Trouble with sound disappearing (Mbox 2 Pro)

[Ylle]

Hi.

I've have this issue for a long time, and have just gotten used to it I think - but it still annoys the crap out of me.

I got a desktop computer with Windows 8.1, and then an Mbox 2 Pro connected through FireWire.

Now, every time I turn on my computer, I need to restart it for the sound to be working. And yes - restart. If I shutdown my computer it doesn't help, it needs to be a restart.

Okay, so now I have sound. But, if I now look at a youtube video, listen to a song in VLC, or Spotify, or just watching/listening to something giving out sound, there's a big chance that the sound will just disappear if I switch songs/videos, and videos usually don't play either while this is happening.
So basically, when there is sound, and I'm watching a video on Youtube, I can watch that video with no worries, but if I change video, just by clicking on another one, the sound usually disappears, and the video doesn't play.
What I then have to to is right clicking the sound icon in the taskbar and choose "Playback devices". In there I have to disable my device (http://i.imgur.com/lXquNoL.png), and then enable it again, and then it all works again, until I change video again.

I have no idea what is causing this, but it's so annoying to always have to disable/enable my device almost every time I change a song or video.

And on a side note, the disable/enable thing doesn't work when I turn my computer on for the first time - I've tried that. I HAVE to restart my computer first, or else I will get no sound at all.


So yeah, what the hell is going on ? :)
I've tried almost anything (It was the same when I had Win 7), and I can't seem to figure it out, so I was hoping someone in here knew what was going on :)


Thanks in advance.


Regards

[albee1952]

I would set Windows to NOT use the Mbox as its default audio device. Leave the Mbox to do Pro Tools, and nothing but. For all other sounds, either connect a cheap set of computer speakers, or use a monitor/source selector to feed the computer audio to your speakers. Some suggestions, Samson C-Control, Mackie Big Knob, Presonus Central Station or check out SM Pro(some great budget options here).

[Ylle]

Hmmm, that's just an odd solution I think. A fix, not a solution imo :/

I know people with external USB soundcards that do not have this problem. So can it be a FireWire thing maybe ?

It's just really weird.

[albee1952]

More likely that its a driver issue. If the driver is "single client" once one piece of software takes it over, it may not be available for another piece of software(like Windows vs. Pro Tools). Different brands of interfaces use different drivers, and some are simply better than others. My solution has worked 100% for the last 10 years. You can fight it, or you can use what works. In any case, a simple test would be to set Windows to NOT use the Mbox and see if that solves the issue(Pro Tools would always work and not require a reboot). If it doesn't solve that issue, I'm not sure what's going on. If it DOES solve the issue..... Of course, if you are using Pro Tools 9 or later, you can dump the Mbox and buy a 3rd party interface that might give you exactly what you want(why hassle with a 7 year old piece of hardware that is so easily replaced and improved upon)

[Darryl Ramm]

It's an interface driver issue. Nothing to do with Firewire exactly.

If you want a solution sell your old low-end Mbox2 Pro and buy a much better interface, you'll need to look for one that supports multi-client ASIO well... but good luck, since many do not do that really well...

I expect many folks using Macs or PCs will just not run system audio though their DAW interface, so maybe the real solution is what was suggested to you.

[JoelG]

This might do the trick, but I personally go Albee's route.

http://www.steinberg.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=48

Joel

[Ylle]

It sounds like that is the way to go :)

So how does it work exactly ? I buy, lets say this one:
http://www.thomann.de/gb/sm_pro_audio_mpatch_2.htm

Then this is connected to the onboard soundcard I imagine ? But what do I do when I need to use Pro Tools and the Mbox for recordings ? I only have one set of monitors, and imo it would be kinda annoying if I have to switch cables for the monitor if I have to use one or the other - but maybe that's just the way go, i.e.:

1) Connect monitors to SM Pro when doing anything else than Pro Tools

2) Connect monitors to Pro Tools when I need to use Pro Tools.

Or am I missing something ?


Thanks for the answer btw.

[Darryl Ramm]

You wire that up, select Main input to hear your DAW, select Aux input to hear your computer's audio. Your monitors of on one of the outputs and you only ever select that output. But if you want to hear things like system alerts, usual junk like that you just need a small pair of separate cheap monitors permanently connected to the computer (which is what I would do).

[unkJE]

Originally Posted by albee1952

I would set Windows to NOT use the Mbox as its default audio device.

Turn on Mbox2 Pro.
Turn on Computer.

Make a Desktop Shortcut to Control Panel\Sound.
In the Playback Tab, choose Mbox2 Pro before opening VLC, etc.
or
In the Playback Tab, choose your Onboard Audio, before opening Pro Tools.

Image attached shows my Mbox Pro – my Default Device is the Onboard (Conexant) Audio. I’m using Windows 7 – should work also in Windows 8.