® Mbox Pro User Guide Version 8.0.
Legal Notices This guide is copyrighted ©2010 by Avid Technology, Inc., (hereafter “Avid”), with all rights reserved. Under copyright laws, this guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the written consent of Avid.
contents Chapter 1. Welcome to Mbox Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Mbox Pro Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Pro Tools LE Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 System Requirements and Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 5. Mbox Pro Hardware Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Mbox Pro Front Panel Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Mbox Pro Back Panel Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Chapter 6. Making Studio Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Connecting Outputs . . . . . . .
Appendix E. Hard Drive Configuration and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Avoid Recording to the System Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Supported Drive Formats and Drive Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 Formatting an Audio Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Partitioning Drives. . . . . . . . . . .
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chapter 1 Welcome to Mbox Pro Welcome to the Mbox® Pro desktop production system from Avid®. Mbox Pro and Pro Tools LE® provide your FireWire-equipped computer with six channels of analog audio input, six channels of analog audio output, two channels of S/PDIF digital audio input and output, MIDI and Word Clock I/O, and two front panel headphone outputs with independent level controls. Mbox Pro provides professional-quality mic preamps and 24bit/192 kHz analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters.
• Inputs are fully functioning inputs to Pro Tools as well as providing an alternate monitor source using the Speaker button. • Multi-pin port (DB15 connection) that handles Word Clock, MIDI, and S/PDIF via breakout Cable (included). Analog Outputs • Six balanced 1/4-inch TRS analog outputs, supporting line level outputs, multiple stereo monitors, or up to 5.1 surround monitoring. • Insert jacks (1–4) for inserting external processing devices on input channels.
System Requirements and Compatibility Mbox Pro can be used with a qualified Windows or Mac computer. A DVD drive is required to use the Pro Tools Installer disc. Avid can only assure compatibility and provide support for hardware and software it has tested and approved. For complete system requirements and a list of qualified computers, operating systems, hard drives, and third-party devices, visit: www.avid.
Conventions Used in This Guide Convention Action The Avid website (www.avid.com) is your best online source for information to help you get the most out of your Pro Tools system. The following are just a few of the services and features available. File > Save Choose Save from the File menu Product Registration Register your purchase online.
chapter 2 Installing Pro Tools on Mac This chapter contains information for Mac systems only. If you are installing Pro Tools on a Windows computer, see Chapter 3, “Installing Pro Tools on Windows.” Before installing this version of Pro Tools, refer to the Read Me information included on the Pro Tools Installer disc. Installation Overview Installation of the Mbox Pro on a Mac includes the following steps: 1 “Installing Pro Tools LE and Connecting Your Interface” on page 5.
3 On the Installer disc, locate and double-click Installation Options Install Pro Tools LE.mpkg. Pro Tools LE Options Install Pro Tools LE.mpkg icon 4 Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed To install a subset of Pro Tools software and plug-ins (and associated content), click the reveal triangle for the Pro Tools LE option in the installer, and deselect any of the following options that you do not want installed. (If an item is checked, it will be installed.) with installation.
Additional Options The Pro Tools installer provides the following additional options to install along with Pro Tools software and plug-ins: 4 Use the Quick Start dialog to do one of the following: • Create a new session from template. • Create a new blank session. • Open any other session on your system. Avid CoreAudio Drivers This option installs a multichannel sound driver that allows CoreAudio-compatible applications to record and play back through Avid audio interfaces.
Third-Party Applications and Plug-Ins Your Pro Tools package also includes free applications and plug-ins from Avid and selected Avid Third Party developers (content subject to change). Once you've completed your Pro Tools installation, you can install these separately. Installers are located on your Pro Tools LE Installer disc in the Additional Files\3rd Party Content folder. The Pro Tools LE Installer disc includes a demo session that you can use to verify that your system is working.
Uninstalling Pro Tools If you need to uninstall Pro Tools software from your computer, use the Uninstaller application. To remove Pro Tools from your computer: 1 Make sure you are logged in as an Administra- tor for the account where Pro Tools is installed. For details on Administrator privileges in Mac OS X, see your Apple OS X documentation. 2 Go to Applications/Digidesign/Pro Tools/ Pro Tools Utilities and double-click Uninstall Pro Tools. 3 Click Continue to proceed with the uninstall.
