Using Mbox2 as standalone pre?

[brinaddison]

I need to buy an Mbox2 for a remote recording session in january and I was wondering if after I'm done, is there a way to use the Mbox2 for 2 additional mic pre's with my current 001 setup? Basically, I'd want to power it up with the USB but use it as a standalone dual pre? either S/PDIF out or using the headphone jack.

Anyone been successful trying this?
Let me know, Thanks.

[kova]

Yes, you can. Just turn the Mix knob fully left and this will route the input signal to the output or SPDIF outputs. I used the Monitir outputs and this works I know, however I never tried the SPDIF outputs.
Regards'
Mike

[Matt82au]

yes i am pretty sure spdif wont respond to the mix nob, another user made the sugestion of getting a powered hum for taking the mbox into the field without a computer (but a powerpoint...) which is a great idea!

I would love to see the ability to use the mbox as a standalone a/d and d/a. maybe mbox 3? digi? think about it would certainly improve the lifespan of the product!

[brinaddison]

Thanks for the responce. I spoke with a product specialist yesterday who said the same thing although he had to think about it and haddn't been asked that question before. Funny huh?

The only problem is that the ch1 and ch2 would get routed to the same outputs right? So because there is NO INSERT on the Mbox2 there is no real way to separate the signal into a left and right channel. I could be wrong, I don't own an Mbox2 yet.

Care to chime in?

The Powerd Hub idea is also a good one for in the field with no computer.

[kova]

I tested the MBox2 as a stand alone Pre and it works fine. Channel 1 is wired to the left output and channel 2 is wired to the right output. You will only get output if the Mix knob is fully turned left to Mix. I suspect the SPDIF outputs are active as well however I could not test this. When I asked the Digi specialist from Chicago, he said the MBox2 could Not be used as a Pre alone, however I proved him wrong. My guess is most people will use it with ProTools, However ,you can't record into the Mbox using the Wave MME driver in Windows XP, only output from it. Digi dropped support for recording with MME driver long ago. Moot point if you use Mac core audio. Hope this helps.It is a nice piece of hardware
Regards
Mike

[brinaddison]

I tested the MBox2 as a stand alone Pre and it works fine. Channel 1 is wired to the left output and channel 2 is wired to the right output.

That's great! I'm sure they didn't design it to be used as such, but this little experiment has afforded the mbox to a lot more value IMHO

I just picked up an Mbox 2 but havn't yet had a chance to take it out of the box and test for myself.

How did you power it?
Just hooked up to USB and didn't launch PT?

Now the next test is to hook it up and launch PT and see if PT sees two pieces of hardware, in my case a 001 and the Mbox. Then what will PT do? I'll do a test today and report back. This is a good way to ad more pre's to an LE setup or any other for that matter. The fact that the channels show up at separate outputs was key, thanks for confirming that.

Sweet little box!