Digidesign
Factory Bundles
An easy way to bag
a whole lot more sound
By Stephon
Fraley
Finding the right pieces of gear for converting your analog sounds into
digital data requires judging specs such as bit and sampling rates, I/O,
software compatibility, etc. And, equally important, price.
An attractive blend of the former
results in good sound. An attractive number for the latter results in more
cash for all the other stuff you need. But you still need your audio to
sound good, not like you used a single-track recorder with the mic from
your sister's karaoke machine ... even if you did. There is an easy
answer. From the bedroom to the big-time studio, Digidesign has a handle
on digital audio.
Satis-Factory
Digidesign's Pro Tools LE systems, the MBox 2,
and Digi 003 Factory
Bundles make it easy to get professional-sounding results. And now Digidesign has sweetened the deal even more with the Factory Bundles. A
result of the savvy acquisition of Bomb Factory's (BF) line of world-class
plug-ins, these special packages combine up to $2,000 in BF plug-ins with
a Digidesign Pro Tools LE system for a fractional price increase.
Which means the time to move into
Pro Tools is now. BF excelled at getting their soft sound processors to
behave in very hardware-like ways. They even produced software versions of
classics like the JOEMEEK SC2 and moogerfooger effects. With these
plug-ins in your arsenal and a Pro Tools system under your arm, great
digital audio is right around the corner.
Mbox 2:
Kiddie pool or hot tub?
For those just looking to get their feet wet in the world of digital
audio, the MBox 2
Factory Bundle
will do the trick. Rest assured, though, you'll do way
more than just get your feet wet. The MBox 2 is a friendly looking and easy-to-use piece of gear with enough muscle to
get stuff done. And you'll get lots done with the extras included in the MBox 2
Factory Bundle.
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The moogerfooger delay may be the
warmest, richest delay plug-in available, which is totally appropriate
considering its roots as a legendary piece of Bob Moog-designed gear. Joe
Meek was legendary for the use of his own homemade, very musical
compression and EQ equipment. With the SC2 and VC5 BF units, you get the
exact same circuits, sounds, and response made famous by the originals.
Cosmonaut Voice is a plug-in destined for universal acclaim. Shred your
vocals with everything from distortion and white noise to sounds like
telephone voice and space radio transmission. An intelligent limiter,
Maxim boasts peak-recognition ability and transparent limiting that will
far exceed your expectations.
So the MBox 2
is small. There's nothing wrong with small, especially when you're trying
to save desk space or looking for a portable recording partner. And thanks
to the miracle of modern technology, small doesn't mean that you miss out.
The MBox 2
provides 24-bit A/D/A (analog/digital/analog) conversion at either 44.1kHz
or 48kHz and 100 decibels of dynamic range, so your guitar or vocals will
sound flawless. 2 Focusrite mic preamps with 48-volt phantom power let you
use nice condenser mics for voices and acoustic instruments.
Secret agent
003
The Digi 003
Factory Bundles
come with the same software and plug-ins as the MBox 2,
but they up the ante with some alluring additions. The first is the BF-3A.
This sweet compressor adds fat smoothness and sonic texture to any
signal-perfect for making sounds jump out of the mix. Next, the moogerfooger Ring Modulator makes it easy to add clangorous textures to
any signal. The SansAmp PSA-1 is a BF replica of the classic analog preamp
used over and over to achieve righteous guitar sounds onstage and in the
studio. Looking for luscious delay with a unique feel? The Tel-Ray
Variable Delay has all the appeal of the '60s original and will add warm
echo and delay to anything. And finally, you'll use the VoceŽ Spin and
Chorus/Vibrato effects over and over for vintage rotating speaker sounds
and B-3-like vibrato. And of course, you also get the Digi 003
Rack.
For those ready to come up from the basement, or at least get into some
serious recording projects, the
003
Rack
is for you. This 2U FireWire interface can handle up to 32 streams of
pristine audio. If mixing and manipulating audio with your mouse makes you
see red, then the
003
Rack
will definitely please. With it, you won't just record
sounds-you'll own them. Right at your fingertips lay a wealth of
controls and indicators-even motorized faders. Plus special transport
controls let you handle your audio in Pro Tools without leaving the
003.
Whether you need a simple home
setup to make your songs sound pro or are a project studio owner looking
to take your first step into Pro Tools, these Factory Bundles make an easy
choice even more obvious.
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