The 003 Rack + Factory from Digidesign is a complete and full-featured Digital Audio Worksation (DAW), comprising a rackmount module that provides analog, digital and MIDI inputs and outputs, along with Digidesign Pro Tools LE software. The interface communicates with the computer via a single supplied FireWire cable. Together, the system provides everything needed to capture, edit and output high quality audio with the user needing only to provide microphones, monitors and a computer.
Unlike the non-(+) 003 rack, all eight high-quality analog inputs can be either phantom powered microphone preamps or line/DI inputs, perfect for situations where more microphones sources need to be recorded without the burden of additional, external microphone preamps. Still retained are the 003's 8-channels of ADAT LightPipe I/O (48kHz maximum), 2 channels of coaxial S/PDIF, WordClock I/O and MIDI I/O. The unit also features 2 headphone outputs with individual source and level control, in addition to a studio monitor output and alternate control room output.
The Pro Tools 8 LE software offers 48 tracks of simultaneous record and playback, 256 MIDI tracks, real-time (RTAS) plug-in support as well as AudioSuite functionality, and a host of additional editing and mixing features. A comprehensive selection of DigiRack plug-ins is included covering everything from virtual instruments, EQ and dynamics, through delays and pitch shifting, and more. The software is cross-platform and sessions created on this system are fully compatible with higher-end Digidesign's Pro Tools HD systems.
Also included is a "Factory" bundle of 16 virtual processors that consist mostly of essential dynamics processors, filters and time-based effects.