DigiDesign Mbox 2 Academic User manual

Getting Started
Mbo x
®
2 A cademic
Version7.3
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Copyright
© 2007 Digidesign, a division of Avid Technology, Inc. All rights
reserved. This guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part
without the express written consent of Digidesign.
Avid, Digidesign, Mbox , and Pro Tools are either trademarks
or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the US and
other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the
property of their respective owners.
Product features, specifications, system requirements, and
availability are subject to change without notice.
PN 9320-55502-00 REV A 1/07
Communications and Safety Regulation Information
Compliance Statement
This model Digidesign Mbox 2 Academic complies with the
following standards regulating interference and EMC:
• FCC Part 15 Class B
• EN 55022
• EN 55204
• AS/NZS 3548 Class B
• CISPR 22 Class B
Radio and Television Interference
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the
FCC Rules.
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference
to radio or television reception, which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try
and correct the interference by one or more of the following
measures:
• Reorient or locate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and
receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different
from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician
for help.
Any modifications to the unit, unless expressly approved by
Digidesign, could void the user's authority to operate the
equipment.
Canadian ComplianceStatement:
This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-
003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme
NMB-003 du Canada.
Australian Compliance
European Compliance
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15
of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and
can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
Mbox 2
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
We Digidesign,
2001 Junipero Serra Boulevard, Suite 200
Daly City, CA 94014 USA
tel: [phone]
declare under our sole responsibility that the product
Mbox 2 Academic
complies with Part 15 of FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this
device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device
must accept any interference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
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Contents 3
Chapter 1. Installation QuickStart ................................................................................................... 1
Windows Installation Overview ............................................................................................................ 1
Mac Installation Overview .................................................................................................................... 1
Chapter 2. Welcome to Mbox 2 Academic ................................................................................. 3
Mbox 2 Academic Package.................................................................................................................... 3
Mbox 2 Academic Features ................................................................................................................... 3
Pro Tools Academic Capabilities ...................................................................................................................4
How Pro Tools Academic Differs from Pro Tools LE or M-Powered .........................................................4
System Requirements ........................................................................................................................... 5
Digidesign Registration ......................................................................................................................... 6
About the Pro Tools Guides.................................................................................................................... 6
About www.digidesign.com .................................................................................................................. 7
Chapter 3. Windows Configuration ........................................................................................................ 9
Installation Overview ............................................................................................................................. 9
Windows System Optimization ............................................................................................................ 9
Installing Pro Tools Academic and Connecting Mbox 2 Academic ........................................................12
Launching Pro Tools Academic ....................................................................................................................14
Configuring Pro Tools Academic ..................................................................................................................14
Additional Software on the Pro Tools Installer Disc........................................................................... 18
Removing Pro Tools Academic ....................................................................................................................19
contents
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4 Mbox 2 Academic Getting Star ted Guide
Chapter 4. Mac Configuration ..................................................................................................................21
Installation Overview ............................................................................................................................21
Mac System Optimization ...................................................................................................................21
Installing Pro Tools Academic .....................................................................................................................23
Connecting Mbox 2 Academic to the Computer................................................................................. 23
Launching Pro Tools Academic ...................................................................................................................24
Additional Software on the Pro Tools Installer Disc .................................................................................24
Configuring Pro Tools Academic .......................................................................................................... 25
Removing Pro Tools .............................................................................................................................29
Chapter 5. Mbox 2 Academic Hardware Overview ............................................................... 31
Mbox 2 Academic Front Panel Features ............................................................................................. 31
Mbox 2 Academic Back Panel Features ....................................................................................................34
Chapter 6. Making Hardware Connections .............................................................................. 37
Connecting Headphones .....................................................................................................................37
Connecting a Sound System ................................................................................................................ 37
Connecting a Recorder for Mixdowns .........................................................................................................38
Connecting Audio Inputs .....................................................................................................................38
Connecting a Microphone ....................................................................................................................39
Connecting Instruments to the Mbox 2 Academic ............................................................................. 41
MIDI Connections .................................................................................................................................44
