M-Audio Black Box Amps, Effects, and Recording

by M-Audio

Product Features

• 12 of the most realistic virtual amp models anywhere
• 43 beat-synced effects
• 99 drum patterns and built-in guitar tuner
• Effects and drum machine sync to tap tempo or external MIDI clock
• Built-in USB audio interface with S/PDIF out (24-bit/441kHz)

Product Details

• Item Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00083CZDO
• Item model number: 9900-40772-00
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,314 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)

Product Description

Co-developed by M-Audio and Roger Linn Design, the Black Box is the first creative tool for guitarists that combines amp modeling, powerful beat-synced effects and a drum machine with an audio interface for computer-based recording. Based on AdrenaLinn II technology, the Black Box can be used as a stand-alone amp-modeling and effects unit featuring spot-on models of 12 of the greatest guitar amps of all time. 99 built-in drum patterns with tap tempo make it easy to try out different grooves and tempos. The Black Box also incorporates tons of inspiring unique effects that automatically beat-sync to your drum patterns. A built-in microphone preamp is also included for recording and processing vocals and acoustic instruments. One simple USB connection sends your output to your favorite computer-based recording software--and syncs the Black Box's drums and effects to your tracks. The Black Box gives you killer tone, groundbreaking effects, huge beats and easy recording all in a single, easy-to-use package.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great box, easy to use, parts very hard to get, February 2, 2008

By 

Russell Conte "Russ Conte" (Forest Park, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: M-Audio Black Box Amps, Effects, and Recording (Electronics)

I've had the Black Box for a while. I find it pretty easy to use, and the range of effects is really impressive. There was no problem doing the update on Mac OS X. It works fine with GarageBand and Logic, as well as many other programs. It is true, I found that it does inspire creativity and inspiration, I never knew a box could get that many sounds out of my guitars. Very nice.

On the other hand, my AC adapter broke. Usually this is not a big deal, but M-Audio has you on this one - they are virtually the only place to get a replacement that you can be sure will work, and the replacement will set you back $24.99. I have the pedal, and it works, but the functionality is far less than I expected. There's very little ability to switch between a wide range of sounds. I would have paid more for a pedal with more functions. Maybe next time they can even offer a FireWire version that gets its power from the computer, so the AC Adapter is no longer an issue in those circumstances, and then I would not have to wait for a part that is on backorder.

So in summary, while they did a rocking great job on the guitar sounds and effects and amps, with works fine with my Mac, I would recommend that their next version use a regular power adapter so I don't have to go searching all over the internet if mine breaks, and put in a pedal with a lot more features. I searched for a pedal that might have what I want, but did not find anything.

Russ Conte, Forest Park, Illinois

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Black Box > great jamming piece, December 4, 2007

By 

Troels Emil Kolding (Denmark) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: M-Audio Black Box Amps, Effects, and Recording (Electronics)

For me the black box did not have as steep a learning curve as indicated in the previous review -> but agreed it is a nerdy device. Of course there is the disadvantage that M-audio decided to offer many more amp models and loops -> by a _free_ firmware update. This reduces the user-friendliness since getting to the added functionality requires some tricks. However, if a problem one can go back to the original functionality set that matches the black box layout.

So getting to the box itself. It has amazing build quality, sound, and functionality. Good starting point. The knobs, buttons, and jacks seem solid enough and the display is easily readable and clear. It offers lots of distinctly different amplifier models and effects you can apply to your guitar. Great fun, great sound quality on ear-phones right out of the box, and great PC/MAC recording support via the USB interface.

M-audio offers great driver support for their products and Vista is supported already via beta drivers from the web-page. No problems with PC/Vista and Sonar Home Studio.

The Black Box offers a drum machine for jamming on the guitar. While many different sets and patterns are offered it would have been nice with a bit more functionality. However, this is clearly not a drum machine. This is the main point why I choose to give it "only" 4/5 stars.

