Avid Technology Mbox Pro User manual

Mbox Pro User Guide
®

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Contents iii
Chapter 1. Welcome to Mbox Pro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Mbox Pro Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
System Requirements and Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Conventions Used in This Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
About www.avid.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Chapter 2. Mbox Pro Hardware Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Mbox Pro Front Panel Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Mbox Pro Back Panel Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Chapter 3. Installing and Connecting Mbox Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Chapter 4. Making Studio Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Connecting Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Audio Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Connecting a Microphone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Connecting Instruments to the Mbox Pro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Connecting Keyboards and Mixers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Connecting Inserts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Connecting Digital I/O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
MIDI Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Word Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Using a Footswitch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Chapter 5. Using the Driver Control Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
About . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Stereo Mix Section. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Layouts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Contents

Avid Mbox Pro User Guideiv
Chapter 6. Using the Multi Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Using the Multi Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Press and Release Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Press and Hold Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Hold Duration Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Appendix A. Using CoreAudio- and ASIO-Compliant Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Configuring Mbox Pro for Third-Party Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Configuring the Apple Sound Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Appendix B. Compliance Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Environmental Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
EMC (Electromagnetic Compliance). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Safety Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Chapter 1: Welcome to Mbox Pro 1
Chapter 1: Welcome to Mbox Pro
Welcome to the Mbox®Pro FireWire audio and
MIDI interface from Avid®.
Mbox Pro provides your FireWire-equipped com-
puter with six channels of analog audio input, six
channels of analog audio output, two channels of
S/PDIF digital audio input and output, MIDI and
Word Clock I/O, and two front panel headphone
outputswith independent levelcontrols. Mbox Pro
provides professional-quality mic preamps and
24-bit/192 kHz analog-to-digital and digital-to-
analog converters.
Mbox ProintegrateswithPro Tools®software,and
is compatible with third-party audio and MIDI
applications that support the CoreAudio (Mac) or
ASIO (Windows) standard.
Mbox Pro Features
The Mbox Pro provides the following:
Audio Inputs and Outputs
Mbox Proprovides upto eight discretechannels of
input and up to eight discrete channels of output,
using the following analog and digital I/O:
Analog Inputs
• Two channels of analog audio input with high
quality microphone preamps (inputs 1–2). Each
input channel 1–2 provides:
• 48v Phantom Power and inserts
• Two XLR/TRS (Mic/DI) combo connectors
onthefrontpanel, and two1/4-inchTRS Line
connectorswithswitchable +4/-10inputlevel
on the rear panel
• Mic preamps feature a –20 dB pad and soft-
limit switch separately on each analog input
channel
• Mic/DI signal is adjusted by the Gain knob
for each channel

Avid Mbox Pro User Guide2
• Two additional channels of analog audio input
with high quality microphone preamps. Each
input channel 3–4 provides:
• 48v Phantom Power and inserts
• Analog input jacks include two XLR Mic
connectors on the rear panel, and two 1/4-
inch TRS Line connectors with switchable
+4/-10 input level also on the rear panel
• Mic preamps feature a –20 dB pad and soft-
limit switch separately on each analog input
channel
• Mic signal is adjusted by the Gain knob for
each channel
• Two channels of analog audio input via RCA or
1/8-inch connectors (Aux 5/6). Each input chan-
nel provides:
• Analog input jacks provide an unbalanced
line input on either RCA connectors or a 1/8-
inch mini stereo connector (common for con-
necting most MP3 players)
• Inputs are fully functioning inputs to
Pro Tools as well as providing an alternate
monitor source using the Speaker button
Analog Outputs
• Six balanced 1/4-inch TRS analog outputs,
supporting line level outputs, multiple stereo
monitors, or up to 5.1 surround monitoring
• Insert jacks (1–4) for inserting external
processing devices on input channels
• 24-bit A/D and D/A converters, supporting
sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz,
96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, and 192 kHz
Digital I/O
• Two channels of S/PDIF digital input and out-
put. S/PDIF inputs are available independent of
and in addition to analog inputs 1–6. S/PDIF
outputs are always available in Pro Tools
MIDI
• One MIDI In and one MIDI Out port, providing
16 channels of MIDI input and output
Other Capabilities and
Specifications
• Front panel “Multi” button, assignable to a
variety of common Pro Tools functions
• Low latency direct record monitoring
• On-board tuner
• Two 1/4-inch (TRS) stereo headphone outputs
(A and B) with independently adjustable level
and routing controls
• Controlroomfunctionalityincluding front panel
Dim/Mute, Mono and Speaker/Source switches
• Footswitch jack for starting or stopping play-
back or punching in and out while recording
• Multi-pin port (DB15 connection) that handles
Word Clock, MIDI, and S/PDIF via included
breakout cable

