Absolute Newbie Using PT for the 1st Time...

[BIG_EFF]

I just got an MBOX 2 and upgraded to Pro Tools 7 (never used the program before). Now I want to know how I should set everything up. Here is a list of my set-up:

Apple IMAC G5 (250 GB HDD, 1.5 GB RAM)
Digidesign MBOX 2 with Pro Tools 7
Akai MPC 4000
M-Audio Oxygen 8 MIDI Controller

I want to start a beat off on the MPC and transfer it to Pro Tools on my computer to beef it up and ad the extras onto it. What is the best way of doing this? What hook-ups do I need to make (ex.: MPC - MIDI'd - MBOX 2 - USB - IMAC)? I don't have a mixer nor do I have the 8 outs, so I'm assuming I will have to record each track separately via the main outs. Am I right? If so how do I set that up? If not, how do I do it so that I can? Pardon all the questions, but I want to be asure. Thanks in advance!

[Mikeren]

Hi,

Congratulations on your new system. The usual and true answer is read the manual, it's in the Digidesign folder. Great stuff when you can't sleep.
Beyond that, you'll have to use the Apple utility "Audio MIDI Setup", located in Applications/Utilities to set up your MIDI connections. It should recognize your MBOX 2 and other gear.
Audio-wise Pro Tools looks like a mixer and a multi-track recorder...you can track the MPC into Pro Tools thru the SPDIF digital outs, ADAT or analog, depending on you output options. Set up an input channel or two and record away.
Plug-ins might "beef up" your sound, select one as an insert in Pro Tools and tweak to taste.

MR