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Avid Mbox User Guide

®
Mbox User Guide
Version 8.0.4
Legal Notices
This guide is copyrighted ©2010 by Avid Technology, Inc., (hereafter “Avid”), with all rights reserved. Under copyright laws, this guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the written consent of Avid.
Product features, specifications, system requirements, and availability are subject to change without notice.
Guide Part Number 9329-65002-00 REV B 06/10
Documentation Feedback
At Avid, we are always looking for ways to improve our documentation. If you have comments, corrections, or suggestions regarding our documentation, email us at techpubs@avid.com.

contents

Chapter 1. Welcome to Mbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Mbox Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Pro Tools LE Capabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
System Requirements and Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Conventions Used in This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
About www.avid.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Chapter 2. Installing Pro Tools on Mac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Installation Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Installing Pro Tools LE and Connecting Your Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Launching Pro Tools LE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Additional Software on the Pro Tools Installer Disc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Uninstalling Pro Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Chapter 3. Installing Pro Tools on Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Installation Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Installing Pro Tools LE and Connecting Your Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Launching Pro Tools LE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Additional Software on the Pro Tools Installer Disc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Uninstalling Pro Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Chapter 4. Configuring Your Pro Tools System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Starting Up or Shutting Down Your System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Configuring Pro Tools LE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Configuring the Pro Tools Hardware Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Optimizing a Mac System for Pro Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Optimizing a Windows System for Pro Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Contents iii
Chapter 5. Mbox Hardware Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Mbox Front Panel Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Mbox Back Panel Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Chapter 6. Making Hardware Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Connecting Headphones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Connecting a Sound System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Connecting Audio Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Connecting a Microphone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Connecting Instruments to the Mbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
MIDI Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Appendix A. Using the Driver Control Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Additional Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Stereo Mixes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Using the Stereo Mix Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Appendix B. Using the Multi Button. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Using the Multi Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Press and Release Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Press and Hold Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Hold Duration Options. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Appendix C. Configuring AMS (Mac OS X Only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Audio MIDI Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
MIDI Patch Name Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Appendix D. Configuring MIDI Studio Setup (Windows Only). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
MIDI Studio Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
MIDI Patch Name Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Mbox User Guideiv
Appendix E. Hard Drive Configuration and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Avoid Recording to the System Drive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Supported Drive Formats and Drive Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Formatting an Audio Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Partitioning Drives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Defragmenting an Audio Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Using Mac Drives on Windows Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Hard Disk Storage Space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Appendix F. Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Backing Up Your Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Common Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Performance Factors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Before You Call Avid Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Appendix G. Resources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
About the Pro Tools Guides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Appendix H. Compliance Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Environmental Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
EMC (Electromagnetic Compliance). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Safety Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Contents v
Mbox User Guidevi
chapter 1

Welcome to Mbox

Welcome to the Mbox® audio and MIDI production system from Avid
Mbox and Pro Tools LE USB 2.0-equipped computer with two channels of analog audio input and output, two channels of digital audio input and output, MIDI In and Out ports, analog monitor outs, and a head­phone output with front panel level control. Mbox provides professional-quality mic pre­amps and 24-bit/96 kHz analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters.
®
.
®
provide your

Mbox Features

Mbox provides the following:
• Two channels of analog audio input with high-quality microphone preamps and swit­chable 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 an­alog input channel
• Two channels of S/PDIF digital input and out­put
• S/PDIF inputs are available independently, in addition to analog inputs 1–2
• S/PDIF outputs mirror analog outs 1–2 and can also work independent of the analog outputs
• Up to a total of four channels of input, using analog and digital inputs simultaneously
• One MIDI In and one MIDI Out port, provid­ing 16 MIDI input channels and 16 MIDI out­put channels
• 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 adjust­able 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)
• Soft-limit analog function
• On-board Tuner
• Multi-function, assignable Soft button
• USB 2.0 High-speed operation
Mbox 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 to function properly.
Chapter 1: Welcome to Mbox 1

Pro Tools LE Capabilities

Pro Tools LE on Mac or Windows provides the following capabilities with Mbox:
• Playback of up to 48 mono or stereo digital audio tracks, or a combination of playing back and re cording up to 48 mo no or s tere o digital audio tracks, depending on the ca­pabilities of your computer.
• Up to 128 audio tracks (with up to 48 active tracks), 128 Auxiliary Input tracks, 64 Mas­ter Fader tracks, 256 MIDI tracks, and 32 In­strument tracks per session.
• 16-bit or 24-bit audio resolution, at sample rates up to 96 kHz.
• Non-destructive, random-access editing and mix automation.
• Audio processing with up to 10 inserts per track (RTAS
• Up to 10 sends per track.
• Up to 32 internal mix busses.
®
plug-ins or hardware inserts)

