Hello,
I'm done with how little Avid cares for providing a good driver for the MBox 3 Pro. I've had issues with its drivers along several updates, workstations and versions of Windows since day one. On Windows 10, it's the worst - it causes BSOD with the message "IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL" related to the Mbox3Pro driver at least once a week. At least on Windows 7 it didn't crash Windows.
And no, I really don't think it's related to my PC. I've had several good workstations (read my signature to get an idea on the power of the latest one), I'm also an IT guy and I keep them really well configured, clean, I've followed all "optimization" recommendations and I don't have this kind of issues with anything else.
Now, I'm asking myself: Why in heaven do I keep trying to work with this interface? In the old days, it was really hard to find non Avid/Digidesign interfaces that could work nicely with native Pro Tools. But I'm pretty sure (I hope I'm right) that's not the case these days.
Can you guys please share your experience with other interfaces? I'm looking to have at least these points checked:
1)
High quality converters that can work from 44.1 KHz through 192 KHz (or at the very least, 96 Khz).
2)
At least 8x8 IO - with at least 4 good quality included preamps, but of course 8 or 16 would be much better.
3)
NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER (generally speaking) with its drivers and updates.
4)
NO ISSUES playing along with Pro Tools, being able to keep up with really low sample buffers - which is one of the good things on the MBox 3 Pro, I can go to the lowest sample buffer and have nearly zero latency when tracking.
5)
Hopefully, not crazy expensive.
I have Thunderbolt 3, Firewire 400/800 and USB 3.1, so one of those connection interfaces would be great - but I'm willing to go PCIe if really worth it.
I know I could just start Googling this, but I'd really like to have some feedback from actual professional Pro Tools users.
Thank you guys, I really appreciate your time and help!
Francisco