-
MBox 2 output volume very low…
So after countless years of working with my original Mbox and earlier versions of Pro Tools on earlier Mac OS’s, I finally installed PT LDE 8.0.5 for PS X 10.6.8 and got a second-hand MBox 2. Installation was fine and everything works…except….the actual output from the MBox 2 seems very low. Have the ‘mix’ and ‘monitor’ levels pegged, and using it to the second balanced input into my JBL MSC 1 controller…the other inputs are balanced from a Blackmagic Multibridge Pro and the RCA from a AD/DA interface. The same tracks play back at what seems more normal ‘reference’ levels compared to a much volume from the MBox 2.
At first I was worried that my unit may be defective…but then I found this online….
https://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov06/articles/mbox2pro.htm
“Audio Output Level:
Something that has bothered me about the M Box family to date is that the analogue outputs produce a lower level than those of the 002 family and the HD interfaces. On those interfaces I would expect that a tone file created at -18dBFS would produce an analogue output of 0dBu (assuming that the Calibration option on the HD systems was set correctly; there is no Calibration option on the LE software). The M Box family to date has produced a lower level (around -12dB for a tone signal of -18dBFS). In broadcast settings, where you are dependent on external PPM metering for level monitoring, this has been a pain. With its ‘Pro’ label, I hoped that the M Box 2 Pro might deliver a pro-level output, so I checked with my audio level meter and found that it didn’t. For a test tone of -18dBFS, the M Box 2 produced an analogue output level of -12dB. The original M Box produced an output of -14dB, whereas the 002R did produce an output level of 0dB. I can only assume that the higher-level output cannot be achieved because of limitations on the amount of power the M Box 2 Pro can receive from the host down the Firewire cable.”
I don’t remember my MBox 1 being so low, but I guess this has been the case with the #2 and onwards. I can work with it by just turning the monitors up more, but it’s a bit of shock, since you could really be pushing your monitor/control levels to get closer to your comfortable design/mixing levels.
Do others find this to be true as well, and have just dealt with it like this?
-
2 Replies
-
….that this is by design for some reason….
https://duc.avid.com/showthread.php?t=273406
Well, luckily I can set my Multibridge’s audio output to ‘consumer level’ which is more in line with the MBox’s, and adjust my input level so that my reference fader positions are more even between he two with out big shifts in level. the AD/DA converter’s levels are still way high, but I don’t really use that for monitoring.
-
The issue with very low output is that the 1/4″ outputs on the MBox 2 are UNBALANCED ONLY. For those who plug (with TRS 1/4″ balanced cables or TS cables) into a stereo channel on a mixer that offers both bal/unbal for its 1/4″ inputs, it’s fine because your mixer inputs automatically adjust. But for someone who plugs into balanced-only 1/4″ inputs on a mixer or in my case, the balanced-only 1/4″ inputs on a JBL MSC1…it can cause a severe drop in volume because the input is expecting something very different. The cure is to use the RCA/unbal input ‘c’ on my MSC1 (via 1/4″ TS to RCA cable/adapter), or the ‘tape’/rca inputs on a mixer if it only offers balanced TRS stereo channel inputs.
This is rather odd because I believe the manual for the MBox 2 says that it’s both bal/unbal…but in reality, it’s just ‘consumer-level’ unbalanced. You’d think for a Pro-Tools interface…even one as affordable as this, it’d offer or standardize on the ‘professional’ balanced level for its outputs. Weird!
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up