Using MBox-3 and MBox Pro simultaneously

[rickymix]

Hi,
Has anyone actually recorded more than 4 tracks simultaneously with an MBox Pro? I have an MBox Pro and also a 2 channel MBox-3 and am thinking of trying to use both boxes together to record 6 drum mics, accessing the 2-channel's pres and convertors via SPDIF.
Anyone know where I can buy the SPDIF break-out cable?
Another possibility would be to use a SONY PCM-D50 for overheads via the 1/8th inch CH 5&6 input on the MBox Pro.
Theoretically it's all possible, but has anyone actually (successfully) tried anything like this? Thanks!

[albee1952]

AFAIK, you can't use both M-Boxes at the same time. I thought the M-Box Pro could handle 8 total inputs(5&6 being the RCA unbalanced inputs and 7&8 via the SPDIF input. If this is something you rarely need, maybe borrow/rent an interface, or buy something from Sweetwater or anyplace that has a good return policy. Alternately, I would likely sell both Mboxes and buy an interface that covers your needs better(and fits the kind of connections you have available on your computer). If you have a Thunderbolt port, that connection will probably give the best performance(Presonus and Focusrite make some good TB interfaces)

[Darryl Ramm]

Why not? The OP is talking about using the Mbox 3 USB as a stand-along mixer/digital preamp. I'm not sure it it does full stand-alone but if not hopefully you can run it attached to a computer controlling the hardware mixer settings.

And to the OP, sure lots and lots of people will have maxed out the IO in a Mbox 3 Pro.

But jury rigging all these systems gets a PITA fast, and the benefits of ease of use and reliability of just getting a larger interface can quickly surface. If you don't have the expansion cable I'm not sure I'd even bother vs. getting a more capable interface, heck even a very well priced Focusright 18i20 gives you 8 mic pres... and if you want fancier preamps to add to the 18i20 it has ADAT in. Personally I'd not buy any interface without ADAT, that's just nice flexibility... and there are a great variety of ADAT preamps out there.

[rickymix]

Thanks guys. If I was going to be high-falootin' I'd break down my home studio and take my API lunchbox and Mytek convertors for the extra 2 channels. I'm trying to figure out an easy way to leave my travel-rig set up at my drummer's house for a couple months.
I'm actually quite enamored with the sound of the MBox-Gen3s; good enough for who it's for... (me! :>). Does the Focusrite 18i20 sound as good? I was looking at that, but not sure it would run on my "Vintage" system; PT10 on Mac OSX 10.8.5.
Cheers, Rick Novak.
P.S. Your names look familiar... do we know each other from the rec.audio.pro days?