Avid Technology MBOX Studio Manual
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Avid Technology MBOX Studio Manual

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  • Page 1 MBOX Studio Guide...
  • Page 2 Legal Notices © 2022 Avid Technology, Inc., (“Avid”), all rights reserved. This guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the written consent of Avid. For a current and complete list of Avid trademarks visit: www.avid.com/legal/trademarks-and-other-notices. Bonjour, the Bonjour logo, and the Bonjour symbol are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
  • Page 3 This equipment has been tested to comply with safety certifications in accordance with: UL 62368-1 ed.3-2019, CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 62398-1:19,BS EN 62368-1:2014+A11:2017, EN 62368-1:2014/AC:2015, IEC 62368-1:2018. Avid Technology Inc., has been authorized to apply the appropriate NRTL mark on its compliant equipment.

  • Page 5: Table Of Contents

    Chapter 3. MBOX Studio Hardware Overview ........
  • Page 6 ............52 Using MBOX Studio and Pro Tools .

  • Page 7: Chapter 1. Introduction

    MBOX Studio delivers exceptional audio conversion and fidelity, along with everything you need for tracking, mixing, streaming, podcasting and more. MBOX Studio can be controlled using its top panel controls and using the MBOX Control application, and can also function as a standalone monitor controller.
  • Page 8 • Kensington Security Slot Included Software, Plug-ins, and Sound Libraries With your purchase and registration of MBOX Studio, you are entitled to the following: • Pro Tools Studio software, with 1-year subscription and Standard Avid support contract • Sibelius Artist software, with 1-year subscription •...

  • Page 9: System Requirements And Compatibility Information

    System Requirements and Compatibility Information MBOX Studio is supported by Pro Tools Artist, Pro Tools Studio, and Pro Tools | Ultimate 2022.9 or later. For detailed system requirements, visit www.avid.com/mbox-support. Avid can only assure compatibility and provide support for hardware and software it has tested and approved.

  • Page 10: Resources

    Video Tutorials Learn how to use MBOX Studio by watching some or all of its video Tutorials. The Pro Tools Quick Tips series of online videos provide tutorials to help if you are new to Pro Tools. Pro Tools Quick Tips You can browse the videos or use the Pro Tools Quick Reference Guide to find and learn exactly what you want.

  • Page 11: Part I Installation

    Part I: Installation...

  • Page 13: Chapter 2. Installation And Setup

    Keep the Welcome card on hand to register MBOX Studio and access software, sound libraries, and documentation downloads. Set the cables aside until you are ready to start making cable connections. Remove MBOX Studio from the box and packaging, and place it on a hard, dry surface.

  • Page 14: Register Mbox Studio And Activate Your Avid Master Account

    Register MBOX Studio and Activate your Avid Master Account MBOX Studio includes a Welcome card with a redemption code and a QR code that lets you register the unit. Registering lets you access software and PDF documentation through your online Avid Master Account. (The QR code is also provided on the underside of the MBOX Studio unit.)

  • Page 15: Connect Cables

    Connect Cables To install MBOX Studio, make USB and Power Connections as shown below. • If necessary use the included USB-to-USB-C adapter. • Choose the power adapter appropriate for your region. USB and Power Connections Audio Connections The following diagrams show example audio connections. Consider making only minimal input and output connections now while you are completing the installation process, and connecting the rest of your audio equipment later.

  • Page 16: Download And Install Pro Tools And Mbox Control Software

    Once you have registered MBOX Studio, you can download and install Pro Tools Studio software, including plug-ins, and sound librar- ies from your Avid Master Account. PDF documentation for MBOX Studio and Pro Tools software is also available through your Avid Master Account.

  • Page 17: Launch And Configure Mbox Control Software

    Avid FX and User Action Button assignments. Preference settings can be saved as MBOX Control User Presets and recalled at any time to optimize MBOX Studio for different workflows, such as live audio tracking, re-amping, or effects processing. To configure MBOX Control: Make sure you have already installed MBOX Control software.

