DigiDesign Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Manual
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DigiDesign Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Manual

DigiDesign Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Manual

Version 7.4
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Getting Started

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Version 7.4

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Summary of Contents for DigiDesign Mbox 2 Micro

  • Page 1: Getting Started

    Getting Started Mbox 2 Micro ® Version 7.4...
  • Page 3 Legal Notices Communications and Safety Regulation Information Compliance Statement This model Digidesign Mbox 2 Micro complies with the following This guide is copyrighted ©2008 by Digidesign, a division of Avid standards regulating interference and EMC: Technology, Inc. (hereafter “Digidesign”), with all rights reserved. Under •...
  • Page 4 European Compliance to which the receiver is connected. • Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Mbox 2 Micro Any modifications to the unit, unless expressly approved by Digidesign, could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Connecting Mbox 2 Micro and Installing Pro Tools LE ....... .
  • Page 6 Mbox 2 Micro Hardware Features ........
  • Page 7 Before You Call Digidesign Technical Support........
  • Page 8 Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 9: Chapter 1. Installation Quickstart

    (Windows Systems Only) (Mac OS X Systems Only) Installing the Mbox 2 Micro on a Windows computer Installation of the Mbox 2 Micro on a Mac includes the includes the following steps: following steps: “Connecting Mbox 2 Micro and Installing “Installing Pro Tools LE”...
  • Page 10 Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 11: Chapter 2. Welcome To Mbox 2 Micro

    Mbox 2 Micro may not function properly if con- • Mbox 2 Micro USB audio interface (output only) nected to a USB hub. Connect Mbox 2 Micro to a • Short USB extension cable separate, dedicated USB port on your computer.

  • Page 12: Pro Tools Le Capabilities

    Pro Tools LE Capabilities System Requirements Pro Tools LE on Windows or Mac provides the follow- Mbox 2 Micro can be used with a Digidesign-qualified ing capabilities with Mbox 2 Micro: Windows or Mac computer running Pro Tools LE soft- ware.

  • Page 13: Digidesign Registration

    Pro Tools LE software, make basic connections to your lower track counts and fewer plug-ins. Mbox 2 Micro interface (to get sound in and out of your interface), and do common tasks (such as recording in Digidesign does not recommend recording to the Pro Tools).

  • Page 14: Conventions Used In This Guide

    • DigiRack Plug-ins Guide explains how to use the RTAS the N key and AudioSuite plug-ins included with Pro Tools. Control-click Hold down the Control key and click • Digidesign Plug-ins Guide explains how to use optional the mouse button Digidesign plug-ins. Right-click Click with the right mouse button •...

  • Page 15: About Www.digidesign.com

    Devel- opment Partners and their plug-ins, applications, and hardware. News and Events Get the latest news from Digidesign; sign up for a Pro Tools demo. To learn more about these and other resources available from Digidesign, visit the Digidesign website (www.digidesign.com).
  • Page 16 Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 17: Chapter 3. Windows Configuration

    Installation Overview Micro. Installing the Mbox 2 Micro on a Windows computer Insert the USB connector of the Mbox 2 Micro into includes the following steps: any available USB port on your computer. Wait for the Found New Hardware Wizard dialog to appear and leave “Connecting Mbox 2 Micro and Installing...
  • Page 18 The Pro Tools Installer disc includes additional software for your system. For more information, If the USB LED on the Mbox 2 Micro does not il- see “Additional Software on the Pro Tools In- luminate after installation, or it is blinking, try staller Disc”...

  • Page 19: Launching Pro Tools Le

    Apple website (www.ap- To authorize Pro Tools LE software: ple.com). Make sure Mbox 2 Micro is connected to your com- For information on which version of QuickTime puter and powered on. is compatible with your version of Pro Tools,...
  • Page 20 Use the standalone version of the Digidesign Windows Audio Drivers installer (Digidesign Audio Mbox 2 Micro provides no external input; it is Drivers Setup.exe), which is available on the Pro Tools an output only device. Consequently, you can- Installer disc.
  • Page 21 To install the demo session: Pro Tools Session Templates Insert the Pro Tools LE Installer disc into your DVD The Pro Tools LE Installer disc includes factory session drive. templates that are pre-configured to common track and From your DVD drive, locate and open the Additional mixer setups.