System Requirements and Compatibility

Mbox can be used with a qualified Windows or Mac computer running Pro Tools LE software.
A DVD drive is required to use the Pro Tools In­staller disc.
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
MIDI Requirements
Mbox includes one MIDI In port and one MIDI Out port, providing 16 channels of MIDI input and 16 channels of MIDI output.
Pro Tools LE 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.
Mbox User Guide2
If you require additional MIDI ports, add a MIDI interface to your system.
USB MIDI interfaces work effectively with Pro Tools systems on Windows or Mac. Serial MIDI interfaces are supported on Windows sys­tems only.
Only USB MIDI interfaces are compatible with Pro Tools systems for Mac OS X. Modem-to-serial port adapters and serial MIDI devices are not supported.
For a list of supported MIDI interfaces and
controllers, visit www.avid.com.
Hard Drive Requirements
For optimal audio recording and playback, all Pro Tools systems require one or more qualified drives.
If you are using an ATA/IDE or FireWire hard drive, initialize your drive with the Disk Utility application included with Apple System soft­ware (Mac) or the Windows Disk Management (Windows).
For more information, see Appendix E, “Hard Drive Configuration and Maintenance.”
Avoid Recording to the System Drive
Recording to your system drive is not recom­mended. Recording and playback on a system drive may result in lower track counts and fewer plug-ins.

Conventions Used in This Guide

All of our guides use the following conventions to indicate menu choices and key commands:
:
Convention Action
File > Save Choose Save from the
File menu
Control+N Hold down the Control key
Control-click Hold down the Control key
Right-click Click with the right
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:
User Tips are helpful hints for getting the most from your system.
and press the N key
and click the mouse button
mouse button
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 fol­lowing 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 re­quirements; 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

Installing Pro Tools on Mac

This chapter contains information for Mac sys­tems only. If you are installing Pro Tools on a Windows computer, see Chapter 3, “Installing Pro Tools on Windows.”
Before installing this version of Pro Tools, refer to the Read Me information included on the Pro Tools Installer disc.

Installing Pro Tools LE and Connecting Your Interface

Before connecting your Pro Tools LE interface to the computer, you need to install Pro Tools LE software.
Do not start this procedure with your Mbox connected to your computer.

Installation Overview

Installation of the Mbox on a Mac includes the following steps:
1 “Installing Pro Tools LE and Connecting Your
Interface” on page 5.
2 “Launching Pro Tools LE” on page 7.
3 Configuring your system for improved perfor-
mance (see Chapter 4, “Configuring Your Pro Tools System”).
4 Making audio connections to the Mbox (see
Chapter 6, “Making Hardware Connections”).
The Pro Tools Installer disc includes addi­tional software for your system. For more in­formation, see “Additional Software on the Pro Tools Installer Disc” on page 8.
To install Pro Tools LE on Mac OS X:
1 Make sure you are logged in as an Administra-
tor for the account where you want to install Pro Tools.
When the installation is complete, you will need to restart your computer.
For details on Administrator privileges in Mac OS X, see your Apple OS X documen­tation.
2 Insert the Pro Tools LE Installer disc in your
DVD drive.
Chapter 2: Installing Pro Tools on Mac 5
3 On the Installer disc, locate and double-click
Install Pro Tools LE.mpkg.
Install Pro Tools LE.mpkg icon
4 Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed
with installation.
5 Click Continue each time you are prompted.
6 At the Installation Type page, do one of the
following:
• To install all Pro Tools application files and free plug-in suites (and associated content), leave the default Installation options se­lected and click Continue.
– or –
• Select (or deselect) a custom configuration of Installation options (see “Installation Options” on page 6) and click Continue.
7 Click Install.
8 If prompted, enter your Administrator pass-
word and click OK to authenticate the installa­tion.
9 Follow the remaining on-screen instructions.
10 When installation is complete, click Restart.
11 After the computer has started, 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.
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 con­nected 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 com­puter in order to function properly.
Installation Options
Pro Tools LE Options
To install a subset of Pro Tools software and plug-ins (and associated content), click the re­veal triangle for the Pro Tools LE 8.0.4 option in the installer, and deselect any of the following options that you do not want installed. (If an item is checked, it will be installed.)
Application Files (Required for Pro Tools) Installs the Pro Tools application and supporting library files needed to run Pro Tools. This option must be selected to install Pro Tools.
DigiRack Plug-Ins Installs free plug-ins including DigiRack plug-ins, free Bomb Factory plug-ins, Eleven Free, TL Utilities, and Digidesign D-Fi and Maxim plug-ins. For more information, see the Audio Plug-Ins Guide.
Mbox User Guide6
Pro Tools Creative Collection Options
Select any of the Pro Tools Creative Collection options you want installed. For more informa­tion, see the Audio Plug-Ins Guide.
Effect Plug-Ins Installs 6 free virtual instrument plug-ins from Avid’s AIR group.
Virtual Instruments Installs 20 free effects plug­ins from Avid’s AIR group.
Virtual Instrument Content Installs sample con­tent for AIR virtual instruments.
Virtual Instrument Content is very large and may take up to 20 minutes to install. During this time, the progress bar may not appear to move but your software is still in­stalling. Do not terminate your installation.
Additional Options
The Pro Tools installer provides the following additional options to install along with Pro Tools software and plug-ins.
Avid CoreAudio Drivers This option installs a multichannel sound driver that allows CoreAu­dio-compatible applications to record and play back through Avid audio interfaces.