There is a tuner there for the guitar and recording via microphone is also supported (mix and stand-alone). I did not test the quality of that mode so cannot review. Recording of the guitar offers great performance on the PC although some tweaking was done to avoid dropout (not issue of Black Box or drivers though).

This is a great and compact device for jamming and light recording. With the minimum-functionality drum support, it is very useful and inspiring for guitar players. It offers many great amp models and effects at very limited cost. M-audio supports their devices with drivers to Vista. How can you go wrong? It is not a master of user-friendlieness but learning curve is acceptable. A bit more drum-customization would have been needed for a pure 5/5 -> it is close.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Under-rated Gem, July 31, 2011

By 

Chris "Fox" McReynolds (Global) - See all my reviews

This review is from: M-Audio Black Box Amps, Effects, and Recording (Electronics)

I am still surprised how few people are using these. The most significant feature of the BB is that you can sync your MIDI drum beats with your timed effects, and thus you can choose which beat to trigger the delay repetitions. It might sound trivial, especially if you've never done this or heard this, but if you think about how so many effects have a "tap" to time your effects, you are still at the mercy of your drum beat. Once you hear it, you get it.

But I think a lot of people misunderstand the device because of its name and its feature list makes you wonder if it's really a PC desktop device, or a stage-oriented performance tool? Guess what? It really is ideal for both! This is one reason why it isn't bus-powered, and it also does not depend on the PC to process anything. It can sync with your MIDI on the PC, and I bought an amazing library tool sound editor, so I have all of the benefits of the PC interface, but am not dependent on the PC for any functions. You get the bet of both worlds, even being able to write as many backups for the patches as you'd expect.

In terms of recording options on the PC, you have a guitar and in XLR input for your mic. You don't get phantom power, but you don't find many folks who'd need that, but if you do use a condenser, you can get a power supply module for $20 from Nady. So you have those inputs, and you can choose which to run through the effects. You can't run both through the effects at the same time, but I can't imagine anyone wanting to do that. I only mention it because if you are new this class of device you might get the idea that you can program it like a PC. But what you do get is both dry tracks are recorded, so you get mic and guitar or whatever you put through those inputs, and you choose which to pass through the effects, which are recorded in stereo, and if you use the MIDI drums, they are blended with the post effect tracks. Not ideal, but you can always take the dry tracks and process them any way you want. You can also configure it to trigger the drums on another device, but I think you get the idea. If you are an advanced MIDI user, you might want to check out the user manual.

I don't know if they still make these, but I think they are amazing. I'm tempted to buy another to have one for visitors to use, or for using one each for vocals and guitar. The pedal is available and fairly programmable, and if you add up all of the program-ability of this thing, you know why I highly advise getting the 3rd party software. Here's the URL: [...] I think I paid $30, but it might have been $50. If that sounds too steep, maybe you'll prefer to get your BB going to see how much use you get, and then you'll have a better idea how much the software is worth to you. The bundled software is not that big a deal. If you buy it used, don't count on getting much. I think you get Sonar LE, and something else, maybe Ableton Live? I was running Windows 7 64-bit and whatever it was, I had trouble loading it, so to make a long story short, I got Cakewalk to let me download the Sonar X1 LE, since I had registered the original software bundled, whatever it was.

One last bit of advice; I use tube amps, and the amp models do sound pretty good, but the gain is way too high on the patches as shipped. What I do is turn down the gain to the point that it only starts to break up when really attacking the strings, so that you get a lot of the character from the amp model, but most of the distortion is produced by the tubes. I use all tube amps, and I also have a Valvetronix combo, and it sounds really fantastic if you set it up like I suggested. You get all of the feel, touch dynamics that is, that you expect from tubes. The only way for amp models to ruin that for you is when you try to use them straight to a mixer. I guess you have to have at least one tube stage in the preamp and the power amp to get all of the feel we expect from tube amps, and using modeling will only ruin it if you don't set it up correctly.