I'm fed up with Protools LE not playing nice with coreaudio, and requiring their own hardware, However i like the software, and I'm used to it.

Current system: Mac dual G5, digi002R, JLM pres, RME ADI2 A/D 2 channel conv. sounds great. I never use the analog on the 002R if i can avoid it.

i'd like to go to a system that has similar easy and intuitive workflow to PTLE, but more channels of quality A/D and works with coreaudio.

I'm thinking maybe fireface 800 and suitable software. any suggestions?

is the fireface 800 still the best thing to get or are there better converters available now at that price point?

what is the best software to consider if i change away from protools?

i dig sonar.

Sonar is Windows only unfortunately.

anyone got an opinion on the interface?- is RME still the best value?

or can anyone recommend a least-pain-to-change-over software alternative to protools? for mac?

I've had good luck with Cubase SX3, I'm waiting a little longer before I upgrade to SX4. Primarily because SX3 does everything I need right now.

Cubase plays well with Macs, and I believe you can use most VST plugin's with Cubase and a Mac.

As far as the interface, I'm still looking myself.

You can take Pro Tools files and import them into Cubase also using OMF files.

Quote:However you may need to export the session using Digitranslator. Some things about Pro Tools are really lame and this is one of them. They make you pay to have the ability to transfer session info.End Quote

I've used both cubase and DP5 pretty extensively. Love them both. I did feel that cubase 'sounded' slightly different, and had some need tools, like a simulated tape saturation that was pretty need. . .However, i prefer dp's workflow... If you're looking for an HD rig i would suggest either logic or nuendo though. both great platforms with great bundled plugins.

Protools LE is a good platform though, and if you can live without latency compensation, which never seems to work entirely right anyway, i would suggest staying with it. I've heard a lot of great recordings done with the 002, and don't really think that your audio quality is going to improve that much by changing platforms or changing conversion to the RME (which i have). . .if you want more channels of A/D, you can get some sort of ADAT bridge and get an additional 8 channels.

I notice a very worthwhile improvement between the 002 A/D and the RME ADI-2 A/D

i could get more channels of RME conversion, but i'd still be stuck with PTLE not talking to coreaudio, that said i'd rather stay with PT if it would play nice with coreaudio, but Digi just won't get with it on that..

I'm a diehard Nuendo guy but I would be slow to switch Software if you LIKE PT.

I've been using my Fireface 800 for almost three years now and it has been excellent (on Mac and PC). I think it is still the one to get in it's feature/price class.

I have a UA 2192 now though...it sounds much better than the Fireface. Only two channels though and EXPENSIVE.

jmp

I would consider switching to nuendo, lots of serious types seem to use it, but its way expensive for a DAW, it probably does loads of things i don't need, you'd think there'd be a lite version. As it is the price is just out of the question.

I do like the PT interface, I would like it to work sensibly though. ie coreaudio support, no hardware restrictions, and no spurious errors telling me i'm out of cpu power when i'm only recording 2 tracks...

If i stay with PT any advice on increasing the number of channells of good A/d?

seems like i'd have to swap my ADI-2 out for a 8 channel converter, and then i'd be tied to the lightpipe on the 002R which is limited to 44.k, altho i guess thats ok...

if i went PT m-powered is there better hardware available? (ie digital only and use external conversion?) still no coreaudio tho?

anyone else changed away from PTLE? how?

question,- i will look this up, but its not immediately clear to me...

* is the conversion on the fireface 800 the same as the ADI-2 or ADI8

if so will the fireface work as a standalone converter to lightpioe? if so thats the way to go for me...

if there is a difference in the conversion in the adi2 and ADI8 vs the fireface what is it?

the fireface is cheaper with more features, whats the catch?

I'm pretty much a PT guy (heck I'm still in 6.9 w/ a OSX 10.3.9 system. still working great, but software updates have passed me by at this point. upgrades are inevitable, I'm afraid.), but my producer/writer friend has switched to Logic for most of his writing and midi stuff and loves it. Not sure if he likes recording in it as well, but he is pretty impressed so far. Might be worth looking into.

OK it comes down to 2 simple questions as far as hardware is concerned.

1. Will the fireface work as an 8 channel A/D with my 002R over the adat/lightpipe connection?

2. is the conversion in the fireface as good as/ same as the ADI-2?

the answres to these questions are not readily discernable from the RME site....

Seems my main options for software are cubase and DP, I don't like logic, the audio capabilities were overly complex to use.

Looking for a way to try out some DAWs and see what I like, they don't make it easy!

I would think that the 002 would see the 8 channels with no probs. It would be the same as using a MOTU 8-pre or Digimax or any other 8 channel digital pre I would think. The only probs I can see would be if you want to use the 002 w/Cubase or DP and the set up that would take. Not at all sure about that since I haven't ever tried to use my 002 with anything else.

yeah it will do it, i downloaded the manual, just wasnt sure if it functioned as a standalone converter but it does

only remaining question is the A/D quality, but the specs are very similar, i expect its the same...

I would be guessing cuz I really have no idea, but they should be at least close since they are made by the same company and that company is kinda known for it's converters.

thanks for responses

I've a fireface arriving soon, now to see about software alternatives, so far i see nothing that even begins to compete with PTLE for simple but detailed control.

I don't understand why there are no demo versions available of anything, how on earth are you supposed to know which one to buy if you can't try it? Since software is not returnable it basically forces you to get pirate versions just to try the damn things out!

If you like the pro tools interface, why dont you try getting your issues sorted out? You will spend the same amount of time or less!

It seems your issues are more with drivers and OS compatibility?

T

digi have made a policy decision that PT won't use the macs audio.

so that means you can only use their hardware and you can't stream live audio out of PT to another app...

so it can't actually be sorted out using PT

i will probably keep using PT for some things and start using logic or cubase for others

Update if anyone is looking...

I bought a fireface 800. it works as a a/d d/a with PTLE and as a full interface with everything else. sound quality excellent etc.

BUT the 002R won't sync properly with the fireface over adat when the fireface is master, 002 master is no problems, i guess this is the adat optical connection on the 002 being a bit rubbish, I have ordered better quality toslink cables in case that helps.

when i sync through wire spdif with the fireface as master, but still put the audio through the adat connection it works fine,

i think this is just another illustration of why i'd be better off without the 002R.

WHY do digi make great software and then burden it with crap hardware? (rhetorical question i know many others have asked this!)

PS i had another look at logic, it may be have improved since my last look at it, i'm considering it now...

My Logic using friend I mentioned was using a Fireface 400 just a few weeks ago doing some scratch vox and it was sounding great.

the fireface does sound great, and the mic pres on it were a welcome surprise, really very clean and detailed.

I hadn't expected to use the pres, but they are actually better than my JLMs for some things that want fast and clean.