Digidesign has gradually helped Pro Tools users unchain themselves from the bulky interfaces the software once required. (Anyone remember the days of hooking up an entire expansion card chassis to a laptop, back in the day? Yipes!) But until recently, you still needed an Mbox to lug along. The Mbox2 Micro has a novel twist: it packs an audio interface into an anodized aluminum USB key. You get just one audio output: an 1/8″ stereo output jack, upgrading your laptop’s headphone out jack to 24-bit, 48KHz monitoring. But that also means the Micro is all you need to carry to run Pro Tools. (In other words, it’s a dongle with a headphone jack.)

The “Mbox dilemma” continues: for new users, the Micro is a great bargain. You get Pro Tools LE, 45 plug-ins (Bomb Factory + DigiRack), and Xpand playback and synthesis, for US$279. Or, anyway, it’s a good deal if you’re not planning to record … this is an output-only interface, with no input. (It’s well worth considering Pro Tools M-Powered for use with M-Audio interfaces or the rest of the MBox line for mobile recording.) But for existing users — the ones who, according to the press release, are “seeking a greater degree of portability when using Pro Tools on the road” — you’ve got to spend $279 for what amounts to an extra dongle. Bummer. So, I’ll say again: Digidesign, why not give your existing LE (or Pro Tools HD users) an option to buy this thing for $49 or something? (I’m guessing the answer to “why not” is because it’d allow people to easily pirate Pro Tools LE, but that’s going to be little comfort to users who have invested in Digidesign’s stuff.) By comparison, Apple’s Logic Pro is $500 and doesn’t require any USB dongle at all; their entry-level $200 Logic Express includes far more built-in plug-ins. There are similar deals from Cakewalk’s SONAR on Windows, which also requires just serial numbers, not specialized hardware. Both of these will work with your existing headphone out jack or other mobile interfaces.

At the same time, I think the idea of a USB key that gives you higher-quality monitoring is a terrific idea, and I’d love to see ASIO/Core Audio-compatible alternatives. And on the Digidesign front, if you’re looking for an affordable mobile Pro Tools companion, the Micro looks promising, for those who don’t yet own LE.

Digidesign Mbox2 Micro

Digidesign has taken a minimalist approach to their latest audio interface, the USB-powered Mbox 2 Mini. The new hardware gives the mobile Pro Tools LE user the basics for on-the-go use, and nothing more:

1. One mic input (on a dedicated XLR, though only 2 inputs max can be used at once)
2. 48V phantom power
3. Two 1/4″ unbalanced ine-/instrument-level analog ins


4. Two 1/4″ unbalanced analog outs
5. 24-bit, 44.1k/48k operation
6. 5 x 6 x 1.75″, 1.12 lbs

Mbox 2 Mini [Digidesign Product Page]

The ultra-compact size, I’ll bet, will earn some fans, especially since Pro Tools won’t function without a connected Digidesign audio interface (or M-Audio interface for M-Powered). US$329 would actually be a really high price for this interface, but as with the other Mbox models, what you’re really buying here is Pro Tools LE. The Mbox 2 Mini doesn’t “mini-size” the software bundle, either: Pro Tools LE 7, the XPand! instrument, Bomb Factory plug-ins, and the usual extras are included. For a beginning Pro Tools user who only needs to plug in a single mic and doesn’t need a MIDI interface, this should be a good bargain.

That said, I’ll bet some Pro Tools users who would like to travel light will be a little disappointed, because there’s no unbundled version; why not offer a US$99 interface to existing Pro Tools LE users? LE users are forced to either (effectively) repurchase the software every time they want a new interface, or pay all over again for Pro Tools M-Powered and buy an M-Audio interface.

[tags]hardware, Digidesign, Pro-Tools, audio-interfaces, Windows, Mac[/tags]

Adding to the flood of new computer audio interfaces this summer is the Mbox 2 Pro from Digidesign, filling a gap left long ago by the old Digi 001. If you need some extra channels for Pro Tools LE and the M-Audio interfaces leave you cold, this could be a good choice, though I’d take a good look at the 002 first if you have the space. But other than Pro Tools, I can’t see a whole lot on this interface that can compete with similar interfaces in the same class. Interfaces from a number of competitors match the Mbox 2 Pro spec for spec but with additional inputs and outputs and more features.

