MBox Mini unrecognized on Macbook Pro

[rrdillon]

My MBox Mini is no longer recognized by my Macbook Pro (i.e. it had been working). I have NOT installed Pro Tools (I am using the interface with Logic Express 9.1.5 & Reason 6.01).

The main thing I recall doing since it last worked was upgrade Reason from 6.0 to 6.01 (save off soundbanks file, delete Reason folder, download update, copy new "Reason" folder from .dmg into Applications folder, restore soundbanks file) , and install PodFarm 2.51 (via downloaded installer). I suspected the Podfarm install as the culprit since it installs drivers/extensions/preference files and more in numerous locations.

I may have also installed the Mac EFI 2.3 Firmware update since the MBox Mini was last working (I know installed it, but I am not certain of timeline, it may have been working since the firmware update).

The MBox Mini (connected via USB cable it came with) does not show up in:
* Logic Express
* Reason
* Audio Midi Setup
* Mbox Mini control panel (system prefs) - it says "Hardware Not Connected"

I have verified the USB cable is good by using it to connect an Apogee GIO audio interface, and this is recognized and works fine. I've also tried using the GIO's USB cable with MBox Mini.

I have tried both USB ports on the Macbook Pro.

The MBox Mini is getting power - the blue power light is on.

I tried installing the Mbox Mini Driver for Windows 7 on my windows 7 (64-bit) PC at work, and got the same "Hardware not connected" from the MBox mini control panel. This suggests to me a possible hardware problem, but I did no further troubleshooting on the PC.

I also tried taking my Mac to a local guitar center store. They had an MBox Mini unboxed in display case. Tried that with my Mac, and same result. This suggests a problem on the Mac. Had their unit ever been used/tested/mis-handled? I don't know. I don't think they knew either, they didn't even know it was in the display case until I pointed it out. Could have been a returned item.

My Mac:
Macbook Pro (early 2011) 2.3Ghz Core i7, Hi-Res Screen
8Gb 1333 Mhz DDR3 RAM (Apple Factory installed)
500 Gb 7200 RPM drive (Apple Factory installed)
OS X 10.6.8 (Upgraded from factory installed 10.6.7)
Boot ROM Version: MBP81.0047.B24
SMC Version (system): 1.69f1
64-bit kernel & extensions: Yes.
File System: Mac OS Extended (Journaled)

MBox Mini driver version 1.0.7

Only the magsafe power cord and MBox Mini USB cable are plugged into the Mac.

I would attach a complete system profile but I "may not" post attachments (since I'm a new member?) and the full profile is kind of big to include right in the post (2mb).

I've gone through the recommended optimizations & troubleshooting steps:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Optimize Energy Saver (don't sleep, don't sleep disk)
- DONE

Turn off Airport & Bluetooth
- DONE

Disable Time Machine
- DONE

Disable Firewire Networking
- Nothing to disable in this prefs panel (I don't use Firewire)

Disable FileVault Protection
- DONE (I have never used it. Verified it is off)

Update iLok Drivers
- I do not use an iLok

Software Updates - Disable
- DONE

Disable Spotlight Indexing
- DONE

Disable Sudden Motion Sensor
- DONE

Default I/O Setup
- N/A (I never installed Pro Tools)

Create New Session With Stereo Mix
- N/A (I never installed Pro Tools)

Deleting Databases and Preferences
- These do do not exist, I checked. (I never installed Pro Tools)

Uninstall & reinstall Pro Tools
- N/A (I never installed Pro Tools)

Zap PRAM
- DONE

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
- DONE

Repair Disk Permissions
- DONE

New Admin Account
- I did not do the part of this related to using ProTools. it says it can help with issues launching Pro Tools, which I have never installed.
- I DID try plugging in my Mbox Mini while logged into this account - it was still not detected by Audio Midi Setup or by MBox Mini control panel (in System Preferences).

