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  #1  
Old 11-20-2013, 01:06 PM
fretlessfinesse fretlessfinesse is offline
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Location: Laguna Niguel
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Default Headphone output distortion in Mbox 2 Mini

I recently started using Pro Tools 8 LE at home using an Mbox 2 Mini I have had since late 2009. Not owning a pair of headphones, I decided to buy a brand new pair of Sennheiser HD 280 headphones for recording use. Before purchasing these headphones, I had already started recording using Yamaha HS50M monitors to get my feet wet into home recording after not doing so for three years.

When I use the headphones via the Headphone Output on the Mbox 2 Mini, there is this awful distortion that occurs during playback. The levels on the recording are not peaking. I tried playing with the Headphone/Monitor Output Level and Mix (Ratio) knobs to see if that was the issue, but there is still this distortion when played through the headphones, even after the Headphone/Monitor Output Level knob is turned just a hair clockwise after being turned all the way down (which is approximately the seven-o'-clock position). This distortion does not occur during playback through the monitors and there does not seem to be any issue with the headphones themselves after testing them on my laptop and a small practice amp. I also changed USB cables and plugged them into a different USB port on the computer to see if that would help in any way but to no avail. I can not seem to find an issue quite similar to this one through searches.

I very much appreciate you taking time to read this. Below is a Sandra report for the computer in which I am using Pro Tools and all of my hardware on. I hope you are having a great day today!



SiSoftware Sandra

ID
Host Name : user-aa5bbe4e6a
Workgroup : WORKGROUP

Computer
Model : Dell OptiPlex 745
Serial Number : 541****
Chassis : Dell Mini Tower
Mainboard : Dell 0HR330
Serial Number : ..CN1374*********
BIOS : Dell 2.3.1 05/21/2007
Total Memory : 3GB DIMM DDR

Processors
Processor : Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 3.40GHz (2C 3.39GHz, 2x 2MB L2)
Socket/Slot : FC ΅PGA478

Chipset
Memory Controller : Dell OptiPlex 745 4x 199MHz (796MHz), 4GB DIMM DDR 800MHz, Integrated Graphics

Memory Module(s)
Memory Module : Kingston K 1GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-6-6-18 3-24-6-3)
Memory Module : Kingston K 1GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-6-6-18 3-24-6-3)
Memory Module : Kingston K 1GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-6-6-18 3-24-6-3)
Memory Module : Kingston K 1GB DIMM DDR2 PC2-6400U DDR2-800 (5-6-6-18 3-24-6-3)

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Hewlett Packard HP vs17
(1600x1200, 17.1")
Monitor/Panel : Hewlett Packard HP vs17
(1600x1200, 17.1")
Monitor/Panel : Hewlett Packard HP vs17
(1600x1200, 17.1")
Video Adapter : Intel(R) Q965/Q963 Express Chipset Family (8SP 400MHz, 256MB DDR2 128-bit, Integrated Graphics)

Storage Devices
HITACHI HDS7250SASUN500G 0738KVHNBH (500.1GB, SATA300, 15MB Cache) : 466GB (C:)
Seagate ST2000DM001-1CH164 (2TB, USB2/SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm) : 2TB (E:)
HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H60L (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache) : N/A (D:)

Logical Storage Devices
Hard Disk (C:) : 466GB (NTFS) @ HITACHI HDS7250SASUN500G 0738KVHNBH (500.1GB, SATA300, 15MB Cache)
Optical Drive (D:) : N/A @ HL-DT-ST DVD-RAM GSA-H60L (SATA150, DVD+-RW, CD-RW, 2MB Cache)
Floppy Disk (A:) : N/A
MJ's drive (E:) : 2TB (NTFS) @ Seagate ST2000DM001-1CH164 (2TB, USB2/SATA600, 3.5", 7200rpm)

Peripherals
LPC Hub Controller 1 : Intel 82801HB/HR (ICH8/R) LPC Interface Controller
LPC Legacy Controller 1 : SMSC SCH5514D-NS
Audio Device : Dell OptiPlex 745
Audio Codec : Analog Devices AD1983HD sound chip
Serial Port(s) : 1
Parallel Port(s) : 1
Disk Controller : Dell OptiPlex 745
Disk Controller : Dell OptiPlex 745
USB Controller 1 : Dell OptiPlex 745
USB Controller 2 : Dell OptiPlex 745
USB Controller 3 : Dell OptiPlex 745
USB Controller 4 : Dell OptiPlex 745
USB Controller 5 : Dell OptiPlex 745
USB Controller 6 : Dell OptiPlex 745
USB Controller 7 : Dell OptiPlex 745
SMBus/i2c Controller 1 : Intel ICH SMBus

Printers and Faxes
Printer : Microsoft XPS Document Writer (600x600, Colour)
Printer : HP DeskJet 720C (600x600, Parallel, Colour)

Network Services
Network Adapter : Broadcom NetXtreme 57xx Gigabit Controller - Packet Scheduler Miniport (Ethernet)

Operating System
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP Professional 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 3)
Platform Compliance : x86
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  #2  
Old 11-20-2013, 01:57 PM
Darryl Ramm Darryl Ramm is offline
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Default Re: Headphone output distortion in Mbox 2 Mini

Disconnect the monitor/speakers and any other audio inputs. Connect a single Microphone (yes it onyl has one mic input anyhow...) or single other audio signal source to an input and turn the mix knob fully counter-clockwise so you hear the input though the Mbox 2 Mini's build in hardware monitor.