Chapter 1: Welcome to Mbox Pro 3
System Requirements and
Compatibility
Mbox Pro can be used with a qualified Windows
orMac computerrunning Pro Toolssoftware 8.0.4
or higher.
Mbox Procan be also be used with a qualified Mac
or Windows computer running any other Core Au-
dio- or ASIO-compliant software.
Mbox Pro hardware drivers must be installed be-
fore you can connect and use your Mbox Pro.
A DVD drive is required to use the Drivers In-
staller disc (included with your Pro Tools software
package).
Avid can only assure compatibility and provide
support for hardware and software it has tested and
approved.
For complete system requirements and a list of
qualified computers, operating systems, hard
drives, and third-party devices, visit:
www.avid.com/compatibility
Conventions Used in This
Guide
All of our guides use the following conventions to
indicate menu choices and key commands:
:
The names of Commands, Options, and Settings
that appear on-screen are in a different font.
The following symbols are used to highlight
important information:
For Pro Tools installation instructions, see
the Pro Tools Installation Guide.
For Mbox hardware drivers installation in-
structions, see Chapter 3, “Installing and
Connecting Mbox Pro.”
Convention Action
File > Save Choose Save from the
File menu
Control+N Hold down the Control key
and press the N key
Control-click Hold down the Control key
and click the mouse button
Right-click Click with the right
mouse button
User Tips are helpful hints for getting the
most from your system.
Important Notices include information that
could affect your data or the performance of
your system.
Shortcutsshowyouusefulkeyboardormouse
shortcuts.
Cross References point to related sections in
this guide and other Pro Tools guides.

Avid Mbox Pro User Guide4
About www.avid.com
The Avid website (www.avid.com) is your best
online source for information to help you get the
most out of your Pro Tools system. The following
arejust a fewof theservicesand featuresavailable.
Product Registration Register your purchase
online.
Support and Downloads Contact Avid Customer
Success (technical support); download software
updates and the latest online manuals; browse the
Compatibilitydocumentsforsystemrequirements;
search the online Knowledge Base or join the
worldwide Pro Tools community on the User Con-
ference.
Training and Education Study on your own using
courses available online or find out how you can
learn in a classroom setting at a certified Pro Tools
training center.
Products and Developers Learn about Avid
products; download demo software or learn about
our Development Partners and their plug-ins, ap-
plications, and hardware.
News and Events GetthelatestnewsfromAvidor
sign up for a Pro Tools demo.

Chapter 2: Mbox Pro Hardware Overview 5
Chapter 2: Mbox Pro Hardware Overview
Mbox Pro Front Panel Features
Figure 1 identifies controls, indicators, and input and output ports on the front panel on the Mbox Pro.
Input Combo Jacks (Mic/DI)
These combination jacks (Mic/DI) provide XLR
and 1/4-inch (TS) inputs for Input channels 1
and 2.
Gain/–20 dB Pad Switches
These knobs adjust the input gain levels of Mic/DI
1and 2,or Mic3 and4. Turnthe knobclockwise to
increase gain, and counter-clockwise to decrease
gain.
If your input signal is too hot even with the Gain
knob at a low setting, pull the Gain knob out to en-
gage a “pad” that attenuates the signal by –20dB.
Front/Rear Input Source
Switches
These buttons select the input source for input
channels 1 and 2. When “out”, the front panel
Mic/DI input is active; when “in” the back panel
Line Input is active for that channel.
Figure 1. Mbox Pro front panel
Headphones A and B Volume knob
Gain/–20 dB
Master Volume
knob
Gain/–20 dB Pad switches
Pad switch
Input combo jacks
Multi button Power indicator LED
Dim/Mute
switch
LED ladders
(inputs 1 - 4)
Mono
switch
Speaker source
select button
Headphone
outputs
Soft
Front/Back
input source
Soft
Front/Back
input source
switch switch
switch
limit switches
limit
Mic/Line
input source button
48V switch

