Buying an Mbox need guidence---

[jeffv145]

Hi, I am fairly new to M-powered audio, I have previously been using apple garageband and direct input. I have upgraded to logic express and I was told to get a preamp. Right now I am trying to figure out what the differences between the Mbox 1 and Mbox 2 are. A friend wants to sell me an old mbox 1 for 100$, but I am wondering if it's worth the extra 100 or so to get the mbox 2. Any help would be great!

JeffV--

[ChuckS]

Digi just announced they will no longer be supporting the original MBox. So, if you buy the MBox 1, you'll be limited to the current PT release and not be able to update/upgrade to any new PT software.

Look here: http://duc.digidesign.com/showthread.php?t=254166

BTW - M-Powered is Pro Tools for the M-Audio interfaces. You run PT LE on the MBox series.

[se.audio]

didn't you just say you upgraded to logic express? If you're not using Protools I'd recommend the apogee duet or the single version of it... quite cheap and sounds way better than the mboxes

[getz76]

Originally Posted by elmostephane

didn't you just say you upgraded to logic express? If you're not using Protools I'd recommend the apogee duet or the single version of it... quite cheap and sounds way better than the mboxes

I thought the Duet sounded like garbage. It really should not be compared to the other Apogee products, as the innards have absolutely nothing in common with the classic Apogee converters. Regardless of the innards, it sounds nothing like the other gear. To me it seems like a branding exercise by the company. It looks very nice, though.

For the money, I think there are much better options (Focusrite, Mackie, MOTU).

[jeffv145]

Well I am incredibly confused, how did you all learn this stuff? Are you taking collage courses on it? All I know how to do is make stuff sound good once I've learned the program and I have no idea what I'm doing. Would the mbox 1 be a decent upgrade from direct input? I better go do some reading...

[MetalMike]

Wow, I was actually looking at the duet and considering it. I was wondering how it sounded compared to their other gear. I 've used the two channel rosetta and loved it so much, but I'll take your word for it. What about the mini-me?

[getz76]

MetalMike,

Don't take my word for it. Go check it out. In my opinion, it is not even close to the Rosetta.

The Mini-Me is hard to come by these days.

[mindnoise]

Originally Posted by jeffv145

Would the mbox 1 be a decent upgrade from direct input?

no.

to be precise digidesign hardware is no good when not used with PT.
the digidesign Core Audio Manger which is needed to use digidesign interfaces etc as generic audio device is a piece of coding junk.

and mBox 1 drivers will be unsupported very soon unless you keep your system EXACTLY as it is now.


anyway if you are using/ want to use PT M-Powered you NEED and M-Audio Interface.
mBoxes etc ONLY work with Pro Tools LE!

best

[mindnoise]

Originally Posted by getz76

MetalMike,
The Mini-Me is hard to come by these days.

but really worth it. excellent piece of dope.

[chrisdee]

It all depends on your budget and what you are trying to do.

If you want to record a band Mbox2 wount do. You need atleast a 003 for that. If you only record one track at a time mbox2 works ok.