Avid Mbox 3

I have been using the MBox 3 by Avid for a while now and it has never given us any issues. I have used it on about 3 different computers and on all systems it works great and it was easy to set up. All you have to do is install the drivers and get your DAW to recognize it and that is all. Depending on which DAW you use with it will change how easy it is to set up. I do admit, some of the DAW software programs are a little trickier than other ones are when trying to set up a 3rd party interface. You can record up to 4 tracks at the same time with this interface, it will also give you MIDI in and MIDI outs. It is all powered by plugging it into your computer and there is no AC power provided.

UTILIZATION

This interface has never let us down and it has never crashed on us. Since we have been using it, we have not received any driver updates and do not need any as of now. The MBox 3 comes with Pro Tools Express; Pro Tools Express is not the full version of Pro Tools but it is great for use to demo a project and then save the file and open it up in Pro Tools 10 on my Mac later on. There are some basic built in effects that you are going to get with this interface but they are nothing to get that excited about because they are pretty simple.

GETTING STARTED

This interface cannot be racked, but it is small and portable and you will have no problems with it being on your desktop workspace. There is not latency between playback and the interface is very quiet. The preamps are decent, but could be better.

OVERALL OPINION

This version of the MBox really didn’t differ from the previous version too much to me. It has an updated design and maybe slightly better preamps but besides that it is basically a carbon copy of the previous model.

The Avid MBox 3 is a 4 channel USB interface that has 2 solid quality microphone preamps built into it and it comes with Pro Tools express . You can use the Avid MBox 3 almost any DAW that has come out over the years. The Avid MBox 3 is very versatile and well made. It is easy to install and get running. Since it is a smaller interface you cannot rack it, it is a simple but good desktop recording interface. It has phantom power on it a total of 4 inputs and 2 outputs.

UTILIZATION

Avid MBox 3 is a built in guitar tuner and a built in soft clipper, the soft clipper comes in handy when you are recording from a external device and the audio might be way to loud. The Avid MBox 3 does not plug into a wall outlet, all power is provided via USB. The price of the Avid MBox 3 is around 500 dollars which is a good price considering the fact that it does come with a copy of Pro Tools Express. Or if you already have the full version of Pro Tools then you can use the Avid MBox 3 with that. The drivers are very stable and I have not received an update for them yet and I don’t think I will need to update on this system because everything seems to be working great.

GETTING STARTED

The manual is clear and easy to understand if you need it. But for just the interface you won’t need a manual. All of the main and basic functions of the Avid MBox 3 work great and have never gave me any problems.

OVERALL OPINION

I have used several similar interfaces to the Avid MBox 3, most of them all work great and so does the Avid MBox 3. It will be great for your first interface, but if you need something with better preamps you will need to invest more money.

As a music teacher I needed a sound card to record my students on my laptop via pro tools .. no problem.

UTILIZATION

driver stable enough what some with windows 7 64bit soucy.
require reconnecting a second time for him to recognize mbox.
use with pro tools for recording ..

GETTING STARTED

installation without any problems ..
General configuration not too complicated.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for over a year, I had the mbox 2 and I trusted avid for the quality of their products. Certe product quite expensive and with the experience
I will make the choice mm.

What characteristics have motivated your choice?
RAPORT the money, the reputation of the brand, the hardware solution software package very competitive, the number of entries in the category and the build quality much higher than the previous version ...

For what purpose? What is your config (Motherboard / CPU / Ram / Hard ,...)?
I use it on asus EEE pc where the value of using a USB interface, I use it in protools for my music production using hardware instruments (mpc, north rack ...) my pc has the following configuration : 4GB RAM, Intel Core Duo 2.1GHz 2 Cor, 480go SATA, ATI Radeon HD 256MB dedicated ....

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable?
This may be one of the only negative thing: problems of recognition hardware software intenpestif which starts as they came and which occur most often after update ... I think the problem come from my pc more than the sound card ...

They are often updated?
Yes, quite often even though I did not have too many points of comparison on the subject.

What software do you use most often?
I'm using ableton as sequencing and Pro Tools LE

How many tracks you get to record / playback simultaneously? ...
I use almost no audio in ableton so the possibilities are virtually endless, however the maximum in pro tools with my pc configuration is about 30 tracks but the limits are mostly in my pc.

GETTING STARTED

The installation is done it without problems?
Installation is no problem but it is rather long so you must be patient

Have you experienced any incompatibilities?
The general configuration is easy? The manual is clear and sufficient? ...

I have no problem everything is very detailed and clear in the procedure manual provides explanations mm to start on pro tools ...

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it? What is so special that you like most and least? Have you tried many other models before buying it? How would you rate the quality / price? With experience, you do again this choice? ...
I use it for almost 3 months.
What I like most:
The DSP, the build quality and audio quality well above the concurrency.
What I like least:
Small bug recognition with pro tools (Benin)
I have two sound cards before this one a tascam us 100 (good for beginners) and a motu 2408mk3 (good tool, but too bulky since I'm mobile)
I would do without hesitation that choice since it fully meets my needs (number of size and quality) RAPORT the money is very good as a mac can scare the price but the quality is there