Avid Technology Mbox User manual

Mbox User Guide
Version 9.0
®

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Contents iii
contents
Chapter 1. Welcome to Mbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Mbox Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
System Requirements and Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Conventions Used in This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
About www.avid.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Chapter 2. Mbox Hardware Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Mbox Front Panel Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Mbox Back Panel Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Chapter 3. Installing and Connecting Mbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Chapter 4. Making Studio Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Connecting Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Audio Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Connecting a Microphone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Connecting Instruments to the Mbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
MIDI Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Chapter 5. Using the Driver Control Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Additional Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Stereo Mixes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Using the Stereo Mix Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Mbox User Guideiv
Chapter 6. Using the Multi Button (Pro Tools Only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Using the Multi Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Press and Release Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Press and Hold Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Hold Duration Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Appendix A. Using Third-Party Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Configuring Mbox for Third-Party Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Configuring the Apple Sound Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Appendix B. Compliance Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Environmental Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
EMC (Electromagnetic Compliance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Safety Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Chapter 1: Welcome to Mbox 1
chapter 1
Welcome to Mbox
Welcome to the Mbox®USB audio and MIDI
interface from Avid®.
Mbox provides your USB 2.0-equipped com-
puter with two channels of analog audio input
and output, two channels of digital audio input
and output, MIDI In and Out ports, one head-
phone output with front panel level control.
Mbox includes two professional-quality mic pre-
amps and 24-bit/96 kHz analog-to-digital and
digital-to-analog converters.
Mbox integrates with Pro Tools® software, and
is compatible with third-party audio and MIDI
applications that support the CoreAudio (Mac)
or ASIO (Windows) standard.
Mbox Features
Mbox provides the following:
• Two channels of analog audio input with
high-quality microphone preamps and swit-
chable 48V phantom power
• Analog input jacks include two XLR/TRS
combo-jacks and two 1/4 TS jacks, with
switchable Mic, Line, and DI levels
• Soft-limit feature on each input
• –20 dB pad available separately on each an-
alog input channel
• Two channels of S/PDIF digital input and two
channels of S/PDIF digital output
• S/PDIF inputs are available independently,
in addition to analog inputs 1–2
• S/PDIF outputs are available indepen-
dently, in addition to analog outputs 1–2
• Up to a total of four channels of input, using
analog and digital inputs simultaneously
• One MIDI In and one MIDI Out port, provid-
ing 16 channels of MIDI input and output
• Two 1/4-inch TRS analog monitor outputs
• 24-bit A/D and D/A converters, supporting
sample rates up to 96 kHz
• Low Latency Monitoring (LLM) with adjust-
able balance between input and playback
• Dim and Mono buttons
• 1/4-inch (TRS) stereo headphone output with
adjustable level control
• On-board reverb and delay effects (useful for
monitoring while tracking vocals)
• On-board Tuner
• Multi-function, assignable Soft button
• USB 2.0 High-speed operation
Mbox may not function properly if connected
to a USB hub. Connect Mbox Mini to a sepa-
rate, dedicated USB port.

Mbox User Guide2
System Requirements and
Compatibility
Mbox can be used with a qualified Windows or
Mac computer running Pro Tools software 8.0.4
or higher.
Mbox can be also be used with a qualified Mac
or Windows computer running other Core Au-
dio- or ASIO-compliant applications.
Mbox hardware drivers must be installed before
you can connect and use your Mbox.
A DVD drive is required to use the Drivers In-
staller disc (included with your Pro Tools soft-
ware 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.”
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.
Shortcuts show you useful keyboard or
mouse shortcuts.
Cross References point to related sections in
this guide and other Pro Tools guides.

Chapter 1: Welcome to Mbox 3
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 fol-
lowing are just a few of the services and features
available.
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 Compatibility documents for system re-
quirements; search the online Knowledge Base
or join the worldwide Pro Tools community on
the User Conference.
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, applications, and hardware.
News and Events Get the latest news from Avid
or sign up for a Pro Tools demo.

