MBOX/MBOX2 PC/Mac release & questions...sorry

[BreaknecK]

Hey all,

New here to the forum (I suppose, since if not its been ages and I have lost my original signup info, neertheless), so HI. I appreciate the help up front and sorry for this extensive Q&A. I have searched the knowledge base for this info, but kind of coming up with some questions as follows:

First off, I have an MBOX orig with PT 6.4 LE on Win XP. I am trying to switch to running PT on my intel iMacs and OSX 10.5.8 (Leopard). From what I gather, the MBOX will not run on this operating system. Hence, presumably, if I want to run PT on my Mac, I need to get either an MBOX2 or M-Audio with M-powered. Correct me if I am wrong
.
So, I am wondering a few things, a) if there is any info on when HARDWARE was originally released for the MBOX2 series. I see that there are several software updates, but I am wondering when the MB2 hardware updates have taken place if we are privy to this info. From what I gather, the MB2 will only run 24/48 unless it is a Pro model at 24/96. My question stems from the idea that I fear an update or being obsolete with my MBOX2 in the near future if I update to that. I would rather have something running the latest capable stuff so to speak, which seems to be 24/96 at a minimum, or even up to the 192 mark. So, I am afraid of going through a whole update and still having something that is behind the times.

So...I consider the M-Audio portion of things on my iMac and MBPro, since they are 24/96, but the digidesign/m-aud site states that the compatibility is only guaranteed to 24/48 on the Mac from what I gather. Hence, I am not sure what to do here.

I have old 6.4 projects that I would like to keep, but I am pretty set on doing the upgrade since I am going to all Mac for the most part and moving on from my older PC. This requires upgrades but also risk, so I want to know that I would be making the best possible move in order to make this transition.

So, do we have a timeline of hardware updates for the MBOX and its family as well as M-Aud and M-Powered? Also, given my situation and needs, what seems to be the best course of action? I do fear sticking with digidesign if I lose compatibility with other current software programs, plus it appears to be a bit more of an expensive option and my funds are highly limited. But, I also would not like to lose what I have done in the past if I don't have to and I guess the PT is self contained and not really cross compatible. Also, if I create something in PC PT, I can still run it on Mac, and back and forth rright? Same with M-Aud/M-Powered?

I apologize for this exhaustive post, but this upgrade switch is involving and expensive and I need to make sure I get it right. I want this to last me at least 5 more years or so, since I go my MBOX 1 in like 04-05 or so. Thanks for your time and help!

[CME]

Don't have time to respond to all of your questions. But an Mbox will work on 10.5.8 with up to Pro Tools 8.0.1. Any newer version of PTLE, or any version of OSX 10.6 will not support it. I know because I've been using mine lately for some location recordings. However if you are wanting to update anyways, I would consider doing the Hardware exchange. I'd look into an 003R or even the 003 if you want to have a controller.

As far as session compatibility you should be good. To make sure I'd get an external Hard Drive, not the one you're going to record to with your Mac rig, format it to FAT32 (both mac and windows can read this) and do a "save as" with your old sessions and save to this HD. Make sure you check the "enforce mac/pc compatiblity" and also copy the audio files. Then you should be able hook that HD up to your mac and copy the session to the HD you're going to record to. Hope that makes sense.

[Dism]

Originally Posted by BreaknecK

Hey all,

New here to the forum (I suppose, since if not its been ages and I have lost my original signup info, neertheless), so HI. I appreciate the help up front and sorry for this extensive Q&A. I have searched the knowledge base for this info, but kind of coming up with some questions as follows:

First off, I have an MBOX orig with PT 6.4 LE on Win XP. I am trying to switch to running PT on my intel iMacs and OSX 10.5.8 (Leopard). From what I gather, the MBOX will not run on this operating system. Hence, presumably, if I want to run PT on my Mac, I need to get either an MBOX2 or M-Audio with M-powered. Correct me if I am wrong
.
So, I am wondering a few things, a) if there is any info on when HARDWARE was originally released for the MBOX2 series. I see that there are several software updates, but I am wondering when the MB2 hardware updates have taken place if we are privy to this info. From what I gather, the MB2 will only run 24/48 unless it is a Pro model at 24/96. My question stems from the idea that I fear an update or being obsolete with my MBOX2 in the near future if I update to that. I would rather have something running the latest capable stuff so to speak, which seems to be 24/96 at a minimum, or even up to the 192 mark. So, I am afraid of going through a whole update and still having something that is behind the times.

So...I consider the M-Audio portion of things on my iMac and MBPro, since they are 24/96, but the digidesign/m-aud site states that the compatibility is only guaranteed to 24/48 on the Mac from what I gather. Hence, I am not sure what to do here.

I have old 6.4 projects that I would like to keep, but I am pretty set on doing the upgrade since I am going to all Mac for the most part and moving on from my older PC. This requires upgrades but also risk, so I want to know that I would be making the best possible move in order to make this transition.

So, do we have a timeline of hardware updates for the MBOX and its family as well as M-Aud and M-Powered? Also, given my situation and needs, what seems to be the best course of action? I do fear sticking with digidesign if I lose compatibility with other current software programs, plus it appears to be a bit more of an expensive option and my funds are highly limited. But, I also would not like to lose what I have done in the past if I don't have to and I guess the PT is self contained and not really cross compatible. Also, if I create something in PC PT, I can still run it on Mac, and back and forth rright? Same with M-Aud/M-Powered?

I apologize for this exhaustive post, but this upgrade switch is involving and expensive and I need to make sure I get it right. I want this to last me at least 5 more years or so, since I go my MBOX 1 in like 04-05 or so. Thanks for your time and help!

None of the Digi hardware ever gets physical updates along the way, as far as I know. Once it's on the shelf, that's what you get until they stop selling them.

