Ah, 4-track recording — the Tascam 4-track tape machines could do it. But Mbox2 can’t support more than two tracks of simultaneous analog inputs at once (for mic / line / guitar ins, etc.) Is that a deal killer? Not at all; there are lots of people out there who use interfaces alone, adding a guitar or vocals but not much else at once. But if you do need more, here are a few of the interfaces in the Mbox2 price range that can:
M-Audio 1814 (which you can use with Pro Tools M-Powered if you must have Pro Tools)
PreSonus FireBox (which has a separate headphone cue — awesome)
MOTU 828, 828 mk. II, Traveler (slightly pricier, but much more I/O)
Lexicon Omega
Mackie Spike
Edirol UA-101 (among other Edirol models) — 10 inputs for only a few dollars more! (Not sure about quality of the pres on the Edirol, though; haven’t used it.)
Many other’s don’t have more than 2 ins, of course — like the Focusrite Saffire, which is also 2-in only.
Don’t get me wrong — the Mbox2 can be a great deal with the included software bundle, which I think is the main selling point. But I notice many people don’t realize the Mbox has competition, like my colleagues over at Gizmodo.
Did I miss any interfaces in the price range that you love? I’m writing a roundup now, so I want to make sure I don’t miss anything.
… that's what I use. I chose it over the M-Audio 410 because of better AD / DA converters and native OSX support.
RME Multiface on HDSP cardbus or PCI interface. Its gonna be a bit more exoensive, but isnt it the best portable recording solution?
For playing out live also check their RPM box. I use one.
currently use protools. digidesign are money grubbing asses. that is all
The M-Audio Delta 1010LT cost a whopping $100, and gives you 8 in/out (10 if you speak S/PDIF), two with pres, on a PCI card.
The new ProTools supports it. I spent a month getting my wife's old Sony Vaio running Ardour under Mandrake. It works. I already have the interface, and now ProTools M-Powered is starting to look very attractive… especially because I could drop that card in my G5 and run with it.
The possibilities!
Sorry, Delta1010LT cost $200. Scusi.
Delta 1010LT – great if you don't mind ultra-crappy preamps. They need to cut costs somehow..
Back in the day, I used several Tascam and other brands of 4-track tape recorders. Most could only record on 2 tracks at once. Some, like the Tascam, could record on all 4 at once…and they all advised against it.
You only had 4 tracks, and if you used them all up you couldn't ping-pong to effectively add more tracks. Recording two tracks at a time would allow you to continually mix down to stereo on the Tascam. You'd lose sound quality, but it would all be there. I've recorded dozens of tracks.
But if you record all 4, that's it! You would have to get another recorder to mix down to stereo and you couldn't add anything more.
Just because you have 4 tracks doesn't mean you should use them all at the same time.
the 410 only gives you two simultaneous analog ins. like the mbox2, you can only get 4 if you use the spdif as well.
I just got myself a Motu Traveler after having had a Presonus Firebox at home— which didn't work too well to the fact that the Firewire port on my computer emitted a high wailing noise whenever the unit was connected and switched on…. apparently, this happens with certain Apple computers, and mine is one of them.
The Traveler works great, on bus power, and hasn't led to any problems so far…. Motu just know their stuff.
anyone who spends 4 hours with this little box will be blown away. the sound is incredible. i own mbox1, digi 002, and a full blown tdm rig and this little blue funny looking box has fully pissed me off. you cannot tell the diffrence in sound at mixdown. the stupid mic pre's sound better than focusrite. how ? i havent figured it out yet. i also use dp4 and logic and let me tell you the silly programs that come with the bundle are diamond waves based (sound better than wave with a little tweaking). its midi,usb 1.1 for compatibility,and for the novice to pro user this thing is short from amazing. i just wish it was 96k also 4 analog ins would have made this thing priceless. I found out a way to add a adapter and get 2 dig ins 2 outs and 2 analog ins.(i stumbled on this and will share with anyone interested) you can have up to 8 tracks dig in at one time. but you can ony use the mic pre,s 2 at a time. As a carry around unit its light and packs a heck of a knock out punch, i did a test track and took it to a friends studio sent it through his tdm and he went out and brought two units one for his bedroom and one to travel with on tour.i am working on adding firewire to my unit about 100.00 upgrade (secret not revealed yet) you just have to remove the usb then do some major wiring. it works not great yet.
how are you planning streaming 4 tracks of 96k via USB 1.1?