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chapter 3 Installing Pro Tools on Windows This chapter contains information for Windows systems only. If you are installing Pro Tools on a Mac computer, see Chapter 2, “Installing Pro Tools on Mac”. Before installing this version of Pro Tools, refer to the Read Me information included on the Pro Tools LE Installer disc. Installation Overview Installing the Mbox Pro on a Windows computer includes the following steps: 1 “Installing Pro Tools LE and Connecting Your Interface” on page 11.
In Windows 7 and Windows Vista, if the User Account Control dialog appears, click Allow. 3 Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed In Windows XP, a series of Software Installation dialogs about the driver not passing Windows Logo testing may appear. Click Continue Anyway on each one until they go away. with installation and click Next when prompted. 4 To install the complete compliment of Pro Tools software and plug-ins, leave Pro Tools selected.
Effect Plug-Ins Installs 6 free virtual instrument plug-ins from Avid’s AIR group. Virtual Instruments Installs 20 free effects plugins from Avid’s AIR group. Virtual Instrument Content Installs sample content for AIR virtual instruments. Virtual Instrument Content is very large and may take up to 20 minutes to install. During this time, the progress bar may not appear to move but your software is still installing. Do not terminate your installation.
Launching Pro Tools LE When launching Pro Tools LE the first time, you are prompted to enter an authorization code to validate your software. (The code begins with the letters DIGI.) To authorize Pro Tools LE software: 1 Make sure Mbox Pro is connected to your computer.
Pro Tools Demo Session The Pro Tools LE Installer disc includes a demo session that you can use to verify that your system is working. The demo session for Pro Tool LE is named “Filtered Dream.” Before installing the demo session to your audio drive, make sure the drive is configured as described in “Formatting an Audio Drive” on page 82. To install the demo session: 1 Insert the Pro Tools LE Installer disc into your DVD drive.
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chapter 4 Configuring Your Pro Tools System After you have connected your system and installed Pro Tools software, you are ready to start up and configure your Pro Tools system. 6 With the volume of all output devices low- Starting Up or Shutting Down Your System 7 Turn on your computer. To ensure that the components of your Pro Tools system communicate properly with each other, you need to start them in a particular order. MIDI applications. ered, turn on your Pro Tools audio interfaces.
Configuring Pro Tools LE Pro Tools System Settings In the Playback Engine dialog, Pro Tools LE lets you adjust the performance of your system by changing system settings that affect its capacity for processing, playback, and recording. To change the Hardware Buffer Size: 1 Launch Pro Tools. 2 Choose Setup > Playback Engine. 3 From the H/W Buffer Size pop-up menu, select the audio buffer size, in samples.
Host Processors To set the number of Host Processors: The Host Processors setting lets you manage multi-processor support for RTAS (Real-Time AudioSuite) plug-in processing. 1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine. Used in combination with the CPU Usage Limit setting, the Host Processors setting lets you control the way RTAS and other host-based processing tasks are carried out by the system.
CPU Usage Limit Host Engine (Error Suppression) The CPU Usage Limit setting controls the percentage of CPU resources allocated to Pro Tools host processing tasks. Used in combination with the Host Processors setting, the CPU Usage Limit setting lets you control the way Pro Tools tasks are carried out by the system. The Host Engine option determines error reporting during playback and recording. This is especially useful when working with instrument plug-ins.
Minimize Additional I/O Latency (Mac Only) When enabled, any additional latency due to suppressing errors during playback and record is minimized to 128 samples. Suppressing RTAS errors requires at least 128 samples of additional buffering on some systems. If this option is disabled, the buffer is half the H/W Buffer Size, or at least 128 samples (whichever is greater). If you are on an older, slower computer, you may want to disable this option to avoid adverse performance.
Cache Size Plug-In Streaming Buffer Size The Cache Size setting determines the amount of memory DAE allocates to pre-buffer audio for playback and looping when using Elastic Audio. (Structure Plug-In Only) Minimum Reduces the amount of system memory used for disk operations and frees up memory for other system tasks. However, performance when using Elastic Audio features may decrease. Normal Is the optimum Cache Size for most sessions.
Optimizing the Plug-In Streaming Buffer Size (Structure Plug-In Only) This option appears in the Playback Engine dialog only if one of the Structure sampler instrument plug-in is installed on your system. This option is useful when you are playing samples from the same drive that contains audio for the current session. When this option is selected, Pro Tools automatically optimizes the size of the Plug-In Streaming Buffer to facilitate disk access from both Pro Tools and Structure.
