Re: Final Questions of Pro Tools before I Purchase

[Brian Casey]

That is true about the MCU, however another side to the market is the moment 
could be that it is a transition peeriod...of course what the transition 
will lead to is another question, but definitely the whole iPad controler 
trend and things like that are something to consider...and in another way, 
with the comparatively low price of some hardware it seems reasonable to see 
why people are turning their noses up at shelling huge amounts of cash on a 
control surface that has no real new inovative or multi-purpose technology 
and is built out of plastic!

Something is going to come along soon to replace the 003, or at least to be 
the 003 equivalent for a new generation of project studio owners and home 
recordists, in my opinion of course.

We shal see!


--------------------------------------------------
From: "Bryan Smart" <bryansm...@bryansmart.com>
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2011 9:11 PM
To: <ptaccess@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Final Questions of Pro Tools before I Purchase

This is pretty much how it works. Control surfaces aren't popular with 
most low-end/home users of recording software. Blind people are a special 
case because a control surface has special value for them. For most 
sighted people, though, they're on tight budgets, so would rather buy two 
huge screens rather than a control surface. Many enthusiasts now use their 
iPad as a control surface, of a sort. If they aren't on a budget, then 
they don't bother with a little 8 channel surface.

It appears that Avid is pretty much content with cashing out the M-Audio 
brand, and letting it be used to push bargain basement plastic toys at 
Guitar Center. That's my conclusion for why nearly all pro/prosumer gear 
from M-Audio has been canceled, and they have a fleet of $200 controllers 
and low-end interfaces.

Besides any of the above, the economy is terrible now, and the recording 
industry is rapidly fading in to the bedroom studio. Truly pro customers 
are a dramatically shrinking market, while the casual users with small 
budgets are on the rise. Even so, music gear is not a necessity, and so 
many people have significantly cut back on their gear purchases. The 
result is that many companies are shrinking their product lines, and, in 
many cases, dropping their mid-range products altogether.

Sorry to be gloom and doom, but that's how it is now. Lots of companies 
are really just trying to make it through the next year or two without 
going out of business. Control surfaces are not a hotly selling item, and 
so don't look to see many of them in the near future.

The MCU is still available. I suggest it for your situation. You can 
expand it with XT and C4 units. I don't know when, but I worry that it 
won't be too long before Mackie discontinues it, also.

Bryan

On Feb 5, 2011, at 12:06 PM, Cameron wrote:

Hi.  Yes, that's correct.  I've seen some b stock units from various 
dealers
on e bay for the project mix.  Also, sweetwater still has some in stock.
There are also a ton of FW1884 units out there, in various states of well
being, if you want to take the second hand gear plunge.

On the topic of the 003, do you know if avid have any plans to make that 
a
MCU compatible surface?  I know they have made the new m box drivers
universally compatible, it'd be nice if they did that with the 003 but I
have come across nothing discussing that at all yet.  Being that they 
have
done away with the project mix, and due to the fact that avid owns m 
audio
now, could that be their game plan to corner the market for an all in one
unit in that price range?  I mean now there is really nothing left to 
fill
that gap.

I mean that new 16 channel ssl control surface/interface combo looks nice
but it's got two mic preamps and is freaking USB.  For five thousand
dollars, I'm not exactly sure what their intended market is...  Their 24
channel interface/control surface looks like a serious bit of kit but 
will
set you back a whopping seventy nine thousand dollars.

Cameron.






-----Original Message-----
From: ptaccess@googlegroups.com [mailto:ptaccess@googlegroups.com] On 
Behalf
Of Bryan Smart
Sent: Saturday, February 05, 2011 7:56 AM
To: ptaccess@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: Final Questions of Pro Tools before I Purchase

The ProjectMix has been discontinued for a few months now. Since the 
FW1884
has also been discontinued for about a year, that leaves the Avid units 
as
the only interface+surface combos available new.

Bryan

-----Original Message-----
From: ptaccess@googlegroups.com [mailto:ptaccess@googlegroups.com] On 
Behalf
Of Cameron
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 12:52 AM
To: ptaccess@googlegroups.com
Subject: RE: Final Questions of Pro Tools before I Purchase

Hi.  The project mix under OS X with pro tools nine has had good reviews
thus far.

What country are you located in?

In the states, the project mix sells new for $1249.

The pace Ilok is approx fifty dollars.

If you're only going to be using pro tools on mac, then I'd suggest 
trying
to find a second hand Digi 003.  That would be another very good option.

Cameron.






-----Original Message-----
From: ptaccess@googlegroups.com [mailto:ptaccess@googlegroups.com] On 
Behalf
Of Elexis Gillette
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2011 12:18 AM
To: ptaccess@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Final Questions of Pro Tools before I Purchase

Hello,

How much is the Ilok in addition to Pro Tools 9.0?

Secondly, I'm using MAC only, there will be no windows/sonar use.

Third, I have read about the audio project mix previously.  Would this be 
a
suitable interace to perate with pro tools?  I would rather spend the 
money
to invest in something stable and surable.  I believe that the project 
mix
is a little over a grand.

Lex
On Feb 1, 2011, at 11:20 AM, Cameron wrote:

Hi.

Yeah, avid pro tools 9 is what you want.  You'll need an Ilok too.

You won't find an interface and control surface combo new for 500
bucks, probably not even second hand.

Regarding the interface, How many tracks do you need to record at once?

What you could do would be buy a cheapo surface like the bcf2000 and
then buy a small firewire interface, focusrite, Mackie, motu, older
presonus, etc.  Just make sure the interface you buy is AU compliant.

Or, buy a more robust interface and save up some cash.  Then, buy a
second hand Mackie control universal or universal pro.

Or, you could try to find a second hand tascam fw1884 or m audio
project mix.  Both of those units are a combination audio interface,
midi
interface,
and control surface with motorized faders.  There is also the Digi 003
of course.  It's a well built unit with decent mic preamps etc.
however,
with
all of the three interfaces I just listed, keep in mind that if you
are running windos xp/vista under bootcamp on your mac, like if you
use sonar for some things you can't accomplish yet in pro tools, then
you may have issues with crappy drivers.  If you are bootcamping with
windows seven,
this
is less of an issue.

So, if we are talking pro tools on mac only, that is one thing.  If we
are talking about a cross platform interface for multiple DAW
applications,
then
that alters your choices a bit.

Lastly, I would advise you to go with  a firewire interface and not a
USB interface.

Good luck,

Cameron.





-----Original Message-----
From: ptaccess@googlegroups.com [mailto:ptaccess@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf
Of Elexis Gillette
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 5:51 AM
To: ptaccess@googlegroups.com
Subject: Final Questions of Pro Tools before I Purchase

Hi,

To ensure that I purchase the accessible version of Pro Tools for my
MAC,
I
want to know is it called "Avid pro Tools 9.0"?  I'm sure I have seen
the correct version, it is $599.00.  I'm not interested in getting the
HD version.

Also, I need advice on an interface.  I'm wanting something where I
can possibly have some control surface functionality.  Specifically,
something no more than $500 if possible?  I'm hoping I can acquire
something useful
in
that price range.

Thank you for your help in this matter, and I apologize if I have
repeated prior questions from other users on this list regarding this
matter.  I
just
want to make sure I'm securing the necessary items for recording.

Lex=