  • Page 18: Launch Pro Tools

    If prompted to Activate your Pro Tools software license, follow the on-screen instructions. Press and hold the N key when launching Pro Tools to open the Playback Engine dialog. If MBOX Studio is not selected as the Playback Engine, select it and click OK. Alternatively, you can select MBOX Studio in the Playback Engine after you have launched Pro Tools (Setup >...

  • Page 19: How To Proceed

    Click to view the Input, Output , and Bus tabs to make sure you see MBOX Studio at the top, with signal paths appropriate for your audio interface in the grid, below. Input Output I/O Setup Input tab (at left) and Output tab (at right)

  • Page 20: Starting Up And Shutting Down Your System

    Start up your Pro Tools system in this order: Make sure all your equipment (including your computer) is off. Mute your MBOX Studio monitor speakers and lower the volume of all output devices in your system. Turn on any external hard drives.

  • Page 21: Part Ii Hardware And Software Overview

    Part II: Hardware and Software Overview...

  • Page 23: Chapter 3. Mbox Studio Hardware Overview

    MBOX Studio Hardware Overview MBOX Studio Front Panel MBOX Studio front panel MBOX Studio Front Panel Item Notes Inputs 1–2 combo XLR/TRS Accepts XLR, 1/4-inch TRS, and 1/4-inch TS Hi-Z Out to Amp Mirrors FX Send 2 Headphones 1 and 2 outputs (TRS) and level controls...

  • Page 24: Mbox Studio Top Panel

    MBOX Studio Top Panel MBOX Studio top panel MBOX Studio Top Panel Item Description +48V Phantom Power Bluetooth Input switch (see Bluetooth Input) LINK Stereo Input meters MBOX Open MBOX Control Output meters LINK Monitor switch Bluetooth Output switch (see...

  • Page 25: Mbox Studio Back Panel

    MBOX Studio Back Panel MBOX Studio back panel MBOX Studio Back Panel Item Power switch MIDI IN MONITOR OUTS MAIN FX LOOPS LINE IN Inputs 5-6 MIC/LINE IN 3-4 combo inputs Power input OPTICAL IN S/PDIF IN Coax EXP/SW footswitch inputs...

  • Page 26: Example Audio Connections

    Example Audio Connections Connect equipment to MBOX Studio as suggested in the following diagrams. S/PDIF Multi-FX, digital monitors, or other Optical 8-channel ADAT Mic Pre That’s a lot of gear! Example Front Panel Audio Connections Vocal and guitar Vocal and guitar...

  • Page 27: Chapter 4. Mbox Control Software Overview

    MBOX Control Many features of MBOX Studio can be accessed directly from the MBOX Studio front and top panels, such as input gain, the tuner, and monitoring volume. Many more parameters and features are available from the MBOX Control application, including its on-board Avid FX (delay and reverb), EQ, User Action Button 1–4 assignments, footswitch settings, and more.
  • Page 28 MBOX setups for different workflows and recall them with a single button or footswitch press (or a press and hold). For more information, see Customizing the User Action Buttons 1–4. Preset files are stored in Documents > MBOX Studio Presets. MBOX Control Software Overview...
  • Page 29 Mix Options MBOX Studio can operate in either of two Mix Modes, Standard or Advanced, and both provide other options for output grouping and mirroring. By default (and whenever Advanced Mix Mode is not enabled) MBOX Studio operates in Standard Mix Mode.
  • Page 30 Group All Monitor Mixes When enabled, Alt, Headphone 1, Headphone 2, and Bluetooth outputs mirror Main. Group All Monitor Mixes can be enabled in either Standard or Advanced Mix Mode. • All Monitor outputs share the same Input to Output Mix. Individual mix layer controls are linked together so that, for example, when you move the Internal 1/2 fader in the single mix monitor group, that fader moves for all of those grouped/linked output mix- ers).
  • Page 31 Available Internal Actions Internal Actions Notes AVID FX Mute FX 1 Bypass (FX 1 and FX 2 when stereo linked) FX 2 Bypass (FX 1 and FX 2 when stereo linked) Input Selection Follows Hardware Toggle On/Of Footswitch / Expression Pedal 1 and 2 The footswitch buttons in the MBOX Control toolbar let you assign functions to the footswitch/Expression pedal inputs 1 and 2.
  • Page 32 MIC LINE INST INST MAIN MBOX STUDIO Tuner window (shown at left) and tuning using the top panel (shown at right). Choose a tuning reference from the Reference selector. Choices include 438, 439, 440, 441, and 442 Hz. Reference Mutes the output of the tuner.
  • Page 33 Shows the Mixing and Routing Signal Flow. Signal Flow The following diagram illustrates signal flow in Advanced Mix Mode. MBOX Control Advanced Mix Mode Settings Preferences let you optimize MBOX Studio hardware and MBOX Control settings. For more information, see Preferences. MBOX Control Software Overview...

