Latency too long through Pro Tools; how to set up que mix (MBox Pro)

[bob2014]

Cut to the chase: Latency though the MBox (Pro) app Software Returns is too distracting. I've set the H/W Buffer Size to the lowest setting: 32 samples. I also tried Options > Low latency Monitoring, but when enabled, I get no signal. I did read on another web site that the latter doesn't work; Avid: it should be greyed out (minimally), and a dialog box should pop up stating why it is not available. It is, after all, both Avid hardware and software.

The rest of the story: I'm new to Pro Tools and the MBox Pro. I'm trying to create an optimal setup for recording spoken word. When I set up a que mix for voice talent (in the MBox Pro app), if I use a Hardware Input for the que mix, that works just fine for monitoring while recording; I don't simply use a Software Return for both recording and playback, because the latency is disturbing. Currently: just the one voice track, and no plugins.

Two options I've come up with are:

1) Use a Software Return (corresponding to the output in Pro Tools) potted up, but muted during recording, and then switch from Pro Tools to the MBox app, unmute it for playback (and re-mute when recording). That's a lot of app switching and clicking.

2) Use my hardware mixer for the talent's cue mix, and likewise un-mute the return from Pro Tools during playback, (and re-mute when recording), and then set up a mix in the Mbox app for the control room, where I simply monitor the Software Return. Not ideal, but probably the fastest and most direct way I'm currently imagining.

If there is a better way, I'd love to hear it. thanks

Mac Book Pro, 2.4 GHz, Intel Core i5 (Retina), 8GB RAM; OS X 10.9.4; Pro Tools 11.1.3; MBox Pro (June 2012): (software) package 1.3.1.

Bob