Clock Source The Pro Tools Hardware Setup dialog lets you select the Clock Source for the system. Internal If you are recording an analog signal directly into Pro Tools, you will usually use the Pro Tools Internal clock source. Pro Tools LE has default I/O Setup settings that will get you started. Use the I/O Setup dialog only if you want to rename the default I/O paths. To rename I/O paths in I/O Setup: 1 Choose Setup > I/O.
Configuring MIDI Setup If you plan to use any MIDI devices with Pro Tools, do one of the following: On Mac, configure your MIDI setup with Audio MIDI Setup. See Appendix C, “Configuring AMS (Mac OS X Only)” for details. – or – On Windows, configure your MIDI setup with MIDI Studio Setup. See Appendix D, “Configuring MIDI Studio Setup (Windows Only)” for details.
Disable or Reassign Mac Keyboard Shortcuts Used by Pro Tools To have the full complement of Pro Tools keyboard shortcuts, you need to disable or reassign any conflicting Mac OS X Keyboard Shortcuts in the Apple System Preferences, including the following: • “Show Help menu” Reassign Spaces Keyboard Shortcuts If you want to use Spaces, you should reassign the Spaces keyboard shortcuts to avoid conflicts with important Pro Tools keyboard shortcuts.
Disabling Spotlight Indexing The Mac OS X Spotlight feature automatically indexes files and folders on local hard drives in the background. In most cases, this is not a concern for normal Pro Tools operation. However, if Spotlight starts indexing drives while recording in a Pro Tools session with high track counts for an extended period of time, it can adversely affect Pro Tools system performance.
To enable DMA for any IDE hard drives (Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP): 1 Choose Start. Configuring Windows Power Management Settings Vista) or My Computer (Windows XP) and choose Manage. Pro Tools requires maximum CPU performance for optimal RTAS processing and disk streaming. For best performance, use the following recommended Windows Power Management settings. 3 In the left pane of Computer Management under System Tools, click on Device Manager.
To configure Windows Power Management Settings (Windows XP): 1 Choose Start > Control Panel. 2 Double-click Power Options. 3 Click the Power Schemes tab. 4 From the Power Schemes pop-up menu, select Always On. 5 Verify that the following settings are set to Never: • Turn off hard disks • System standby • System hibernates 6 Click OK. Disabling User Account Control (Windows 7, Windows Vista) Some third-party applications that interface with Pro Tools may require UAC to be disabled for proper operation.
Disabling Network Cards Adjusting Processor Scheduling If applicable, disable any networking cards (other than a FireWire card that you might use to connect an external drive to your system). To adjust Processor Scheduling performance (Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP): To disable a network card (Windows 7, Windows Vista): 1 Choose Start > Computer. 2 Click System Properties. 3 In the left-hand pane under Control Panel Home, click on Device Manager.
Disabling System Startup Items The fewer items in use by your computer, the more resources are available for Pro Tools. Some startup applications may be consuming unnecessary CPU resources, and can be turned off.
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chapter 5 Mbox Pro Hardware Overview Mbox Pro Front Panel Features Figure 1 identifies controls, indicators, and input and output ports on the front panel on the Mbox Pro.
If your input signal is too hot even with the Gain knob at a low setting, pull the Gain knob out to engage a “pad” that attenuates the signal by –20dB. Front/Rear Input Source Switches These buttons select the input source for input channels 1 and 2. When “out”, the front panel Mic/DI input is active; when “in” the back panel Line Input is active for that channel. Soft Limit Switch These switches engage a soft limiter on that channel, applying a smooth, overdriven tapetype limiter to strong input signals.
Dim/Mute Switch Mono Switch The Dim/Mute switch affects the output volume for control room outputs as assigned in the Driver Control Panel setup (by default, Line Outputs 1 and 2.) The Mono Button sums the control room outputs to a mono signal (delivering that identical signal to both speakers) via the Driver Control Panel or the Mbox Pro. When engaged, the Mono LED lights.
Mbox Pro Back Panel Features Figure 2 identifies each port on the back panel of the Mbox Pro. Power input jack Power switch Line Outputs Foot switch Aux Inputs 5/6 (RCAs and 1/8-inch mini) Line inputs Insert jacks Mic inputs FireWire ports Word clock, MIDI S/PDIF connector +4/–10 switches Figure 2. Mbox Pro back panel The Mbox Pro back panel provides the following: Power Switch This button is used to turn Mbox Pro on or off.