  • Page 34: Channel Focus

    Channel Focus In MBOX Control the Channel Focus tab shows all parameters for the currently selected channel or bus. That selected channel or bus is indicated on-screen with a lit colored border (the color corresponds to the currently selected Output mix). To focus a channel using MBOX Control: Click an output mix, such as Main .
  • Page 35 Availability of some parameters is determined by whether the channel is mono or stereo, input type (mic, line, or instrument), and other characteristics. Channel Focus Item Description Channel Focus and Avid FX Tabs Selects Channel Focus or Avid FX view Channel Focus Name Shows the name of the currently focused channel Mic/Line/Inst Input Select...
  • Page 36 Avid FX Delay and Reverb When selected, this section of the mixer shows the global controls for AVID FX Delay and Reverb. For instructions, see Using AVID Avid FX AVID FX Global Controls and Indicators AVID FX Globals Item Description Meters (Input) Indicate level of signals being sent to Avid FX Avid FX Return Level (Fader)
  • Page 37 REVERB Controls AVID FX Reverb Item Description Bypass Disables the effect In conjunction with the Room (Algorithm) control, adjusts the overall size of the reverberant space. There are three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. The character of the reverberation changes with each of these settings (as does the Size relative value of the Decay setting).
  • Page 38 The lower section of Channel Focus is the built-in EQ. EQ in Channel Focus Based on Avid ChannelStrip, MBOX EQ can be used either on channel feeds to MBOX outputs such as headphones, or applied to chan- nel feeds to Pro Tools. Each Hardware Input channel (including Talkback) can have their own Channel Focus EQ settings. EQ Controls AVID FX EQ Item...

  • Page 39: Monitor

    Monitor The Monitor section provides a master volume knob, Mono, Mute, and other parameters that apply to Monitor outputs (only): Main, Alt/Bluetooth, Headphone 1 and Headphone 2. Monitor Section Controls and Indicators Item Description Knob Controls output level of the selected mix(es). LINK Links Main, Alt, Dig, and Bluetooth outputs for linked level control from the Main Monitor Encoder.

  • Page 40: Hardware Input

    Hardware Input The Hardware Input section shows fader strips for all MBOX hardware inputs. The view is scrollable left and right. Hardware Input Each fader strip provides a Pan knob, Solo and Mute buttons, input meter(s), and Avid FX Send level meters. Each fader adjusts the out- put level of the input channel (the level fed to MBOX output mixes).