Launching Pro Tools LE

When launching Pro Tools LE the first time, you are prompted to enter an authorization code to validate your software. (The code begins with the letters DIGI.)
To authorize Pro Tools LE software:
1 Make sure Mbox is connected to your com-
puter.
2 Click the Pro Tools LE icon in the Dock (or
double-click the application icon in the Pro Tools folder inside the Digidesign folder).
3 Enter the authorization code in the dialog
(making sure to type it exactly as printed, and observing any spaces and capitalization), then click Validate. (Your authorization code is lo­cated on the inside front cover of this guide.)
4 Use the Quick Start dialog to do one of
the following:
• Create a new session from template.
• Create a new blank session.
• Open any other session on your system.
Avid Video Engine This option lets you integrate
®
Avid
video peripherals (such as the Avid Mojo® with your Pro Tools system). Do not install un­less you will be using one of these products.
MIDI I/O Driver The MIDI I/O
™
Driver is re­quired if you are using the Avid MIDI I/O inter­face. Do not install unless you will be using a MIDI I/O.
Quick Start dialog
For more information on the Quick Start dialog and session templates, see the Pro Tools Reference Guide (Help > Pro Tools Reference Guide).
Chapter 2: Installing Pro Tools on Mac 7

Additional Software on the Pro Tools Installer Disc

The Pro Tools LE Installer disc provides addi­tional software for your system, including audio drivers (for playing other audio applications through your Pro Tools hardware) and a Pro Tools demo session.
Avid CoreAudio Driver
The Avid CoreAudio Driver is a multi-client, multichannel sound driver that lets Core Au­dio–compatible applications record and play back through Pro Tools hardware.
The Avid CoreAudio Driver is installed by de­fault when you install Pro Tools.
Check your Pro Tools Installer disc for addi­tional software and installers.
Third-Party Applications and Plug-Ins
Your Pro Tools package also includes free appli­cations and plug-ins from Avid and selected Avid Third Party developers (content subject to change). Once you've completed your Pro Tools installation, you can install these separately.
Installers are located on your Pro Tools LE In­staller disc in the Additional Files\3rd Party Content folder.
For information on configuring the Avid CoreAudioDriver, see the CoreAudio Drivers Guide.
Standalone CoreAudio Driver
The Avid CoreAudio Driver can be installed as a standalone driver on Mac systems that do not have Pro Tools software installed.
For information on installing and configuring the standalone version of the Avid CoreAudio Driver, see the CoreAudio Drivers Guide.
If you uninstall Pro Tools, the Avid CoreAudio Driver is automatically uninstalled at that time.
Mbox User Guide8
Pro Tools Demo Session
The Pro Tools LE Installer disc includes a demo session that you can use to verify that your sys­tem is working.

