Live 2.1 with Mbox, do we have multiple I/O?

Pablo Honey · Post by **Pablo Honey** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 4:33 pm

I see that the 2.1 update promises full support for digidesign hardware. I use an mbox for my I/O for Live. in OS9. I'm currently using Live versin 2.0. Will the 2.1 upgrade let me use the other I/O's on the mbox, that I can't use in version 2.0 In 2.0 I only have 1 stereo pair for output and input. Although there are 4 inputs and 2 anolog outs, and 2 spdif/rca outs. Can 2.1 access multiple I/O's on the Mbox?
Ibook 700 mhz
os 9.2
Live 2.0.3
If I can now have more than 1 stereo input and output, I'll upgrade in a flash.

noisetonepause · Post by **noisetonepause** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 6:12 pm

Are you sure this is the way it works? Does ProTools give you that many I/O?

-Paws

Pablo Honey · Post by **Pablo Honey** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 6:33 pm

Yes, the Mbox(harware device, or audio interface) has 4 analog inputs, 2 1/4 jacks and 2 trs jacks. It also has, 2 headphone outputs, 2 analog ouptuts, and 2 24bit spidf,rca outputs. However in version 2.0.3 Live can only use 1 stereo pair input and output, which is not taking advantage of the extra I/O's that I have. I would love to be able to prelisten on my headphones and not have to prelisten on my mains.
Anybody using an Mbox in Os9 with Live 2.1?
Do you have more than 1 stereo pair for you I/O?

toyo · Post by **toyo** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 8:02 pm

i am not to sure on your m-box, but it sounds like almost the same as my m-audio mobilepre usb interface, and i just found out that you need at least 2 stereo outs. i am going to sell my interface, and then i'll get the m-audio 410 firewire, 4 in, 10 out, that should work, and because it's firewire it should be much better than my usb-interface.
not the perfect answer, sorry, peace to you anyway

jory · Post by **jory** » Mon Aug 11, 2003 8:30 pm

The m-box does not have 4 inputs or outputs...
Those other two 1/4 inch jacks are TRS inserts for inserting effects into the signal chain, not seperate inputs. The m-box only has two outs so you would not be able to prelisten with it. A device needs to have more than two outs to pre-listen.

scotty · Post by **scotty** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 5:38 am

toyo wrote: i am going to sell my interface, and then i'll get the m-audio 410 firewire, 4 in, 10 out, that should work, and because it's firewire it should be much better than my usb-interface.
not the perfect answer, sorry, peace to you anyway

Not sure if it matters to you but the 410 only has 2 analog inputs... the other two inputs are digital. And I'm not sure if the analog and digital inputs can be used at the same time... anyone know if they can be?

-scotty

Pablo Honey · Post by **Pablo Honey** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 2:31 pm

Not sure about the previous question, but back to the Mbox. Will Live 2.1 take advantage of the other 2 analog inputs on the Mbox?

jory · Post by **jory** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 4:27 pm

Pablo Honey wrote:Not sure about the previous question, but back to the Mbox. Will Live 2.1 take advantage of the other 2 analog inputs on the Mbox?

What Other 2 Analog inputs?

The m-box can only bring in two channels. Am I wrong about this? I had one for a few months then sold it.

I think you are asking ableton's software to redesign the hardware.

Correct me if I'm wrong...

Pablo Honey · Post by **Pablo Honey** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 5:06 pm

Ok let me try to explain this really clear.
on the MBOX there are a total of 4 mono or 2 setero analog inputs. 2 are XLR and 2 TRS. Currently using the ASIO driver, Ableton allows me to use the Mbox for audio input and output. However when I go to prefernces,audio hardware, I can only access 1 stereo input and output pair. But I have more than that! Since the 2.1 claims to have full support of digidesign hardware, does that mean 2.1 can access the other Inputs on the Mbox, that version 2.0.3 does not. Pulled from the "Live 2.1 update page
"Live 2.1 adds multi-channel audio input and output support for the entire range of Digidesign's renowned audio hardware on Windows, Mac OS 9, Mac OS X.
So what's the deal can someone with an Mbox or at Ableton tell me if the above mentioned claim is actually true. I would love to access more than 1 stere I/O pair.
And since the Mbox has more than just 1 stereo I/O pair, will the new 2.1 update allow me to take advantage of my Mbox's multiple I/O?

jory · Post by **jory** » Tue Aug 12, 2003 8:17 pm

I'm not trying to hound you on this I swear, but where do you get the idea that there are 4 analog inputs? There is a difference between "Inserts" and inputs. The m-box has 2 analog "inputs" and 2 analog "inserts" which are a different thing altogether. (see my first post)

I'll put it to you this way: Have you ever recorded four analog tracks at the same time in pro-tools using your m-box?

Again.. I'm not trying to beat you over the head with this, but I suggest that there may be some misunderstanding about the capabilities of the m-box.

I can be totally wrong on this, but if so can you enlighten me? (not sarcastic)

from digidesigns website (emphasis added by me):

Features:
Two analog inputs and outputs, featuring Focusrite mic preamps
Pristine 24-bit signal path from input to output
24-bit stereo S/PDIF digital I/O (RCA)
Separate source selection (MIC/LINE/INST) and gain control per channel
48V phantom power
Hi-Z input for instrument pickup
Two analog TRS inserts
Zero-latency monitoring
Balanced/unbalanced connections
Headphone output with dedicated volume control
100% USB* powered
Pro Tools LE software (supporting DigiStudio)

hat · Post by **hat** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 12:52 am

Exactly, the Mbox is an analog 2 in - 2 out interface, with a spdif I/O. Furthermore, you can't recording using the spdif and analog inputs simultaneously. Inserts are simply that, insert jacks. They are meant to be used with a TRS "Y" cable allowing you to patch an eq or compressor into the signal path. Cheers.

jamieh · Post by **jamieh** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 1:16 am

jory wrote:from digidesigns website (emphasis added by me):

Features:
Two analog inputs and outputs, featuring Focusrite mic preamps
Pristine 24-bit signal path from input to output
24-bit stereo S/PDIF digital I/O (RCA)
Separate source selection (MIC/LINE/INST) and gain control per channel
48V phantom power
Hi-Z input for instrument pickup
Two analog TRS inserts
Zero-latency monitoring
Balanced/unbalanced connections
Headphone output with dedicated volume control
100% USB* powered
Pro Tools LE software (supporting DigiStudio)

I have an mBox and this is correct. 2 INS 2 OUTS and the 2 headphones outs can only be used one at a time, not both at the same time.
Cheers,
J

dirtystudios · Post by **dirtystudios** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 4:53 pm

Can the mbox utilize phantom power when powered off the USB bus or can it only use itwhen coupled with the wallwart?

k

sweetjesus · Post by **sweetjesus** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 5:02 pm

Mbox is ONLY usb powered, no power from the wall.