Digidesign Mbox

The good thing about the original Mbox is that you can still buy it online now and get it for really cheap since they have came out with the Mbox 2 many years ago. It seems like when they came out with the Mbox 2 everyone got rid of the original Mbox which made the price of it go way down. But its still a great interface and I still use it from time to time. I came remember which pro tools that it came with but I have upgraded pro tools so many times it still continues to work. Even when used in cubase and fl studio you can just use it in about any type of daw that you use.


UTILIZATION

Drivers are very stable and everything works great with it, it plugs into my laptop with a USB chord just like the Mbox 2, difference is that the MBOX2 is more of a hassle and cost over twice as much. If you are thinking of getting the Mbox 2 I say you downgrade and save yourself a couple hundred dollars and get the original Mbox and just get a newer version of pro tools and you will save money and be happier in the end.


GETTING STARTED

Setting it up is very easy and is hassle free. There are no issues when running it at all and its very sturdy and wont break on you. I even pack mine up and take it with me a lot of places, I am actually on my second one because the first one got misplaced when I was on a trip, I think I just left in a hotel in the middle of Oklahoma somewhere. This is a very simple interface that can take on some complex jobs I highly recommend it especially with the price that they sell for online now is so low.


OVERALL OPINION

It’s a great interface and I stand by it. Like I said im on my second one and I will get another if I need to. Why not, they cost so little and provide such great quality.

The original Digidesign Mbox will still get the job done even with all of the new interfaces that Digidesign has put out in the last few years.  To me, this is just as good as some of the newer interfaces that are comparable in make up and will cost you less if you get it used (as these are no longer being made).  This audio interface will allow you to run any version of Pro Tools LE and runs via USB to your computer.  It has the capabilities to record two tracks at once as it has two microphone preamps with both XLR and 1/4 inch connections.  It has phantom power as well as RCA connections and an output on both the front and the back for headphones.  It also has 1/4 inch outputs so you can send this to monitors and also has SPDIF capabilities (which I haven't used). 


UTILIZATION

Setting up the Digidesign Mbox is really easy and will only take a few minutes.  You can only use this interface with Pro Tools LE, but I'm assuming that if you are looking into a Digidesign interface that you are doing so for the reason that you can indeed use it with Pro Tools.  Simply plug in this interface via USB to your computer and it will guide you into how to get everything going.  It is very easy and will only take a little bit of time to get everything going.  Like I said before, you can only record two tracks at once but that is usually enough for home studio owners looking to just get down some ideas or do some basic recording.  I don't get too much latency with this, but that really depends on your machine.

GETTING STARTED

Everything about the Digidesign Mbox is really straight forward and even if you don't have experience with Pro Tools or audio interfaces, the Mbox makes it as easy as possible to learn and figure it out.  The Pro Tools software is the best feature about getting the Mbox as it allows you to have the same software used by the pros and gives you the ability to switch between your home LE rig and HD systems in professional studios if you so chose to.  The manual for the Digidesign Mbox is put together pretty well and will definitely outline everything you'd need to know, but it isn't necessary if you don't have one.

OVERALL OPINION

I first used the Digidesign Mbox a number of years ago and don't use it anymore because I have another Digidesign audio interface that I use, but this will still get the job doing for doing basic recording or for simply running Pro Tools.  While the preamps really don't sound all that great, but if you are doing demos or just getting down some ideas which is what I would imagine most people are using this for, it is fine.  The best part is that you can get this fairly cheap now that it is an older model and you can run Pro Tools on the cheap!

Strong points: compatibility with studios all over, editing, Weak Points: Only 32 tracks, which should be plenty for most, but is a small amount compared to other DAWS. No off-line mixdown (bounce)...gotta do it in real-time. Many effects require stopping playback before plug-ins can be added.

Price paid

400

UTILIZATION

USB audio interfaces just don't handle as much as firewire/PCI interfaces. I can use many more plug-ins in other DAWS.

GETTING STARTED

It seems very sturdy, like it would handle the portable situations that it seems intended for. Many engineers use these away from thier TDM set-ups.

OVERALL OPINION

Sound Quality: Good for a $400.00 unit, espeically with this many features (2 preamps w/fantom power, software w/effects, editing, etc.). If you are skilled at mixing, the MBox sound will not get in your way.

I like it quite a bit, but quite frankly, this is "settling" until an upgrade to Digi 002 or TDM.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: Girl6 ( 7-, 2004)

The feature are unsurpassed for the price: SPDIf I/O, USB, 48v phantom. They should upgrade the USB to USB 2.0 capability though. Integrates well with Sampletank's 4.4 GIG wav sound Library! Unlimited potential

Price paid

$500

UTILIZATION

Everything's simple, the book's easy to read, setups simple, but as is always the case in more advanced mixing MIDI SYNC can be a bit tricky the first few times.

GETTING STARTED

Perfect!

OVERALL OPINION

The strongest point about the Mbox is its price. Real cheap but must have in any home studio.

All home studios should have an Mbox. I have had the oppertunity to upgrade to the digi002 but why? I can connect it to my laptop, always grinding. The Mbox has dual Mac/PC compltibality. I produce my beats on a PC burn to 700MB disk, take to a studio with Mac and upload without a problem, that's what's it's about.

Originally posted on FutureProducers.com
Posted by: Unknown ( 2-, 2005)