Uninstalling Pro Tools

If you need to uninstall Pro Tools software from your computer, use the Uninstaller application.
The demo session for Pro Tool LE is named “Fil­tered Dream.”
Before installing the demo session to your audio drive, make sure the drive is config­ured as described in “Formatting an Audio Drive” on page 68.
To install the demo session:
1 Insert the Pro Tools LE Installer disc into your
DVD drive.
2 On the Pro Tools LE Installer disc, locate and
open the Additional Files/Pro Tools Demo Ses­sions Installer folder.
3 Double-click Install demo session.pkg.
4 Follow the on-screen instructions.
5 When prompted, select your audio drive as
the install location and click Next to begin the installation. When installation is complete, click Close.
The demo session can be opened by double­clicking the Filtered Dream.ptf file (located in the Filtered Dream Demo Session folder).
To remove Pro Tools from your computer:
1 Make sure you are logged in as an Administra-
tor for the account where Pro Tools is installed.
For details on Administrator privileges in Mac OS X, see your Apple OS X documen­tation.
2 Go to Applications/Digidesign/Pro Tools/
Pro Tools Utilities and double-click
Uninstall Pro Tools
3 Click Continue to proceed with the uninstall.
4 Choose the type of uninstall you want to per-
form:
Safe Uninstall Leaves certain plug-ins and sys­tem files needed for compatibility with some Avid products. Use Safe Uninstall if you are us­ing an Avid application or preparing to update to a CS (customer support) release.
Clean Uninstall Removes all Pro Tools files, in­cluding system files, Avid plug-ins, and MIDI patch names. Use Clean Uninstall whenever you are preparing to upgrade, or to troubleshoot from a clean system.
5 Click Uninstall.
6 Enter your Administrator password and click
OK.
7 Click Finish to close the Installer window.
Chapter 2: Installing Pro Tools on Mac 9
Mbox User Guide10
chapter 3

Installing Pro Tools on Windows

This chapter contains information for Windows systems only. If you are installing Pro Tools on a Mac computer, see Chapter 2, “Installing Pro Tools on Mac.”
Before installing this version of Pro Tools, refer to the Read Me information included on the Pro Tools LE Installer disc.

Installing Pro Tools LE and Connecting Your Interface

Before connecting your Pro Tools LE interface to the computer, you need to install Pro Tools LE software.
Do not start this procedure with your Mbox connected to your computer.

Installation Overview

Installing the Mbox on a Windows computer in­cludes the following steps:
1 “Installing Pro Tools LE and Connecting Your
Interface” on page 11.
2 “Launching Pro Tools LE” on page 14
3 Configuring your system for improved perfor-
mance (see Chapter 4, “Configuring Your Pro Tools System”).
4 Making audio and MIDI connections to the
Mbox (see Chapter 6, “Making Hardware Con­nections” for details).
The Pro Tools Installer disc includes addi­tional software for your system. For more in­formation, see “Additional Software on the Pro Tools Installer Disc” on page 14.
To install Pro Tools LE:
1 Start Windows, logging in with Administrator
privileges. For details on Administrator privi­leges, refer to your Windows documentation.
When the installation is complete, you will need to restart your computer.
2 Insert the Pro Tools LE Installer disc in your
DVD drive and do on of the following:
• If Windows AutoRun is enabled, a mini-browser appears. Select Install Pro Tools LE to begin your installation.
– or –
• If Windows AutoRun is disabled, locate and double-click Setup.exe. on the Installer disc.
Setup.exe icon
Chapter 3: Installing Pro Tools on Windows 11
In Windows 7 and Windows Vista, if the User Account Control dialog appears, click Allow.
3 Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed
with installation and click Next when prompted.
4 To install the complete compliment of
Pro Tools software and plug-ins, leave Pro Tools selected.
5 At the Select Features page, do one of the fol-
lowing:
• To install all Pro Tools application files and free plug-in suites (and associated content), leave the default Installation options se­lected and click Continue.
– or –
• Select (or deselect) a custom configuration of Installation options (see “Installation Options” on page 13) and click Continue.
6 Click Next.
7 Click Install.
8 When prompted, connect the small end of the
included USB cable to the USB port on Mbox.Connect the other end of the USB cable to any available USB port on your computer.
In Windows XP, a series of Software Instal­lation dialogs about the driver not passing Windows Logo testing may appear. Click Continue Anyway on each one until they go away.
If any other dialogs appear (such as the “Found New Hardware” dialog), leave them open and do not click on them. These dialogs will close on their own.
10 Wait for the installer to finish installing all
software components, drivers, and PACE System files before proceeding to the next step.
11 When installation is complete, click Finish
and restart your computer.
If the USB LED on the front panel of the Mbox does not illuminate after restarting the computer, 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 con­nected 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 computer in order to function properly
9 Click OK.
In Windows 7a nd Windows Vista, a series of Windows Security dialogs may appear. Click “Install” on each one until they go away.
Mbox User Guide12
Installation Options
Additional Options
Pro Tools LE Options
To install a subset of Pro Tools software and plug-ins (and associated content), click the re­veal triangle for the Pro Tools LE 8.0.4 option in the installer, and deselect any of the following options that you do not want installed. (If an item is checked, it will be installed.)
Application Files (Required for Pro Tools) Installs the Pro Tools application and supporting library files needed to run Pro Tools. This option must be selected to install Pro Tools.
DigiRack Plug-Ins Installs free plug-ins including DigiRack plug-ins, free Bomb Factory plug-ins, Eleven Free, TL Utilities, and Digidesign D-Fi and Maxim plug-ins. For more information, see the Audio Plug-Ins Guide.
Pro Tools Creative Collection Options
Select any of the Pro Tools Creative Collection options you want installed. For more informa­tion, see the Audio Plug-Ins Guide.
The Pro Tools installer provides the following additional options to install along with Pro Tools software and plug-ins.
Mac HFS+ Disk Support Option This option lets your Pro Tools system read, write, record, and play back using Mac-formatted HFS+ disks. HFS+ disks are commonly referred to as Mac OS Ex­tended disks.
For information on using the Mac HFS+ Disk Support option, see the HFS+ Disk Support Option Guide.
Avid Video Engine This option lets you integrate
®
Avid
video peripherals (such as the Avid Mojo® with your Pro Tools system). Do not install un­less you will be using one of these products.
Command|8 Controller and Driver This option in­stalls the personality file and device driver for the Avid Command|8 Control Surface. Do not install unless you will be using Command|8.
Installing QuickTime
Effect Plug-Ins Installs 6 free virtual instrument plug-ins from Avid’s AIR group.
Virtual Instruments Installs 20 free effects plug­ins from Avid’s AIR group.
Virtual Instrument Content Installs sample con­tent for AIR virtual instruments.
Virtual Instrument Content is very large and may take up to 20 minutes to install. During this time, the progress bar may not appear to move but your software is still in­stalling. Do not terminate your installation.
QuickTime is required for Pro Tools if you plan to include movie files, or import MP3 or MP4 (AAC) files in your sessions. QuickTime for Win­dows is available as a free download from the Apple website (www.apple.com).
For information on which version of QuickTime is compatible with your version of Pro Tools, visit www.avid.com/compatibility).
Chapter 3: Installing Pro Tools on Windows 13
To install QuickTime:
1 Visit www.apple.com and go to the Quick-
Time page.
2 Download the QuickTime installer applica-
tion to your computer.
3 Double-click the QuickTime installer applica-
tion and follow the on-screen installation in­structions.
4 Restart your computer.
Quick Start dialog