Thanks for the Mbox impressions — I've only tested the Mbox "1", which sounded quite nice, but not the Mbox 2. Hasn't shipped to me yet. 😉
As for streaming 4 tracks at 96k USB 1.1, uh, no, you can't. But you can stream 4 tracks at 44.1/48k, which many, many people do. I think the underlying issue here is that manufacturers — and the market — can't come to a single agreement of exactly what people want in a box. So, when I say Mbox 2 is not one-size-fits all, I'm not implying something else is. Obviously this absurd variety in audio interfaces demonstrates everyone wants slightly different things. Guess we need a modular box that lets us plug in I/O as we need it. 😉
Oh, by the way, yeah, I shouldn't have posted a 4-track Tascam; I should have posted an 8-track or even 6-track, which would allow four record channels and still leave two for a bounce. My bad.
either usb or firewire.. any ideas? thanks!
8 Pre-amps :grin
hm… i dont get it. before buying the MBOX 2 i was searching the web to find some reviews and opinions. the only thing i could find, like in this forum is: its a shit box because it has only this or that, it looks stupid with the handle, it doesnt suport 96khz. sorry, for me this is all stupid bla-bla. not helpful.
i just bought it and i must say:
1. yes it has only 2/4 ins but this stands on the box, so whats the conplains ? i absolutely only need one mic and maybe some stereo signal of something other. no i dont produce bands (for that you need some heavier equipment able to record plenty of tracks at once…).
2. for the output of a stereo signal usb 1 is plenty enough (as you mentioned it has not much ins/outs).
3. what do you want to do with it ? you wont get a super producing studio for 500 bucks… accept this fact ! i use it for recording my ideas at home on the road and aranging my tracks. then i import my layouts to one of my producers FAT-ASS-i-will-never-have-this-money-to-spend-for-all-that-equipment studios to make it final.
4. i put it out of the box, installed the software and it runs. one of the really rare things what just run out of the box with no problem. i still cant belive it. superb job…
5. it is THE CHEAPEST way to use a premium hardware, mobile box + premium software protools + it comes with your ableton and reason and tons of plug-ins and what so ever. for me protools is the ONLY software on the market. i waited for years to get this solution like the mBox2: midi + audio, protools software and SOLID GOOD LOOKINg in my opinion, without spending 1000snds of cash (i hated the mbox 1 design…).
6. i dont care about 96khz (anyone sacd ???).
i produce for to make standart audio CDs ….
…
so for me its a perfect, solid box what does what you expect and gives you protools for only around 500$. its perfect to do layouts and record your ideas, so you can finish it up at a big studio. but i ould say you are also able to make your final product with it, thanx to all the great plugins. there is no limit…
i'm a happy user !
javascript:ac_smilie(':?')
well i still dont know what to do besides wait. For my situation – i always record with three 1/4" inputs and one mic – and i want new software, preferably pro tools (i been usin the free version for 5 years and am finally gonna spend the $$ and forget switching back and forth from OS9 to 10!)
I see three options for the dilemma:
1) just wait till a decent 4 input device comes along
2) get mbox2 and the bundle of software with it (a $400 proposition) and record tracks separately
3) get an interface w/ 8 inputs + the software (a $1000 proposition)
is there something i'm missing?
(very helpful comments so far people – thank you)
Hi,am considering buying mBox2. Just bought a 15" 1.67 powerbook g4, solely for the purpose of recording my own songs. My instrument is Piano, and because I'm currently working on a cruiseship, I have access to a few grand pianos, so hopefully I'll be using these. I also want to record vocals, probly a ghost vocal at the same time as recording piano, and then re-record at a later date. So just how important is it that I have 96khz? Do I need it? Will I be able to hear the difference on my (professionally mastered) finished product? This also raises the question of just how important AD/DA converters are, considering I will be using audio piano and vocal, and probably midi triggered drums and fx etc. Some people seem to think the pre-amps on the mBox2 are shit, and others say they are great. I would assume the Focusrite ones are better.
Also, are there any other interfaces that come in this price range with such an extensive industry standard software bundle?
Please help – hugely confused singer/songwriter.
has anybody compared the mbox2 and focusrite saffire??? it looks like that is the only way to go…
I, for one, feel pretty ripped off after my purchase of Mbox 2 Pro. Two heavily-touted features are the SPDIF inputs and 96k recording. I think it's fair for a customer to assume these two features will work together. They don't. You can only use an Mbox 2 pro with SPDIF at 44.1 and 48. Astonishing. Anybody want to buy an Mbox 2 "pro" real cheap?
I would like to know whether it is possible to use m audio delta 10 10 LT and m box 2 mini together on the same computer