Digidesign Mbox 2 - will it do?

[Slingy]

Well a good box will allow you to record and edit various instruments and microphones on your pc or mac. They come in all shapes and sizes and are suited for different needs.

The same goes for software, different strokes for different folks. It's all about what you need to get a certain task done.

 

[bassmonkey]

Well a good box will allow you to record and edit various instruments and microphones on your pc or mac. They come in all shapes and sizes and are suited for different needs.

The same goes for software, different strokes for different folks. It's all about what you need to get a certain task done.

Okay, but doesn't answer my question. How? Why?

 

[Slingy]

Well you got me stumped.

It really is just a soundcard. Have a look inside my crapped out old toneport.

All it really does is take an analog signal and convert it to a digital format using a/d converters and send it to the computer via a usb connection.

But I'm sure you knew that already.

 

[bassmonkey]

But I'm sure you knew that already.

I didn't know that. Makes perfect sense though, thanks.

 

[Randy]

I really like new Amplitube Fender! It sounds much better then Ampeg SVX for me!

 

[strummer]

Okay, but doesn't answer my question. How? Why?

It's just a way of recording directly to your computer. You need a sound card for the inputs same as on a mixing console, but from there on it's all in the computer. The whole mixing console with sends/returns, eq and what-nots, and VST which are virtual instruments and/or effects...
There's a lot you can do, and the fun thing is a lot of it is very inexpensive consiering what you get

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Ok I have an update:

I have finally disembarked and will be at home for a few days on terraferma.

I have installed ProTools LE and all seems to be working well with my MBox2, I've managed to get the free Ver 8 upgrade and I can also confirm that there are no dealys, glitches or latency which I experienced with the LINE 6 Studio Pod UX2. So this seems to be fine for my home PC setup, I still need monitors so any feedback suggestion is welcome.

Since I have very little understanding of Pro Tools and recording via pc, I have booked myself on a DigiDesign seminar here in London on April 22nd to learn hands on from a professional on how to use Pro Tools, so hopefully that should get my up and running and who knows soon I will be recording some of my own tunes and take it from there.

Cheers all

 

[MingusBASS]

Ok I have an update:

I have finally disembarked and will be at home for a few days on terraferma.

I have installed ProTools LE and all seems to be working well with my MBox2, I've managed to get the free Ver 8 upgrade and I can also confirm that there are no dealys, glitches or latency which I experienced with the LINE 6 Studio Pod UX2. So this seems to be fine for my home PC setup, I still need monitors so any feedback suggestion is welcome.

Since I have very little understanding of Pro Tools and recording via pc, I have booked myself on a DigiDesign seminar here in London on April 22nd to learn hands on from a professional on how to use Pro Tools, so hopefully that should get my up and running and who knows soon I will be recording some of my own tunes and take it from there.

Cheers all

You should check out some of the instructional DVDs out there for Pro Tools. Multi Platinum Pro Tools and Secrets of the Pros are a couple of the brands that have good instructional DVDs.

As for monitors, it really depends on how much you want to invest. I'm not sure what they cost over there but Adam monitors rule.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

I have heard good things on these Mackie ones.... any feedback?

Absolute Music Solutions: Mackie Tapco S5 active studio monitors (pair)

 

[strummer]

Adam monitors rule.

+1, even the cheapo A5 kicks serious ass!

 

[MingusBASS]

+1, even the cheapo A5 kicks serious ass!

Yeah, the A5 are actually better for listening than for mixing but they are great.

 

[strummer]

Yeah, the A5 are actually better for listening than for mixing but they are great.

I don't know enough about nixing to understand the difference, being a total audio buff, but I trust you
Oh, and the A5 needs to be accompanied by the small sub too.

 

[bassmonkey]

It's just a way of recording directly to your computer. You need a sound card for the inputs same as on a mixing console, but from there on it's all in the computer. The whole mixing console with sends/returns, eq and what-nots, and VST which are virtual instruments and/or effects...
There's a lot you can do, and the fun thing is a lot of it is very inexpensive consiering what you get

Another stupid question. I'm good at them!

So how is this different from me using my Korg Pandora PX5D? I'm running a Mac, so have Garageband. Isn't that based on Protools?

 

[strummer]

It isn't
Your Pandora is the sound card, and garage band is instead of protools or Cubase

 

[MingusBASS]

ProTools, Cubase, Logic, GarageBand...etc, they are all Digital Audio Workstations, or as many call them, DAWs.
Digital audio workstation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ProTools requires a DigiDesign interface(from a mbox2 to a PTHD system) to work, where as the others have a range of interface options from different brands that will work with their DAW.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Wishe me luck!!

I am going to that Digidesign Pro Tools seminar in a couple of hours, I feel like a kid on his first day of school lol.

Hopefully when this is over I will figure out how to work the damn thing

I'll let you know the result when I get back.

Do you know the worst thing? Right after the seminar I am to rush back to work and sailing time is at 2:00am, so it's back on board for the next week. Boo hoo never a minute of peace.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

I had a great day today at the Digidesign seminar, it was very intense and very interesting too, the guy demonstrating the features of Pro Tools was just perfect he had bags of knowledge and what I liked about him was that his way of explaining intresecate technical terms was in a very simplistic language so even a dumbo like me was able to follow him and never once I was left behind thinking "what did he say?" so overall I had a gread experience and I am looking forward to put what I learnt today into practice and also look forward to the next seminar in 2 months time.

One of the things he told me in relation to recording bass, and I think someone else here mentioned it too, is that the best result is achieved by recording the bass from a miked amp, rather than direct because he is aware that most modern bass are active and unless they are passive switchable it is going to be hard work getting a clean volume from an active bass. So he said if your bass is passive then by all means you can go through direct but if it is active and you don't have a mike then keep the bass volume as low as possible. When I told him a Bongo has 2 x 9V batteries i.e. 18volts he said: "Oh dear"

Anyone else here has experienced any issues recording a Bongo or a Stingray using Mbox2 or M-Audio as interface using Pro Tools?

 

[MrMusashi]

no.. no issues whatsoever.. just dont dime the volume and youre good to go

whats the name of the bongologic canadian who keeps recording his bongo??
i could swear he uses the same mbox as you do... davyduck?

MrM

ps: now ill have to go search to find out.. or else i cant think of nothing else

 

[Grand Wazoo]

no.. no issues whatsoever.. just dont dime the volume and youre good to go

whats the name of the bongologic canadian who keeps recording his bongo??
i could swear he uses the same mbox as you do... davyduck?

MrM

ps: now ill have to go search to find out.. or else i cant think of nothing else

Sorry Mush.. what do you mean don't dime the volume, keep it down?

 

[MingusBASS]

Yes, don't turn your bass all the way up.