DigiDesign Mbox Pro Specifications

Getting Started Mbox ® 2 Pro Version 7.4

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started 2

Chapter 2: Welcome to Mbox 2 Pro 3 chapter 2 Welcome to Mbox 2 Pro Welcome to the Mbox ® 2 Pro portable Pro Tools ® micro-studio from Digidesign ®

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started4Digital I/O• Two channels of S/PDIF digital input and out-put. S/PDIF inputs are available independent of, and in addition

Chapter 2: Welcome to Mbox 2 Pro 5System RequirementsMbox 2 Pro can be used with a Digidesign-qual-ified Windows or Mac computer. A DVD drive is requi

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started6About the Pro Tools GuidesThis Getting Started guide explains how to in-stall Pro Tools LE software, make basic connec-tion

Chapter 2: Welcome to Mbox 2 Pro 7About www.digidesign.comThe Digidesign website (www.digidesign.com) is your best source for information to help you

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started8

Chapter 3: Installing Pro Tools on Windows 9chapter 3Installing Pro Tools on WindowsThis chapter contains information for Windows systems only. If you

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started109 Click Next.10 Select the Pro Tools application for installa-tion. 11 You can also select from a list of optional item

Chapter 3: Installing Pro Tools on Windows 114 Restart your computer.Disabling Screen Saver(Windows Vista Only)To avoid errors during recording and p

Legal Notices This guide is copyrighted ©2007 by Digidesign, a division of Avid Technology, Inc. (hereafter “Digidesign”), with all rights reserved.

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started12DirectSound Windows System Audio DriverThe DirectSound Windows System Audio Driver is a multi-client, multichannel sound d

Chapter 4: Installing Pro Tools on Mac 13chapter 4Installing Pro Tools on MacThis chapter contains information for Mac sys-tems only. If you are insta

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started148 You can also select from a list of optional items to install along with Pro Tools:DigiTranslator DigiTranslator™ is a s

Chapter 4: Installing Pro Tools on Mac 15Additional Software on the Pro Tools Installer DiscThe Pro Tools Installer disc provides additional software

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started16Pro Tools Session TemplatesThe Pro Tools LE Installer disc includes factory session templates that are pre-configured to c

Chapter 5: Configuring Your Pro Tools System 17chapter 5Configuring Your Pro Tools SystemAfter you have connected your system and in-stalled Pro Tools s

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started18Configuring Pro Tools LEPro Tools System SettingsIn the Playback Engine dialog, Pro Tools LE lets you adjust the performanc

Chapter 5: Configuring Your Pro Tools System 19RTAS ProcessorsThe RTAS Processors setting determines the number of processors in your computer allo-cat

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started20The maximum available CPU Usage Limit de-pends on the number of processors in your com-puter and on the number of processo

Chapter 5: Configuring Your Pro Tools System 21DAE Playback Buffer SizeThe DAE Playback Buffer Size determines the amount of memory DAE allocates for d

Any modifications to the unit, unless expressly approved by Digidesign, could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. Canadian Compl

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started22You can set Pro Tools to reserve only the mini-mum amount of required memory, so that more system memory is available to o

Chapter 5: Configuring Your Pro Tools System 23Pro Tools Hardware SettingsIn the Hardware Settings dialog, Pro Tools lets you set the default sample ra

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started24To rename I/O paths in I/O Setup:1 Choose Setup > I/O.2 Click the Input, Output, Insert, or Bus tab to display the co

Chapter 5: Configuring Your Pro Tools System 25To enable DMA for any IDE hard drives (Windows XP):1 Choose Start > Control Panel. 2 Double-click S

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started26Recommended OptimizationsPro Tools can also be affected by other software and hardware drivers installed on your com-puter

Chapter 5: Configuring Your Pro Tools System 27Disabling System Startup ItemsThe fewer items in use by your computer, the more resources are available

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started28Turning Off Energy SaverTo turn off the Energy Saver feature:1 Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu and click En

Chapter 6: Hardware Overview 29chapter 6Hardware OverviewMbox 2 Pro Front Panel FeaturesThe Mbox 2 Pro front panel has the following features:Power L

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started30Headphone OutputsMbox 2 Pro provides two 1/4-inch, stereo head-phone outputs, A and B, each with its own level control. He

Chapter 6: Hardware Overview 31Gain ControlsThese knobs adjust the input gain levels of their corresponding input (Input 1, Input 2, or Aux In).DI Inp

Important Safety Instructions 1) Read these instructions.2) Keep these instructions.3) Heed all warnings.4) Follow all instructions.5) Do not use thi

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started32Mbox 2 Pro Back Panel FeaturesFigure 2 identifies each port on the Mbox 2 Pro back panel. The Mbox 2 Pro back panel has th

Chapter 6: Hardware Overview 33Word Clock The Word Clock In and Out ports let you con-nect BNC cables to synchronize Pro Tools to in-coming 1x Word cl

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started34Grounding PostThe Grounding Post is for grounding turntables and other types of DJ equipment to Mbox 2 Pro.Mic/Line 1 and

Chapter 7: Making Studio Connections 35chapter 7Making Studio ConnectionsTo hear audio recorded into a Pro Tools session, you will need to connect hea

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started36Connecting a Sound SystemThe main monitor outputs on the back of the Mbox 2 Pro (Mon Out L and R) support 1/4-inch plugs.

