mbox + max

mooselodge's icon

hi, max msp recognizes that my mbox is plugged in, but does not allow me to record through it and pull down menus are not functional for microphone input and outputs.

regards

peter

jvkr's icon

The input menus are filled with information from the system (coreaudio on macosx), that talks to the driver. That there's nothing there means that there are no options for input selection, which sounds familiar. That doesn't mean that there should be no input. An adc~ object should simply pass on what comes in on the first two channels. Check the I/O mappings, at least there you can see how many input and output channels have been assigned.

_
johan

mooselodge's icon

Hey Johan

this still isn't working. I have core audio running in the background but it simply is not taking a signal in. I'm not even sure what kind of thing to look for to resolve this.

best,

Peter

Arvid Tomayko's icon

figure out where the signal is not working. Can you monitor your audio input properly within the mbox? Can you record to other apps? did you turn audio on in MaxMSP :) ? Which version of the Mbox? - if its the original, I wouldn't waste my time - unless they have really improved them lately the drivers are awful and will definitely fail you at one point or another. Mine sits around on a shelf and occasionally gets used as a USB powered analog preamp, but never an interface.

mooselodge's icon

Arvid, thank you.

its mbox 1. It is being recognized but yea it doesn't work with my logic express either.
hmmm...I need to think about what to do. I need a simple cheap 2 channel interface.

cheers

peter

Arvid Tomayko's icon

i've heard really good things about this one

if you don't mind spending a little money for the future. They also make a cheap USB one - but I know nothing about it

just dont get the older (now discontinued) firebox - as the preamps on that are really noisy.

My favorite affordable interface is the MOTU ultralite (I have both the original and the mk3 Hybrid). Lots of I/O, rock solid drivers, low latency very quiet and good preamps. It'll run you like $530 but if you do lots of audio work it's totally worth it.

If you want MOTU's stability and low latency and only need one mic preamp, the microbook is cheaper and smaller:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/711468-REG/MOTU_8430_MicroBook_USB_Audio.html

mooselodge's icon

thanks so much. I am designing conversation tools, recording dialogue between two people,
so I do need two mic preamps. I am making two separate control surfaces for each one, start
stop, back and forth through files etc. And am still learning MAX, started a few days ago.

thanks again Arvid, really appreciate it.

roger.carruthers's icon

Just a thought, but are you trying to use the Mbox on a Mac running Snow Leopard?
The original MBox is 'no longer supported' by Avid, though apparently there are drivers for it for Snow Leopard, BUT you have to uninstall Pro Tools for them to work -yeah, right, plus ca change...
cheers
Roger