wondering what you all are doing to deal with this limitation on the DIGI. It seems like the mixer is just another step...

That said, there's alot you can't do with the Digi like multi-channel monitoring and driving amps, etc.

With this next step I'm curious what mixers out there have direct outs from 16 channels so that we can scale our setup.

Comments?

CM

 

[DuraMorte]

Howdy:
We have a Digi 003 rack setup at our studio. Currently we are using a Behringer Mixer with 8 direct outs on the first 8 channels to supply the Digi 003 with inputs, which allows us to have 8 XLR ins instead of only 4.
Seems to work OK, but now we are going to add another 8 channels of input via a Behringer ADAT interface. The ADAT has XLR connections but I don't know if it's a "mic preamp" per se...

Wondering what you all are doing to deal with this limitation on the DIGI. It seems like the mixer is just another step...

That said, there's alot you can't do with the Digi like multi-channel monitoring and driving amps, etc.

With this next step I'm curious what mixers out there have direct outs from 16 channels so that we can scale our setup.
Comments?
CM

The Behringer ADA8000's front panel XLR connections are mic preamps. You can use the mixer's direct outs to the Digi and the ADA8000 simultaneously for 16 channels. Or, you could get 12 channels with just the Digi and the ADA8000.
As far as monitoring goes, the Digi should be capable of just about anything you could need. How is it 'limited'?

 

[Colonel Monk]

The Behringer ADA8000's front panel XLR connections are mic preamps. You can use the mixer's direct outs to the Digi and the ADA8000 simultaneously for 16 channels. Or, you could get 12 channels with just the Digi and the ADA8000.
As far as monitoring goes, the Digi should be capable of just about anything you could need. How is it 'limited'?

First off, I'll say that I'm not the ProTools user just yet. I'm the equipment engineer... I know a fair amount about live sound. I'm learning ProTools...

Most of what we do currently is record our rehearsals for songwriting and demo recording. We also do demo recording for other bands.

We don't track the recording individually at this point unless it's an overdub of instrument solo or vocal tracks.

So the monitoring limitations I'm referring to is using AUX sends and Subgroups for individual monitor mixes that are fed to floor monitors, headphones, or IEMs similar to stage monitoring. If you have 4 people you might want 4 different mixes or more. As far as I know Digi 003 doesn't have this capability. Correct me if I'm wrong.

So for now I guess we will use the ADAT for drums and the mixer for VOX, guitars, bass, keys etc.... which will need the most monitoring in phones.

Further research says that I can use the inserts from most any mixer for the direct outs to the Digi.... I have an older Mackie SR 24.4 that is in need of a little repair but it might work for this purpose.

CM

 

[DuraMorte]

What's wrong with using the outputs on the Digi to do your monitoring? Each of the 6 numbered outputs on the back should, in theory, allow a completely separate monitor mix. You'll have to set up the sends in software, but that's no more difficult than doing it in the analog domain.
Also, just out of curiosity, are you running a clock cable from the 003 to the ADA8000? If not, you should be.

 

[Hellbastard]

First off, I'll say that I'm not the ProTools user just yet. I'm the equipment engineer... I know a fair amount about live sound. I'm learning ProTools...


So the monitoring limitations I'm referring to is using AUX sends and Subgroups for individual monitor mixes that are fed to floor monitors, headphones, or IEMs similar to stage monitoring. If you have 4 people you might want 4 different mixes or more. As far as I know Digi 003 doesn't have this capability. Correct me if I'm wrong.




CM

The Digi 003 has 8 line outputs, besides the main for the Control Room monitoring. So you can build 4 stereo aux sends to use as headphones monitor mixes. What you have to do is create the monitor mix on protools and then select a pair of outputs to send them to.

For example:
1. create 2 Pre Fader aux send in protools (Bus 1&2)
2 then create a stereo Bus and assign the input to Bus 1 & 2.
3. Set the output of this bus to be any of your line outputs.
4. connect the line outputs to a headphone amplifier.
5. you can create up to 4 separate stereo mixes using protools and the Digi003

 

[Colonel Monk]

What's wrong with using the outputs on the Digi to do your monitoring? Each of the 6 numbered outputs on the back should, in theory, allow a completely separate monitor mix. You'll have to set up the sends in software, but that's no more difficult than doing it in the analog domain.
Also, just out of curiosity, are you running a clock cable from the 003 to the ADA8000? If not, you should be.

Nothing, other than I'm not accustomed to setting it up that way. That's why I'm asking you guys!

