1. The Gear Page is run by musicians for musicians. We listen, we learn and if we misstep we are not afraid to do the right thing. We proposed some changes to the Emporiums. Based on feedback from members, we have decided to not go ahead with those changes. However, it has also highlighted that we need some community input into what is working and what is not working for members here. Primarily focused on the Emporiums, we'd like input on your thoughts about TGP and how things work in the Emporiums for you and how you'd improve them. The discussion thread on the is here!

    Dismiss Notice

Alternative to Mbox?

Discussion in 'Recording/Live Sound' started by Pointbreakd, Aug 5, 2005.

  1. Aug 5, 2005 #1
    Pointbreakd

    Pointbreakd Member

    Messages:
    608
    Joined:
    May 18, 2004
    Location:
    MA
    Ok so i'm getting a Powerbook, and I'm looking for an alternative to the Mbox for Protools. I really want 4 Inputs and 4 preamps. Is there any way to obtain this with the Mbox or is there something else out there that is similar but has more inputs?
     
    Pointbreakd, Aug 5, 2005
    Pointbreakd, Aug 5, 2005
    #1
  2. Aug 5, 2005 #2
    TAVD

    TAVD Guitar Player Gold Supporting Member

    Messages:
    3,504
    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2004
    Location:
    MD
    Look at one of the various firewire interfaces. The 192k m-audio interfaces are supposed to be much improved and are PT approved. If you're open to other software, something like the Presonus firepod. Or if the budget allows, a RME fireface would give very nice results.
     
    TAVD, Aug 5, 2005
    TAVD, Aug 5, 2005
    #2
  3. Aug 5, 2005 #3
    Pointbreakd

    Pointbreakd Member

    Messages:
    608
    Joined:
    May 18, 2004
    Location:
    MA
    nope gotta be protools. I love it and I know how to use it. I guess what I like about the MBox is that it has preamps and everything...just seems simple.

    Maybe I'd be better off with an M-audio interface and a pre-amp box?
     
    Pointbreakd, Aug 5, 2005
    Pointbreakd, Aug 5, 2005
    #3
  4. Aug 7, 2005 #4
    MichaelK

    MichaelK Member

    Messages:
    6,479
    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2002
    Location:
    Fort Mudge
    There's the Digi 002.
     
    MichaelK, Aug 7, 2005
    MichaelK, Aug 7, 2005
    #4
  5. Aug 7, 2005 #5
    muddy

    muddy Member

    Messages:
    5,719
    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2003
    Location:
    nyc
    yeah, but that's hardly portable. you'd think digi'd keep up with the times, FOR A CHANGE, & either upgrade the mbox's usb to v2.0, or add a bloody firewire port! anyway, at the moment, the only portable solution that doesn't force you to use the 2 cans & a string method would be maudio's firewire alternatives. mind you, i'm not sure that the "m-powered" version of pro-stools is up to what you're used to getting with le. and it doesn't come bundled with the maudio interfaces; you have to buy them seperately. oddly enough, the price for p-stools jumps up to $300.


    ml
     
    muddy, Aug 7, 2005
    muddy, Aug 7, 2005
    #5
  6. Aug 7, 2005 #6
    MichaelK

    MichaelK Member

    Messages:
    6,479
    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2002
    Location:
    Fort Mudge
    I was thinking of the 002 rack, which is only two spaces, has 8 in, 8 out and sounds great.

    There are smaller M-Audio interfaces with fewer I/O but I can't recommend them because I don't know how good they sound.
     
    MichaelK, Aug 7, 2005
    MichaelK, Aug 7, 2005
    #6
  7. Aug 7, 2005 #7
    enharmonic

    enharmonic Old Growth Gold Supporting Member

    Messages:
    8,201
    Joined:
    May 10, 2004
    Location:
    Northern MD
    Fireface :dude
     
    enharmonic, Aug 7, 2005
    enharmonic, Aug 7, 2005
    #7
  8. Aug 7, 2005 #8
    Pointbreakd

    Pointbreakd Member

    Messages:
    608
    Joined:
    May 18, 2004
    Location:
    MA
    wait the Mbox is USB? Does that mean it is slower or will affect my ability to record. I'm used to using the digi 002. but was hoping the purchase of a mbox could do something similar for recording guitar/bass/vocals?