Insert Jacks These 1/4-inch TRS jacks let you patch (or “insert”) an external analog effect such as a compressor or limiter into the input signal, between the preamp and the A/D converter. These inserts are only active when a connector is inserted, and are otherwise bypassed. The TRS jack is configured as follows: Tip=Send; Ring=Return; Sleeve=Ground.
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chapter 6 Making Studio Connections This chapter provides step-by-step instructions for connecting mics, instruments, mixers, headphones, speakers, and other devices to Mbox Pro. Connecting Outputs To hear audio recorded into a Pro Tools session, you will need to connect headphones or an external sound system (such as powered monitors or a home stereo) to Mbox Pro. Sound from Mbox Pro cannot be played through your computer’s speakers or your computer’s sound output.
Line Output 1–6 Line Outputs 1–6 Line Outputs 1–6 can be connected to any device that has analog inputs. Use these six balanced 1/4-inch TRS outputs to feed analog devices such as headphone amps or cue systems for discrete headphone mixes, samplers, or a secondary recorder. There are other use for Line Outputs, such as: • Stereo main monitors (Outputs 1–2) Line Out connectors for monitors on Mbox Pro Home stereo systems often use RCA connectors.
To connect to an external processor: Using a 1/4-inch insert cable, connect the single end of the cable from Insert 1, and the “Y” end (send and return) to the external processor. Word Clock, MIDI, S/PDIF connector Word Clock, MIDI, S/PDIF Connector on Mbox Pro When recording from Pro Tools to a digital device, make sure the Pro Tools Clock Source setting is set correctly. For more information, see “Digital Input and Output” on page 46.
Mic/DI 1 and Mic/DI 2 Each Input section (01, 02) on the front panel has a combination jack (Mic/DI) that provides an XLR and 1/4-inch input for Inputs 1 and 2. (If you plug in an XLR mic, it’s Mic; if you plug in a 1/4-inch it’s DI). Or, you can toggle the Front/rear input source switch to source Input channels 1–2 from the back panel Line inputs instead. Mic Inputs The Mic Inputs (03–04) section on the back panel provide two dedicated XLR connectors for Input channels 3 and 4.
The Mbox Pro can only supply phantom power through a microphone cable with XLR connectors. If you are not sure about the phantom power requirements for your microphone, refer to your microphone’s documentation or contact the manufacturer. 3 If your microphone requires phantom power, make sure the microphone is connected, then press the Phantom Power switch (labeled 48V) on the front of the Mbox Pro. This switch sends 48V to all four mic inputs.
Using a Mic with an XLR Connector (Input Channels 3–4) To use a microphone with an XLR connector: 1 Plug your microphone cable into one of the two Mic inputs (XLR) on the back of Mbox Pro (In this example, input 3). 48V (Phantom Power) Phantom Power switch 4 On the front of the Mbox Pro, turn the master volume knob to the desired level. Gain knob Master volume knob Mic Input 3 XLR connector plugged into Mic Input 3 (XLR jack) 2 There are two Mic Inputs (XLR) on the back panel, (Input 3 and 4).
Connecting Instruments to the Mbox Pro Mbox Pro provides three input types (DI, Line and Aux In) that correspond to the different signal strengths output by different types of instruments and other equipment. DI Input (Front Panel) Instruments such as electric guitar or electric bass that usually have a lower level of output than line level instruments use the front panel DI (“Direct Inject”) input.
5 On the rear panel of the Mbox Pro, use the In- put Level switch for +4/-10 input line level settings (one for each stereo pair, 1/2 & 3/4). In the “out” position the level is set to +4; and when pushed to the “in” position, it is set to (-10). To use Aux Input 5/6 Line inputs: 1 Plug your keyboard, mixer or other line level device into the Aux Input 5/6 inputs (L and R).
2 Make sure the external device is powered on, that it is set to the correct sample rate, and that it is configured to provide S/PDIF clock (if relevant to your device). 3 Launch Pro Tools LE. 4 Choose Hardware > Setup. 5 Click the Clock Source pop-up menu and choose “S/PDIF.” If you need additional MIDI ports you can add a compatible MIDI interface. USB MIDI interfaces work effectively with Pro Tools systems on Windows or Mac. Serial MIDI interfaces are supported on Windows systems only.
2 Configure all external devices to slave to the Do not confuse Word clock and other forms of “clock reference” with time code and other forms of “positional reference.” For an overview of synchronization terminology and concepts, see the Pro Tools Reference guide. Mbox Pro will synchronize to Word clock at 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, and 192 kHz sample rates.