Chapter 7: Making Studio Connections 37Connecting a Digital DeckIf you have a CD, DVD, DAT or other device that accepts S/PDIF connections, connect it

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started38Connecting a MicrophoneThere are several ways to use Mbox 2 with a mi-crophone, depending on the type of micro-phone and c

Chapter 7: Making Studio Connections 39Using a Mic that Has an XLR ConnectorTo use a microphone that has an XLR connector:1 Plug your microphone cabl

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started40Using a Mic that Has a 1/4-Inch ConnectorTo use a microphone that has a 1/4-inch TS(Tip-Sleeve) connector:1 Connect the 1

Chapter 7: Making Studio Connections 41Connecting Electric Guitar or BassTo use a guitar with Mbox 2 Pro:1 On the front of the Mbox 2 Pro, plug your

Contents vii contents Chapter 1. Installation QuickStart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started42Digital Input and OutputMbox 2 Pro provides two channels of S/PDIF digital input and output on the back panel. This lets y

Chapter 7: Making Studio Connections 43Setting the Clock Source to S/PDIF is the only way to utilize S/PDIF input. Doing so lets you record or monitor

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started44Word ClockMbox 2 Pro provides Word Clock In and Out connectors on the back panel that let you syn-chronize, or “clock” Pro

Chapter 7: Making Studio Connections 45Pro Tools LE as Word Clock SlaveIn order to slave Pro Tools to an external Word clock source, you must configur

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Chapter 8: Common Tasks with Pro Tools LE 47chapter 8Common Tasks with Pro Tools LEThis chapter is designed to give new users spe-cific methods for ac

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started485 Choose the audio drive where you want to save your session.6 Type a name for your session.7 Click Save.To prepare an

Chapter 8: Common Tasks with Pro Tools LE 492 Choose Track > Input Only Monitoring. This al-lows you to monitor the input of tracks that are recor

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started505 Drag the audio file from the Workspace browser to the Track List in the Edit window to import the file to a new audio tra

Chapter 8: Common Tasks with Pro Tools LE 515 Choose Stereo Interleaved for the Format.6 Choose 16 for the Resolution and 44100 for the Sample Rate.

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started viii Chapter 5. Configuring Your Pro Tools System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 St

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started52Recording MIDI in a Pro Tools SessionWhat is MIDI?MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) data is not audio, and has n

Chapter 8: Common Tasks with Pro Tools LE 535 Do one of the following, depending on the type of instrument you are using:• If you are using an instru

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started549 Play some notes on your MIDI controller and look for the track’s MIDI Velocity meter to move. Remember, MIDI is not aud

Appendix A: Configuring MIDI Studio Setup (Windows Only) 55appendix aConfiguring MIDI Studio Setup (Windows Only)MIDI Studio SetupMIDI Studio Setup (MSS

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started56Export This button lets you export the current MIDI Studio Setup file.Show Duplicate Emulated Ports When this op-tion is s

Appendix A: Configuring MIDI Studio Setup (Windows Only) 57ManufacturerThe Manufacturer pop-up menu provides a list of MIDI equipment manufacturers. Th

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started583 Click the MIDI track’s Patch Select button.4 In the Patch Select dialog, click the Change button.5 In the Open dialog

Appendix B: Configuring AMS (Mac OS X Only) 59appendix bConfiguring AMS (Mac OS X Only)Audio MIDI SetupPro Tools recognizes the ports on your MIDI in-te

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started605 Connect the MIDI device to the MIDI inter-face by clicking the arrow for the appropriate output port of the device and

Appendix B: Configuring AMS (Mac OS X Only) 613 Click the More Properties arrow to expand the dialog, then enable the appropriate MIDI chan-nels (1–16

Contents ix Appendix C. Hard Drive Configuration and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Avoid Recording to the System D

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started62MIDI Patch Name SupportPro Tools supports XML (Extensible Markup Language) for storing and importing patch names for your

Appendix C: Hard Drive Configuration and Maintenance 63appendix cHard Drive Configuration and MaintenanceIt is recommended that you start with a newly f

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started Guide64For complete information on track count and the supported number and configuration of FireWire drives, visit the Dig

Appendix C: Hard Drive Configuration and Maintenance 65Formatting Mac Audio Drives(Mac Only)For optimum performance, audio drives should be formatted a

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started Guide66Defragmenting an Audio DriveMac SystemsWhen working with larger files (such as video), you can limit fragmentation b

Appendix C: Hard Drive Configuration and Maintenance 67Defragmenting Windows Audio DrivesTo defragment an audio drive (Windows Vista):1 Choose Start &

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started Guide68Hard Disk Storage SpaceMono audio tracks recorded with 16-bit resolution at 44.1 kHz (CD quality) require approximat

Troubleshooting 69appendix dTroubleshootingBacking Up Your WorkIt is highly recommended that you back up your work on a regular basis, and especially

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started70Common IssuesPro Tools Won’t LaunchProblemWhen you double-click the Pro Tools applica-tion or a Pro Tools session file, Pro

Troubleshooting 71Before You Call Digidesign Technical SupportRegister Your SystemRegister your purchase immediately after re-viewing the Digidesign

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Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started72Other HardwareRefer to the manufacturer’s documentation for operational details. The most common hardware additions includ

Index 73AASIO driver (Windows) 11audio driversASIO driver (Windows) 11CoreAudio driver (Mac) 15Audio MIDI Setup (AMS) (Macintosh) 59authorizing Pro To

Mbox 2 Pro Getting Started74II/O SetupWindows 23IDE/ATA requirements 64indicatorspeak level 31phantom power 30input and output connectors 33inputsdigi

Index 75Rregistration information 5removing Pro ToolsWindows 12, 16RTAS Processors setting 19SS/PDIF 33Sample Rate 23screen saver, disabling (Windows

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Chapter 1: Installation QuickStart 1 chapter 1 Installation QuickStart Windows Installation Overview (Windows Systems Only) Installing Pro Tools LE™