Avid Mbox Pro User Guide6
Soft Limit Switch
These switches engage a soft limiter on that chan-
nel, applying a smooth, overdriven tape-type lim-
iter to strong input signals.
Mic/Line Input Source Button
These buttons select the input source for input
channels 3 and 4. When “out”, the back panel Mic
input is active; when “in” the back panel Line In-
put is active for that channel.
LED Ladders (Inputs 1–4)
These four 8-segment LED ladder-style meters il-
luminate green in the presence of audio signal, and
illuminate red when the signal is about to clip
(overload)the input.The LEDs areassociated with
signals routed from inputs 1–4.
48V Switch and LED (Phantom
Power)
The 48V switch toggles phantom power on/off for
all mic input channels. The LED, when lit, indi-
cates that 48V phantom power is active on the
XLR Mic inputs.
About Phantom Power
Most condenser microphones require phantom
power to operate. Dynamic microphones do not re-
quire phantom power to operate, but are not
harmed by it.
If you are not sure about the phantom power re-
quirements for your microphone, refer to your mi-
crophone’s documentation or contact the manufac-
turer.
Master Volume Knob
The Master Volume knob adjusts the output level
of the assigned Monitor output pair. The Master
Volume knob is assigned to an output pair (1–2,
3–4, or 5–6) in the Control Panel. See “Master
Vol” on page 31.
Dim/Mute Switch
The Dim/Mute switch affects the output volume
for control room outputs as assigned in the Driver
ControlPanel setup (by default, Lineoutputs 1 and
2.) See “Control Room Assignment” on page 31.
The switch has two functions:
When pushed, Line outputs 1 and 2 (or the cur-
rently assigned Control Room outputs) are
dimmed. When Dim is engaged, the switch
LED lights solid.
When pushed and held in, Line outputs 1 and 2
(or the currently assigned Control Room out-
puts) are muted. When Mute is engaged, the
switch LED flashes.
Mono Switch
The Mono Button sums the control room outputs
to a mono signal (delivering that identical signal to
both speakers) via the Driver Control Panel or the
Mbox Pro. When engaged, the Mono LED lights.
Although phantom power can be used safely
with most microphones, it is possible to dam-
agesome ribbon microphones with it.Always
turn off phantom power and wait at least ten
seconds before connecting or disconnecting
a ribbon microphone.
When using phantom power, the Mbox Pro
maximum current per microphone is 10 mA.

Chapter 2: Mbox Pro Hardware Overview 7
Spkr (Speaker) Button
You can assign Monitor outputs pairs to the
Speaker button and cycle through the pairs as con-
figuredintheControlPanel(seeChapter 5,“Using
the Driver Control Panel” and “Control Room As-
signment” on page 31). This is useful for A/B-ing
your mix between different studio monitors.
When pressed and held, it sources Aux inputs 5–6,
letting you can switch between monitoring play-
back from your audio application and monitoring
an external source (such a CD player) connected to
Aux inputs 5–6.
Headphone Outputs
Use the A and B, front panel Headphone outputs to
connect stereo headphones with a 1/4-inch stereo
connector. Headphone output A mirrors Monitor
outputs 1–2 by default. Sources for the Headphone
outputscanbeconfigured in theControlPanel.See
“Stereo Mix Section” on page 32.
Headphone A and B Volume
Knobs
The Headphone knobs adjust the output level of
their corresponding Headphone output (A or B).
Multi Button
The Multi button can be assigned to execute sev-
eral functions in Pro Tools, including
Track Create, Start/stop Record, Tap Tempo, Tog-
gle Marker Locations, and Save Session. For de-
tailedinformation,seeChapter 6, “Using theMulti
Button.”
Power Indicator LED
The Power LED indicates that the Mbox Pro is re-
ceiving power from its power supply. Once the
light is on, audio can pass in or out of the system. If
the light is flashing, the power is not correct or
clock is not locked.