Using a Footswitch The footswitch connector on Mbox Pro lets you use a footswitch pedal to control either playback start/stop or recording punch in/out. Both QuickPunch audio punch-in and punch-out and MIDI punch-in and punch-out recording are supported. The footswitch connector is designed specifically for instantaneous (momentary) on/off pedals with a 1/4-inch TS connector. Continuous on/continuous off pedals can also be used, but may result in unexpected behavior.
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appendix a Using the Driver Control Panel The Mbox Pro Driver Control Panel lets you configure settings for your audio interface for use with Pro Tools or other audio applications that support the CoreAudio Drivers (Mac) or ASIO Audio Drivers (Windows) standard. Several features of Mbox Pro can be accessed directly from the Mbox Pro front panel, such as input gain, phantom power, and output levels. But there are many additional parameters that cannot be accessed from the front panel.
To open the Driver Control Panel from Pro Tools: 1 Choose Setup > Hardware in the Edit window. 2 Click launch control panel. Load Button The Load Button opens a file browser that lets you load a previously saved Settings file. Save as... The Save as button opens a file browser that lets you save the current settings of the Driver Control Panel to a Settings file.
Vertical Vertical (Meters Only) The Meters Only layout emphasizes pre-fader hardware input and software return metering, but does not provide access to the stereo mixers. Mbox Pro Driver Control Panel (Vertical shown) The Vertical layout provides access to all controls and meters in a vertical window. The Vertical layout was designed for compact operation, which is convenient if you want to run it along with Pro Tools (uses far less screen real estate, but provides full functionality).
Additional Functions Mbox Pro also features a variety of functions accessible through pop-up menus located at the upper-right area of the Control Panel: • Tuner • Setup • General Setup • Output Setup • Flow • About Tuner The Tuner activates the tuner function of Mbox Pro. You can also access the tuner by pressing the front panel Mono and Dim buttons simultaneously.
The “General Setup” options are grouped in the following categories: Hardware Settings This section of the Control Panel provides parameters you can set on your interface when it is connected to a computer using a FireWire cable (i.e., Hosted Mode). Disable Host Control This setting lets you rest control of the Driver Control Panel from Pro Tools. When you launch Pro Tools, it takes control of the Driver Control Panel's first stereo mixer.
Buffer Size (Windows only) Soft Button Settings This menu sets the size of the input and output buffers on Mbox Pro. Press and Hold Duration Buffers are used to help keep audio hardware and software running smoothly by processing audio in groups of samples rather than one sample at a time. Due to variations between computer hardware and software, it is impossible to recommend a single optimum setting for all systems.
Post-Fader Meters Standalone Settings When this option is selected, fader positions will affect the meters. Post-Fader Meters mean the meter indicate post-fader levels. Standalone settings affect the setting of the Mbox Pro when it's in standalone mode with no host computer connected. Pre-Fader Meters When this option is selected, the meters display the level of a signal before it passes the fader.
Sample Rate This setting assigns the sample rate when it's set to internal clock source in standalone mode. Mode The Mbox Pro can be in the following three types of sub-standalone modes: AD/DA Converter When in AD/DA mode, analog inputs 1 and 2 are routed to S/PDIF outputs left and right and S/PDIF inputs left and right are routed to analog outputs 1 and 2. Preamp When in Preamp mode, analog input 1 is sent to analog output 1 and S/PDIF left. Analog input 2 is sent to analog output 2 and S/PDIF Right.
Setup (Output Setup) Output Setup lets you set up stereo and surround monitoring options/settings. For example, if you check “Master Volume” for the first three output pairs, then the master volume would control all of them at once. This is useful if you are mixing in surround. Stereo Monitor Configuration You can configure up to three stereo hardware output pairs to function as control room monitor pairs.
Hardware Outputs (1–2, 3–4, 5–6) Name This is where you can assign a name to your stereo output pairs. The name appears in the tabs of the Output Pair Select View. See “Output Pair Select View” on page 61. Control Room Assignment This drop-down menu assigns a hardware output (1–2 or 3–4 or 5–6) as a control room output. You have four choices when setting up your control room monitor pairs: Choose between the following options: Left Trim This knob trims the level of the Left (odd numbered) output.
About Output Pair Select View The About pop-up menu lets you view the firmware version of the Mbox Pro hardware, and the package version of the Mbox Pro driver installer. For each hardware output pair of Mbox Pro (Line outputs 1–2, 3–4, 5–6, S/PDIF Left and Right, or Headphones A and B), there is a representative tab in the output pair select view. The output pair select view lets you choose the audio source for each hardware output pair, and where applicable, edit the audio source.
