With the new FireWire-based Mbox 2 Pro Factory, Pro Tools LE just got
even cooler! Digidesign has taken the concept of a portable, compact
Pro Tools LE rig to even greater heights. It's a powerful box that
offers a great deal of flexibility and capability. Now you can choose
the Mbox that's best for you: the USB Mbox 2or the new FireWire Mbox 2 Pro.
Digidesign Mbox 2 Pro Factory at a Glance:
- A high-quality audio solution for both pro and project studios
- Expanded I/O with plenty of hands-on control
- S/PDIF digital audio and word clock I/O
- Includes Pro Tools LE and Ignition Pack software
- Also includes Producer's Factory plug-ins
A high-quality audio solution for both pro and project studios
Digidesign's Mbox and Mbox 2 have proven tremendously popular - not
only with "entry-level" and "home" users (whatever those terms mean)
but also with high-end professionals, who use the portable interfaces
for editing tracks on location and on airplanes, for tracking smaller
sessions, for mixing on the run, and for working on projects from home
or project studios, then taking those projects into full-on Pro Tools
TDM-based studios for the finishing touches. The Mbox 2 Pro raises the
bar, giving you the ability to use up to four simultaneous inputs
(using the S/PDIF ins and external clocking, up to six inputs!) and
eight simultaneous outputs.
Expanded I/O with plenty of hands-on control
The clean and streamlined front panel of the Mbox 2 Pro offers plenty
of up-front, hands-on control. Starting from the left, there are
indicators for power, external clock sync, and MIDI activity. Two
1/4-inch headphone jacks, each with its own dedicated volume knob
follow - you can create two independent headphone mixes using the 3/4
button - after which comes the monitor output volume knob. Next up is
the stereo Aux Input control, with accompanying peak LED and
switch/indicator for phono operation. On the right are two inputs, each
with a level control, peak LED indicator, and switches for selecting
either the front-panel 1/4-inch DI jacks or the rear-panel
mic/line-level connections.
S/PDIF digital audio and word clock I/O
Flipping the Mbox 2 Pro around to check out the back panel, you'll find
a plethora of input/output options. Starting from the left you have two
1/4-inch/XLR combo mic/line inputs, then the stereo Aux Input, which
offers a choice of 1/4-inch line inputs or RCA inputs for phono
operation, and features a grounding lug for use with turntables. Stereo
1/4-inch monitor outputs appear next, along with four 1/4-inch line
outputs. S/PDIF digital I/O on coaxial connections follows, along with
line outs 5/6 (which share one jack), a footswitch jack, MIDI in and
out (with time-stamping), and two FireWire ports for connecting the
unit to your computer and daisy-chaining additional FireWire gear. Of
special note are the word clock input and output on BNC connectors, for
synchronizing the Mbox 2 Pro to the rest of your digital gear. The back
panel is rounded out with a connector for the external power supply.
Includes Pro Tools LE and Ignition Pack software
A big part of the Mbox 2 Pro's appeal is the inclusion of Digidesign's
powerful Pro Tools LE software. Not only does Pro Tools LE give you as
much tracking, editing, processing, and mixing power as you need to do
even large projects, but you can easily open up the Pro Tools LE
session in a high-end Pro Tools TDM system with all its settings and
plug-ins intact. Also included is the Ignition Pack, which bundles
Ableton Live Lite, Propellerhead Reason Adapted, FXpansion BFD Lite,
Celemony Melodyne Uno Essential, IK Multimedia Amplitube LE, and Tracks
EQ, an instructional DVD, a REX file CD, and much more. For even more
power, purchase Music Production Toolkit,
which takes PT LE up to 48 mono or stereo tracks, adds the multitrack
Beat Detective, even more high-end plug-ins, and much more. There is a
free downloadable upgrade available from Digidesign for Intel Macs.
Producer's Factory plug-ins
For extra professional processing firepower right out of the box, The
Mbox 2 Pro Factory includes the Producer's Factory bundle, a collection
of powerful plug-ins that will add new flavor to your mixes.
The Mbox 2 Pro Producer's Factory Bundle Includes:
- Moogerfooger Analog Delay
- JOEMEEK Meequalizer VC-5
- JOEMEEK SC-2 Photo Optical Compressor
- Cosmonaut Voice
- Digidesign Maxim
Features:
- Award-winning Pro Tools LE recording, editing, and mixing software
- Comprehensive Pro Tools Ignition Pack software and audio tool collection
- Producer's Factory plug-in bundle
- Professional sound quality
- Powered by FireWire or included power supply
- Supports up to 24-bit/96 kHz resolution
- 4 analog inputs (2 XLR/1/4" TRS combo jacks & 2 1/4" TRS jacks)
- 6 analog outputs (1/4" jacks)
- 2 instrument DI inputs on the front panel
- 2 channels of S/PDIF digital I/O (RCA)
- Built-in phono preamp input (RCA) for direct turntable connection
- 1 MIDI input and output (16 channels in/16 channels out)
- MIDI Time Stamping (MTS) support for superior timing and accuracy
- BNC word clock I/O
- Low-latency monitoring
- Dedicated studio monitor outputs with volume control
- 2 stereo headphone outputs with independent volume controls
- 48V phantom power for condenser microphones
System Requirements
- PC requirements: Intel Pentium 4, Centrino, Core Duo, or AMD Athlon
XP and 64-class processors and chips; Windows XP Home or Professional,
Service Pack 2 (Vista not supported); 768MB RAM; Open FireWire port
(FireWire hubs not supported); DVD-ROM drive
- Mac requirements: G4 processor (933MHz or higher), G5 processor, or
Intel-based Macs; Mac OS X version 10.4; 768MB RAM; Open FireWire port
(FireWire hubs not supported); DVD-ROM drive