Avid Mbox Pro User Guide8
Mbox Pro Back Panel Features
Figure 2 identifies each port on the back panel of the Mbox Pro.
Mic Inputs
These two jacks provide XLR inputs for Input
channels 3 and 4. The Mic signal is adjusted by the
each channel’s Gain knob on the front panel.
Insert Jacks
Use these 1/4-inch TRS jacks to patch (or “insert”)
an external analog effect such as a compressor or
limiter onto the input signal, between the preamp
and the A/D converter. Any inserted effects affect
the recorded signal.
These inserts are only active when a connector is
inserted, and are otherwise bypassed. The TRS
jack is configured as follows: Tip=Send; Ring=Re-
turn; Sleeve=Ground.
Monitor Outputs
There are six balanced 1/4-inch TRS analog out-
puts that support line level outputs, multiple stereo
monitors, or up to 5.1 surround monitoring. For
more information on configuring stereo and sur-
round monitoring in the Driver Control Panel, see
“Output Setup” on page 30.
Line Inputs
Therearefour TRSbalancedanalog Line inputson
the back panel for Input channels 1–4. For input
channels 1–2, Line inputs are selected using the 01
and 02 Front/Rear switch on the front panel (set to
“Rear”). For inputs 3–4, Line inputs are selected
using the 03 and 04 Mic/Line switches on the front
panel (set to “Line”). Mic inputs are selected using
the 03 and 04 Mic/Line (set to “Mic”).
Figure 2. Mbox Pro back panel
Power switch Power input jack Monitor outputs
Aux inputs 5/6
Foot switch FireWire ports
Word clock, MIDI
S/PDIF connector
Line inputs Insert jacks Mic inputs
+4/–10 switches
(RCAs and 1/8-inch mini)

Chapter 2: Mbox Pro Hardware Overview 9
+4/–10 Switches
These switches let you select +4 or –10 input oper-
ating levels for Line Input channels 1–2 and/or
3–4. When “out” the level is set to +4 and when
“in” it is set to –10.
Aux Inputs 5–6
TheRCA jacks and the 1/8-inchmini are all part of
Aux input 5/6.
Use the RCA jacks for line-level devices like
CD players or mixers.
Use the 1/8-inch mini to connect line-level
sources such as MP3 players with an 1/8-inch ste-
reo connector.
FireWire Ports
These standard FireWire 1394 connectors are used
to connect your computer to Mbox Pro. The
Mbox Pro cannot be powered solely through its
1394 connection to your computer. The Mbox Pro
requires the power supply to function.
Power Input Jack
This port supplies power to Mbox Pro using the in-
cluded power supply. The Mbox Pro requires the
power supply to function. For stand-alone mode
youpower onthe unit with a powerconnection and
no FireWire connection.
Power Switch
This button is used to turn Mbox Pro on or off.
Word Clock, MIDI, S/PDIF
Connector
The DB15 connection that handles Word Clock,
MIDI, and S/PDIF is a multi-pin port where you
plug in a breakout cable (included). On the oppo-
site end of the cable you can connect to Word
Clock, MIDI, and S/PDIF devices.
Foot Switch Connector
The footswitch connector on Mbox Pro lets you
use a footswitch to control either playback
start/stop or recording punch in/out. Both Quick-
Punch audio punch-in and punch-out and MIDI
punch-in and punch-out recording are supported.
The footswitch connector is designed specifically
for instantaneous (momentary) on/off pedals with
a 1/4-inch TS connector. Continuous on/continu-
ous off pedals can also be used, but may result in
unexpected behavior.
If the device you are connecting to any of
these inputs has unbalanced outputs (or you
are using an unbalanced TS cable), set the
lineinput switch to -10.Forbalancedoutputs
(usingbalancedTRScables), settheswitchto
+4. Refer to your device’s documentation.
Breakout cable