  • Page 22: Uninstalling Pro Tools

    To remove Pro Tools from your computer (Windows XP): Choose Start > Control Panel. Double-click Add or Remove Programs. From the Currently Installed Programs list, select Digidesign Pro Tools. Click the Remove button. Follow the on-screen instructions to remove Pro Tools. Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 23: Chapter 4. Mac Configuration

    Apple Mac OS X documentation. Installation Overview Insert the Pro Tools LE Installer disc in your CD/DVD Installation of the Mbox 2 Micro on a Mac includes the drive. following steps: On the Installer disc, locate and double-click “Install “Installing Pro Tools LE”...

  • Page 24: Connecting Mbox 2 Micro To The Computer

    USB port. Click Install. If prompted, enter your Administrator password and If the USB LED on the Mbox 2 Micro does not il- click OK to authenticate the installation. luminate after installation, or it is blinking, try unplugging it from your computer and plugging Follow the remaining on-screen instructions.

  • Page 25: Launching Pro Tools Le

    To authorize Pro Tools LE software: Mbox 2 Micro provides no external input; it is Make sure Mbox 2 Micro is connected to your com- an output only device. Consequently, you can- not record an external source with the Mbox 2 puter and powered on.
  • Page 26 Next to begin the install. When installation is complete, click Close. The demo session can be opened by double- clicking the Filtered Dream.ptf file (located in the Filtered Dream Demo Session folder). Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 27: Uninstalling Pro Tools

    Safe Uninstall Leaves certain plug-ins and system files needed for compatibility with some Avid products. Clean Uninstall Removes all Pro Tools files, including system files, Digidesign plug-ins, and MIDI patch names. Click Uninstall. Enter your Administrator password and click OK.
  • Page 28 Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 29: Chapter 5. Configuring Your Pro Tools System

    Launch Pro Tools or any third-party audio or MIDI and recording. applications. Mbox 2 Micro provides no external input; it is an output only device. Consequently, you can- not record an external source with the Mbox 2 Micro.
  • Page 30 RTAS processing and other Pro Tools tasks are carried out by the system. For example: Note that you can still bus record in Pro Tools LE even though Mbox 2 Micro provides no exter- • For sessions with large numbers of RTAS plug-ins, you nal input.
  • Page 31 To set the number of RTAS Processors: The maximum available CPU Usage Limit depends on the number of processors in your computer and on the Choose Setup > Playback Engine. number of processors you specify for RTAS processing. From the RTAS Processors pop-up menu, select the This value can range from 85 percent for single-proces- number of available processors you want to allocate for sor computers to 99 percent for multi-processor com-...
  • Page 32 Memory requirements for each setting are shown at the bottom of the Playback Engine dialog. Click OK. If Pro Tools needs more system memory for the DAE Playback Buffer, it will prompt you to restart your com- puter. Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...
  • Page 33 Cache Size To minimize system memory allocation: Choose Setup > Playback Engine. The Cache Size determines the amount of memory DAE allocates to pre-buffer audio for playback and looping Select the “Minimize System Memory Allocation” option. when using Elastic Audio. Click OK.
  • Page 34 The I/O Setup dialog provides a graphical representation of the out- puts and signal routing of the Mbox 2 Micro. Mbox 2 Micro provides no external input; it is an output only device.

  • Page 35: Optimizing A Windows System For Pro Tools

    Norton Ghost. By doing this, you can quickly restore your system configuration and set- Since Mbox 2 Micro provides no external input, tings if you encounter any problems. there are no Input or Insert options in the I/O Setup dialog.
  • Page 36 Deselect “Use the following method to smooth edges of vent long record or playback passes from stopping due screen fonts.” to system resources powering down. Click OK to save your settings and close the Effects di- alog. Click OK. Restart the computer. Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...
  • Page 37 Recommended Optimizations To disable a network card: Right-click My Computer and choose Manage. Pro Tools can also be affected by other software and hardware drivers installed on your computer. It is rec- Under System Tools, select Device Manager. ommended (but not required) that you do the follow- In the Device Manager window, double-click Network ing: adapters, then double-click the Network Adapter card...

  • Page 38: Optimizing A Mac System For Pro Tools

    Software Update. not changed, run “msconfig” and return your computer Click the Update Software tab and deselect Check for Selective Startup back to Normal Startup. Alternatively, Updates. try disabling Startup items and non-essential processes individually. Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...
  • Page 39 Turning Off Energy Saver Disabling the Spotlight Shortcuts The Mac OS X Spotlight feature uses the same key com- To turn off the Energy Saver feature: mands Pro Tools uses to start recording (Com- Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu and mand+Spacebar), and to record online (Command+Op- click Energy Saver.
  • Page 40 Pro Tools on the Mac, enable jour- naling. To enable journaling: Launch the Disk Utility application, located in Applica- tions/Utilities. Select the volume in the left column of the Disk Util- ity window. Click Enable Journaling in the toolbar. Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 41: Chapter 6. Mbox 2 Micro Hardware Overview

    USB LED appropriate cable and adapters. The USB LED indicates that the Mbox 2 Micro has re- Lanyard Hole ceived power from its USB connection. Once the USB...

