Product Description

Digidesign Mbox2 is a next-generation USB-powered audio/MIDI production system that builds on the performance and simplicity of the original Mbox - Digidesigns most popular personal studio product ever.The Mbox 2 still is a compact USB powered unit with the capability of 4x2 simultaneous channels of I/O on analog, digital and MIDI connections but still retains the easy operation of the original Mbox. The original Mbox changed the way songwriters, DJs, studio mixers, and post production engineers created and produced music. Mbox 2 delivers professional performance which makes it an important evolutionary step from the original Mbox.Along with its flexible hardware interface, Mbox 2 includes the easy-to-use, award-winning Digidesign Pro Tools LE software, which offers many of the same features that top studios rely on to record, edit, mix, and master commercial albums and produce sound for blockbuster films. In addition, Mbox 2 comes with the Pro Tools Ignition Pack, an impressive collection of powerful plug-ins, creative applications, and additional tools to help professionally produce and promote music. With the addition of the Pro Tools Ignition Pack, Mbox 2 includes more than 50 plug-ins and instruments.Mbox 2 FactoryThe same great interface as the Mbox 2 but with over $1,000 worth of additional professional-grade Digidesign and Bomb Factory plug-ins included. The Mbox 2 Factory bundle provides more creative processing options right out of the box with these outstanding plug-ins.Pro Tools LE 7 software offers an unparalleled breadth of creative options when developing ideas. Easily import audio and MIDI files and loops. Take advantage of an unmatched range of unique, nondestructive audio editing tools like Beat Detective LE, which enables you to automatically correct timing on individual tracks. Develop MIDI compositions with the Pro Tools integrated, easy-to-use MIDI sequencer. Choose among

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2533 in Musical Instruments
• Brand: Digidesign
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, 5.40 pounds

Features

• Digidesign Mbox 2 Hardware Features Superior sound quality
• Four simultaneous inputs with analog and digital I/O
• 48V phantom power for high quality condenser microphones
• Award-winning Pro Tools LE software with Pro Tools Ignition Pack
• 24-bit/48 kHz audio, MIDI in/out, Zero-latency monitoring and completely 100% USB powered

Customer Reviews

Very strict compatibilty requirements.
First of all, if you have any new intel macs Pro Tools will not install. Only Mac OS X version 10.4.7 and lower are compatible. There are many different small print requirement issues with Pro Tools LE. Read every last requirement on the Digidesign support pages before buying this. Digidesign really needs to be better with support for problems.

compatibility
I was very excited when i received the mbox 2 because i was confident that it was good software. I did my homework like a good little boy before laying my money down to make sure my system wouldn't have any problems. I looked all over - except the digidesign tech support page. I figured samash's ad, among others I checked, would have told me enough. None of the places I checked, and i checked quite a few, mentioned anything about that issue. Turns out, the only thing wrong with my system was its chipset. It didn't have a set that was supported. All of the other specs and requirements on my computer were fine. In fact for everything else, i had more than the minimum. They said the only way to correct the issue is to replace the motherboard. I called a manager at samash and he said he's never heard of that kind of problem ever happening. Digidesign tech said they get lots of calls and complaints about it. Evidently digidesign doesn't make too much effort in communicating all of the common problems with software to thier distributors. So...digidesign got my money but did i get thier product? No, and they don't accept returns either. I was very disappointed. Make positively sure your system is compatible by checking the digidesign tech support page before you risk buying an expensive and useless product. I gave it 2 stars because I fell in love with the free version of protools and I'm sure the interface and software for the mbox 2 are great...i just can't use them and if it weren't for ebay, I'd be stuck with a lot of lost money.

Like it... but
I bought it because I had been working on them in my classes. It works fine an everything. The problem I see is the strict requirements. It works with Mac OS 10.4, but now they launched OS X Leopard, so I can't upgrade.
The same happens with windows. I was thinking of buying a new laptop, but now they all come with Vista, and the Mbox is compatible only with XP.
If you want some advice, save a little bit more and buy a MOTU Ultralite.
It doesn't have that much requirements and Sonar works as good as Protools.