  • Page 41: Preferences

    Hardware Outputs can be controlled from their fader strip controls (Trim, Volume, Mute, when available), and from the Monitor sec- tion. The following are available from output fader strips. Hardware Output Controls Item Description Adjusts (trims) volume level for Main, Alt, and Bluetooth outputs so that they all have the same audible loudness. This is most Trim useful for speaker calibration and level matching when Main/Alt/BT levels are linked, or when they are not linked.
  • Page 42 If drop-outs contiune even with Safe Mode enabled, try reducing the number of Avid FX and/or plug-ins in your session. Input / Output Latency (Windows Only) These indicators provide latency values for MBOX Studio when used on a Windows computer. MBOX Input and Output Latency Item...
  • Page 43 FX Loops Lets you switch FX 1 or FX 2 outputs to Hi-Z (high impedance) to integrate guitar pedals (“stomp boxes”), many of which expect a high-impedance signal at their input. When using rack mount or other Line level devices in MBOX effects loops, disable these settings. Hi-Z Out to Amp (Ground Lift) Enables a ground lift (also known as “earth lift”) on the front panel Hi-Z Out to Amp output.

  • Page 44: Part Iii Using Mbox

    Part III: Using MBOX...

  • Page 46: Chapter 5. Using Mbox Studio

    Using MBOX Studio • MBOX Studio Basics • Audio Input and Output • Using the Tuner • About Variable-Z • Using MBOX Studio and Pro Tools • Using AVID FX • Re-Amplification • Using FX Loops • Using S/PDIF •...

  • Page 47: Mbox Studio Basics

    MBOX Studio Basics The following are some basics to get you started learning your way around MBOX Studio and MBOX Control software. Top Panel The top panel provides input controls on the left, meters and global controls in the center, and output controls on the right.
  • Page 48 MBOX Control display of hardware inputs (top row), Pro Tools sources (middle row), and hardware outputs (bottom row) Channel Focus On MBOX Studio, the encoders and buttons in the input and output sections affect the currently focused (selected) MBOX Hardware Input or Hardware Output channel (for more information see Hardware Focus).
  • Page 49 Click to select Headphone 1 or Headphone 2 . and repeat the previous steps to set input levels feeding the cue mixes for each head-  phones output. To learn how to have reverb and/or delay in headphone mixes, see Using AVID Headphone 1 Main Headphone 2 Output selection, fader cap colors, and discrete mixes Using MBOX Studio...
  • Page 50 When two mono channels are initially linked to become stereo, settings for the left channel are copied to the right channel. When a stereo channel is unlinked, settings are copied to both resulting mono channels. Channels can be linked and unlinked from MBOX Control, and from the MBOX Studio top panel. To link or unlink channels using MBOX Control: Click the Link icon in either adjacent channel strip.

  • Page 51: Audio Input And Output

    Audio Input and Output You can select (focus), configure, and control MBOX Studio audio inputs and outputs from the top panel and from MBOX Control. Some parameters and settings are only available from MBOX Control. Connect microphones, guitars, and other input sources to MBOX Studio (see Example Audio Connections).
  • Page 52 MBOX STUDIO Adjusting input gain If the input signal is too high even with MBOX Studio input gain set low, press the PAD button to apply a –10db pad. To start recording in Pro Tools, see Using MBOX Studio and Pro Tools.
  • Page 53 “line level” sources. • To use a stereo pair of microphones or other sources, connect them to any pair of MBOX Studio inputs. For example, for two XLR microphones use inputs 1 and 2 on the front panel, or 3 and 4 on the back panel.
  • Page 54 On the Bluetooth source device, select MBOX in its list of discovered connections (such as MBOX IN 84EF ). When the connection is established the MBOX Studio Bluetooth (input) button stops flashing and lights blue. To disconnect Bluetooth press and hold the MBOX Studio Bluetooth (input) button for 2 or more seconds. Or turn off Bluetooth on your source device.
  • Page 55 Put your external Bluetooth speaker or headphones into Bluetooth pairing mode. When the connection is established the MBOX Studio Bluetooth (output) button stops flashing and lights blue. To disconnect Bluetooth press and hold the MBOX Studio Bluetooth (input) button for 2 or more seconds. Or turn off Bluetooth on your source device.

  • Page 56: Using The Tuner

    Each press cycles through INST input 1 or 2 (MBOX Studio must detect an instrument connection) and the Talkback Mic input. The Talkback Mic will be the Tuner source if nothing is connected to INST 1 or 2. When MBOX Studio detects only one Instrument input connection, that input is automatically chosen for the tuner.