Mbox User Guide4

Chapter 2: Mbox Hardware Overview 5
chapter 2
Mbox Hardware Overview
Mbox Front Panel Features
Figure 1 identifies controls, indicators, and input and output ports on the front panel on the Mbox.
Instrument Inputs
Use these 1/4-inch TS inputs are for connecting
an electric guitar, bass, or other instrument-level
device. The level for these inputs is controlled
by the Gain Controls.
Front/Rear Source Selectors
These buttons select either the front panel In-
strument Inputs (TS) or rear panel Mic/Line In-
puts (XLR/TRS combo) for each channel. When
the button is set to the Out position, the front
panel Instrument Inputs are active. When the
button is set to the In position, the rear panel
Mic/Line Inputs are active.
Figure 1. Mbox front panel
48V
USB
Headphone
Headphone
Source
selector
LED
Input 1
Volume
Output
Monitor
Level
Dim
Gain/
Source
selector
Input 2
Sig/Clip
LED
Mono
Soft Limit
Soft Limit
Instrument
Instrument
Multi
-20dB
Sig/Clip
LED
Gain/
-20dB

Mbox User Guide6
Gain Controls/–20dB Pad
These knobs adjust the input gain levels of the
Mic/Line inputs. Turn the knob clockwise to in-
crease 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 engage a “pad” that attenuates the signal
by 20 dB.
Signal/Clip LEDs
These LEDs illuminate green in the presence of
audio signal, and illuminate red if the input sig-
nal has “clipped” (overloaded) the input of the
Mbox. Clipping the input can result in audible
distortion.
Soft-Limit Buttons
These buttons activate the Soft-Limit function,
applying a smooth, overdriven tape-type limit-
ing to strong input signals on the Instrument,
Mic, or Line inputs.
+48V Switch and LED (Phantom
Power)
The +48V switch toggles phantom power on/off
for all mic input channels. The LED, when lit,
indicates that 48V phantom power is active on
the XLR Mic inputs.
About Phantom Power
Dynamic microphones (such as Shure SM57s) do
not require phantom power to operate, but are
not harmed by it. Most condenser microphones
(like an M-Audio Solaris) do require phantom
power to operate.
If you are not sure about the phantom power re-
quirements for your microphone, consult your
microphone’s documentation or contact the
manufacturer.
Monitor Level
The Monitor Level knob adjusts the output level
of the Monitor Output ports.
Dim Button and LED
The Dim Button reduces by 30 dB the output
volume from both the Monitor Outputs and the
Headphone Output. When engaged, the Dim
LED lights.
Mono Button
The Mono Button sums the control room out-
puts to a mono signal (delivering that identical
signal to both speakers) via the Driver Control
Panel or the Mbox. When engaged, the Mono
LED lights.
Although phantom power can be used
safely with most microphones, it is possible
to damage some ribbon microphones with
it. Always turn off phantom power and wait
at least ten seconds before connecting or dis-
connecting a ribbon microphone.
When using phantom power, the Mbox
maximum current per microphone is 4 mA.

Chapter 2: Mbox Hardware Overview 7
Checking Phase Relationships
The Mono switch can also be used for a quick
check of the phase relationship between
Source 1 and Source 2 inputs.
Guitar Tuner Function
When the Dim Button and the Mono Button are
pushed at the same time, the Guitar Tuner func-
tion is activated. The Dim and Mono LEDs flash
between off and on to indicate tuner mode is ac-
tive. When a string is played on a guitar plugged
into an Instrument Input, the Input 1 Sig-
nal/Clip LED is illuminated red if tuning is too
low, off when tuning is too high, and green
when tuning is correct. The Input 2 Signal/Clip
LED is illuminated red if tuning is too high, off
when tuning is too low, and green when tuning
is correct. The Tuner interface is displayed in the
Software Control panel if the Software Control
Panel is open.
Front Panel Headphone Output
Use the Headphone Output to connect stereo
headphones with a 1/4-inch stereo connector.
The headphone outputs mirror the signal sent
to the Monitor Outputs.
Headphone Volume
The Headphone Volume knob adjusts the out-
put level of the Headphone port. This output is
independent of the Monitor Level knob.
Multi Button
(Pro Tools Only)
The Multi Button can be assigned to execute sev-
eral functions in Pro Tools, including Add Track,
Start/Stop Record, Tap Tempo, Toggle Marker
Locations, and Save Session. See Chapter 5, “Us-
ing the Multi Button (Pro Tools Only).”
USB LED
The USB LED indicates that the Mbox is receiv-
ing power from its USB connection. Once the
USB light is on, audio can pass in or out of the
system.
The USB LED is a power LED, which is also indi-
cates when the unit is powered in stand-alone
mode. In this mode you can connect a USB cable
but that cable is connected to a wall outlet in-
stead of a computer (similar to an iPod or
iPhone).

