Reamping via the dedicated front panel connection is one of the stand out features for me as I’ve always been a fan of capturing a DI performance of guitars and monitoring via amp sim plugins, having the option of replacing or augmenting them with real amps later. I’ve already mentioned the Hi Z FX loops which allow proper matching when using guitar pedals. The 4 mic preamps feature instrument inputs and both mic and inst inputs have switchable impedance settings for tonal variation. The MBOX Studio has lots of guitar-specific features. This takes us to some of the MBOX Studio’s more interesting features. Old school MIDI is present on proper DIN connections and on the front you’ll find a Hi Z output for re-amping. Line in/outs can be repurposed as FX loops with Hi Z operation enabling use with guitar pedals. There is a lot more flexibility built in to these audio connections, spdif is available on RCA or by switching the opticals from ADAY to spdif. There are 4 additional line inputs and the possibility of ADAT expansion which gives enough inputs for a basic live band session and with two independent headphone mixes via two headphone outs and the potential to add more headphone mixes via additional headphone amps routed via the remaining audio outputs the inclusion of a built in talkback mic doesn’t seen as overkill as it might on an mbox. The 4 built in mic/line inputs are the same variable impedance design as found in the Carbon. Power is via an included 12V DC adaptor, this isn’t a bus powered interface. To overview the connections, its data connection is a single USB C, the included USB C cable comes with a USB A adaptor. However its capabilities go much further than the mBox of 2002. Physically the $899 MBOX Studio is far removed from its namesake but it is still a USB interface which is targeted at the Pro Tools user. The buttons are the squidgy rubberised type and helpful illumination and colour is used throughout, with the MBOX Studio looking very attention grabbing in a darkened studio. The construction is very sturdy steel with proper nutted connectors on the back and the large dual encoders are pleasingly sturdy. That being said it was perfect for a short trip visiting family in which I managed to set up a studio away from home using my laptop and the new MBOX. It’s a long way from the chuck-it-in-your-bag compactness of its predecessors. When I finally got hands on with a unit, my first impression was just how substantial it is. So if Avid decided to revisit mbox, what is it and who is it for? First Impressions At that time this category of interface was new and its appeal was buoyed by the fact that you needed Digidesign hardware to access Pro Tools. The second thought I had was that times have changed since the original launched in 2002. Whatever the new MBOX was, it had better be good. That was an important product which left big boots to fill. When Avid announced the MBOX Studio my first thought was that the original mBox cast a long shadow. Julian takes a detailed look followed by Steve DeMott and William Wittman each sharing their opinions. But does it deliver? We decided to find out by sending units to three of the Experts Team and getting three independent opinions… Interface:Works with ASIO, Core Audio, WDM, MME, and multi-client drivers.Avid’s revival of the classic Mbox line, the MBOX Studio caught everyone’s attention.Computer: Avid-qualified Apple computer.USB port: For iLok authorization (iLok included).Hard disk space: 5 GB for Pro Tools Express (Mbox) 15 GB for Pro Tools (Pro Tools Mbox).OS: Windows 7 Home premium, professional, or Ultimate (32- or 64- bit).Create pro-quality mixes with a collection of high-quality plug-ins and Automatic Delay Compensation.Compose music easily with virtual instruments, MIDI editing, and Sibelius notation tools.Record and mix up to 16 stereo audio tracks at 96 kHz (Mbox) or 48 kHz (Mbox Mini) resolution.Sound your best when using professional-grade Mbox or Mbox Mini interfaces.Take your projects to the next level and to studios around the world with session file compatibility across all Pro Tools systems.Create music and sound for picture using many of the same industry-standard tools used by top producers, engineers, and artists.Record up to 96 stereo audio tracks, work with Clip Gain and sessions created in other software, and get over 75 virtual instruments, effects, and utility plug-ins. Compose, record, edit, and mix music and sound for picture using the industry´s most powerful audio production platform.Pro Tools (included with Mbox Pro Tools).Eleven Free (guitar amp emulator based on Eleven).Xpand!2 multitimbral synth and sample workstation.Structure Free sample player (based on Structure).
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