The available output pair audio sources can be divided into two categories: Stereo Mixes Notes: • The source of the currently selected tab is displayed below the output pair select view. See “Setup (Output Setup)” on page 59. A stereo mix lets you set up a custom stereo mix, setting the desired level for each hardware input and software return that is fed to the hardware output pair. See the Stereo Mix section below for details. • For Stereo Mix sources, a traditional mixer view is displayed.
Stereo Mixes These 16-input, 2-output mixes allow you to create up to six stereo mixes when running at a sample rate at or below 96 kHz, and up to two stereo mixes when running at a sample rate above 96 kHz. This lets you set up near-zero latency cue mixes in which the performers hear a “customized” mix while recording.
Using the Stereo Mix Section The stereo mix section is located in the main view of the Driver Control Panel and is divided into four main sections: • Hardware Inputs • Software Returns • Master • Effects Hardware Inputs Software Returns Signal Meter Pan Solo Mute Master Channel Fader Channel Label Link Effects 64 Hardware Inputs Software Returns The Hardware Inputs section is where the Mic/Line and Instrument inputs are monitored, as well as the S/PDIF input of Mbox Pro.
Pan Link The Pan knobs control the position of a channel’s audio signal in the stereo image of the stereo mix (double-click the knob to return pan to center). The Link buttons connect stereo pairs of knobs or faders (and also links the corresponding FX Send knobs), so that adjusting either channel (left/right) adjusts the other side identically.
FX Returns Master These knobs control how much of the Effect audio output will be mixed in with the monitor signal Master L/R outputs. Unlike sends, FX Returns are individually adjustable for each stereo mix. The Master section lets you control the main mixer output. This output can be routed to any hardware output.
Swap Button Swaps the stereo image, making the left channel play out the Right output, and the right channel play out the Left output. Status Indicators Along the bottom-left of the Driver Control Panel are the following status indicators: Link Button Links the FX Returns section and the mute buttons. Hardware Connected Master Meters Lets you have a visual representation of the audio signal being fed to the associated hardware output pair.
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appendix b Using the Multi Button The Multi button on the front panel of the Mbox Pro can be assigned to easily execute several functions in Pro Tools including (but not limited to): • Add Track • Start/Stop Record • Tap Tempo • Locating to Next/Previous Marker • Save Session Using the Multi Button In the Hardware Setup dialog, Pro Tools lets you set three Multi button parameters for your Mbox Pro using the “Multi Button Function” pane. (You can also launch the Driver Control Panel from here).
To use the Multi Button Function pane and configure its parameters (example): 1 Launch Pro Tools. 2 Choose Track > New and create 1 Mono audio track. Press and Release Options When you click on the Press and Release list, a pop-up menu provides access to the following options: You need to have at least one track available in a session to use the Add Last Track and Add Selected Track functions. 3 Choose Setup > Hardware. 4 From the Press and Release list, select Start/Stop Record (the default).
Undo Each time the button is pressed and released, it undoes that last operation you performed in Pro Tools. (Same as the Undo command from the Pro Tools menu) Add Last Track Adds the last track type that you created in the session. Say you have created two Audio tracks in a session. It will add another mono Audio track. Save Session Each time the Multi button is pressed and released, it saves the session. Add Selected Track Adds whatever tracks that you have selected in a session.
Hold Duration Options When you click on the Hold Duration list, a drop-down menu provides access to the following options: Hold Duration There are four choices of Hold Duration (250 msec, 500 msec, 750 msec, and 1 sec), which is the amount of time you choose to hold the Multi button down in Press and Hold mode. The default is 500 msec.
appendix c Configuring AMS (Mac OS X Only) Audio MIDI Setup Pro Tools recognizes the ports on your MIDI interface as generic ports. With Mac OS X, you use Apple’s Audio MIDI Setup (AMS) utility to identify external MIDI devices connected to your MIDI interface and configure your MIDI studio for use with Pro Tools. 2 Click MIDI Devices. AMS scans your system for connected MIDI interfaces. If your MIDI interface is properly connected, it appears in the window with each of its ports numbered.
5 Connect the MIDI device to the MIDI inter- face by clicking the arrow for the appropriate output port of the device and dragging a connection or “cable” to the input arrow of the corresponding port of the MIDI interface. 2 Select a manufacturer and model for the new device from the corresponding pop-up menus. (If the Manufacturer and Model pop-up menus do not provide a name for your particular device, you can type a name.