Turn the headphone monitor level up a bit. Does it sound distorted? If so try turning the corresponding gain knob (on the front panel of the Mbox 2 Mini ) down for that input. If its still distorted you likely have a faulty Mbox2 Mini, probably not worth fixing... but there are lots of other options out there.

If you now play a prerecorded/existing audio track back from Pro Tools and slowly turn the mix knob clockwise you should start hearing the track blended with the audio from the mic or other source you are using. Does it get distorted?
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  #3  
Old 11-21-2013, 11:14 AM
fretlessfinesse fretlessfinesse is offline
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Default Re: Headphone output distortion in Mbox 2 Mini

Thank you for your response Darryl! I did try both of those and there is still this distortion through the headphone output that ranges from small crackling, mostly in the left speaker of the headphones, to extremely high gain that resembles peaking levels. And again, this does not occur through the monitors. I figure that it probably is just the device being faulty, but I thought coming here and getting a second opinion would not hurt. Thank you again!
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  #4  
Old 11-21-2013, 11:45 AM
Darryl Ramm Darryl Ramm is offline
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Default Re: Headphone output distortion in Mbox 2 Mini

Quote:
Originally Posted by fretlessfinesse View Post
Thank you for your response Darryl! I did try both of those and there is still this distortion through the headphone output that ranges from small crackling, mostly in the left speaker of the headphones, to extremely high gain that resembles peaking levels. And again, this does not occur through the monitors. I figure that it probably is just the device being faulty, but I thought coming here and getting a second opinion would not hurt. Thank you again!
Yep sounds like a hardware problem. If you describe a price range and what features you want (do you need a Pro Tools upgrade as well?) here folks may be able to recommend different interfaces for you. The other option is to use a separate headphone amplifier connected to the main outputs.
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  #5  
Old 11-21-2013, 02:31 PM
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albee1952 albee1952 is offline
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Default Re: Headphone output distortion in Mbox 2 Mini

I'm not positive this is the cause, but much of your computer is not compatible with LE. Here are the immediate red flags:
Integrated graphics
USB recording drive(USB was not supported on Windows XP)
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  #6  
Old 11-21-2013, 02:36 PM
Darryl Ramm Darryl Ramm is offline
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Default Re: Headphone output distortion in Mbox 2 Mini

Quote:
Originally Posted by albee1952 View Post
I'm not positive this is the cause, but much of your computer is not compatible with LE. Here are the immediate red flags:
Integrated graphics
USB recording drive(USB was not supported on Windows XP)
Yes but it only happens on the headphone out, hard to rationalize how that can happen.
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  #7  
Old 11-21-2013, 02:51 PM
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Southsidemusic Southsidemusic is offline
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Default Re: Headphone output distortion in Mbox 2 Mini

Just curious, why does it say 4X1GB RAM and in the RAM section up top it says 3GB RAM

Chris
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  #8  
Old 11-22-2013, 08:03 AM
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albee1952 albee1952 is offline
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Default Re: Headphone output distortion in Mbox 2 Mini

Quote:
Originally Posted by Southsidemusic View Post
Just curious, why does it say 4X1GB RAM and in the RAM section up top it says 3GB RAM

Chris
This is due to 2 reasons. 1-XP is a 32 bit OS and only recognizes around 3.4GB, no matter how much is installed. And 2-part of that RAM is being "stolen" by the on-board graphics.
__________________
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The better I drink, the more I mix

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  #9  
Old 11-22-2013, 12:31 PM
fretlessfinesse fretlessfinesse is offline
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Default Re: Headphone output distortion in Mbox 2 Mini

Quote:
Originally Posted by Darryl Ramm View Post
Yep sounds like a hardware problem. If you describe a price range and what features you want (do you need a Pro Tools upgrade as well?) here folks may be able to recommend different interfaces for you. The other option is to use a separate headphone amplifier connected to the main outputs.
I actually bought an Mbox 2 yesterday that was on clearance at my local Guitar Center and I do not experience this issue with that piece of hardware when using Pro Tools. I know I am using old hardware on an old computer, but I am just trying to use what I can fit into my budget at the moment.

Quote:
Originally Posted by albee1952 View Post
This is due to 2 reasons. 1-XP is a 32 bit OS and only recognizes around 3.4GB, no matter how much is installed. And 2-part of that RAM is being "stolen" by the on-board graphics.
That sounds unsettling. Do you know if Pro Tools 8 LE would work on a 64-bit OS?
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  #10  
Old 11-22-2013, 05:07 PM
Darryl Ramm Darryl Ramm is offline
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Default Re: Headphone output distortion in Mbox 2 Mini

Glad the Mbox 2 from GC worked out.

Quote:
Originally Posted by fretlessfinesse View Post
That sounds unsettling. Do you know if Pro Tools 8 LE would work on a 64-bit OS?
Stop worrying about things that are not a problem now. Trying to upgrade/do this will get you in a world of hurt if you do not do this properly. When you are ready to spend $1k-$2k or more and upgrade to Pro Tools 11 and a new PC running Windows 7 x64 or Windows 8 then you upgrade. It makes no sense to worry about anything until then.
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