Chapter 7. Common Tasks with Pro Tools Academic .......................................................... 45
Recording a Pro Tools Session ....................................................................................................................45
Importing Audio from a CD ..........................................................................................................................47
Creating an Audio CD from a Pro Tools Session ................................................................................ 48
Recording MIDI in a Pro Tools Session................................................................................................ 50
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Contents 5
Chapter 8. Time Code and Synchronization Features .................................................................. 55
Timebase Rulers .................................................................................................................................. 55
Selecting Time Code Rate.................................................................................................................... 56
Selecting Feet+Frame Rate ................................................................................................................ 56
Redefining Time Code Position............................................................................................................ 56
Redefining Current Feet+Frames Position .................................................................................................57
Use Subframes Option ......................................................................................................................... 57
Half-Frame Grid/Nudge Capability .................................................................................................... 57
Pull Up and Pull Down Commands .............................................................................................................58
Import Session Data Enhancements................................................................................................... 59
Chapter 9. Post Production Features .......................................................................................... 61
Export of AAF Sequences at HD Frame Rates ..........................................................................................61
Expanding Alternate Channels to New Tracks ..........................................................................................62
Selecting an Alternate Channel for a Specific Region .............................................................................63
Multiple QuickTime Movies on Individual Video Tracks..................................................................... 63
Multiple Video Tracks in the Timeline ........................................................................................................63
Multiple Video Track Playlists ......................................................................................................................64
Dragging Video Files from the Region List to the Timeline ....................................................................64
Video Import Options Dialog Additions ............................................................................................... 64
General Video Editing .......................................................................................................................... 65
Renaming Video Disk Files ...........................................................................................................................67
Video Region Groups ........................................................................................................................... 67
Video Window Right-Click Commands .......................................................................................................67
Appendix A. Configuring MIDI Studio Setup (Windows Only) ................................................ 69
MIDI Studio Setup ................................................................................................................................ 69
MIDI Patch Name Support ............................................................................................................................71
Appendix B. Configuring AMS (Mac OS X Only) ............................................................................. 73
Audio MIDI Setup ................................................................................................................................. 73
MIDI Patch Name Support ............................................................................................................................76
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6 Mbox 2 Academic Getting Star ted Guide
Appendix C. Hard Drive Configuration and Maintenance ..........................................................77
Avoid Recording to the System Drive .........................................................................................................77
Supported Drive Formats and Drive Types.......................................................................................... 77
Formatting an Audio Drive ...........................................................................................................................78
Partitioning Drives ...............................................................................................................................80
Defragmenting an Audio Drive ....................................................................................................................81
Hard Disk Storage Space ..............................................................................................................................82
Appendix D. Troubleshooting .................................................................................................................. 83
Backing Up Your Work ..................................................................................................................................83
Common Issues ....................................................................................................................................83
Performance Factors ...........................................................................................................................84
Before You Call Digidesign Technical Support ..........................................................................................85
Index ........................................................................................................................................................... 87
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Chapter 1: Installation QuickStar t 1
Installation QuickStart
Windows Installation
Overview
(Windows Systems Only)
Installing the Mbox 2 Academic on a Windows
computer includes the following steps:
1 “Windows System Optimization” on page 9.
2 “Installing Pro Tools Academic and Connect-
ing Mbox 2 Academic” on page 12.
3 “Launching Pro Tools Academic” on page 14.
4 “Configuring Pro Tools Academic” on
page 14.
5 Making audio and MIDI connections to the
Mbox 2 Academic. (See Chapter 6, “Making
Hardware Connections” for details.)
Mac Installation Overview
(Mac OS X Systems Only)
Installation of the Mbox 2 Academic on a Mac
includes the following steps:
1 “Mac System Optimization” on page 21.
2 “Installing Pro Tools Academic” on page 23.
3 “Connecting Mbox 2 Academic to the Com-
puter” on page 23.
4 “Launching Pro Tools Academic” on page 24.
5 “Configuring Pro Tools Academic” on
page 25.
6 Making audio connections to the Mbox 2 Ac-
ademic. (See Chapter 6, “Making Hardware
Connections” for details.)
chapter 1
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2 Mbox 2 Academic Getting Star ted Guide
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Chapter 2: W elcome to Mbox 2 Academic 3
Welcome to Mbox 2 Academic
Welcome to the Mbox® 2 Academic audio/MIDI
production system from Digidesign®.
