Mbox Pro 3 Cannot Connect to Mac OS 10.10.3

[VRW]

Originally Posted by shumusic

I'm starting to believe this is true...Do you have any suggestions for a replacement in the $200-300 range?

Hi, in this price range Focusrite interfaces definitely rule. They are 1-2 classes higher as for audio quality and reliability
than you would think because of their price. I have had an Apogee Quartet and an UA Apollo interface for the last 2 years
both with a 2012 i5 Macbook Pro, a maxed out 2012 i7 Quad Mini and now a late 2014 i7 Quad Macbook Pro Retina and got
a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 ($150.-) this summer because I suddenly needed something small on the go.
This little box totally surprised me as for audio quality and stability, with all those Macs, OSX Yosemite+El Capitan, Pro Tools
12HD and Pro Tools 12 Native as well as with Logic Pro X etc.

What I wanted to say was that those small, affordable Focusrite boxes are really nice and useable, particularly for these low prices.
There ain´t any other interfaces in this price range (150-500.-) offering this quality indeed.

I still use the Scarlett 2i2 successfully with the latest version of El Capitan and Pro Tools 12.4.
However because you have a really cool, powerful iMac of the latest generation let me highly recommend an interface which will be
$500.- but definitely worth the price.
It´s the brand new Focusrite Clarett 2Pre.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Clarett2Pre
http://us.focusrite.com/thunderbolt-...s/clarett-2pre

It´s the smallest guy of the latest releases of Focusrite which are Thunderbolt interfaces with under 1ms latency (!!), the latest technology
inside and Micpres and converters which keep up with much more expensive gear.
This not only is a great piece of gear for the price, it also will be future proof in a way because it´s on the same technical level like your 2015
iMac and therefor you can have it for years.

The Clarett models are all officially compatible with El Capitan already.

Further even the smallest one (2Pre) offers an ADAT In (8 inputs) which enables the user to connect an external preamp etc. as well.

If you still would not be interested in the Clarett, I would recommend to get the Scarlett 2i2 or the Scarlett 6i6.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlett2i2
http://us.focusrite.com/usb-audio-in...s/scarlett-2i2
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Scarlett6i6
http://us.focusrite.com/usb-audio-in...s/scarlett-6i6

As for the 2i2 I definitely can confirm that it does work flawlessly with El Capitan and PT12.4 as I am using it on a dialy basis besides my Apollo.
Nevertheless, again, with your 2015 iMac the Focusrite Clarett 2Pre would be a really cool, future proof solution you would be very satisfied with I think.

All the best to you!

Cheers.

[Ormond]

"From the Scarlett 2i2 (I use one additionally to my Apollo interface when I´m on the road and it works flawlessly with El Capitan
and PT12.4)"

VRW - I have heard the Apollo Duo sounds better than the MBoxess in that you hear a greater expansion of the sound-field. Much wider stereo, I guess. DO YOU hear a sonic difference between the Focus Scarlett and the Apollo? YET It appears, from the video demo and list of features that the "AIR" software gives a huge stereo expansion field? I m quite interested in the Clarett2Pre - - but I don't understand how it could have 10 in's. Is that an ADAT function? I don't have an ADAT port on my rMPB.

[Eric Seaberg]

I got my MBox Pro 3 for cheap because the kid that bought it only wanted the software. I sent it to Black Lion Audio and had it hot-rodded with their biggest upgrade, along with one of their micro word-clocks. This is for my personal system, but it sounds as good as my $500k SSL at work. As long as it works with my Mac on Yosemite, there's no reason to move to ElCap, IMHO.

Just a thought...

[VRW]

Originally Posted by Ormond

"From the Scarlett 2i2 (I use one additionally to my Apollo interface when I´m on the road and it works flawlessly with El Capitan
and PT12.4)"

VRW - I have heard the Apollo Duo sounds better than the MBoxess in that you hear a greater expansion of the sound-field. Much wider stereo, I guess. DO YOU hear a sonic difference between the Focus Scarlett and the Apollo? YET It appears, from the video demo and list of features that the "AIR" software gives a huge stereo expansion field? I m quite interested in the Clarett2Pre - - but I don't understand how it could have 10 in's. Is that an ADAT function? I don't have an ADAT port on my rMPB.

Yeah, the Apollo Duo sounds much better than all the MBoxes (incl. the Pro) indeed, from my personal experience. It´s still the best sounding interface below 1k
as for converters and micpres by far. Actually the Twin Series shares the high end components with their big brothers.

