MBox v. Digi 002 (not the rack)
- Thread starter Lalalala
- Start date
Help Support GroupDIY Audio Forum:
Mbox
More compact... easy to carry
only 2 preamps/inputs
no ADAT lightpip...
powered off USB
Digi002
not what I call portable but...
4 preamps
8 total inputs
more output options
midi
ADAT pipe so you can add an additional 8 channels of AD/DA
footswitch ability
requires wall power
if your not needing that compact portability thing... then I think for the additional dollars the 002 wins hands down... it'll give you alot of room for growth where the mbox wont..
oops I should mention one other thing... I dig the 002 rack... this way you can at a later date upgrade with the comman 8 if you want a controller... instead of getting the Digi002 controler box
More compact... easy to carry
only 2 preamps/inputs
no ADAT lightpip...
powered off USB
Digi002
not what I call portable but...
4 preamps
8 total inputs
more output options
midi
ADAT pipe so you can add an additional 8 channels of AD/DA
footswitch ability
requires wall power
if your not needing that compact portability thing... then I think for the additional dollars the 002 wins hands down... it'll give you alot of room for growth where the mbox wont..
oops I should mention one other thing... I dig the 002 rack... this way you can at a later date upgrade with the comman 8 if you want a controller... instead of getting the Digi002 controler box
sismofyt
Well-known member
The Mbox is only 2 in/out and cannot be upgraded or used with external 8 channel converters... that's pretty limiting!
Both have lousy software btw :green:
Both have lousy software btw :green:
bluebird
Well-known member
NoNoNO, lousy hardware...great software... :grin:
I use the software for everything and love it. More professional projects are done with it than other apps. I do lots of remixes and the parts almost always come as a protools session.
I have an MBox and it's cool for almost all the projects I do. There are times I wish I had more ins and outs though. I'd like to upgrade to a 002 rack, but it's not essential.
mark
I have an MBox and it's cool for almost all the projects I do. There are times I wish I had more ins and outs though. I'd like to upgrade to a 002 rack, but it's not essential.
mark
Kev
Well-known member
I think an MBox is best suited to laptop jobs. With the Laptop the MBox makes a lot of sense.
I don't have an MBox as I already use the AM3 card for all the small jobs. At the moment XP is a winner with this old card. Older Macs are good with it but to some extent I think it may be over on the Mac for both AM3 and 001 and SC. XP is great for both AM3 and 001.
As far as MBox and 002 is concerned, OSX and XP is looking very good. I feel that if you can get to a 002 then you should. AS this opens the door to the extra inputs and with an added B box with Lightpipe you get 16 I/O which is more than enough to get into trouble with.
The added I/O also give more control over the type and methods for providing cue returns etc.
If you are using Hardware synths then again I suggest trying to get set up with a 002.
XP vs OSX
this is all about choice.
If you are a new starter then I think you can look at XP as it does work. You have less choice for plugs and synths BUT as a new starter you will have much to learn and I don't see this as a problem for the first year or so.
Once you have experience then making an informed choice is much easier. Some people only want to record audio track as complete takes and then transfer to a larger system for real editing and mixing. Here an MBox and laptop may be perfect for you ... especially if you are a solo artist.
Others want it all ... Plugs, Synths, Reason, Virus, multiple inputs, Logic in the background ... or foreground
YOU WILL NEED GRUNT and this probably spells G5.
However, after a few months working on this I suggest you don't sit in front of a Mix+ or HD system as you will suddenly see what TDM can bring.
It is all difficult to explain as people's expectations are all so very different.
you are probably bored now ... :roll:
I'll finish by saying,
... having spent long hours at the DUC many years ago and also spending many hours thrashing about the MOA (Digidesign) merry go round I have been there and done that. I am not on my own.
It is funny that the people with the most experience chose to keep out of questions like this as they/we are just so bored with it all.
I have never owned an MBox and currently don't feel the need to get Laptopped BUT if you have any questions I'll be glad to answer them. I have all other MOA gear.
However the HD system, although ordered and paid for, is not installed because I won't let them yet.