Mbox User Guide8
Mbox Back Panel Features
Figure 2 identifies each port on the back panel of the Mbox.
USB Port
This standard USB connector is used to connect
a USB 2.0 port on your computer to the Mbox.
One standard USB cable is included with your
system. (It is also used to power the unit in
stand-alone mode.)
In use, the S/PDIF input and output channels are
available in addition to the four channels of an-
alog audio I/O.
Mic/Line Inputs
Each analog source input channel provides
combination XLR/TRS on the rear panel. These
balanced/unbalanced analog audio inputs sup-
port the following input levels:
• Mic (microphone) for XLR inputs
• Line (TRS) for line level signals on TRS or TS
inputs
On the front panel, the input signal is adjusted
by the Gain control for each channel and the
source (rear panel Mic/Line, or front panel In-
strument) is chosen using the Source selectors.
Mic/Line Input 2 is at the far left (when looking
at the back panel), and Mic/Line Input 1 is to its
right. The back panel inputs for Mic/Line Input
1 and Mic/Line Input 2 are located such that
they are directly in line with their associated in-
put controls on the front panel. This lets you lo-
cate input jacks more easily when viewing from
the front of the unit.
Monitor Outputs
These outputs support balanced TRS, or unbal-
anced TS, 1/4-inch connections. To monitor
your mix, connect these outputs to a mixing
board, directly to a monitoring system such as a
stereo power amp, or another stereo destination.
Figure 2. Mbox back panel
USB port
S/PDIF Monitor
digital I/O outputs
MIDI I/O Mic/Line
inputs

Chapter 2: Mbox Hardware Overview 9
S/PDIF Digital I/O
The S/PDIF in and out ports are unbalanced two-
conductor phono (RCA) connectors that utilize
a full 24-bit, two-channel digital data stream.
The Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format
(S/PDIF) is used in many professional and con-
sumer CD recorders and DAT recorders. To
avoid RF interference, use 75-ohm coaxial cable
for S/PDIF transfers and keep the cable length to
a maximum of 10 meters.
MIDI I/O
The MIDI In and MIDI Out ports are standard
5-pin MIDI ports, each providing 16 channels of
MIDI input and output.

Mbox User Guide10

Chapter 3: Installing and Connecting Mbox 11
chapter 3
Installing and Connecting Mbox
To use Mbox with Pro Tools or any other Core-
Audio- or ASIO-compatible applications, you
must install the Mbox hardware drivers on your
computer.
This chapter provides instructions on installing
the drivers on Mac and Windows, and connect-
ing the Mbox to your computer.
To install the drivers and connect the Mbox:
1 Make sure you are logged in as an Administra-
tor for the account where you want to install the
drivers.
2 Do one of the following:
• Insert the Drivers Installer disc that came
with your Pro Tools software package into
your computer.
– or –
• Download the Mbox drivers installer for
your computer platform from
www.avid.com. After downloading, make
sure the installer is uncompressed (.dmg on
Mac or .ZIP on Windows).
3 Do one of the following:
• On Mac, locate and double-click
Avid Mbox.mpkg.
– or –
• On Windows, locate and double-click
Install Avid Mbox.exe.
4 Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed
with installation.
5 When installation is complete, click Restart.
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.

Mbox User Guide12
6 After the computer has restarted, connect the
small end of the included USB cable to the USB
port on Mbox and connect the other end to any
available USB port on your computer.
You can now use your Mbox with Pro Tools, or
with any other CoreAudio- or ASIO-compatible
application.
If the USB LED on the front panel of the
Mbox does not illuminate, try unplugging
the USB cable from the Mbox USB port, and
plugging it back in. If the USB LED still does
not illuminate, shut down the computer,
disconnect Mbox and start the computer.
Once the computer has fully restarted,
reconnect Mbox.
Mbox may not function properly if con-
nected to a USB hub. If you need to use a
hub for other USB peripherals, connect the
hub to a separate USB port; Mbox must be
connected to a dedicated port on the com-
puter in order to function properly.
For Pro Tools installation instructions, see
the Pro Tools Installation Guide.