3 Click the More Information arrow to expand the dialog, then enable the appropriate MIDI channels (1–16) for the Transmits and Receives options. (These determine which channels the device will use to send and receive MIDI.) 4 Click the device image. The window expands to show images for various MIDI devices (such as keyboards, modules, interfaces, and mixers). Select an icon for your device.
MIDI Patch Name Support Pro Tools supports XML (Extensible Markup Language) for storing and importing patch names for you external MIDI devices. Pro Tools installs MIDI patch name files (.midnam) for the factory default patch names of many common MIDI devices. These files reside in directories, sorted by manufacturer, in Macintosh HD/ Library/Audio/MIDI Patch Names/Digidesign. 4 In the Patch Select dialog, click Change.
appendix d Configuring MIDI Studio Setup (Windows Only) MIDI Studio Setup MIDI Studio Setup (MSS) lets you configure the MIDI controllers and sound modules that are connected to your system, and control the routing of MIDI data between your MIDI equipment and Pro Tools. MSS automatically finds MIDI interfaces, and lets you specify a custom name for each of the MIDI ports within the MIDI Studio Setup document. MIDI Studio Setup Window The MIDI Studio Setup window is organized into three sections.
Interface Controls Properties Section Create Adds a new instrument to the Instrument Name list. The Properties section lets you edit information for new instruments, or instrument currently selected in the Instrument list. Delete Deletes the instrument or instruments selected in the Instrument Name list. Import Imports an existing MIDI Studio Setup file. Export Exports the current MIDI Studio Setup file.
6 From the Output pop-up menu, select the output port on your MIDI interface that is connected to the MIDI In of your instrument. 7 Enable the appropriate MIDI channels (1–16) for the Send Channels and Receive Channels options (These determine which channels send and receive MIDI.) terface port that is set and displayed here is the port through which MIDI data is sent from the external MIDI device specified in the Instrument Name field into your MIDI interface.
To import MIDI patch names into Pro Tools: 1 Verify the MIDI Device name in the MIDI Stu- dio Setup window (see “MIDI Studio Setup” on page 77). The Patch Select dialog is populated with patch names and the Patch Name Bank pop-up menu appears in the upper left hand corner of the window. 2 Verify the Instrument or MIDI track output is correctly assigned to the MIDI device. 3 Click the Instrument or MIDI track Patch Se- lect button.
appendix e Hard Drive Configuration and Maintenance It is recommended that you start with a newly formatted external or secondary internal audio drive. You should also periodically defragment your audio drive to ensure continued system performance. Always back up any important data on your drive before formatting it, as it will erase all data on the drive. Avoid Recording to the System Drive Recording to your system drive is not recommended.
FireWire Hard Drives 2 Click the Erase tab. Avid recommends qualified FireWire drives and (on Windows systems) a qualified FireWire host adapter. For complete information on track count and the supported number and configuration of FireWire drives, visit our website (www.avid.com). ATA/SATA Hard Drives A qualified internal ATA/SATA drive may be used as a dedicated audio drive. For complete information on track count with internal drives, refer to our website (www.avid.com).
To format an audio drive (Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP): • In the New Partition Wizard window, click Next. 1 Right-click Computer (Windows 7, • When prompted, select the partition type. Windows Vista) or My Computer (Windows XP) and choose Manage. Avid recommends using Primary partitions, instead of Extended partitions. 2 Under Storage, choose Disk Management. • Follow the on-screen instructions to select a partition size and other partition settings.
Seek Times on Partitioned Drives Seek times are actually faster on partitioned drives (assuming that reads and writes are performed on a single partition), since the heads only have to seek within the partition boundaries, rather than the whole capacity of the drive. Smaller partitions perform faster than larger partitions, but this comes at the expense of contiguous storage space. When you partition a drive, you will need to find the compromise that best suits your performance and storage requirements.
Defragmenting Windows Audio Drives 5 When defragmenting is complete, close the Computer Management window. To defragment an audio drive (Windows 7 and Windows Vista): 1 Click Start. 2 Type “disk defragmenter” in the search field at the bottom. “Disk Defragmenter” should appear at the top of the search results. 3 Click the Disk Defragmenter. 4 Click the Defragment disk button (Windows 7) or the Defragment now button (Windows Vista). Follow the on-screen instructions.