    Am I wrong?
     
    Pointbreakd, Aug 7, 2005
    Pointbreakd, Aug 7, 2005
    #8
  9. Aug 7, 2005 #9
    MichaelK

    MichaelK Member

    Messages:
    6,479
    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2002
    Location:
    Fort Mudge
    MBox is USB. The lowest amount of latency it has is 256 samples, which is very slightly audible. 002's lowest latency setting is 128 samples, which I find inaudible.
     
    MichaelK, Aug 7, 2005
    MichaelK, Aug 7, 2005
    #9
  10. Aug 11, 2005 #10
    melondaoust

    melondaoust Member

    Messages:
    803
    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2004
    The MBox also does have that mix knob that will let you adjust zero-latency monitoring...
     
    melondaoust, Aug 11, 2005
    melondaoust, Aug 11, 2005
    #10
  11. Aug 11, 2005 #11
    tonefreak

    tonefreak Member

    Messages:
    2,461
    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2005
    Location:
    West Los Angeles, California
    This is from the other Mbox thread, which this one is starting to sound very similar to:

    Other Mbox thread

    Hey... I thought you already got an Mbox? Why another Mbox thread? All the Mbox alternatives are listed on the Digidesign web site, and if you have any questions, why not ask them directly?

    If you are used to using the Digi 002, then why not get one? Skip the Mbox because it's not going to have all the same features and functionality of the 002.

    If the 002 is out of your budget, then look at some of the M-Powered solutions or get the Mbox. It sounds like you want to use ProTools, so there are really no other options.
     
    tonefreak, Aug 11, 2005
    tonefreak, Aug 11, 2005
    #11
  12. Aug 11, 2005 #12
    Pointbreakd

    Pointbreakd Member

    Messages:
    608
    Joined:
    May 18, 2004
    Location:
    MA

    Wow. Good detective work there big guy. I did start two threads, this one died awhile ago, but yes they resulted in the same outcome...Mbox.


    I was looking for opinions and experiences and I recieved them. Thanks.
     
    Pointbreakd, Aug 11, 2005
    Pointbreakd, Aug 11, 2005
    #12
  13. Aug 11, 2005 #13
    tonefreak

    tonefreak Member

    Messages:
    2,461
    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2005
    Location:
    West Los Angeles, California
    I know how exactly that feels!

    We all work hard for our money and I personally need to feel certain that the piece of gear I get will do the job well before I lay down the cash!

    I had the opportunity to upgrade to the 002 Rack, but with my set-up, I really wouldn't have benefited much. Spend the money on more plug-ins! :D
     
    tonefreak, Aug 11, 2005
    tonefreak, Aug 11, 2005
    #13
  14. Aug 20, 2005 #14
    marklyn

    marklyn Member

    Messages:
    59
    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2005
    Check out Metric Halo stuff.
    http://www.mhlabs.com/metric_halo/
    The 2882 has 4 preamps and 4 balanced 1/4inch inputs.
    The ULN 2 has 2 high quality preamps onboard and can accept 2 more channels of digital input for 4 ins at a time.

    I've got the ULN 2 and it's been a great sounding unit. I had the MOTU 828 before that and this was a noticable upgrade.
     
    marklyn, Aug 20, 2005
    marklyn, Aug 20, 2005
    #14
  15. Aug 21, 2005 #15
    Pointbreakd

    Pointbreakd Member

    Messages:
    608
    Joined:
    May 18, 2004
    Location:
    MA
    yah, but thats not PT.

    I did get the M-box, but I wonder if Digidesign is coming out with a firewire or usb 2.0 verision....seems like they are phasing out the current mbox.


    which is why you can buy one so cheap.
     
    Pointbreakd, Aug 21, 2005
    Pointbreakd, Aug 21, 2005
    #15
  16. Aug 22, 2005 #16
    tonefreak

    tonefreak Member

    Messages:
    2,461
    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2005
    Location:
    West Los Angeles, California
    A firewire Mbox... that would be cool!
     
    tonefreak, Aug 22, 2005
    tonefreak, Aug 22, 2005
    #16

Share This Page