Chapter 4: Making Studio Connections 13
chapter 4
Making Studio Connections
This chapter provides step-by-step instructions
for connecting mics, instruments, mixers,
headphones, speakers, and other devices to
Mbox.
Connecting Outputs
To hear audio from Mbox, you need to connect
headphones or an external sound system (such
as powered monitors or a home stereo) to Mbox.
Connecting Headphones
You can use headphones equipped with a 1/4-
inch stereo jack to monitor your audio.
The Headphone Output mirrors Monitor Out-
put channels 1–2.
To connect headphones:
1 Connect headphones with a 1/4-inch stereo
connector (or adapter) to the Headphone jack.
2 Adjust the volume using the Headphone Vol-
ume knob on the front panel.
The headphone outputs mirror the signal sent
to the Monitor Outputs.
Headphone jack on front of Mbox
1/4-inch
Headphone jack
Headphone level

Mbox User Guide14
Connecting a Sound System
The Monitor Outputs on the back of the Mbox
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 instrument cables.
To listen to your to audio, connect these outputs
to any amplification system: powered speakers,
a home stereo system, or an audio mixer.
To connect a sound system:
For stereo monitoring, connect Monitor Out-
puts 1 and 2 to the inputs of your main left and
right speakers.
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 chan-
nel of the stereo (often the red plug) to
Monitor Output 2.
Audio Inputs
Mbox provides two channels of analog inputs,
and supports microphones, guitars, keyboards,
and other types of instruments and devices.
Mbox has two audio input sections, labeled In-
put 1 and Input 2. For stereo inputs, use Input 1
for the left input, and Input 2 for the right in-
put.
The two input sections are located so that the
hardware input jacks line up directly behind
their corresponding input controls on the front
panel. This makes it easier to locate channel in-
put connections from the front.
For information about connecting specific au-
dio sources, see “Connecting a Microphone” on
page 15, and “Connecting Instruments to the
Mbox” on page 16.
Stereo output from the Mbox (back panel)
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 to the
RCA connectors on your home stereo.
Line Out Left
Line Out Right
Inputs on front panel of Mbox
Inputs on rear panel of Mbox
Input 1 Input 2
Input 2 and Input 1

Chapter 4: Making Studio Connections 15
Each Input section has three analog input jacks
(the Mic and Line are on a single, combo jack):
Mic For XLR microphone cables.
Line (TRS or TS) For 1/4-inch Tip-Ring-Sleeve or
Tip-Sleeve cables from keyboards, mixers, and
other line-level sources.
DI For 1/4-inch Tip-Sleeve cables from guitar,
bass, or similar sources.
Connecting a Microphone
Mic Cables and Connectors
Use a microphone with an XLR connector to
connect the microphone to the Mbox.
The Mbox can only supply power through a mi-
crophone cable with an XLR connector. If you
are not sure about the phantom power require-
ments for your microphone, refer to your micro-
phone’s documentation or contact the manu-
facturer.
Phantom Power
Some microphones require power to operate.
This power, called phantom power, is supplied ei-
ther by a battery in the microphone, or by a mic
preamp in a mixer or audio interface (such as
Mbox) that can supply power through the mi-
crophone cable.
Most condenser microphones (such as an
M-Audio Solaris) require phantom power to op-
erate. Dynamic microphones (such as a Shure
SM57) do not require phantom power to oper-
ate, but are not harmed by it.
Front panel analog input connectors
Rear panel analog input connectors
DI (instrument) DI (instrument)
Mic/Line Mic/Line
XLR connector
Although phantom power can be used
safely with most microphones, it is possible
to damage some ribbon microphones with
it. Always turn off phantom power and wait
at least ten seconds before connecting a rib-
bon microphone.

Mbox User Guide16
Using a Mic with an XLR Connector
To use a microphone that has an XLR connector:
1 Plug your microphone cable into one of the
Mic/Line inputs on the back of Mbox.
2 Set the Source to Rear (“in” position) by press-
ing the Source selector on the front of Mbox.
3 If your microphone requires phantom power,
make sure the microphone is connected, then
press the Phantom Power switch (labeled 48V)
on the front of the Mbox. This switch sends 48V
to both mic inputs. The 48V LED on the front of
the Mbox lights when phantom power is being
supplied.
4 On the front of the Mbox, carefully turn the
Gain control to the right to increase the input
level of your microphone signal.
5 If the incoming signal is too loud, pull the
Gain knob out to engage the –20 dB pad.
Connecting Instruments to
the Mbox
Mbox provides two input types (DI and Line) for
instruments.
DI Input Use the DI (“Direct Inject”) input for
electric guitars or electric basses.
Line Input Use the Line input for line-level de-
vices, including electronic audio sources such as
mixers, samplers, keyboards, and synthesizers.
XLR connector plugged into Input 1
Input 1 Source selector
Phantom Power switch
Input 2 Input 1
Mic input Mic input
Source selector
Phantom Power switch
Gain knob for Input 1
Gain