Launching Pro Tools LE

When launching Pro Tools LE the first time, you are prompted to enter an authorization code to validate your software. (The code begins with the letters DIGI.).
To authorize Pro Tools LE software:
1 Make sure Mbox is connected to your com-
puter.
2 Double-click the Pro Tools LE shortcut on
your desktop (or the application icon in the Pro Tools folder inside the Digidesign folder).
3 Enter the authorization code in the dialog
(making sure to type it exactly as printed, and observing any spaces and capitalization), then click Validate. (Your authorization code is lo­cated on the back of your Pro Tools DVD wallet.
4 Use the Quick Start dialog to do one of
the following:
• Create a new session from template.
• Create a new blank session.
• Open any other session on your system.
For more information on the Quick Start dialog and session templates, see the Pro Tools Reference Guide (Help > Pro Tools Reference Guide).

Additional Software on the Pro Tools Installer Disc

The Pro Tools LE Installer disc provides addi­tional software for your system, including audio drivers (for playing other audio applications through your Pro Tools hardware) and a Pro Tools demo session.
Check your Pro Tools Installer disc for additional software and installers.
Third-Party Applications and Plug-Ins
Your Pro Tools package also includes free appli­cations and plug-ins from Avid and selected Avid Third Party developers (content subject to change). Once you've completed your Pro Tools installation, you can install these separately.
Installers are located on your Pro Tools LE In­staller disc in the Additional Files\3rd Party Content folder.
Mbox User Guide14
Avid Audio Drivers
The Avid Audio Drivers are multi-client, multi­channel sound drivers that allow Pro Tools and third-party audio programs that support the ASIO Driver or WaveDriver MME/DirectX (Multimedia Extension) standards to record and play back through qualified Pro Tools audio in­terfaces.
For information on configuring settings for your audio interface for use with Pro Tools or other audio applications, see Appendix A, “Using the Driver Control Panel.”
For additional information on the Avid Audio Drivers, see the Windows Audio Drivers Guide.
3 Double-click LE Demo Session Setup.exe.
4 Follow the on-screen instructions.
5 When prompted, select your audio drive as
the install location and click Next to begin the install.
6 When installation is complete, click Finish.
The demo session can be opened by double­clicking the Filtered Dream.ptf file (located in the Filtered Dream Demo Session folder).