The Mbox 2 Pro boils down to:

1. Pro Tools LE with the new “ignition pack” bundle


2. FireWire bus-powered (power adapter also included
3. 24-bit/96 Khz audio over 4 inputs (2 combo jacks, 2 TRS) and 6 outputs
4. S/PDIF audio I/O, phono preamp and RCA connection for turntables
5. 1×1 MIDI interface with MIDI time stamping
6. Dedicated stereo monitor outputs, 2 headphone jacks with independent volume
7. BNC word clock I/O
8. US$799/899 list, with or without Factory bundle (extra plug-ins and such)

Basically, this is an interface for Pro Tools lovers, although even they might take a look at alternatives from Digidesign and M-Audio, depending on needs. For everyone else, I’d pass on this one, because their are too many other options.

Here’s an example: with a street price around US$599, you can get the MOTU UltraLite, with 8 ins and 8 outs to the 4×6 configuration on the Mbox, onboard meters, and a dedicated headphone jack. For a little more volume and slightly higher price (just above the Mbox 2 Pro), MOTU’s
MOTU Traveler gives you four mic preamps instead of two, 192 KHz instead of 96 KHz (not that you’ll probably need either in most cases), a standalone mixer mode, truly independent mixing for monitors and headphones (a key feature the Mbox seems to lack), ADAT support, AES/EBU support, SMPTE timing support, and onboard meters. A lot of those are important “pro” features that are missing on the Mbox 2 Pro.

Again, if it’s Pro Tools you want, the Mbox 2 Pro could be a good deal. But I’m surprised so many people jump for Digidesign because of the brand name and ignore equally “professional” options that might fit their needs better. I think it’s worth shelling out a few hundred dollars on software if it means choosing the software that’s best for you, and I know for me it’s definitely not Pro Tools.

Not knocking you, Digidesign, but I have to point it out, because I know everyone else on the Web will just be copying and pasting your press release, and these kind of comparisons usually aren’t the thing we can even bring up in a review.

My dream bundle, in the place of this: Ableton Live 6 and the Focusrite Saffire. But more on that soon …

If you have questions about audio interfaces — and it is a personal decision more than anything, certainly more than “this interface is superior” — check out our forums. Right now we have a number of discussions of interfaces on the hardware forum:

Create Digital Music Hardware Forum

… and a number of us will be happy to give advice. And it’s possible the Mbox 2 Pro will be your best answer; I’m not ruling it out. See you on the forums.

Digidesign has unveiled the sequel to what has been its most popular interface:

Mbox 2 [Digidesign]

What’s new: In brief, same basic I/O plus new MIDI in and out, slick, new case, and huge software bundle. Still only two simultaneous ins, though, not including the digital ins. More after the jump.

The Mbox 2′s most noticeable feature is the new case, with a clever handle that doubles as a stand. As a handle, doesn’t seem terribly useful, unless you lack opposable thumbs or lost all your fingers in a guitar-playing accident, but it does look nice. (I can’t tell if it folds away for travel.) Aesthetics overall are greatly improved; it had been part of the popularity of the original Mbox, and Mbox 2 looks smarter and more practical. And, finally, you can lie the Mbox on its side.

Other than looks, the major change in Mbox 2 is the addition of MIDI in and out (finally), something many of Mbox’s cheaper rivals have standard. Sure, there are lots of USB devices out there — but I bet you have something in your studio that doesn’t have MIDI.

Also impressive is the software bundle, which includes Pro Tools LE, lots of plugins, and limited copies of Live, Reason, the BFD drum library, soft synths and effects, and other extras. Just keep in mind that, other than Pro Tools LE and some very nice Digidesign plugins, most of what you’re getting isn’t full versions.

Price:List US$495. Spend another US$100 for Mbox 2 Factory (you’ll want to) and you get Maxim (the maximizer effect, not the lousy men’s magazine), moogerfooger Analog Delay, JOEMEEK Compressor and Meequalizer, and Cosmonaut Voice. Yeah, I’ll take the Super Size model, please.

2 ins only: Despite the fact that the press release claims “4 simultaneous inputs,” that’s assuming two of the inputs are S/PDIF digital. If you’re looking for four simultaneous mic ins at once, the Mbox isn’t what you’re looking for. Also, there’s no indication that Digidesign has updated its driver support, which on the Mac requires the use of a separate application for use with Core Audio drivers. Neither of these is a deal-killer if you’re just tracking a line or two of vocals into your laptop and you spend all of your time in Pro Tools, but as always, one size won’t fit all.

Bottom line: this interface certainly wins out on aesthetics of the small interfaces, and it’s a no-brainer for Pro Tools lovers. But, as with previous Mbox models, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere if you’re not a Pro Tools fan — non-Pro Tools driver support is still better on non-Digidesign interfaces (including M-Audio’s).

Want more inputs? There are plenty of interfaces that do support multiple ins.