I want to finish the current project on the Mix+ system before the up-grade and it all goes to ****. HD means a move to OSX and when I do that I'll move ALL systems to OSX .... all new computers ... ouch :roll:
I don't have an MBox as I already use the AM3 card for all the small jobs. At the moment XP is a winner with this old card. Older Macs are good with it but to some extent I think it may be over on the Mac for both AM3 and 001 and SC. XP is great for both AM3 and 001.
As far as MBox and 002 is concerned, OSX and XP is looking very good. I feel that if you can get to a 002 then you should. AS this opens the door to the extra inputs and with an added B box with Lightpipe you get 16 I/O which is more than enough to get into trouble with.
The added I/O also give more control over the type and methods for providing cue returns etc.
If you are using Hardware synths then again I suggest trying to get set up with a 002.
XP vs OSX
this is all about choice.
If you are a new starter then I think you can look at XP as it does work. You have less choice for plugs and synths BUT as a new starter you will have much to learn and I don't see this as a problem for the first year or so.
Once you have experience then making an informed choice is much easier. Some people only want to record audio track as complete takes and then transfer to a larger system for real editing and mixing. Here an MBox and laptop may be perfect for you ... especially if you are a solo artist.
Others want it all ... Plugs, Synths, Reason, Virus, multiple inputs, Logic in the background ... or foreground
YOU WILL NEED GRUNT and this probably spells G5.
However, after a few months working on this I suggest you don't sit in front of a Mix+ or HD system as you will suddenly see what TDM can bring.
It is all difficult to explain as people's expectations are all so very different.
you are probably bored now ... :roll:
I'll finish by saying,
... having spent long hours at the DUC many years ago and also spending many hours thrashing about the MOA (Digidesign) merry go round I have been there and done that. I am not on my own.
It is funny that the people with the most experience chose to keep out of questions like this as they/we are just so bored with it all.
I have never owned an MBox and currently don't feel the need to get Laptopped BUT if you have any questions I'll be glad to answer them. I have all other MOA gear.
However the HD system, although ordered and paid for, is not installed because I won't let them yet.
I want to finish the current project on the Mix+ system before the up-grade and it all goes to ****. HD means a move to OSX and when I do that I'll move ALL systems to OSX .... all new computers ... ouch :roll:
kev-
Im sure youve done your research, but OSX is suprisingly stable. My computer has *never* crashed and everyone I know running pt on X (albeit all editors doing somewhat light duty in regards to CPU grunt) has had 1/10 the problems they usually have. I was reluctant to switch over but after learning the new quirks am pretty suprised at how smooth everything works.
fret not!
dave
Im sure youve done your research, but OSX is suprisingly stable. My computer has *never* crashed and everyone I know running pt on X (albeit all editors doing somewhat light duty in regards to CPU grunt) has had 1/10 the problems they usually have. I was reluctant to switch over but after learning the new quirks am pretty suprised at how smooth everything works.
fret not!
dave
T
tubejay
Guest
I run OSX every day, all day, and I can honestly say that my computer has not crashed on me EVER. Not once. I've had applications crash, but I've never had to restart my computer due to an application crash. I start the app right back up, and it works again.
I run ProTools in OS9 at my studio (a D24 system) and not only does ProTools crash at least once a day, it also forces me to reboot the entire machine when it crashes. My experience with ProTools on XP was even worse than that. I also ran PT 6 on OS 10.2, and had a few problems here and there, but at least I didn't have to reboot when the application crashed. For the record, that's Digi's fault, not Apple's. I run quite a few apps on my OSX Laptop, and applications crashing almost never happens. The stability of this operating system is mind blowing.
I would upgrade to OS6 for PT use, but that would require the dreaded i-Lok, and upgrade of plugins. I'm just too pissed off about the whole thing to buy into it right now.
:shock:
That said, I've used an MBox and a Digi002. I personally thought the Digi002 was a nice box, that sounded pretty good. I use a D24 PT system at the studio, with 888/24's, and sound is quite good. The MBox was about the same as 002 if memory serves me. I never A/B'd them though.
