Mbox 2 - High pitched tone in bkgrd

[Chuck1073]

Just installed Mbox 2 and PT 7.0 this weekend to replace my AM-III/6.1.1 set-up.

By far the most painless PT install I've ever done!

Here's the one problem though. When PT is loaded I get a high pitched (about 4-6k) tone...almost sounds like it could be a "carrier" of sorts for the USB. Very low level...but bothersome all the same.

I'm using a garden-variety 10' USB cable until the Monster cable I ordered arrives...hoping that clears it up.

Has anyone else encountered this?

[DigiTechSupt]

You say you're using a 'garden variety' USB cable - are you not using the USB cable that came with the Mbox?

Also, are you on a laptop or desktop? If you're on a laptop, does the sound change or go away when switching between batteries and the power adaptor?

[Chuck1073]

I'm using a longer (12') cable since my tower is in a separate room for noise reasons.

The PC is a desktop.

[Chuck1073]

Bump. Anyone? Bueller?

[DigiTechSupt]

Try the USB cable that came with the Mbox - does the noise go away? You should really use that one, as it has inline filtering that would very likely help.

[Chuck1073]

Will do.

BTW - noticed, while working this aft, the 'tone' (sounds like a digital "whine" bad shield?) is also showing up on the output of the PC's native soundcard. Eveything stops when I quit Pro-Tools.

PC is an Athlon 64/Nvidia NForce 3/GForce if that helps. New install so all drivers are current.

Looking for a way to extend the supplied cable...a hub? Thought I read that passive hubs aren't supported.

Feeding Mbox 2 with an outboard mixer (alt 3/4 bus to Mbox input/Mbox output to fader and main mix for monitoring - not a feedback loop) Used the same setup with AM-III for years with fantastic results, trying to achieve the same with the Mbox 2. Need to keep the breakout box at the operators position rather than in the machine room for access to the mix fader on the breakout box.
Using this setup for voice-over and broadcast production.

[Art B Incredible]

I have the exact same problem and I'm using the USB cable that came with the MBox 2. I'm a Mac Mini 1.25 GHz OS 10.4. Everytime I turn on ProTools the noise comes up and when I turn it off it goes away.

[Chuck1073]

That's interesting. Was thinking it might be a windows device conflict sort of situation...but if it's happening on a Mac..hmmm...and with the supplied cable with the ferrite....

What say you Digi?

[vocalvoodoo]

A lot of folks have had this problem including myself. Mine mysteriously quit whining though. It seems to me to be a problem with the MBox2 itself since it's not an isolated problem. Then again, I could be wrong. Do a search and other threads will come up.

I wish I had a solution for you, but I have no idea what I did to get rid of it. The only thing I can think of is that I'm now monitoring and recording through an external A/D D/A. By the way, I'm using a 12 foot USB cable because I also have my tower in another room.

[Chuck1073]

Are you using any particular brand of USB cable? I've odered a Monster cable USB...hoping the shielding might be better. Guessing there might be some crosstalk from the USB cable to my audio lines.