In 2007 Digidesign released the Digi 003R. Fourteen years later it learned how to Linux.
Audio & Video Questions
If you have questions about setting up and configuring audio/video hardware or software, head over to the community forums on Interfacing Linux.
Where to buy:
eBay
Drivers
Takashi Sakamoto maintains snd-firewire-improve and that’s what we need to get the 003R up and running. These instructions should work for modern Debian based systems.
1. Install the build dependencies.
sudo apt-get install dkms build-essential git linux-headers-$(uname -r)
2. Clone the git repository and install the kernel modules.
git clone https://github.com/takaswie/snd-firewire-improve.git cd snd-firewire-improve sudo ln -s $(pwd) /usr/src/alsa-firewire-4.17 sudo dkms install alsa-firewire/4.17
ALSA Mixer
If you want access to the controls available in alsamixer you’re going to need snd-firewire-ctl-services. It’s a bit of a pain to setup but should find its way into the kernel eventually.
![](https://linuxgamecast.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/00333_1.24.2-1024x576.jpg)
Pulseaudio
The Digidesign 003R will function like any other sound device in pavucontrol.
![](https://linuxgamecast.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Untitled_1.26.1-1024x576.jpg)
Jack
Select the ALSA driver to connect your Digidesign 003R to the Jack server.
![](https://linuxgamecast.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Untitled_1.27.1-1024x576.jpg)
Round-trip Latency
While many kinds of audio latency metrics exist, one useful and well-understood metric is round-trip latency; the time it takes for an audio signal to enter the input of a device, get processed, and exit the output.
Testing setup
CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 1700 |
RAM | Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB |
Motherboard | MSI B350 Tomahawk |
GPU | Nvidia NVS 300 |
SSD | Samsung 840 |
PSU: | EVGA 600 B1 |
Firewire: | Syba SY-PEX30016 |
Network: | Intel i350-T4 |
OS: | Debian Bullseye |
Kernel: | 5.10-rt-amd64 |
Desktop: | NA |
![](https://linuxgamecast.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/441-1024x683.png)
![](https://linuxgamecast.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/48-1024x683.png)
![](https://linuxgamecast.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/96-1024x683.png)
![](https://linuxgamecast.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/192-1024x683.png)
Verdict
The Digidesign 003R is a fantastic little massive interface for the price. Four preamps, four line level inputs plus ADAT & MIDI. While the round-trip latency is a bit on the high side It’s still serviceable at higher sample rates.
Digidesign 003R
![](https://linuxgamecast.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/s-l640-300x139.jpg)
A Linux compatible audio interface from AVID.
Pros
Price.
ALSA drivers.
MIDI
Cons
2U case.
Only 4 preamps.
Round-trip latency is on the highside.