  • Page 57: About Variable-Z

    About Variable-Z (Variable Impedance) MBOX Studio Mic/Line/Inst inputs 1–2 and Mic/Line inputs 3–4 provide Variable-Z input impedance selection for mic, instrument, and effect compatibility, tone, and “feel.” In addition, FX Sends 1–2 offer optional Hi-Z output impedance. Using different impedance settings on microphones gives different tonal characteristics to the mic.

  • Page 58: Using Mbox Studio And Pro Tools

    When opening sessions created on a different system without MBOX Studio, be sure to check the Playback Engine and if necessary se- lect MBOX Studio. Recording and Tracking MBOX Studio provides up to 21 discrete hardware inputs (at 44.1/48k) that are available in Pro Tools as track input paths. In MBOX Control, these are the channels in the Hardware Input section.
  • Page 59 To have playback start from the beginning of the session, click Return to Zero in the Transport. To start playback, click Play in the Transport or press the Spacebar. Use the MBOX Studio right encoder to adjust overall listening volume (for more information, see Main and Alt Monitor).
  • Page 60 To configure Pro Tools for headphone mixes: Include an “everything” mix by making sure your stereo Pro Tools mix is assigned to MBOX Studio Internal 1–2 . This could be from an Auxiliary Input that is submixing all Pro Tools audio, or directly from each Pro Tools track output.

  • Page 61: Using Avid Fx

    MBOX Studio includes built-in EQ, delay and reverb using AVID FX. • Use built-in 4-band EQ on input channels. Channel EQ can be applied to headphone and other MBOX Studio monitoring outputs only, or applied to the channel send going to Pro Tools.
  • Page 62 Channel Focus provides a 4-band parametric EQ for each Hardware Input channel. The built-in 4-band EQ can be used either on channel feeds to MBOX Studio outputs such as headphones, or it can be applied to channel feeds going to Pro Tools.

  • Page 63: Re-Amplification

    Tracks can be sent from Pro Tools through the Hi-Z Out to Amp output on MBOX Studio into one or more external amps or processors and re-recorded through an MBOX Studio input.
  • Page 64 While the track and session play, dial in the amp sound (adjust amp gain, volume, and tone controls as desired). Set MBOX Studio input gain so input meters light green most of the time, and only light amber for louder signals.

  • Page 65: Using Fx Loops

    Using FX Loops MBOX Studio provides two FX Loop inserts on the back panel. These four jacks (FX Sends 1 and 2, and FX Returns 1 and 2) let you integrate external effects processors that can be applied to MBOX Studio audio, or to Pro Tools tracks. FX Sends 1 and 2 can be also be used for additional outputs, and FX Returns 1 and 2 as additional inputs.
  • Page 66 In the Hardware Input section, adjust the fader(s) for Line/FX 7 (FX Return 1) or Line/FX 8 ( FX Return 2) to set the overall amount of FX return signal in the selected Output mix. Adjusting the FX 1 Return level in Main Using MBOX Studio...
  • Page 67 Using FX Loops 1–2 and Pro Tools MBOX Studio FX Loops 1 and 2 are available for use in Pro Tools, making it easy to integrate high impedance stomp boxes and other devices. To use MBOX Studio FX Loops with Pro Tools: Connect your external device(s) to FX Loop Sends and Returns as previously described.

  • Page 68: Using S/Pdif

    If necessary, configure the digital monitors for the same sample rate as MBOX Studio. (MBOX Studio does not provide sample rate conversion (SRC) on the S/PDIF output, so external devices must be set to either the same sample rate as MBOX Studio, or have SRC applied at their S/PDIF input (if available).

  • Page 69: Customizing The User Action Buttons 1-4

    Customizing the User Action Buttons 1–4 MBOX Studio features four User Action buttons on the top panel, each of which can be custom assigned and colored. LINK LINK MONO INPT TUNE MUTE TALK MAIN LINE INST INST MBOX STUDIO User Action buttons Each of the four User Action buttons can be assigned to perform two separate functions, one for when the button is pressed and a second function for when that button is pressed and held.

