MBox 2 Pro - Looking For Opinions and Information

Phyllis K. Day

Who’du think it, there is a Sam Ash Music store about eight and a half miles down the road. I got to see in person all sorts of goodies, and he was familiar with what I was using. They may take my Alessis and my AT 3031 as a trade-in (for about a third of what I paid) toward my purchase. I’m to come back Monday so I can play with the ProToolsLE that comes bundled with the M Box 2 Pro Fire Wire, which is what we’re looking at right now.

For just voice work, the MBox2 Pro with my “new” (used, but new to me) Shure SM7A should be all I need for now. The price is steep for me, $699. But I must make an upgrade, what I have now is unacceptable.

So, gear guys and gals, I’ve love to hear your opinion. Thanks in advance.

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007, 20:38 (GMT) Post subject:

You may want to ask "Sam" if they've got an M-audio interface that can be used with Pro Tools M-Powered. Mbox and M-Audio are two different things. Just to save you some money. I think you can do an M-Audio/Pro Tools M-powered a little cheaper than the price you gave. I know the software side is $249 and there is some hardware to go with it from M-audio in the sub-$200 range. No pots though, just an interface. I don't remember what the MBox has.

Phyllis K. Day

Victor Harris · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007, 20:46 (GMT) Post subject:

Its awesome. Its what I use. Wink

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007, 21:32 (GMT) Post subject:

Oh yeah. I want to be clear because this confused me too. There's the MBox from Digidesign and then there's a whole line of stuff from M-Audio both for Pro Tools. But Digidesign works with Pro Tools LE and the M-Audio stuff works with Pro Tools M-Powered. I don't know the differences in the software (if any) but just a heads up. If it were me, I'd get one of the less expensive M-Audio interfaces with the Pro Tools M-Powered with the hopes of finding the money later for the M-Audio Projectmix I/O. But that's just me.

Lynne Alston · Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007, 21:54 (GMT) Post subject:

Phyllis, I use the m-box2 and pro-tools, I'm sure that says alot right there, its easy to use! I purchased mine through fullcompass.com
they are currently $449.00

It came as a complete package( unit and program) with 3 months tec support from digidesign.

Phyllis K. Day

Lynne Alston

[quote="Phyllis K. Day"]
How do you like the Pro Tools? I have heard it is difficult to use.

As long as you load the right version of pro-tools and updates listed at digidesign site, it works great. If you go with the mbox utilize your 3 free months tec support.

I was extremely blessed to have taken a class where the instructor gave us a cheat sheet template for pro-tools. Never having any prior knowledge of tec stuff, it got me through, now I'm getting more adventurous and start changing settings, also when I hit a problem I'll e-mail the instructor and he'll figure out what I screwed up.

Lynne Alston · Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007, 01:34 (GMT) Post subject:

Oh, by the way what's the difference between firewire and USB

Colin Campbell · Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007, 01:39 (GMT) Post subject:

Well... my favorite techie, Lynne... they're pretty much the same but have different connectors. Firewire was raised out of the Macintosh world and is sometimes referred to as IEEE-1394. USB is from the PC world contaminated by the Bill Gates oversight. They are simillar in speed. USB is 400 Megabytes per second and Firewire's latest incantation is 480 MB/sec. (about the same.)

Lynne Alston · Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007, 01:55 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks Colin,
Thats interesting as I run mine through a mac, I guess it doesn't matter what system you use. Why would you want to spend $200.00 more for a firewire when a USB does the same thing, yes, I can see there a little more juice, but is that necessary for VO.

Victor Harris · Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007, 02:04 (GMT) Post subject:

Firewire

Skip Roscoe · **Voice Seeker** Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 22

I think USB 2.0 is 480 and firewire I is 400 (Firewire II is supposed to be 800)

USB is burst orientied whereas firewire is better for streaming constant speed, it came from doing video where the speed Had to be pretty good or the video would drop out. Even though USB 2.0 is faster on paper, I'll take firewire everytime if given the option. That being said, I bought a Tascam USB (US-144) unit with 2 mic pres.

Skip