Uninstalling Pro Tools

Use the Uninstall Pro Tools application to unin­stall Pro Tools software from your computer.
Pro Tools Demo Session
The Pro Tools LE Installer disc includes a demo session that you can use to verify that your sys­tem is working.
The demo session for Pro Tool LE is named “Filtered Dream.”
Before installing the demo session to your audio drive, make sure the drive is config­ured as described in “Formatting an Audio Drive” on page 68.
To install the demo session:
1 Insert the Pro Tools LE Installer disc into your
DVD drive.
2 On the Pro Tools LE Installer disc, locate and
open the Additional Files\Pro Tools Demo Ses­sions Installer folder.
To uninstall Pro Tools from your computer:
1 Start Windows, logging in with Administrator
privileges. For details on Administrator privi­leges, refer to your Windows documentation.
2 Go to C:\Program Files\Digidesign\
Pro Tools\Pro Tools Utilities and double-click Uninstall Pro Tools.exe.
3 Click Next.
4 Click Uninstall to proceed with the uninstalla-
tion.
Chapter 3: Installing Pro Tools on Windows 15
Mbox User Guide16
chapter 4

Configuring Your Pro Tools System

After you have connected your system and in­stalled Pro Tools software, you are ready to start up and configure your Pro Tools system.

Starting Up or Shutting Down Your System

To ensure that the components of your Pro Tools system communicate properly with each other, you need to start them in a particu­lar order.
Start up your Pro Tools system in this order:
1 Make sure all your equipment (including your
computer) is off.
2 Lower the volume of all output devices in your
system (especially the main outputs to your speakers!).
3 Turn on any external hard drives. Wait ap-
proximately ten seconds for them to spin up to speed.
4 Turn on any control surfaces (such as Com-
mand|8).
5 Turn on any MIDI interfaces, MIDI devices, or
synchronization peripherals.
6 With the volume of all output devices low-
ered, turn on your Pro Tools audio interfaces. Wait at least fifteen seconds for the audio inter­face to initialize and the status LEDs to stop­flashing.
7 Turn on your computer.
8 Launch Pro Tools or any third-party audio or
MIDI applications.
9 Bring the output levels up to a comfortable lis-
tening level.
Shut down your Pro Tools system in this order:
1 Quit Pro Tools and any other running applica-
tions.
To quit Pro Tools, choose Pro Tools > Quit (Mac) or File > Exit (Windows).
2 Turn off or lower the volume of all output de-
vices in your system.
3 Turn off your computer.
4 Turn off any MIDI interfaces, MIDI devices, or
synchronization peripherals.
5 Turn off any control surfaces.
6 Turn off any external hard drives.
Chapter 4: Configuring Your Pro Tools System 17