This sounds like a sound method, and an obvious benefit would be the ability to add the ADAT tracks to the headphone mixes as well.

We haven't bought the ADA8000 yet, but yeah as I understand it from a youtube viddy someone posted here last week that is the way to clock them together.

Pretty slick and affordable way to add another 8 ins that's for sure.

Thanks for the info!

CM

 

[Colonel Monk]

The Digi 003 has 8 line outputs, besides the main for the Control Room monitoring. So you can build 4 stereo aux sends to use as headphones monitor mixes. What you have to do is create the monitor mix on protools and then select a pair of outputs to send them to.

For example:
1. create 2 Pre Fader aux send in protools (Bus 1&2)
2 then create a stereo Bus and assign the input to Bus 1 & 2.
3. Set the output of this bus to be any of your line outputs.
4. connect the line outputs to a headphone amplifier.
5. you can create up to 4 separate stereo mixes using protools and the Digi003

Thanks, I think you and DuraMorte are schooling me. That makes sense.

One question I had, was whether or not doing the monitor mix in real time at all taxes the computer resources. In other words, is it done in the hardware controlled by software or is it done in the software in real-time? Latency?

Are you guys also using physical mixers with the Digi 003 setup or are you just handling it in Protools? I'm trying to figure out if we are running an extra layer of hardware or not. With only 8 outputs on the 003 we might be running up against the wall in using outboard effects if we are using most of the channels for headphone mix and "control room" mains.

Also, is it possible to run two of the ADA8000s for a total of 24 inputs?

Thanks,

Monk

 

[Hellbastard]

One question I had, was whether or not doing the monitor mix in real time at all taxes the computer resources. In other words, is it done in the hardware controlled by software or is it done in the software in real-time? Latency?

It is done in the Box, but as long as you don't tax the CPU with a lot of plug-ins you should be ok, as the latency should be below the 30ms range.

Are you guys also using physical mixers with the Digi 003 setup or are you just handling it in Protools? I'm trying to figure out if we are running an extra layer of hardware or not. With only 8 outputs on the 003 we might be running up against the wall in using outboard effects if we are using most of the channels for headphone mix and "control room" mains.

At my school we have two setups with the digi003.
1. A Mackie 1604VLZ, and the DIGI003 is only used as a tape return from protools. We do everything analog and then record the main output back into protools, FX and inserts are done using analog patching.

The 2. is with a Yamaha 01V96, also pro-tools is only used as a MTK. There we have adat connection and the Line inputs of the digi003 are used just to record back into PT.

Using the digi003 as a FX Loop, might not be a great idea. since you'll be doing D/A-AD conversion, this will raise your Noise Floor and will also create phase problems with other tracks, due to the increased latency of the signal being sent out and then back into PT. I would suggest that if you must use outboard FX, you route them first in the analog domain using your mixer aux sends and use a pair of mono channels to return the FX signal and then sent it to PT.

Also, is it possible to run two of the ADA8000s for a total of 24 inputs?

Thanks,

Monk

No, with the digi 003 you only have the option of 8 extra channels via adat.

Hope this helps.

 

[Colonel Monk]

Thanks HB.

Appreciate the info, it was kinda as I thought, there are pros/cons to both scenarios. We already have the mixers so it's not a big deal to use them, but obviously having a 24 track mixer in a small room where space is a premium is a hassle if it's not necessary. Sounds like we're doing the right thing.

As you say, essentially we've been using PT as an 8 track tape machine and for mixing and post-production. I've advocated recording the VOX dry and adding effects post. We do add fx to the VOX via mixer and monitoring for the right feel but it's not recorded.

Once we have more inputs I'd like to start splitting the guitar signal too and take in a dry one for reamping / effects later in case delay is out of sync or something.

Knowing though that multichannel monitoring is possible via ProTools we will check this out and if needed will use it.

Thanks,

CM

 

[Colonel Monk]

Also, just out of curiosity, are you running a clock cable from the 003 to the ADA8000? If not, you should be.

Howdy DM:

You talking about the word clock? The youtube demo didn't indicate that IIRC but I'm all ears to how it should be done.

Thanks,

Todd

 

[DuraMorte]

Howdy DM:
You talking about the word clock? The youtube demo didn't indicate that IIRC but I'm all ears to how it should be done.
Thanks,
Todd

Yeah, word clock. Set the ADA8000 to slave, WC in. Run the cable from the wc out on the 003 to the WC in on the ADA8000. The 003 is probably set to master by default.