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Just less then 2 years ago, budget minded Pro
Tools users didn’t have many options. At the time,
if you could scrape together $500 you would buy yourself
an Mbox just to get in the game. Today, with Pro tools M-powered
and the growing Mbox-2 family of interfaces, setting up a
Pro Tools rig has never been more affordable. With the recent
announcement of the Mini, I thought it would be appropriate
to dedicate this weeks Pro Tools corner to all things Mbox.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade from an existing
Mbox or are a newcomer to the Mbox family of interfaces,
I will try and take some of the guesswork out of choosing
a new Mbox system by breaking down the feature sets and sharing
some important considerations.
Remember the Mbox
2 family of interfaces are Digidesign
branded products that run Pro Tools LE, if you are interested
in M-Audio interfaces that run Pro Tools M-Powered or are
unsure of the difference between Pro Tools LE and M-Powered
be sure to check out a previous Pro
Tools Corner that lays it all out.
The Magic Box That Started It All
What started as a lone phenomenon back in 2002, the Mbox
has since transformed the way the world accesses Pro Tools,
the industry standard in music and post-production. Today,
with the power of host-based systems growing stronger every
year, I am simply amazed at the quality and complexity of
projects I am getting from people who use Pro Tools LE, many
using an Mbox as their primary interface. Now with more options
then ever before, the Mbox line seems to be the clear choice
for those in the market for a new cost-effective Pro Tools
rig.
Recently announcing the Mbox
2 Mini, the third installment
to the Mbox 2 lineup, Digidesign now offers a Pro Tools LE
system to fit any budget large or small. All sporting cool
new dark blue faceplates and an updated form factor, the
Mbox line has never looked or sounded better. While the new
units share a few common features with the original Mbox,
each adds a unique feature set to the mix, and since they
all look very similar, it is important to understand and
distinguish each unit’s feature set before deciding
on the right interface for your workflow and budget.
Three Is Company
Those who are in the market for a new Mbox 2 have three
choices: the original Mbox
2 (which replaced the now retired “Mbox
1”), Mbox
2 Pro, and Mbox
2 Mini. Each unit ships with
the venerable Pro Tools LE software and Pro Tools Ignition
Pack (a software package including some great 3rd party plug-ins
and extras), so all you will need is a mic or instrument
and some headphones to get started. Below I have listed a
feature set comparing the three units, as well as a few things
you should consider when shopping for a new Mbox 2.
A Few Things To Consider
Size:
In their advertising, Digidesign often showcases über-hipsters
trucking their Mbox2’s on the bus and the subway, but
make sure you actually hold one in your hands before you
think about taking it on the plane with you. The Mbox 2 and
Mbox 2 Pro are a little bit bigger then I would consider
taking on a plane or in the car to do work on. If you need
ultra-portability, your best bet is going to be the Mbox
2 mini, weighing in at just over a pound, is an awesome choice
for road warriors who want to pack light. While the Mbox
2 Mini is not as small as some of the M-Audio (M-powered)
options, it is the smallest device that will run Pro Tools
LE (if you use the DV toolkit 2, this is important since
M-Powered does not currently support this option).
Mic Pres
If you are planning on doing any stereo recording, you will
want to go with the Mbox 2 or Mbox 2 Pro, as the Mini only
has one built in mic pre.
Analog and Digital I/Os
Remember, most people are interested in the maximum number
of analog inputs and outputs available on a recording interface,
since digital inputs require the use of an extra A/D convert
or device with digital outputs. The Mbox mini has no digital
inputs, so if you need S/PDIF you will need to go with
Mbox 2 or Mbox2 Pro. If you are thinking about doing a
little more then just stereo recording, think about the
Mbox 2 Pro, which gives you a total of 4 analog inputs.
The Mbox 2 pro is also the only option that would allow
you to mix with hardware inserts in Pro Tools, since it
has more then 2 simultaneous outputs (extra outputs beyond
1-2 are needed to send discrete signals out to your hardware
insert device). If you are planning on using outboard gear
during mixdown, the pro is the way to go.
Headphones or Speakers:
If you are just going to be using headphones, any member
of the Mbox 2 family will fit the bill, but if you’re
planning on using studio monitors you may want to consider
the Mbox 2 or Mbox 2 Pro as they both have built in monitor
sections with volume control. While you could still use
a set of monitors with the Mini, you would have to connect
some sort of mixer or monitor controller between the output
of the unit and your speakers. The Mbox 2 Pro is great
for group sessions since it has 2 sets of headphone outputs,
with separate volume control.
MIDI
If you already have or are planning on using a USB midi controller
(like the M-audio O2 or Axiom) then you don’t need
to worry about the Mbox 2 mini lacking MIDI I/O. However,
if you already use or are planning on integrating an external
synth or drum machine (like a Triton, Motif, or MPC) the
built in MIDI I/O on the Mbox 2 and Mbox 2 Pro would save
you from having to buy a USB-MIDI converter.
For the Audiophiles
The Mbox 2 Mini and Mbox 2 only support sampling rates of
up to 48Khz, so if you are planning on doing higher resolution
field recordings, the Mbox 2 pro would be a great choice
since it supports sampling rates of up to 96Khz (all Mbox’s
support 24 bit recording). Audiophiles will also appreciate
the Pro’s BNC Word Clock I/O when connecting hi-quality
external A/D/A converters.
For The DJ’s
If you like to integrate the 1’s & 2’s into
your Pro Tool’s rig, check out the Mbox 2 Pro, it has
a built in RCA phono preamp for direct turntable connection.
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, the Mbox 2 Mini definitely comes
out on top as the best bang for the buck. Putting Pro Tools
in your hands for under $300 is not a bad deal, in fact it
is the most affordable Pro Tools LE rig available to date.
But before you make any decisions, decide what other gear
you may want to integrate. If you end up spending more buying
extra MIDI converters, mixers, mic pres, or need hardware
inserts, then maybe upgrading to the Mbox 2 or Mbox 2 Pro
would be a better option.
New Pro Tip – Extra Large Meters
This week I have a super cool trick that allows you to maximize
the size of your dB meters in the Pro Tools Mixer. This is
great trick to use during tracking sessions when you may
be a bit further away from the screen then usual and you
want to make sure your input levels are correct, or if you’re
like me and have bad eyes from staring at computer screens
all day :-)
To enable large or “fat” meter mode:
- From the mix window in Pro Tools, hold down Control+Option+Command
(Mac) or Control+Alt+Start (PC) and click directly on the
tracks meter (the black line that measures signal ).
- To toggle back to small meters, repeat step 1.
Here is what it should look like:
If you have a Pro Tools related question that you would
like me to take a shot at answering or have any feedback,
please send it to brian@audioMIDI.com.
I will do my best to select the questions that seem to stump
the most people.
As always, stay tuned to the audioMIDI.com eNews for the latest reviews and new product info.
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