Avid Mbox Pro User Guide10

Chapter 3: Installing and Connecting Mbox Pro 11
Chapter 3: Installing and Connecting
Mbox Pro
To use Mbox Pro with Pro Tools or any other
CoreAudio-orASIO-compatible applications,you
must install the Mbox Pro hardware drivers on
your computer.
This chapter provides instructions on installing the
drivers on Mac and Windows, and connecting the
Mbox Pro to your computer.
To install the drivers and connect the Mbox Pro:
1Make sure you are logged in as an Administra-
tor for the account where you want to install the
drivers.
2Download the Mbox Pro drivers installer for
your computer platform from
www.avid.com/drivers. After downloading,
make sure the installer is uncompressed (.dmg
on Mac or .ZIP on Windows).
3Do one of the following:
• On Mac, locate and double-click
Avid Mbox Pro.mpkg.
– or –
• On Windows, locate and double-click
Install Avid Mbox Pro.exe.
4Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed
with installation.
5When installation is complete, restart your com-
puter.
6After the computer has restarted, connect one
end of the provided FireWire cable to the
FireWire port on Mbox Pro. Connect the other
end of the cable to any available FireWire port
on your computer.
7Connect the power cable and turn on the
Mbox Pro using the power switch on the back.
Then follow the remaining on-screen instruc-
tions to complete installation.
You can now use your Mbox Pro with Pro Tools,
or with any other CoreAudio- or ASIO-compatible
application.
Do not start this procedure with your Mbox
connected to your computer.
Before installing the hardware drivers, refer
to the Read Me information included with the
drivers installer for your device.
For details on Administrator privileges, see
the documentation for your computer.
For Pro Tools installation instructions, see
the Pro Tools Installation Guide.

Avid Mbox Pro User Guide12

Chapter 4: Making Studio Connections 13
Chapter 4: Making Studio Connections
This chapter provides step-by-step instructions for
connecting mics, instruments, mixers, head-
phones, speakers, and other devices to Mbox Pro.
Connecting Outputs
To hear audio from Mbox Pro, you will need to
connect headphones or an external sound system
(such as powered monitors or a home stereo) to
Mbox Pro.
Connecting Headphones
You can use headphones equipped with a 1/4-inch
stereo jack to monitor your audio.
To connect headphones:
1Connect headphones with a 1/4-inch stereo con-
nector (or adapter) to the Headphone outputsA
or B.
2Adjust the volume using the corresponding
Headphone Volume knob on the front panel.
By default, Headphone output A mirrors Monitor
output channels 1–2.
Headphone jacks and controls on front of Mbox Pro
1/4-inch
Headphone outputs (A, B)
Headphone level (A, B)
You can create independent stereo mixes for
each headphone output in the Driver Control
Panel. See “Stereo Mix Section” on page 32.
Donotusethefrontpanelheadphoneoutputs
for anything but headphones. If you use a
headphone distribution amp or cue system,
useanyofthe six Monitor outputs on the back
panel. See “Monitor Outputs 1–6” on
page 14.

Avid Mbox Pro User Guide14
Connecting a Sound System
The default monitor outputs on the back of the
Mbox Pro (Monitor outputs 1 and 2) support 1/4-
inch plugs. These connections can be balanced
TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) connectors, or unbalanced
TS (Tip-Sleeve) connectors such as those on in-
strumentcables. Tolisten toyour toaudio, connect
these outputs to any amplification system: pow-
ered speakers, a home stereo system, or an audio
mixer.
To connect to a sound system:
For stereo monitoring, connect Monitor outputs
1 and 2 to the inputs of your main left and right
speakers.You can hook up more than one set of
stereo speakers and switch between them
(Speaker A, B, C switching). See “Output
Setup” on page 30.
To connect to a stereo system:
When connecting to a stereo system, connect
the left channel of the stereo (often the white
plug) to Monitor output 1, and the right channel
of the stereo (often the red plug) to
Monitor output 2.
Monitor Outputs 1–6
Monitor outputs 1–6 can be connected to any de-
vice that has analog inputs. Use these six balanced
1/4-inch TRS outputs to feed analog devices such
as headphone amps or cue systems for discrete
headphone mixes, samplers, or a secondary re-
corder.
There are other use for Monitor outputs, such as:
• Stereo main monitors (Monitor outputs 1–2)
• Stereo/Alt monitors (Monitor outputs 3–4)
• Surround (Monitor outputs 1–6),
To connect additional Mbox Pro outputs:
Using 1/4-inch TRS cables, connect any of the
Line Out (1–6) connectors on the back panel to
the inputs of your external devices.
Line Out connectors for monitors on Mbox Pro
Mbox Pro is capable of 5.1 surround moni-
toring complete with custom configuration
and routing controls. For more information,
see “Output Setup” on page 30.
Monitor outputs 1–6
Home stereo systems often use RCA connec-
tors. You can use an adaptor or a special ca-
ble to convert from the 1/4-inch TRS (Tip-
Ring-Sleeve) connectors used by Mbox Pro to
the RCA connectors on your home stereo.
See the Pro Tools Reference Guide for infor-
mation on signal routing, sends and bussing.

