Turtlerock Forum

Looking at buying 1 - not because of it's fidelity or it's the newest bestest thing out there but because I want to get my head around protools. That in itself is a crazy reason for buying a bit of kit but due to circumstances I need to know how to use it.

Looking at the mbox 2 (factory) or the pro (factory)

Uses: Learning and in box mixing stuff.

Thoughts, ideas, insults ;-) ...

Cheers.

I just recently bought a Mbox 2 mini, cheapest (legal) way to get your hands on pro tools. If all your wanting to do is get your head around it, or do the odd bit of low res (24/48) recording it's not to bad, plus it's small enough that you can throw it in a bag a take it with you.

I also have a 002 rack permetly installed in the studio, so the mbox is great if I have to take a mix to a client to have a listen to or do fast changes in a venue. I have recently remixed a theatre show siting in the auditorium with the Mbx pluged in to the Foh. Three hours afetr starting the house was open the show reploted, director happy. I couldn't of made it to the studio and back again in that time. So it has it's uses, just depends what you want to do with it other than learn tools.

Tony

Cheers Tony for the insight.

Sounds the mini sounds like a good option.

I am using a firepod atm which is still quite portable but I am looking at upgrading my software (was looking at Cubase 4) - still stuck in 2002 with Logic Platinum 5.5 - still an awesome program but I want some thing a bit more current. Bought a TC Electronic powercore compact last year to flesh the plugin side of things out a bit which was good.

I am looking at doing some work where I will need to have a working knowledge of pro tools and so I would like to get in there and get my hands dirty. Sounds like this might not be such a crazy idea after all.

The original mbox's are turning up cheap because they are old!!! But they still work if you need cheap and to just get into it.

I have a mini as well.. Have not used the inputs, just the outputs.
The Mbox and other Mbox2 versions have Spdif if your thinking of bypassing the convertors later on. Also Mbpx2 using the Spidf you can have 4 ins and out or more on the Pro version. Seen Mbox orginals go for around $300 lately and Mbox2 for $500~ secondhand.

You can also get a M-audio device and use m-powered, although I think the m-powered software is around the same price as the mini?

Funny I just picked a Mbox 2 today. I have a HD system, but the Mbox is just so easy to do some song writing.
If you have a Mac a Mbox pro would be a good deal, if my laptop was a Mac and not a PC, I would have gone the Pro Mbox rd, mainly because it has firewire. The latancy on the Mbox can drive you nuts if you don't monitor pre tools.

Nic

If you just want to do ITB mixes go the mini - ridiculously cheap really.

If you want connectivity to the rest of your studio for mixes get the MBox 2 Pro as it's very impractical to use (for example) an outboard reverb unit with either the mbox 2 / mini with your mixes.

If you think you want to invest in an LE / M-Powered setup for the future I'd investigate the M-Audio Lightrbridge.

Hey guys thanks for the insight into the mbox scenario - very much appreciated.

I think I'm going to go with the mbox2 factory. If the mini had the factory plugs I might go with it but I figure my purpose is to work in the box doing some mixes and getting my head around all things pro tools for the moment. I'll end up using the inputs but I'll throw some pres in front off them anyway. Gotta keep focussed ;-)

Thanks.

Hey Luke - just a thought but I haven't really found the factory plugins to be all that useful (got them free though)... you might be better saving the difference and buying some specific plugs as your needs become clearer.

just a thought.

003 has just been released so you may be able to pick up a bargain on a new 002R as they blow them out.. they did retail at $2295 but the cheeky supplier offered them to us to sell at a blowout of RRP$1395 the day before 003 was announced!..

Hmmmmm...? So many options :(