  • Page 70: Using Talkback

    Using Talkback MBOX Studio provides a built-in Talkback mic on the top panel. This Talkback mic can be mixed just like any other hardware of hard- ware input (click to select an Output mix then adjust Talkback), processed with and can be routed to Pro Tools to be recorded. High-pass filtering and limiting is applied to the Talkback input signal.

  • Page 71: Using Loopback

    176.4/192k. Integrating an External MIDI Device MBOX Studio provides standard 5-pin MIDI In and Out ports. These can be used to connect an external MIDI sound module, or MIDI controller keyboard, or other device. If your computer does not have any available USB ports, use these 5-pin MIDI ports instead.

  • Page 72: Reducing Monitoring Latency

    For example, there may be some audible delay between the incoming signal and outgoing signal when monitoring recording through Pro Tools. Low Latency Monitoring MBOX Studio can use the option in Pro Tools to record with an extremely small amount of monitoring latency. Low Latency Monitoring (Likewise, certain Core Audio and ASIO audio interfaces that have a built-in mixer can use the option.)

  • Page 73: Appendix A. Specifications

    Appendix A: Specifications Avid MBOX Studio Analog I/O Input Specifications MBOX Studio Input Specifications Gain Dynamic Input Max Input Level EIN dBu Frequency Response Type Range THD % Range Channel minimum dBu A-wt +/- dB (dB) (dB) 1,2,3,4 0.001 -129 20 Hz–20 kHz, ±0.125 dB...

  • Page 74: Environmental Specifications

    Storage Temperature -0° F to 140° F (-18° C to 60° C) Operating Temperature 40° F to 95° F (4° C to 35° C) Storage humidity range 5 to 95 Non-condensing Operating humidity range 20 to 80 Non-condensing MBOX Studio Guide...

  • Page 75: Appendix B. Compliance

    This equipment has been tested to comply with safety certifications in accordance with: UL 62368-1 ed.3-2019, CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 62398-1:19,BS EN 62368-1:2014+A11:2017, EN 62368-1:2014/AC:2015, IEC 62368-1:2018. Avid Technology Inc., has been authorized to apply the appropriate NRTL mark on its compliant equipment.
  • Page 76 Unique Identifier Trade Name: AVID Model No.: MBOX Studio Responsible Party – U.S. Contact Information US Company Name: Avid Technology Inc. Address: 75 Network Drive, Burlington MA 01803 USA www.avid.com ISED COMPLIANCE STATEMENTS This device contains licence-exempt transmitter(s)/receiver(s) that comply with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s licence-exempt RSS(s).
  • Page 77 Avid is authorized to apply the CE (Conformite Europenne) mark on this compliant equipment thereby declaring conformity to EMC Directive 2014/30/EU, Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU, RoHS Directive 2011/65/EC, and RED Directive 2014/53/EU. Bluetooth Enabled Device Avid Technology International B.V. Citywest Business Campus 4051 Kingswood Drive,...

  • Page 78: Index

    Index Symbols + Cap 51 Fine Control (fine adjust) 44 firmware 12 Floating Monitor window 33 focus (selection) 41 About MBOX Control 37 FX Loops 37 Allow Sends to persist during LLM option 66 settings for 37 ALT 43 using 59 audio connections example diagrams 20 minimal for installation 9...
  • Page 79 Output Mixes for Speakers and Headphones 43 Playback Engine 12 playing tracks 53 Preferences 35 Pro Tools configuring for MBOX Studio 12 headphone mixes 52 , 54 IO Setup 12 launching 10 , 12 Playback Engine 12 recording and tracking 52...
  • Page 80 Technical Support (USA) Product Information Visit the Online Support Center For company and product information, visit us on the web at www.avid.com/support www.avid.com...

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