How to Use All 8 Channels of an MBox 3 Pro ?

[sdlamond]

Question #1:
In our studio we have the MBox 3 Pro (using 6 of 8 channels at 24 bit/96 kHz.) with ProTools LE 8. We do an initial live take capturing only the drums, bass and a vocal/guitar scratch track, then layer later. The 4 XLR inputs are used to record the drums (#2=snare,#3=kick and #4=hit-hat) plus the bass in #1. We use the two RCA inputs: #5 = vocal/guitar scratch track and #6=drums (two tom mics and two cymbal mics through a mixer).

It’s been working fine for 6 years but it still bothers me that I never did figured out how to use the 8 total channels that the product specs claim to be available. I’ve noticed the several XLR inputs on the back panel but am not sure how to identify/enable them in the software. Let me know if you need more specifics.

Question #2:
I export the sessions to a portable drive and transport the interface home to do mixing on another PC. One of the MBox3’s infamous connectors came loose after 6 years of this abuse but we reattached it and it's working fine. My idea is to buy an MBox 2 (4 channel) and keep it at home, to eliminate the transportation abuse to the MBox 3. Will the MBox 2 work when editing the sessions that had been recorded using the MBox 3 ? I don't really understand the technical details of how the software and hardware interact and if the interface, if not doing any recording, is just used to verify that we own one.

(BTW, to add 3 dimensions to the topic, if interested, to hear the band’s product go to www.crowdnoise.com).

[JoelG]

Inputs 1-4 are the XLR OR line inputs
Inputs 5/6 are the RCA inputs
Inputs 7/8 are the SPDIF inputs (sounds like the ones you're missing)

You'll need to get a preamp that has SPDIF outputs if you want to record using them.

Joel

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by JoelG

Inputs 1-4 are the XLR OR line inputs
Inputs 5/6 are the RCA inputs
Inputs 7/8 are the SPDIF inputs (sounds like the ones you're missing)

You'll need to get a preamp that has SPDIF outputs if you want to record using them.

Joel

Indeed^^^, and here are some options:
ART Digital MPA(cheap but very good)
DBX-386(cheaper second hand but still good)
API A2D(not cheap, but its a pair of API 312 preamps)
Or buy my used 003 controller......(sorry, couldn't resist)

[sdlamond]

Thanks for the help on question #1. Any ideas on question #2? (whether an MBox 2 4-channel will work when using to mix recordings from an MBox 3 Pro at 96 kHz)

[Darryl Ramm]

Originally Posted by sdlamond

Thanks for the help on question #1. Any ideas on question #2? (whether an MBox 2 4-channel will work when using to mix recordings from an MBox 3 Pro at 96 kHz)

The "mixing" is done in Pro Tools software inside your computer not inside the interface. All the interface does in this case is provide digital to analog output and level control to a set of monitors, and acts as a license dongle for Pro Tools LE. The audio quality of that interface output might affect how you end up doing the mix. So yes, sure this can work, but so would mixing that session on any version of Pro Tools (that can read the session) on any interface that can run at 96 KHz (including possibly just the computer's internal sound device with Pro Tools 9 or later). The Mbox 2 Pro runs at 96kHz, the Mbox 2 does not, it is not clear which one you are talking about. I would expect you can also pick up a used Mbox 3 Pro fairly cheap if you like that interface, and that would give you a spare for the studio.

[Earl D]

Please don't laugh but where are the digital inputs 7 & 8? I can't seem to locate them on my mb3p.

thanks

Earl

[Darryl Ramm]

On the cable dongle thingy plugged into the rear panel D connector labeled "Word Clock...S/PDIF" or similar. Not having those connectors all on the rear panel is a major turn off of the MBox 3 Pro IMNSHO. Avid should gave made the box bigger if needed...

[Earl D]

Thanks

Earl

[Earl D]

This doesn't look like other s/pdif connections which resemble rca. What kind of digital cable is used?

[JoelG]

You should have a breakout cable that looks like this:


Joel