Configuring Pro Tools LE

To change the Hardware Buffer Size:
1 Launch Pro Tools
Pro Tools System Settings
In the Playback Engine dialog, Pro Tools LE lets you adjust the performance of your system by changing system settings that affect its capacity for processing, playback, and recording.
In most cases, the default settings for your sys­tem provide optimum performance, but you may want to adjust them to accommodate large or processing-intensive Pro Tools sessions.
Hardware Buffer Size
The Hardware Buffer Size (H/W Buffer Size) con­trols the size of the buffer used to handle host processing tasks such as Real-Time AudioSuite™
®
(RTAS
) plug-ins.
• Lower Hardware Buffer Size settings are useful for improving latency issues in certain record­ing situations or for improving certain system performance problems. On Pro Tools LE sys­tems, lower settings reduce all input-to-out­put monitoring latency on any record-armed tracks or Auxiliary Input tracks with live in­puts.
• Higher Hardware Buffer Size settings are use­ful for sessions that are using more RTAS plug­ins for playback. These settings allow for more audio processing. They can also be useful to reduce errors on some machines that require a higher buffer size.
2 Choose Setup > Playback Engine.
3 From the H/W Buffer Size pop-up menu, select
the audio buffer size, in samples.
Playback Engine dialog for Pro Tools LE, with Structure Free plug-in installed. (Mbox 2 shown)
4 Click OK.
In addition to causing slower screen re­sponse and monitoring latency, higher Hardware Buffer Size settings can increase the latency caused by RTAS plug-ins, and affect the accuracy of plug-in automation, mute data, and MIDI track timing.
Mbox User Guide18
Host Processors
The Host Processors setting lets you manage multi-processor support for RTAS (Real-Time AudioSuite) plug-in processing.
Used in combination with the CPU Usage Limit setting, the Host Processors setting lets you con­trol the way RTAS and other host-based process­ing tasks are carried out by the system.
For example:
• For sessions with large numbers of RTAS plug­ins, you can allocate 2 or more processors to RTAS processing and set a high CPU Usage Limit.
• For sessions with few RTAS plug-ins, you can allocate fewer Host Processors to RTAS and set a low CPU Usage Limit settings to leave more host processing resources available for automation accuracy, screen response, and video.
• Depending on the importance of video and overall screen response, and on the density of automation being employed, try different combinations of Host Processors and CPU Us- age Limit settings to achieve the best results. For example, to improve screen response in a medium-sized session using a moderate num­ber of RTAS plug-ins, try reducing the number of RTAS plug-ins, but keep the CPU Usage Limit set to the maximum (up to 99% on a single processor system).
To set the number of RTAS Processors:
1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine.
2 From the Host Processing pop-up menu, select
the number of available processors you want to allocate. The number of processors available var­ies depending on your computer:
• Select 1Processor to limit processing to one CPU in the system.
• Choose 2 Processors to enable load balanc­ing across two available processors.
• On systems running four or more proces­sors, choose the number of processors for processing.
3 Click OK.
System Usage Window and Processing
The System Usage window (Windows > System Usage) displays the combined amount of pro-
cessing occurring on all enabled processors with a single indicator, regardless of how many pro­cessors are available in the system. If the System Usage Window shows that you are at the limit of available resources, increase the number of pro­cessors and adjust the CPU Usage Limit setting.
Chapter 4: Configuring Your Pro Tools System 19
CPU Usage Limit
Host Engine (Error Suppression)
The CPU Usage Limit setting controls the per­centage of CPU resources allocated to Pro Tools host processing tasks. Used in combination with the Host Processors setting, the CPU Usage Limit setting lets you control the way Pro Tools tasks are carried out by the system.
•Lower CPU Usage Limit settings limit the effect of Pro Tools processing on other CPU-inten­sive tasks, such as screen redraws, and are use­ful when you are experiencing slow system response, or when running other applications at the same time as Pro Tools.
•Higher CPU Usage Limit settings allocate more processing power to Pro Tools, and are useful for playing back large sessions or using more RTAS plug-ins.
The maximum available CPU Usage Limit de­pends on the number of processors in your com­puter and on the number of processors you spec­ify for RTAS processing. This value can range from 85% for single-processor computers, and 99% for multiprocessor computers (which dedi­cate one entire processor to Pro Tools).
The Host Engine option determines RTAS error reporting during playback and recording. This is especially useful when working with instrument plug-ins.
You should only enable error suppression if you are experiencing frequent RTAS errors that are interrupting your creative workflow. When er­ror suppression is enabled, you can experience a degradation of audio quality. However, this may be acceptable in order to avoid interrupting playback and recording when working with in­strument plug-ins. Be sure to disable error sup­pression when you need to ensure the highest possible audio quality, such as for a final mix.
To enable error suppression:
1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine.
2 Select Host Engine: Ignore Errors During Play-
back/Record.
3 On Mac, you can also select Minimize Additional
I/O Latency.
4 Click OK.
On multiprocessor computers, the maximum CPU Usage Limit is reduced when you use all your processors (as selected in the Processing pop-up menu). For example, on dual-processors, the limit is 90%. On four-processor computers, the limit is 95%.
Increasing the CPU Usage Limit may slow down screen responses on slower computers.
To change the CPU Usage Limit:
1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine.
2 From the CPU Usage Limit pop-up menu, select
the percentage of CPU processing you want to allocate to Pro Tools.
3 Click OK.
Mbox User Guide20
Error Suppression Options
Ignore Errors During Playback/Record When the