Remove Login Items
- DONE

Remove Startup Items
- DONE

Check Plug-in Compatibility
- N/A (I never installed Pro Tools)


Additionally:

Deleted the following files (per note for "Core Audio troubleshooting - for general Core Audio problems, such as if your interface is not being recognized")
1. Mac HD > Users > (Your User Name) > Library > Preferences > com.apple.systempreferences.plist (delete this file)
2. Mac HD > Users > (Your User Name) > Library > Preferences > com.apple.audio.AudioMIDISetup.plist (delete this file)
3. Mac HD > Users > (Your User Name) > Library > Preferences > com.digidesign.CoreAudioManager.plist (delete this file)
4. Mac HD > Users > (Your User Name) > Library > Preferences > ByHost > com.apple.systempreferences.xxxxxxxxxxxx.plist (delete this file)

Uninstalled Line6 Drivers (Using uninstall app, log follows):
/System/Library/Extensions/Line6Audio.kext
/Library/Audio/MIDI Drivers/Line6MIDI.plugin
/Library/PreferencePanes/Line6AudioMIDI.prefPane
3 files successfully deleted.

Uninstall Line6 PodFarm 2.51 (based on instructions in part 3 of http://line6.com/support/docs/DOC-2304)
Delete all line 6/podfarm files from:
[bleep][bleep][bleep][bleep][bleep][bleep][bleep][bleep]Library/Audio/Plugin-Ins/Components
Library/Audio/Plugin-Ins/VST

Library/Audio/MIDI Drivers

Library/Frameworks (look for L6WXTG and L6WXTY.framework and delete them)

Library/Application Support/Line 6

Library/Application Support/Digidesign/Plug-Ins

User/Library/Application Support/Line 6

Applications/Line 6

User/Documents/Line 6

User/Library/Preferences (Line6 preferences, should be something like com.line6.xxxxx, etc. Delete.)
private/var/db/receipts/com.line6* (i.e. all files starting with com.line6)
Empty Trash

Uninstalled Avid MBox Mini (Using Uninstaller app, log follows)
Removing audio driver /System/Library/Extensions/AvidMboxMini.kext.
Removing Application Support folder /Library/Application Support/Avid/{01313D13-570C-4a5c-8192-2EFEA4EA64D5}.
Removing Control Panel /Applications/Mbox Mini.app.
Removing launchd agent /Library/LaunchAgents/com.avid.mboxmini.helper.plist.
Removing preference panel /Library/PreferencePanes/Avid Mbox Mini.prefPane.
Removing installer receipts.
Removing preference files.
Updating the extensions cache.
Updating the preference panes cache.

Restart Mac

Re-Installed Mbox Mini Driver from downloaded Mbox_Mini_Drivers_v107_72735.dmg

Restart Mac
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I guess the best way to verify the hardware is good/bad is try it on another system already known to work with an MBox Mini. Oh how to find such a system? :)

Or send it to Avid I guess.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
-rdillon

[Cerion]

I am having a similar issue with Mbox mini on Win 7. It was working fine about 4 weeks ago on my last project, and now hardware is not seen.

I plugged it into my laptop which also recognized Mbox a few months ago (but I don't use it for editing) and it is no longer recognized as well.

Odd thing is that when I re-install, the installer sees the Mbox hardware when installing, but when I fire up PT LE, I reach the Xpand!.dpm plugin, the "hardware not found" window pops up.

[pollodiantres]

The Avid MBox mini is a piece of crap!!

I have one working for about four months, then stopped working. Only blue light but not recognized by the machine. After trying everything, Avid change it for a new one, and after just two weeks of use, the same problem happened again.

Now I have to ask now for the third one in less than six months.

A truly waste of money and a crappy piece of equipment.

Never had any problem with the Digidesign MBox, that unfortunately, I sold.

[jeff sanders]

i'm pretty sure i didn't read this in your nightmare list of troubleshooting work so forgive me if i'm offering a tried solution. i had mine installed then it quit working still not sure what changed but i finally got mine working again by uninstalling the mbox drivers. turn off comp, unplug mbox usb from comp, reboot, install latest mbox driver from site, turn off comp, plug in mbox, cross fingers, reboot. i think that put me back i'm solid since. good luck