Chapter 4: Making Studio Connections 15
Audio Inputs
Mbox Pro provides six channels of analog inputs,
andsupports microphones,guitars, keyboards, and
other types of instruments and devices.
For information about connecting specific audio
sources, see “Connecting a Microphone” on
page 16, and “Connecting Instruments to the
Mbox Pro” on page 18.
Mic/DI Inputs 1–2/Line Inputs 1–2
The front-panel Mic/DI inputs 1–2 provide combi-
nation XLR (Mic) or a 1/4-inch (DI) jacks for In-
put channels 1 and 2.
Toggle each channel’s Front/Rear input source
switch to switch between the front-panel Mic/DI
input and the 1/4-inch TRS Line Input located on
the back panel.
When the switch is in the “out” position, the front
panel Mic/DI input is active; when “in” the rear
Line Input is active.
Mic Inputs 3–4/Line Inputs 3–4
The back-panel Mic inputs 3–4 provide two dedi-
cated XLR connectors for Input channels 3 and 4.
Toggle each channel’s Front/Rear input source
switch to switch between the XLR input and 1/4-
inch TRS Line Input located on the back panel.
When the switch is in the “out” position, the Mic
input is active; when “in” the Line Input is active
for that channel.
Aux Inputs 5–6
The Aux inputs 5–6 section provide dual-mono
RCA jacks or a single 1/8-inch stereo jack for Aux
input channels 5 and 6.
If the 1/8-inch jack and the RCA jacks are both
connected,the 1/8-inchjack takesprecedence over
the RCA jacks.
Use these inputs to connect line-level sources such
as mixers, CD or DVD players, or MP3 players.
Input channels on the front/back of Mbox Pro
01, 02, 03, 04
Aux inputs 5/6
(and 1/8-inch)
You can monitor Aux input 5–6 through the
designated control room output by pressing
and holding the front-panel Spkr button. To
configure control room settings, see “Control
Room Assignment” on page 31.

Avid Mbox Pro User Guide16
Connecting a Microphone
Mic Cables and Connectors
Use a microphone with an XLR connector to con-
nect the microphone to the Mbox Pro.
The Mbox Pro can only supply phantom power
through a microphone cable with an XLR connec-
tor. If you are not sure about the phantom power
requirements for your microphone, refer to your
microphone’s documentation or contact the manu-
facturer.
Phantom Power (48V)
Some microphones require power to operate. This
power,calledphantom power,issupplied either by
a battery in the microphone, or through an audio
interface (such as Mbox Pro) that can supply
power through the microphone cable.
Most condenser microphones (such as an
M-Audio Solaris) require phantom power to oper-
ate.Dynamicmicrophones(such as aShureSM57)
do not require phantom power to operate, but are
not harmed by it.
The Mbox Pro can only supply phantom power
through a microphone cable with XLR connectors.
If you are not sure about the phantom power re-
quirements for your microphone, refer to your mi-
crophone’s documentation or contact the manufac-
turer.
Using a Mic with an XLR
Connector (Input Channels 1–2)
To use a microphone with an XLR connector:
1Plug your microphone cable into one of the two
Mic/DI inputs on the front of Mbox Pro (in this
example, input 2).
2Set the input source to Mic/DI (microphone) by
pressing the Front/Rear switch for channel 2 to
the “out” position. (When the button is set to the
“out” position, the front panel, combo Mic/DI
inputs will be active. When the button is set to
the “in” position, the back panel Line inputs
will be active.)
XLR connector
Phantom power can be used safely with most
microphones. However, it is possible to dam-
age ribbon microphones with it. Always turn
off phantom power and wait at least ten sec-
onds before connecting a ribbon micro-
phone.
XLR connector plugged into Input 2 (Mic/DI combo
jack)
Front/Rear switches for Mic/DI combo jacks
Input 1
Mic input
Mic/DI input 2
Front/Rear switches