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View Full Version : mixer for mbox sound card, ibook setup?

apoczen211
09-25-2006, 09:51 PM
I am attending SAE Miami in a week and with the tuition I get an apple i book and mbox sound card with as well as programs like protools and some editing software. My question is would there be any point in getting a mixer being I would be recornding my band to help with my projects and learing? Is a mixer necessary with the hardware that i will have. If so what kind would anyone suggest and why. Thanx to all who can help me with this.
Audiodude
09-26-2006, 06:38 AM
You don't need a mixer. That is to say, the MBox works just fine without it. However, some people still front-end the MBox with an analog mixer. This gives you the ability to plug in the whole band at once, but the limitations of the MBox remain the same - you can only record two analog inputs at once.

There is no way to multi-track a whole band at once using just an MBox. To do that with Pro Tools, you need to upgrade to the Digi002 or the Digi002 Rack. The good news there is that you can exchange your MBox for a hefty discount on the Digi002.
apoczen211
09-26-2006, 12:04 PM
thanx for the help. I can see how that makes sense now, since the sound card can only read 2 channels on the mbox, where as the digi002 is a sound card that can read 8. What about one of the firewire kinds than? (mixers, alesis has one) Is it the same problem as any other mixer. I only ask this because i have to keep the mbox because its what the school gives us to learn, I really dont want to have to keep on playing a song over and over again with other instruments plugged in just to record that one song. If there is anyway I can do this without having to buy a new sound card please let me know. thanx
Audiodude
09-26-2006, 01:56 PM
Pro Tools LE will not work with any audio interfaces (USB, Firewire, or other) except for those I named in the last post. USB or Firewire-enabled mixers from Alesis, Mackie, Phonic, and others won't work with the Pro Tools software. They will work with others, like Logic, Digital Performer, and Cubase.
apoczen211
09-26-2006, 03:34 PM
Ah I see.. Thanks for the help, it saved me a lot of time and money.