Anyone know? "Digi 003 question"

[nandk]

What is different or what improvements do the 003 have from the 002? The musicians friend catalog doesnt say much other that its new and cost's more! Anyone know? Thanks.

[Goport]

this is whats new..

Digidesign has announced the 003 family of mid-level I/O units, rolled out to inherit the role of the 002. Here's a fast rundown of the biggest differences between the 002 and 003, both of which come in rack-mounted and control-surface variants:

* Improved LCD display (control surface only): 55x2 character display allows greater information visibility at a glance
* BNC Word Clock I/O: Finally one can bypass the Didgi clock if desired, or one can sync the 003 with other gear
* Jog/Shuttle Wheel (control surface only): Users can now scrub the transport and underlying data. Can also use the wheel to quickly navigate through a session.
* Deciated Automation (control surface only): Users may now assign automation modes right from the 003 surface.
* 5-segment LEDs (control surface only): Customers can now assign automation modes right from the 003 control surface.
* Dual Headphone outs: Instead of the 002's single output, the 003 has two discrete phone outs
* Alternate Control Room Monitor Output: Allows easy switching between main and secondary control room speakers with a physical switch.
* Insert and Send Assignment (control surface only): Unlike the 002, the 003 allows you to assign sends and inserts directly from the control surface.
* Bigger software bundle
* Standalone MIDI control-surface (control surface only): The 003 can be used as a standalone, fully editable, MIDI controller for use with other applications as well as with Pro Tools. 003 Factory ships with three predefined, user-editable maps. (003 does not work as a standalone digital mixer.)

[nandk]

Thank you Goport! it looks like most of the improvments are related to the control surface, I was planning to get a rack mount and use the tascam us-2400 for control. I may just get the 002 rack and save some money, However I do like the Alternate Control Room Monitor Output on the 003.
Thanks again Goport.