Mbox Family Question

[Sharif]

Hello All,

I am looking to purchase an Mbox but I just need a litle information on figuring out which one I need.

The main concern is, I'd like to be able to use it as a Windows soundcard too is possible, for use to playback audio outside of Pro Tools software... is that possible with an Mbox?

Thanks for your time.

[casperfun]

Yes, choose it as your asio driver.

[lowoctave]

I just got the Mbox 2 Pro, and the software automatically installed the ASIO driver for me.

[casperfun]

You must use the sound setup in windows or the audio software other than PTLE. Choose the asio driver to use your Mbox2 pro outside of normal PTLE.

[Jamtime]

Yes With standalone Virtual Instruments no problem with ASIO. But iTunes, as known, is a bit of a problem. It has been told Mbox works with an older version but I have not tested it. I installed the latest Itunes yeasterday and no sound. In an earlier version it was scrambled. Windows sound works if I want to. But not sound in ex. Virtual skipper (sailing sim).

/Micke

[Sharif]

So will I be able to utilize the Mbox as a soundcard just by using the Firewire/USB connection? Or will there need to be a sound-out line going to the Mbox from my laptop's current soundcard?

If I disconnect the Mbox when i am moving my laptop around, can I still hear audio (will it reset to the original card?)?

[JMS40]

Some concepts getting mixed up here.
So... lets start at the top.

In all PTLE versions since 6.4. aside from the PT software, two audio drivers are installed by default.
The Digi Wave driver.
And the Digi ASIO driver.
These allow your Mbox to be used outside of Pro Tools.

The ASIO driver can be used only with applications that support that format. Cubase/Nuendo, Sonar, SoundForge, just to name a few.
It is multitrack capable, both record and playback.
You assign the Mbox/ASIO drivers in those program's individual setup options.

The Wave driver is the one you'll use with most generic Windows applications...
Your browser, Media Player, Quicktime, Real Player, etc..
It is two track (stereo) playback only.

In order to use the Wave driver effectivly, you'll need to download and install the Digi MMEHelper.

Use this application to add all the Windows programs, those I listed above, and whatever other non-ASIO compatible programs you'd like to use the Mbox for, to the Wave driver registry list.

One warning. The current iTunes version does not work well with the wave driver. It's a known bug.

Some people have had luck by installing the older version 6.0.5:

www.apple.com/support/downloads/itunes605forwindows.html

Good luck-

[Sharif]

Ok so I got rid of the laptop and got a desktop instead.

My main concern for the interface I get is to be able to use as a standalone soundcard... I used that MME Helper software and it is a pain as a lot of things don't work. I thought the new MBOX's had support for that by default without the use of 3rd party software...