Connecting A Recorder For Mixdowns; Midi Connections - DigiDesign Mbox Getting Started Manual

Digital Audio
Mbox provides digital inputs and outputs for
S/PDIF format digital audio.
About S/PDIF
S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interchange For-
mat) I/O is available on many DAT decks, com-
pact disc players, and other digital devices. Each
S/PDIF connection provides two channels of
digital audio with 24-bit capability.
To connect a S/PDIF device to Mbox:
Use two 75-ohm coaxial cables with male RCA
1
connectors on both ends (purchased sepa-
rately).
Connect the device's S/PDIF output to Mbox's
2
S/PDIF input port, and the device's S/PDIF input
to Mbox's S/PDIF output port.
Choose Setups > Hardware Setup, and make
3
the appropriate selections in the Clock Source
(Clock Source is called "Sync Mode" in
Pro Tools 5.2.1) and Ch 1–2 Input pop-up
menus.
S/PDIF Mirroring
Pro Tools LE uses S/PDIF mirroring to automati-
cally "mirror" the audio that is sent to Line Out-
puts 1 and 2 on the S/PDIF RCA outputs. This is
useful, for example, if you are monitoring a mix
using your Line Outputs, and also recording the
same source to an external S/PDIF device.
Connecting a Recorder for
Mixdowns
After you record and mix your sessions in
Pro Tools, you may want to mix them down to a
DAT, audio cassette, or other stereo 2-track re-
cording device.
Connecting an Analog Deck
Connect your recorder (cassette deck or other
analog device) to the Line Outputs on the back
of Mbox. Line Outputs 1 and 2 should be routed
to the left and right inputs, respectively, on your
recorder. These outputs are TRS ports. You may
need adapter cables if your mixdown deck has
RCA inputs.
Connecting a Digital Deck
If you have a CD recorder, DAT deck or other de-
vice that accepts S/PDIF connections, connect it
to the S/PDIF In and S/PDIF Out RCA ports on
the back of Mbox.

MIDI Connections

By adding a compatible MIDI interface to your
system, you can take advantage of all the MIDI
features of Pro Tools LE, including recording
and editing MIDI tracks.
Both USB and serial MIDI interfaces work effec-
tively with Pro Tools.
On Macintosh systems, serial MIDI interfaces re-
quire a qualified modem-to-serial port adapter.
This is because PCI-based serial expanders do
not work with serial MIDI interfaces on Macin-
tosh systems. For compatibility information on
these adapters, visit the Digidesign Web site
(www.digidesign.com/compato).
• For Macintosh systems running Mac OS X,
see Appendix B, "Configuring AMS (Mac OS X
Only)" for information on configuring Audio
MIDI Setup and your MIDI devices.
• For Macintosh systems running Mac OS 9, see
Appendix D, "Configuring OMS (Mac OS 9
Only)" for information on configuring Open
Music System and your MIDI devices.
Chapter 4: Connecting Your Studio 35