Customer Reviews

Digidesign MBox Audio Interface (Macintosh and Windows)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I never got to use this package, but it looks pretty solid. PLEASE check this page before you buy Digidesign's Mbox package:

http://digidesign.com/compato/xp/mbox/

I tried installing on a brand-new Dell desktop with 512MB RAM, twin SATA 160GB hard drives, and a 2.8 Ghz processor. It didn't work. The above-referenced page (which I wish someone had told me about before the purchase) informed me of a chipset compatibility issue which effectively makes the entire package useless on my computer. Digidesign's customer service is WORSE than you've heard; I sent them numerous e-mails asking if there was an update coming that would fix the problem, and I NEVER heard back from them. So I have no idea when or if there's a fix in the works.

For what it's worth, I sold the Mbox and bought Cubase SE and a PreSonus Firebox, and am very happy with my setup (but it was more expensive than the Mbox package). So, go ahead and purchase this one, just make sure your equipment will work with it first!

Oh yes, one other thing: someone somewhere complained about ProTools needing 2 hard drives to function properly... don't blame ProTools; any decent recording package is going to want a separate drive for data.

This box is sweeet! I've been doing digital and audio musicmaking for about 12 years, I used to work exclusively in analog (4-track Tascams). I finally broke down and got this to use on my pc laptop. This thing allows me to hook up my old XLR Shure mics, my electric guitar and just about anything else I want.

The interface is idiotproof, I was hesitant about getting into the whole digital thang, but now I'm sold. I can take this baby, my laptop (PC), my guitar and a microphone and I've got my own recording studio. It comes with Protools, which is pretty good, although I prefer to work in Audition . . .( I used to be a CoolEdit fiend). The thing I like about this is it's portability. It's 1 lb if that, and I've brought it all around the country doing shows . . . I'm setup in less than 30 seconds. Awesome.

For the amount of circuitry that must be in this thing, I've never had any problems. It's well worth the money.

I had high expectations for the Mbox, mostly because of the Focusrite pre-amps, but was very disappointed. Tried it for recording classical chamber music w/ small diaphram omni spaced pair in a hall that has really outstanding acoustics. Biggest problem is the lack of headroom - makes it next to impossible to set good levels for music with a large dynamic range. Also had intermittent problems with stutter, which may be solvable with different cache settings, but I'd already decided the package wouldn't be right for me, and wanted to return it before wasting more time figuring how to tweak it. Plan to try the Presonus Firebox, once it's been reviewed. If it's anything like their Firepod, the pres should be excellent, and the firewire interface should be more stable than USB.

The Mbox is fantastic, hands down. Along with my Powerbook, it gives me a 100% portable recording studio. The microphone preamps are very good, especially for such a streamlined interface. Along with the included Pro Tools LE software, this product combination is absolutely dependable and flawless. No, Pro Tools will not work with another interface, and no, the Mbox will not work with any other software. That said, the advantage is that you will never have configuration or communication errors with this product. I plugged it in and was up and running in less than 10 minutes, and half an hour after the box was opened, I had put together a four track a capella recording and was mixing in reverbs. Combined with the fact that it is the most lowest priced Pro Tools package on the market, this is a no-brainer for anyone doing music production. I use it in combination with Final Cut Pro to do my soundtrack work, and also use it at clubs to plug directly into the mixing board for live recordings. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.

Digidesign customer support policies are actually anti-customer. What's wrong with these people?

Digidesign offers NO EMAIL SUPPORT, with OVER 30 MINUTE HOLD-TIMES on support calls.
Their policies are blatantly unfair to the consumer/audio pro.

I purchased Pro Tools LE 7.4 Sept 30th, 2008, directly from the online Digidesign store, but even after 6 weeks, it hadn't been delivered.
I called the store and they finally overnighted it to me sometime in November. If I had purchased it in November, they would have given me a free upgrade to PT 8. But when I asked about that, they said I wasn't eligible.

First of all, it's their fault that the product was 6 weeks late; but that time overlapped with their advertised "free upgrade period" of PT 8. Still, they told me it was "not possible" for me to get the free upgrade. Just because the date of payment was September 30. hmmmmmm

Like a sucker, I ordered the PT 8 upgrade last week (from a different store), tried to install it on the weekend. When I attempted to authorize the software at Digi's website, the message appeared:
"This number has already been used. Please contact customer support."
First - this shouldn't happen in the first place, but ha!! yeah. Just TRY TO GET SOMEONE ON THE PHONE AT DIGIDESIGN!!!

It's 7 days after the DVDs arrived and I still cannot use PT 8. Digidesign doesn't allow even 24 hours grace period to use their software.
Most software companies offer 30 days complimentary use. Not Digidesign.

Worst softtware company EVER!!!
Good luck to you if you decide to buy in.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with Pro Tools

It takes awhile to get used to, but editing audio on here, after awhile, becomes quite easy

in particular, as a filmmaker, I have been very pleased with Pro Tools's ability to edit dialogue tracks of movies

however, in order to do that, you need the DV TOOLKIT, which costs another $1,500!!!!

Sadly, without the TOOLKIT, OMF files cannot be imported into Pro Tools ---- keep that in mind if you are purchasing Pro Tools for dialogue editing

otherwise, its a pretty solid package, and the MBOX is easy to hookup

HAPPY SOUNDTRACKING!!!!!!!!!

I bought it, and it shipped to my house faster than predicted. The setup was very smooth; there was no problems at all. The seller included a plethora of software disks. Fully compatible with pro-tools 8 LE. The only complaint I have is the lack of multiple outs for simultanious monitoring, but with a single splitter I'll be just fine. I've been waiting a long time to use pro tools. I will certainly be getting the newer model in time.