ProTools 8.0.3 compatibility - release notes from Digi

Due to unforeseen technical issues, the newly released Pro Tools 8.0.3 software will no longer support Apple Logic Audio or Mark of the Unicorn Digital Performer running in DAE mode.

I love how they refer to it as 'Logic Audio'.. uh.... it hasn't been called 'Logic Audio' for a very long time now. Either the staff at Digidesign are a little bit slow in the brain department (which would explain why they can't write a core audio driver to save themselves), or they haven't looked at any Logic documentation since way back when they actually gave a flying f * about integration with other apps.. 🙂

I went ahead and installed the update on my "domestic" 10.6.2 system and to my surprise the core audio driver does seem to work and I was able to play songs from iTunes via my 003r for the first time in over a year! I'm amazed... I haven't tried it with Logic yet, I'll do that in the morning!

Personally I think it's a pretty lame strategy on Digi's part to always put out flakey, unreliable and under-performing core audio drivers.. It's obviously possible for them to be much better - just look at the low-latency performance and reliability you get when running ProTools with its own hardware - so the hardware itself is clearly not the problem. And then when you look at how good core audio drivers can be, such as with RME or Apogee and many others, it makes little sense that the Digi ones should always, without fail, be temperamental and just plain dodgy. It seems to me like they do it on purpose.. They put very little effort into making their hardware work as well under core audio as it does as native ProTools hardware, probably in the hope that people who use both will get the impression that ProTools is sooo much better and more stable.

Honestly, if they handed over the specs to the engineers at RME, there's no doubt in my mind that there'd be core audio drivers for Digi hardware that would perform perfectly, not crackle at low buffer settings, work as an aggregate device and not have stupid crashes or audio dropouts and whatnot when switching between applications.. And they'd probably pull it off in a week, as opposed to Digidesign's glacial pace of getting updates out there, which is pretty much the slowest in the industry..

Anyone having trouble with an 003R and 9.1.1 in 64 bit?

OK - Good. I was afraid the 003 would not be compatible in 64 bit with this new release - I guess it's user error - thanks for the response.

Thanks Bobbi - I realized I didn't have PT 8.0.3 installed which contains the 64 bit drivers - all is well.

Appreciate the help.

I have just replaced my 01X with an 003 and have PT 8.03 plus just now OSX 10.6.3 and have Logic 9.1.1....i have audio in and out, a vast improvement on the vagaries of MLAN... but would really like some pointers on getting the 003 to work as a control surface - i notice you are all happily using Logic and the 003 together so i presume you have got the two to dance...

I fear i will have to map the midi controllers manually - i hope this is not the case.

I fear i will have to map the midi controllers manually - i hope this is not the case.

I fear it may be, in fact, even worse than you think. Unless things have changed in the meantime, last time I checked, the control surface functionality of Digidesign gear such as the 002 and 003 isn't actually assignable midi at all - it's a proprietary system, made to work with Pro Tools and Pro Tools alone... When I worked in a place that had Digi 002s, there was no way you could use the faders in Logic or any other app apart from Pro Tools. Perhaps this is no longer the case, but it was definitely like that a few years back. If it's still the case, sorry for the bad news.

Ashley Drees wrote:
I have just replaced my 01X with an 003 and have PT 8.03 plus just now OSX 10.6.3 and have Logic 9.1.1....i have audio in and out, a vast improvement on the vagaries of MLAN... but would really like some pointers on getting the 003 to work as a control surface - i notice you are all happily using Logic and the 003 together so i presume you have got the two to dance...

I fear i will have to map the midi controllers manually - i hope this is not the case.

The 003 does not work as a control surface with Logic, and getting it to by mapping it yourself is no mean task. I've been trying for ages and apart from transport controls have pretty much given up. i would like to know if any one has managed it

Ian

well - good news then... the Midi map facility in the new firmware allows 2 * 4 banks of midi setups and control of external midi devices - i have started to look at the output from each of the controllers and the 003 can be mapped either in logic or internally in the 003.. it would be good if someone has already mapped this - or perhaps a group of interested people could collectively work on mapping the 003 in logic.

I LIKE working in logic - i will learn PT eventually - but for now i have to be productive - i would have had an Project I/O if HHB could supply one in less than 8 weeks... avid supplied an 003 in three days...

Ashley Drees wrote:
well - good news then... the Midi map facility in the new firmware allows 2 * 4 banks of midi setups and control of external midi devices - i have started to look at the output from each of the controllers and the 003 can be mapped either in logic or internally in the 003.. it would be good if someone has already mapped this - or perhaps a group of interested people could collectively work on mapping the 003 in logic.

Let us know how you get on mapping the 003 to Logic. Any tips would be good

Ian

best tip i can give you is if you are thinking of getting a control surface + I/O for Logic from Avid, get the ProjectMix I/O... BUT as i could not get one quickly i bought the 003. So i have started to use it with PT Le and very nice it is too, but i miss logic. I have not yet started to try and map the surface but have MMC control and with 8.0.3 PT installed have 64 bit Audio from any application if i want.

Most people in the message boards and help sites are using 003R but call it 003 - i have not yet found ONE person who is successfully using the 003 as a control surface for logic - or they will not let on as they are too busy making nice music.

It is such a nice tool, and given that it has a midi mode and and both logic and the 003 can map controls i am amazed that no-one seems to have done this...

and if you have please let us know.