  • Page 42: Making Hardware Connections

    1/8-inch TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) Connecting Headphones Output connector used by the Mbox 2 Micro to the On the panel of the Mbox 2 Micro is an 1/8-inch jack to RCA connectors on your home stereo. connect headphones. Use the Output Level control to adjust the output vol- ume.

  • Page 43: Chapter 7. Common Tasks With Pro Tools Le

    Guide by choosing it from the Pro Tools Help menu. Creating a Pro Tools Session You can use the Mbox 2 Micro to create new Pro Tools sessions or open and play back existing Pro Tools ses- sions. With Mbox 2 Micro, you can import audio and MIDI for play back, and also play back virtual instru- ments (such as Digidesign’s own Xpand! instrument...

  • Page 44: Opening And Playing Back A Pro Tools Session

    Click Play in the Transport window or press the Spa- cebar to start playback. Adjust the Mbox 2 Micro’s Output Level control to the appropriate level. Auditioning an audio file in the Workspace browser Click Stop in the Transport window or press the Spa- cebar to stop playback.

  • Page 45: Creating An Audio Cd From A Pro Tools Session

    Drag the audio file from the Workspace browser to the Creating an Audio CD from a Track List in the Edit window to import the file to a new Pro Tools Session audio track. Pro Tools does not create audio CDs directly, but you can create stereo audio files from your Pro Tools ses- sions that can be used by most CD burning software.
  • Page 46 Figure 2. Session audio selected and ready to bounce Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...
  • Page 47 To bounce audio to disk: If you are changing the sample rate of the bounced file, select a Conversion Quality setting. (For details, see After you have finished editing and mixing a session the Pro Tools Reference Guide.) in Pro Tools, select the length of the session in the Timeline (or on a track), plus an additional amount of Select “Convert after Bounce,”...
  • Page 48 CD. Quit Pro Tools and launch any common CD burning application to burn your bounced mix to CD. Make certain that you configure your CD burning application to create an audio CD rather than a data CD. Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 49: Recording Midi In A Pro Tools Session

    MIDI Input Enable MIDI interface. window, and click OK. Since the Mbox 2 Micro provides no MIDI ports, Choose Track > New and specify 1 Mono Instrument you will need a separate MIDI interface to use Track, then click Create.
  • Page 50 MIDI Output selector (at the top of the In- strument track) and assign the device and channel to receive the MIDI output (the choices will vary depending on the device). With the Mbox 2 Micro, Track Record Enable button you will need to monitor your MIDI devices audio using its own headphone output or using an exter- nal amp or mixer.
  • Page 51 The recorded MIDI data plays back through the track’s assigned instrument and channel. Adjusting the Volume fader on an Instrument track With Mbox 2 Micro, you can bus record the audio output from instrument plug-ins to audio tracks. To record MIDI on the Instrument track:...
  • Page 52 Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 53: Appendix A. Configuring Midi Studio Setup (Windows Only)

    appendix a Configuring MIDI Studio Setup (Windows Only) MIDI Studio Setup Window MIDI Studio Setup The MIDI Studio Setup window is organized into three MIDI Studio Setup (MSS) lets you configure the MIDI sections. Interface controls are at the top of the window. controllers and sound modules that are connected to All the currently defined instruments are displayed in your system, and control the routing of MIDI data be-...
  • Page 54 MIDI interface that is connected to the MIDI In of your instrument. Enable the appropriate MIDI channels (1–16) for the Send Channels and Receive Channels options (These determine which channels send and receive MIDI.) MIDI Studio Setup Properties section Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 55: Midi Patch Name Support

    Program Files\ through which MIDI data is sent from the external Common Files\Digidesign\MIDI Patch Names\ Digi- MIDI device specified in the Instrument Name field into design.
  • Page 56 MIDI patch name files (.midnam) can be edited in any text editor, or you can use third-party Change button patch librarian and editor software to create Patch Select dialog your own custom patch names. Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 57: Appendix B. Configuring Ams (Mac Os X Only)