Hard Disk Storage Space Mono audio tracks recorded with 16-bit resolution at 44.1 kHz (CD quality) require approximately 5 MB of hard disk space per minute. The same tracks recorded with 24-bit resolution require about 7.5 MB per minute. Stereo audio tracks recorded with 16-bit resolution at 44.1 kHz (CD quality) require approximately 10 MB of hard disk space per minute. The same tracks recorded with 24-bit resolution require about 15 MB per minute.
appendix f Troubleshooting Backing Up Your Work It is highly recommended that you back up your work on a regular basis, and especially before making changes to your system configuration. Backing Up Your Session Data Back up your session and audio data frequently. There are a variety of media that are suited to back up projects of various sizes, from automated tape backup systems to high-capacity optical drives, or to CD burners.
If you tried to launch Pro Tools by doubleclicking a Pro Tools session file, do the following: • Close any error message. • Double-click the Pro Tools application. • In Pro Tools, choose File > Open Session to open the session. Reinstall the Pro Tools application, using the Pro Tools Installer disc. Audio Interface Is Not Recognized Problem When you launch Pro Tools it does not recognize an audio interface, or a connected audio interface is not available.
Before You Call Avid Support Register Your System Register your purchase by following the instructions on the Registration Information Card included with your system.
90 Mbox Pro User Guide
appendix g Resources Whether you are new to Pro Tools or just starting out with your new system, we encourage you to read and utilize the many guides that Pro Tools provides. There are also useful online resources available, giving you everything from Pro Tools tips to Pro Tools answers. Printed Intro to Pro Tools Guide The printed Intro to Pro Tools has tutorials on using Pro Tools (such as recording in a Pro Tools session, importing audio from a CD, and creating an audio CD from a Pro Tools session).
Documentation Installed Automatically with Pro Tools When you install Pro Tools, you get useful PDF versions of many Pro Tools guides and Read Mes. This documentation can be found in the following locations: Mac Applications/Digidesign/Documentation Windows C:\Program Files\Digidesign\ Documentation To view or print PDF guides, you can use Adobe Reader (recommended) or Apple Preview (Mac only).
appendix h Compliance Information Environmental Compliance Disposal of Waste Equipment by Users in the European Union Proposition 65 Warning This product contains chemicals, including lead, known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. Perchlorate Notice This product may contain a lithium coin battery.
EMC (Electromagnetic Compliance) Australian Compliance Avid declares that this product complies with the following standards regulating emissions and immunity: • FCC Part 15 Class B • EN 55022 Class B • EN 55204 Class B • AS/NZS 3548 Class B • CISPR 22 Class B Canadian Compliance FCC Compliance for United States This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003 Radio and Television Interference This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device
Important Safety Instructions 1) Read these instructions. 12) For products that are not rack-mountable: Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the equipment. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/equipment combination to avoid injury from tip-over. 2) Keep these instructions. 3) Heed all warnings. 4) Follow all instructions. 5) Do not use this equipment near water. 6) Clean only with dry cloth.
96 Mbox Pro User Guide
index A H Audio MIDI Setup (AMS) (Macintosh) 73 authorizing Pro Tools LE Mac 7 Windows 14 hard drives drive formats 81 FireWire requirements 82 formatting 82, 83 formatting (Mac) 82 IDE/ATA requirements 82 maintenance 81, 84 optimizing 84 partitioning 83 requirements 3 SCSI requirements 82 space requirements 86 Hardware Buffer Size 18 C Cache Size 22 Clean Uninstall (Mac) 9 Clock Source 24 Internal setting 24 S/PDIF (digital) setting 24 compatibility 3 CPU Usage Limit 19, 20 I D DAE Playback Buffer Si
M R Mbox Pro features 1 MIDI requirements 3 setup (Macintosh) 73 setup (Windows) 77 MIDI Studio Setup (MSS) (Windows) 77 Minimize Additional I/O Latency option 21 removing Pro Tools Windows 9, 15 RTAS Processors setting 19 N network cards (Windows), disabling 30 network connections 88 O optimizing hard drives 84 P partitioning hard drives 83 Patch Select dialog Macintosh 76 Windows 80 phantom power when to use 34, 42 Playback Engine RTAS Processors setting 19 Plug-In Streaming Buffer 23 Plug-In Stream
Avid Technical Support (USA) Product Information 2001 Junipero Serra Boulevard Daly City, CA 94014-3886 USA Visit the Online Support Center at www.avid.com/support For company and product information, visit us on the web at www.avid.