I think the 002 is a much better value though...unless you only need two ins and outs... :thumb:
I run ProTools in OS9 at my studio (a D24 system) and not only does ProTools crash at least once a day, it also forces me to reboot the entire machine when it crashes. My experience with ProTools on XP was even worse than that. I also ran PT 6 on OS 10.2, and had a few problems here and there, but at least I didn't have to reboot when the application crashed. For the record, that's Digi's fault, not Apple's. I run quite a few apps on my OSX Laptop, and applications crashing almost never happens. The stability of this operating system is mind blowing.
I would upgrade to OS6 for PT use, but that would require the dreaded i-Lok, and upgrade of plugins. I'm just too pissed off about the whole thing to buy into it right now.
:shock:
That said, I've used an MBox and a Digi002. I personally thought the Digi002 was a nice box, that sounded pretty good. I use a D24 PT system at the studio, with 888/24's, and sound is quite good. The MBox was about the same as 002 if memory serves me. I never A/B'd them though.
I think the 002 is a much better value though...unless you only need two ins and outs... :thumb:
Marik
Well-known member
002 has 96K vs. 48K in Mbox.
Kev
Well-known member
I thought in the early days of MBox that 96k would come in future improvements.
As I said above, MBox didn't realy interest me as I felt it was paticularly aimed at the Laptop people.
My mobile units are a lkittle more complex than that.
If the hotel room note pad is your need then go for an MBox and Laptop.
Dave,
yes, I've done some research and to be honest I was probably happy to HD at least six months ago. I like to give my Alsihad Salesman much greif as often as I can.
I figure I've earned the right to give him a hard to and ... I do
Apart from project in the can .. we all know why we stay on the older OS9 systems. All my systems are well sorted and I have many software combinations that work very reliably. Crashes are very rare for me.
I should say that my XP systems are only very straight forwar audio record machines and I don't run plugs often. Just as an indicator and a bit of experimenting while developing a song.
These system are mostly for location recording and overdubing.
The TDM system on OS9 has obviously given me a chance to check out %95 of all plugs and I now have a very good idea of what I like to use and what is good value. My plug list is much shorter than you would think ... considering the obvious. I can't be bothered doing the very long scroll to look for my favourites so I keep it short.
With any luck it should take a while for my system to arrive and I can get this project out of the way.
I'll get a G5 that makes sense at the time D1.8 D2.0 whatever has a good price break at the time and then add the 1 g mem and a work drive around 160 ... all BU drives will be external hot swapable.
Dual 17 LCDs to fit my woodwork ..
AND
I'll even get ripped OFF for the MOA keyboard :wink:
I'll swap one of the 001 systems over to a 002R. This will give a quick XP OSX choice to one of the portables.
I love PT
BUT
I also love to hate Alsihad when it suits me :twisted:
It's all good.
As I said above, MBox didn't realy interest me as I felt it was paticularly aimed at the Laptop people.
My mobile units are a lkittle more complex than that.
If the hotel room note pad is your need then go for an MBox and Laptop.
Dave,
yes, I've done some research and to be honest I was probably happy to HD at least six months ago. I like to give my Alsihad Salesman much greif as often as I can.
I figure I've earned the right to give him a hard to and ... I do
Apart from project in the can .. we all know why we stay on the older OS9 systems. All my systems are well sorted and I have many software combinations that work very reliably. Crashes are very rare for me.
I should say that my XP systems are only very straight forwar audio record machines and I don't run plugs often. Just as an indicator and a bit of experimenting while developing a song.
These system are mostly for location recording and overdubing.
The TDM system on OS9 has obviously given me a chance to check out %95 of all plugs and I now have a very good idea of what I like to use and what is good value. My plug list is much shorter than you would think ... considering the obvious. I can't be bothered doing the very long scroll to look for my favourites so I keep it short.
With any luck it should take a while for my system to arrive and I can get this project out of the way.
I'll get a G5 that makes sense at the time D1.8 D2.0 whatever has a good price break at the time and then add the 1 g mem and a work drive around 160 ... all BU drives will be external hot swapable.
Dual 17 LCDs to fit my woodwork ..
AND
I'll even get ripped OFF for the MOA keyboard :wink:
I'll swap one of the 001 systems over to a 002R. This will give a quick XP OSX choice to one of the portables.
I love PT
BUT
I also love to hate Alsihad when it suits me :twisted:
It's all good.