    For any MIDI devices connected to the MIDI inter- Making MIDI input and output connections (Digidesign Command|8 shown) face, click Add Device. A new external device icon with the default MIDI keyboard image will appear.
  • Page 58 (If the Manu- MIDI.) facturer and Model pop-up menus do not provide a name for your particular device, you can type a name.) Naming a new MIDI device Enabling MIDI channels Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 59: Midi Patch Name Support

    (.midnam) for the factory default patch names of many common MIDI devices. These files reside in directories, sorted by manufacturer, in /Library/Audio/MIDI Patch Names/Digidesign. To import MIDI patch names into Pro Tools: Verify the MIDI Device name in the Audio MIDI Setup window (see “Audio MIDI Setup”...
  • Page 60 Patch Name Bank pop-up menu appears in the upper left hand corner of the window. Once patch names have been imported into Pro Tools, they are available for that MIDI device in all sessions. Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 61: Appendix C. Hard Drive Configuration And Maintenance

    SCSI Hard Drives Digidesign recommends qualified SCSI hard drives and Avoid Recording to the System a qualified SCSI host bus adapter (HBA) card or (on Win- Drive dows systems) a qualified built-in SCSI HBA connector on the motherboard.

  • Page 62: Formatting An Audio Drive

    • Follow the on-screen instructions to select a parti- tion size and other partition settings. • When prompted, choose a file system. For opti- mum performance, audio drives should be format- ted as NTFS. Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 63: Partitioning Drives

    • Select “Perform a quick format.” Choose the Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format. • Make sure “Enable file and folder compression” is Do not choose the “Case-Sensitive” format op- not selected. tion. Pro Tools will not operate properly with • Set the Allocation unit size to Default. case-sensitive formatted drives.

  • Page 64: Defragmenting An Audio Drive

    Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...
  • Page 65 Backing Up Data Before Optimizing To defragment an audio drive (Windows XP): Right-click My Computer and choose Manage. Since your files will be rewritten by the optimization process, always make a backup copy of the data on your Under Storage, choose Disk Defragmenter. hard drive before you optimize it.

  • Page 66: Hard Disk Storage Space

    7 GB 7.8 GB 10.5 GB 11.6 GB 32 mono tracks, 5 minutes 800 MB 883 MB 1.2 GB 1.3 GB 32 mono tracks, 60 minutes 9.4 GB 10.4 GB 14 GB 15.4 GB Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 67: Appendix D. Troubleshooting

    CD/DVD burners, automated tape backup systems, and Check to be sure your computer has the required high-capacity optical drives. amount of RAM to launch Pro Tools. See the Digidesign website (www.digidesign.com). The best way to back up an entire session is to use the Save Copy In command.

  • Page 68: Performance Factors

    Screen Savers Screen saver software should be com- pletely disabled on your computer before running Try unplugging the USB cable from the Mbox 2 Micro Pro Tools. USB port and plugging it back in. If the USB LED still...

  • Page 69: Before You Call Digidesign Technical Support

    • Number and size of partitions on the drive mation from Digidesign Technical Support. This data- Digidesign Software base is installed in the Digidesign folder when you in- • Pro Tools software version stall Pro Tools. Answerbase is also available on the •...
  • Page 70 Note any DAE errors or other error codes you encounter. Additonally, note the ability to reproduce the problem under different conditions, for example, with another session, or after changing settings (such as the Hard- ware Buffer Size). Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...

  • Page 71: Index

    Mac 17 Hardware Buffer Size 22 Windows 11 headphones gain control 33 output 33 Cache Size 25 connecting Mbox 2 Micro Mac 16 I/O Setup Windows 9 Windows 26 CoreAudio driver (Mac) 17 IDE/ATA requirements 53 CPU Usage Limit 23...
  • Page 72 (Windows) 14, 19 session templates (Windows) 13, 18 technical support 61 Pro Tools LE capabilities 4 configuration (Windows) 21 uninstalling Pro Tools installing (Mac) 15 Windows 14, 19 installing (Windows) 9 USB connection indicator 33 Mbox 2 Micro Getting Started Guide...
  • Page 73 volume control 33 WaveDriver (Windows) 12 Index 65...
  • Page 74 DIGIDESIGN TECHNICAL SUPPORT (USA) PRODUCT INFORMATION (USA) INTERNATIONAL OFFICES Visit the Digidesign website 2001 Junipero Serra Boulevard Tel: 650.731.6100 Tel: 800.333.2137 for contact information Fax: 650.731.6375 Daly City, CA 94014-3886 USA Tel: 650.731.6300 Fax: 650.731.6399...

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