And, yes, of course there is a sonic difference between the Scarlett and the Apollo, no doubt about it. Yet the Scarlett surprisingly sounds really nice and you still
can do serious work with it as well which is a surprise considering it´s super low price of $150.-.

The Clarett series however will be a step upwards and will come close to the Apollo as for sound quality. Won´t beat the Apollos for sure but are playing in it´s class
already imo. The Apollos still provide a more rich, lush and kinda bigger sound yet the difference isn´t that noticeable anymore.
The Claretts are very cool boxes for their prices as they seem to offer the lowest latency among all current Thunderbolt interfaces and their sound has got kinda musicality,
kinda "magic" which even the Apollos don´t have.

So it´s probably a question of taste and of the budget finally.

The Scarletts on the other side will be the best sounding, best quality interfaces below $500.- for sure. They even will beat some more expensive ones.
Best bang for the buck imo.

The Claretts then will be among the very best between $500-1500.- and great value for the money.

The Apollo sound have become kinda "studio standard" during the last few years, no matter if the small ones (Twin Series) or the big boxes, got the same converters and micpres.

Anyway, every audio interface has it´s distinctive sound character (besides it´s specific features and stuff) and it´s up to everyone´s taste and feel which to prefer at the end
of the day. They all sound a bit different, UA Apollos, Focusrite Claretts, Apogee Quartets/Ensembles, etc.

Well, I forgot to mention, yeah, the Clarett 2Pre has got 2 Mic/Line Inputs and an 8 channel ADAT Input on the rear which finally gives you a total of 10 Ins.
It also offers 4 TRS Outs which will come in handy on using 2 different pairs of monitors for example etc.

If one cannot afford more than $500-700.- I would rather recommend the Clarett over the Apollo (Solo). If the budget will be 1k at least it will be up to taste and needs which
one to prefer finally imo. The Clarett 2Pre for $500.- is a really good piece of gear and worth the money for sure.


Cheers.

[STONE MCEWAN]

Originally Posted by shumusic

I'm starting to believe this is true...Do you have any suggestions for a replacement in the $200-300 range?

Hi guys. I am using mid 2010 macbook pro 17" with Logic Pro 9 and the Mbox Pro. I am on OSX Yosemite 10.10. 5 and the Mbox stopped showing up a couple of weeks ago. I tried everything and more but nothing worked. An I to just go ahead and buy a new interface as as well?

Please help. Thanks

[VRW]

Originally Posted by STONE MCEWAN

An I to just go ahead and buy a new interface as as well?

Yes, I would do that indeed. It ain´t getting better with those generation of interfaces. Those were cool and well working
at the time when they were released but too many things have changed in the whole tech department since then.

You will do yourself a favor on replacing it because now you still can get a few bucks on Ebay for it and you will save yourself troubles.

Your Macbook is pretty old too but you still can upgrade those machines for relatively less money. Given you haven´t done it already,
you can put in all available Ram and a modern SSD for the OS drive and can work with it further on (meaning with upcoming versions
of OSX and PT as well) without any problems.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Komputerbay-...500+DDR3+SDRAM
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-2-5-...+850+evo+250gb

Because your Macbook still has no Thunderbolt port but 1 FW800 and some USB 2 ports I would recommend one of those interfaces for
a replacement.

1) Focusrite Saffire Pro 26, Firewire interface, same to better audio quality than your MBox and lot of I/Os and features. Great bang for
the buck.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/FOCUSRITE-SA...ords=focusrite
http://uk.focusrite.com/firewire-aud...saffire-pro-26
Officially supported for OSX Yosemite 10.10 and El Capitan already.
http://uk.focusrite.com/downloads/os...Saffire+PRO+26
http://uk.focusrite.com/answerbase/a...ith-el-capitan

2) Focusrite Scarlett 6i6 or 18i8, USB interfaces, great stability on Mac and very good audio quality for under 1k.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/FOCUSRITE-SC...ords=focusrite
http://uk.focusrite.com/usb-audio-in...ett-6i6/images

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Focusrite-Sc...ords=focusrite
http://uk.focusrite.com/usb-audio-in.../scarlett-18i8

Again those Focusrite Scarletts are officially compatible with OSX Yosemite 10.10 and El Capitan.
http://uk.focusrite.com/answerbase/a...ith-el-capitan

If your Firewire port still is free probably the Saffire will make more sense finally but you also can get a Focusrite Scarlett on one of your
USB ports and an external drive on your FW port for example.

Btw I use a Scarlett 2i2 successfully additionally to my Apollo with a Macbook Pro and El Capitan. Can recommend it from my own positive
experience.

Anyway whichever route you will go finally, do the exchange!

The best of success to you.

Cheers.