Mbox 2 Academic provides your USB-equipped
computer with two channels of analog audioin-
put and output, two channels of digital audio
input and output, MIDI In and Out ports, ana-
log monitor outs, and a headphone output with
front panel level control. Mbox 2 Academic pro-
vides professional-quality mic preamps and 24-
bit analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog con-
verters.
Mbox 2 Academic Package
The Mbox 2 Academic package includes the fol-
lowing:
• Mbox 2 Academic desktop audio interface
• Pro Tools Installer disc containing
Pro Tools Academic™ software, DigiRack
RTAS (Real-Time AudioSuite) and AudioSuite
plug-ins, optional software, and electronic
PDF guides
• This Getting Started Guide ,covering installa-
tion, configuration, and common tasks for
your Pro Tools system.
• USB connector cable
• Digidesign Registration Information Card
Mbox 2 Academic Features
The Mbox 2 Academic interface provides the
following:
• Two channels of analog audio input with mi-
crophone preamps and switchable 48V phan-
tom power
• Analog input jacks include one XLR and
two1/4-inchconnectors(oneTRS,oneTS),
with switchable Mic, Line, and DI levels
• –20 dB pad available separately on each an-
alog input channel
• Two channels of S/PDIF digital input and out-
put
• S/PDIF inputsare available independently,
in addition to analog inputs 1–2
• S/PDIF outputs mirror analog outs 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 MIDI input channels and 16 MIDI out-
put channels
• Two 1/4-inch TRS analog monitor outputs
• 24-bit A/D and D/A converters, supporting
sample rates of 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz
• Zero-latency analog record monitoring with
adjustable balance between input and play-
back
chapter 2
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4 Mbox 2 Academic Getting Star ted Guide
• Mono switch for enhanced monitoring of sin-
gle-channel input sources (does not affectre-
cording)
• 1/4-inch ( TRS ) stereo headphone output with
adjustable level control
• USB-powered operation
Mbox 2 Academic will not function properly
if connected to a passive USB hub. If you
need to use a hub for other USB peripherals,
use a powered hub or a separate dedicated
USB port for Mbox 2 Academic to function
properly.
• Support for Pro Tools Academic software or
Pro Tools LE software (purchased separately)
Pro Tools Academic
Capabilities
Pro Tools Academic software provides the fol-
lowing capabilities with Mbox 2 Academic:
• Playback of up to 32 mono digital audio
tracks, and of playback up to 28 tracks
while recording up to 4 tracks, depending
on your computer’s capabilities
• Up to 128 audio tracks (with 32 voiceable
tracks maximum), 64 video tracks,
128 Auxiliary Inputtracks,64MasterFader
tracks, 256 MIDI tracks, and 32 Instrument
tracks per session
• 16-bit or 24-bit audio resolution, at sample
rates up to 48 kHz
• Non-destructive,random-accessediting
and mix automation
• Audio processing with up to 5 RTAS plug-
ins per track, depending on your com-
puter’s capabilities
• Up to 5 inserts per track
• Up to 10 sends per track
• Up to 32 internal mix busses
Pro Tools Academic uses your computer’s
CPU to mix and process audio tracks (host
processing). Computers with faster clock
speeds yield higher track counts and more
plug-in processing.
How Pro Tools Academic
Differs from Pro Tools LE or
M-Powered
Additional Features
Pro Tools Academic includes the following addi-
tional features, which are not included with
standard Pro Tools LE or M-Powered:
Time Code and Synchronization Features
• Time Code Timebase ruler
• Feet+Frame Timebase ruler
• Time Code Rate selector
• Feet+Frame Rate selector
• Redefine Current Time Code Position
• Redefine Current Feet+Frames Position
• Use Subframes option
• Half-Frame Grid/Nudge Capability
• Audio and Video Pull Up and Pull Down
commands
• Time Code Mapping options
Post ProductionFeatures
• Export of AAF and OMF sequences
• Expand to New Tracks command, for ex-
panding alternate channels to new tracks
when working with files from digital field
recorders
• Ability to select alternate channels when
working with files from digital field record-
ers
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