Ignore Errors During Playback/Record option is en­abled, Pro Tools continues to play and record even if the host processing requirements exceed the selected CPU Usage Limit. This can result in pops and clicks in the audio, but does not stop the transport.
Minimize Additional I/O Latency (Mac Only)
When enabled, any additional latency due to suppressing errors during playback and record is minimized to 128 samples. Suppressing RTAS er­rors requires at least 128 samples of additional buffering on some systems. If this option is dis­abled, the buffer is half the H/W Buffer Size, or at least 128 samples (whichever is greater). If you are on an older, slower computer, you may want to disable this option to avoid adverse perfor­mance.
This option is only available on Mac if the Ignore Errors During Playback/Record option is enabled.
DAE Playback Buffer Size
The DAE Playback Buffer Size setting determines the amount of memory DAE allocates for disk buffers. In addition to levels, the DAE Playback Buffer Size shows values in milliseconds, which indicate the amount of audio buffered when the system reads from disk.
The optimum DAE Playback Buffer Size for most disk operations is 1500 msec; Level 2 (Default).
• DAE Playback Buffer Size settings lower than 1500 msec; Level 2 (Default) may improve playback and recording initiation speed, as well as preview in context in DigiBase brows­ers. However, a lower setting may make it dif­ficult to play or record tracks reliably with sessions containing a large number of tracks or a high density of edits, or with systems that have slower or heavily-fragmented hard drives.
• DAE Playback Buffer Size settings higher than 1500 msec; Level 2 (Default) allow higher track count, higher density of edits in a session, or the use of slower hard drives. However, a higher setting may increase the time lag when starting playback or recording, starting pre­view in context from DigiBase browsers, or cause a longer audible time lag while editing during playback.
Using a larger DAE Playback Buffer Size leaves less system memory for other tasks. The default setting of 1500 msec (Level 2) is recommended unless you are encountering –9073 (“Disk too slow or fragmented”) errors.
To change the DAE Playback Buffer Size:
1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine.
2 From the DAE Playback Buffer pop-up menu, se-
lect a buffer size. Memory requirements for each setting are shown at the bottom of the Playback Engine dialog.
3 Click OK.
If Pro Tools needs more system memory for the DAE Playback Buffer, it will prompt you to re­start your computer.
Chapter 4: Configuring Your Pro Tools System 21
Cache Size
The Cache Size setting determines the amount of memory DAE allocates to pre-buffer audio for playback and looping when using Elastic Audio.
Minimum Reduces the amount of system mem­ory used for disk operations and frees up mem­ory for other system tasks. However, perfor­mance when using Elastic Audio features may decrease.
Normal Is the optimum Cache Size for most ses­sions.
Plug-In Streaming Buffer Size
(Structure Plug-In Only)
This setting appears in the Playback Engine dia­log only if Structure, Structure LE, or Structure Free is installed on your system. The Plug-In Streaming Buffer Size determines the amount of memory DAE allocates for streaming playback from disk with the Structure plug-in. This setting only affects playback if disk stream­ing is activated in Structure’s plug-in controls (see the AIR Virtual Instruments Guide for more information).
Large Improves performance when using Elastic Audio features, but it also decreases the amount of memory available for other system tasks, such as RTAS processing.
Using a larger Cache Size leaves less system memory for other tasks. The default setting of Normal is recommended unless you are encountering -9500 (“Cache too small”) errors.
To change the Cache Size:
1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine.
2 From the Cache Size pop-up menu, select a
disk cache size.
3 Click OK.
The optimum Plug-In Streaming Buffer Size for most sessions is 250 ms (Level 2).
• Plug-In Streaming Buffer Size settings lower than 250 ms (Level 2) reduce the amount of system memory used for sample playback and frees up memory for other system tasks. How­ever, audio quality of sample playback may decrease.
• Plug-In Streaming Buffer Size settings higher than 250 ms (Level 2) improve the audio qual­ity of sample playback, but they also decrease the amount of memory available for other sys­tem tasks, such as RTAS processing.
Using a larger Plug-In Streaming Buffer Size leaves less system memory for other tasks. The default setting of 250 ms (Level 2) is recommended unless you are experiencing problems with the audio quality of sample playback.
To change the Plug-In Streaming Buffer Size:
1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine.
2 From the Plug-In Streaming Buffer Size pop-up
menu, select a buffer size.
3 Click OK.
Mbox User Guide22
Optimizing the Plug-In Streaming Buffer Size
(Structure Plug-In Only)
This option appears in the Playback Engine dia­log only if one of the Structure sampler instru­ment plug-in is installed on your system. This option is useful when you are playing samples from the same drive that contains audio for the current session. When this option is selected, Pro Tools automatically optimizes the size of the Plug-In Streaming Buffer to facilitate disk access from both Pro Tools and Structure. The Plug-In Streaming Buffer Size pop-up menu is unavail­able when this option is selected.
To set Pro Tools to optimize the Plug-In Streaming Buffer Size:
1 Choose Setup > Playback Engine.
2 Select the Optimize for Streaming Content op-
tion.
3 Click OK.
Default Sample Rate
The Sample Rate setting appears as the default sample rate when you create a new session. (This setting is available in the Hardware Setup dialog only when no session is open.)
You can change the sample rate when creat­ing a new Pro Tools session by selecting a different sample rate in the New Session dialog. (Refer to
Guide for details.)
To change the default Sample Rate:
1 Choose Setup > Hardware.
the Pro Tools Reference

Configuring the Pro Tools Hardware Settings

In the Hardware Setup dialog, Pro Tools lets you set the default sample rate and clock source for your system, as well as a range of controls spe­cific to each type of audio interface.
Hardware Setup dialog
2 Select the sample rate from the Sample Rate
pop-up menu.
3 Click OK.
Chapter 4: Configuring Your Pro Tools System 23
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