Well. I am on PT LE 7.3.1 went back to 7.3.1 because of the problems with the newer up grades.

I can't go against it because i like it but i have been on my fighting road to get "past the stock sound"I bought it not knowing my other choices. couple years ago.

it is good. I had only few tiny problems like increase buffer etc. all little learning thing back then .

It always works .I had my digi 002 console type sent to black lion audio to get a mode on it. wow , it really helped out and totally blew my friends new 003 "away"

With th mode it gave me more pushing head room. new pres. master clock and some.

I feel the dig 002 is good but i have out grown the sound in a short time. it did take a lot of time to really know how to really know how to use it to the max. Not that much time for regular recording but to know and push it it takes like a solid year.then plus to keep going on there is no limit to adding on to it.

i had to stack on past and over the mode meaning even at the mode point i needed more. I had 80% of ALL the waves plug ins which cost me thousands to go after the sound of a larger studio or in my mind i wanted to "get next to an HD set up.

Well after about 8 grand over the stock 002 i am almost at the pieced price of an HD although i know i would have to still buy the cards.

The sound is good and great in head phones and even thru monitors. all sounds really good but when put up against bigger studios the LE has a duller flat sound. Now this is not anything to do with any eq or anything , plugins that can be used. i have the extra from waves too. all the v series ssl400. api. L3-16 over the regular bundles. it just has a funny (not funny ) but it has its own sound to it.

Now i do like it and wont get rid of it. unless i hit the loto that i dont play. well someday i plan to get to hd.

The pieces i had to buy to get closer to an HD sound meaning "what can be done to totally take the 002 into a higher quality getting closer to an better quality.

I had to get an outboard presonus ADL 600 pre amp. this is a stereo but can be used as mono . really good on about 3/4 of everything with several of setting. A plus. really helped to the max with a more cleaner clarity over all sound on vocals . bass. gi=uitar. plus.

I also picked up a Avalon 747 sp stero compressor. its good but i hate to lock the compressed sound on the track and not be able to change it once recored. plug ins are great but no waves plug in can touch the compressor for bass.i use it as i need it.

Then i had to stack a lynx aurrora 8 and card on it . it is a A-D D-A convertor now that helps. but at the end i still want more. so i had to put out about 8 grand over the stock 002 board to really get it to a better level. plus a U 87 neumann in with the price for vocals.

The 002 PT is really great for home recording i can say that but for me. I had stopped for 15 years married and family etc and gave up performing and band playing if you know what i mean but have i good little studio home with some many things not listed. I am out for real sound.

Now having to piece things one at a time and hoping it will be another step is a tough call on what to really buy.

All that i have bought i can use with an HD set up when the day comes. ( the pre amp. compressor,eq,and lynx, my plug ins i guess i will have to leave in my LE.

But over all to home recording i give it a 9 and as to a home recording that want to compete with the larger studios that have things like PT HD and RADAR and like a sony dbx console ( now i know that board is out dater and good but some say its old but i heard the sound with the combo of radar , HD etc. ) well to compete against that sound as an example i give it a 6 and if it hits 7 that is the max from a LE. i like my 002 and know it and can't tell you how many uncountable hours i sat with it but i myself must move on to getting this LE right next HD sound per sound or i will someday get HD.

I have read so many topics on LE AND HD sounds being so close but so close is not close enough when the LE had that dull home studio sound.

My only problem is i don't like how digi design comes out with newer upgrades and there is nothing but a non stop of sites that tell about why it doesn't work. what i am trying to say is that i am at and went back to 7.3.1 because the newer versions STILL have problems and all that can be done is to check around the world and read and read on how to try to fix it and if not sometimes it best to go back to the version one may have been at.

so dig design i say how about making sure the product is flawless before putting it out on the marker. That can be a real negative thing with pro tools.