The MBox 2 should be around for a good while longer. Your 05 purchase of the original MBox was pretty late in the game for that device, since the MBox 2 came out that same year. The reason why the original MBox was discontinued was (supposedly) that the hardware protocol is significantly different from the MBox 2 series, and wasn't worth writing new drivers for. If they stop supporting the MBox 2, they will have to stop supporting the WHOLE family, since they are all pretty well the same in terms of how they pass USB audio, other than the Pro, of course. It's hard to give a specific timeline, really. Since the 001 came out in 1999, and the MBox came out in 2002, but they were discontinued at the same time. While, the 002 came out the same year as the MBox, but I don't see it being discontinued any time soon. I really think it just comes down to hardware specs, and those particular devices had significantly different hardware specs from later models. I don't know of any M-Audio devices that have been dropped as of yet, though they were only acquired as of 2005.

Pro Tools sessions are interchangeable between platforms and versions. A Windows machine running 8.0.3 should be able to open a Mac session from 5.3. Shouldn't make a difference. Same with HD, M-Powered, etc. The real difference, is samplerate. Since different hardware supports different samplerates, you won't be able to open a 96k session on an MBox Mini without converting it down to 48k. Otherwise, there shouldn't be any problems.

Not sure what you mean about 24/96 with M-Audio hardware... since I'm running a ProFire 610 as I type this and I can definitely create a 24/96 session. Either way... you'll most likely only ever find yourself recording/mixing in 24/48. Hardware really just comes down to your specific needs. Do you really need 96k sessions? How many ins/outs will you make use of? How portable do you want your setup to be? Post or music? etc, etc, etc. As far as 192k goes... I don't know anyone who mixes in 192... even those who own HD. It's mostly unnecessary and takes up HUGE amounts of disk space, even for smaller sessions. LE or M-Powered tends to serve most people's needs just fine.

[daeron80]

Yes, sessions can be transferred between Mac and Windows. It will work best, of course, if both systems have the same version of PT. Otherwise, you have to remember to export it to the old version every time you transfer to the machine running the older version. You get to loving the new features and get annoyed that they're not available on the old machine.

I find it easiest to share using a flash drive. A FAT32 drive can be used but it can be a pain. Either way, you'll want to use the share drive only to copy back and forth, as CME said.

M-powered is probably the most for the money as long as you're not planning on doing a bunch of film work for which you'd want the kit that has the timecode ruler, which is only compatible with LE. Compare the feature set with a critical eye, just to be sure.

[BreaknecK]

Thanks for all of the answers. They have all been helpful and provide more clarity than I previously had -though CME, I am not sure about the MBOX on the new iMac's...I could swear I read that (in compatibility knowledge base) and was personally told not to run it on this type of system- I will have to try it out I suppose (unless i just get M-Powered or and MB2). Maybe it was that it won't run 6.4 and I need to update to one of the more recent software updates 7 or 8? Hmmmm...

I agree that I won't need the 192, though it seems the 96 might be helpful to have, although in reality, its probably just paranoia on my part, as I want to be up to date with whatever is latest (which is causing the move from PC in the first place, since I can't run Motu BPM on it but I can run it on the iMac).

All of the the info on switching/saving drives might not be crystal clear to me, but perhaps going through it a bit, I can figure it out or re-post for clarity. Still, does it seem necessary to go to MB2 or M-Powered? Any clarity on this is helpful. I would like to potentially use some of the score stuff on the new LE, since I might like to dabble in this for some short films I hope to be working on soon. (Another reason for moving to Mac, since that is where my iMovie is). On the downside, my PC has always been self-contained, only used as a recording computer (its never even been on the internet - to remain virus free)..I would be losing that "reliability" with a switch to Mac. Reliability versus compatibility, I guess, since I now have two Macs, the 08 iMac and the 09 MBPro.

Hmmm....still trying to figure out the best course of action. If it matters, my hope is to additionally run Motu BPM and Prop. Reason 3/Recycle 2.1. I think they are both compatible with PT, but I haven't gotten into that really et (I lag, I know). Those are the only two other software programs I would be using at this point, though I may be using an MPC as well (though it is an MPD at the moment). Thanks for the answers and further opinions/clarity...

[daeron80]

If you're doing film work, definitely go LE, not M-powered (all Mboxes are LE, confusingly).

96 kHz sample rate? Eh. Only if the project is to be delivered at that rate. Otherwise, 48 is fine. Practically no difference in sound, with half the CPU power required for mixing and half the disk space taken up.

[BreaknecK]

One other thing, if you are suggesting that PT 6.4 with an MBOX original, will run on an iMac with 10.5.8, do I have to run it in Windows using Parallels, or can it actually be run on the proprietary mac system? If anyone can confirm this, it would be greatly appreciated, and I wouldn't have to upgrade immediately it wouldn't appear. Thanks.

[Dism]

Originally Posted by BreaknecK

One other thing, if you are suggesting that PT 6.4 with an MBOX original, will run on an iMac with 10.5.8, do I have to run it in Windows using Parallels, or can it actually be run on the proprietary mac system? If anyone can confirm this, it would be greatly appreciated, and I wouldn't have to upgrade immediately it wouldn't appear. Thanks.

6.4 will NOT run on 10.5.8.

You need at least 7.4.2.

[BreaknecK]

Thanks Dism. This is the way I have understood it to be all along, which takes me all the way back to my original question at the top of this thread. What to do. An upgrade is necessary.

[gjohung]

I have finally got rid of my MBox Classic last week.. I WAS running on 10.5.8 & PTLE 8.0. It runs fine. 7.4 was running fine too. But I didn't do SL on OSX...

My USB plug broke on MBox..

Good luck.