Basics Mbox 2™ Version 7.
Copyright © 2005 Digidesign, a division of Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. This guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the express written consent of Digidesign. Avid, Digidesign, Mbox 2, and Pro Tools are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the US and other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
Introduction Welcome to the Mbox 2 Basics Guide. This guide is designed to give new users specific methods for accomplishing common tasks with the Mbox 2 desktop audio interface and Pro Tools LE software. Mbox 2 Basics Requirements Once you are familiar with basic Mbox 2 operation, we recommend that you read the “Working With Pro Tools” tutorial in the Mbox 2 Getting Started Guide. For the most complete information on using Pro Tools, see the Pro Tools Reference Guide.
Getting Sound In and Out of Mbox 2 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 2. Sound from Mbox 2 cannot be played through your computer’s speakers or your computer’s sound output. Connecting Headphones On the front panel of the Mbox 2 is a 1/4-inch jack to connect headphones, and a headphone level control to adjust headphone volume.
Connecting Audio Inputs Each Input section has three analog input jacks: Mbox 2 inputs (sources) support microphones, guitars, keyboards, and other types of instruments. Mbox 2 has two audio input sections, labeled Input 1 and Input 2. For stereo inputs, use Input 1 for the left input, and Input 2 for the right input. Mic For XLR microphone cables. Input 2 Input 1 Line (TRS) For 1/4-inch Tip-Ring-Sleeve cables from keyboards, mixers, microphones, and other line sources.
Connecting a Microphone There are several ways to use Mbox 2 with a microphone, depending on the type of microphone and cable you use. Mic Cables and Connectors Some microphone cables use an XLR connector to attach a microphone to an input (such as those on the Mbox 2); other microphones use a 1/4-inch connector. If you have a choice, use an XLR connector to connect the microphone to the Mbox 2 to yield better results. The Mbox 2 can only supply power through a microphone cable with XLR connectors.
3 Set the Source to Mic (microphone) by press- ing the Mic/DI Source selector on the front of Mbox 2 until the Mic LED is lit. Mic/DI Source selector To use a microphone that has a 1/4-inch TS (Tip-Sleeve) connector: 1 On the back of the Mbox 2, plug the 1/4-inch connector from your microphone into one of the DI inputs.
Connecting Instruments Connecting Instruments to the Mbox 2 Mbox 2 provides two input types (DI and Line) that correspond to the different signal strengths output by different types of instruments. 2 On the front of the Mbox 2, set the Source to DI by pressing the Mic/DI switch until the DI LED is lit.
To use a keyboard or mixer with Mbox 2: 1 Plug your keyboard, mixer, or other audio source into either the Input 1 or Input 2 Line (TRS) inputs on your Mbox 2. If your source is stereo (such as a stereo keyboard or the stereo output from a mixer), connect the left channel (often the white plug) to Input 1, and right channel (often the red plug) to Input 2.
Recording a Pro Tools Session Before you record with Pro Tools and the Mbox 2, you first create a Pro Tools session, then prepare an audio track for recording. 4 Make sure the Mix window is open by choos- ing Window > Mix. To create a Pro Tools session: 1 Verify the connections between the Mbox 2 and your instrument or microphone. Showing the Mix window 2 Launch Pro Tools. 3 Choose File > New Session.
8 Use the Gain controls on Mbox 2 to maximize the signal going into Pro Tools while avoiding clipping. Clipping occurs when you feed a signal to an audio device that is louder than the circuitry can accept. To avoid clipping, adjust the Gain control to a level where the Peak LEDs on the front of the Mbox 2 do not light 2 Choose Window > Transport to display the Transport window. Click Return to Zero to go to the beginning of the session.
Impor ting Audio from a CD To import audio from a compact disc: 1 Launch Pro Tools. 2 Choose File > New Session. 7 Open the Workspace browser by choosing Window > Workspace. The Workspace browser is a window where you can find, audition, and manage your audio files. 3 Set Session Parameters in the New Session dialog as needed, or leave at their default settings. (For details, see the Mbox 2 Getting Started Guide.
10 Drag the audio file from the Workspace browser to the Track List in the Edit window to import the file to a new audio track. Dragging an audio file from the Workspace browser to the Edit window Track List To play back the new track: 1 In the Transport window, click Return to Zero to go to the beginning of the track. 2 On the front of the Mbox 2, turn the Mix control fully right to Playback. 3 Click Play in the Transport window to begin playback.
Creating an Audio CD from a Pro Tools Session Pro Tools does not create audio CDs directly, but you can create stereo audio files from your Pro Tools sessions that can be used by most CD burning software. 2 Choose File > Bounce to > Disk. Bouncing Audio to Disk Use the Pro Tools Bounce to Disk feature to combine all your audible tracks into a single “master” audio file. After the new audio file has been bounced to disk, you can burn it to a CD.
7 If you are changing the sample rate of the bounced file, choose a Conversion Quality setting. (For details, see the Mbox 2 Getting Started Guide.) Pro Tools begins bouncing to disk. Pro Tools bounces are done in real time, so you hear audio playback of your mix during the bounce process (though you cannot adjust it). . 8 Choose “Convert after Bounce,” and click Bounce.
Mbox 2 and MIDI What is MIDI? Connecting a MIDI Device to Mbox 2 MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) data is not audio, and has no sound. MIDI is a way for musical devices to communicate. MIDI is data that can trigger a MIDI device (such as a keyboard or software synthesizer). In order to create or play a MIDI recording, you must have a MIDI controller or sound module (real or virtual) connected to the computer through the MIDI ports on Mbox 2 or another MIDI interface.
Recording MIDI on an Instrument Track Pro Tools Instrument tracks provide both MIDI and audio capabilities, so you can record MIDI and monitor audio from software and hardware instruments. 3 Select View > Mix Window > Instruments to display the MIDI controls for the Instrument track. To create an Instrument track and configure it for recording: 1 Choose Setup > MIDI > Input Devices and make sure your input device is selected in the MIDI Input Enable window, and click OK.
5 Do one of the following, depending on the type of instrument you are using: • If you are using an instrument plug-in, click an Insert selector and insert the plugin on the Instrument track. The track’s MIDI output is automatically assigned to the instrument plug-in. If your connected MIDI device does not appear, check that you have configured your computer and its MIDI settings. For more information, refer to the Mbox 2 Getting Started Guide.
9 Play some notes on your MIDI controller and look for the track’s MIDI Velocity meter to move. Remember, MIDI is not audio, and the MIDI Velocity meter is not registering sound output, but MIDI activity. Return to Zero Rewind Online Fast Forward Play Go to End Stop Record Enable MIDI Velocity meter Transport window MIDI meter in Instrument track showing MIDI activity 10 Adjust the audio output level of the Instru- ment track with its Volume fader. 3 Click Record Enable in the Transport window.
Controlling Delay (Latency) During Monitoring Mbox 2 and Pro Tools LE use your computer for all audio processing, playback, and recording. This causes a small amount of audio delay, or latency. Latency is most obvious when monitoring during recording. You may hear this as a slight delay between when you produce the sound and when you hear the sound through the speakers or headphones. Mbox 2 gives you the ability to monitor your analog input signals while recording, without hearing any latency.