System Requirements - DigiDesign Mbox Getting Started Manual

System Requirements

Mbox can be used with a Digidesign-qualified
Windows or Macintosh computer running
Pro Tools LE software.
Digidesign can only assure compatibility and
provide support for hardware and software it
has tested and approved. For a list of Digidesign-
qualified computers, operating systems, hard
drives, and third-party devices, refer to the latest
compatibility information on the Digidesign
Web site (www.digidesign.com/compato).
Hard Drive Configuration and
Maintenance
It is recommended that you start with a newly
initialized audio drive. You should also periodi-
cally defragment your audio drive to ensure
continued system performance.
Table 2. Required hard drive space for audio tracks
Number of tracks and length
1 mono track, 1 minute
1 stereo track (or two mono
tracks), 5 minutes
1 stereo track (or two mono
tracks), 60 minutes
24 mono tracks, 5 minutes
24 mono tracks, 60 minutes
32 mono tracks, 5 minutes
32 mono tracks, 60 minutes
For a list of qualified hard drives and SCSI host
bus adapters, visit the Digidesign Web site
(www.digidesign.com/compato).
Avoid Recording to System Drives
Although Pro Tools LE will let you record to
your system drive, this is generally not recom-
mended. Recording and playback on system
hard drives results in lower track counts and
fewer plug-ins.
Hard Drive Storage Space
Mono audio tracks recorded with 16-bit resolu-
tion at 44.1 kHz (CD quality) require approxi-
mately 5 MB of hard disk space per minute.
The same tracks recorded with 24-bit resolution
require about 7.5 MB per minute. Table 2 lists
the required drive space for certain track num-
bers and track lengths, to help you estimate
your hard disk usage.
16-bit at 16-bit at
44.1 kHz 48 kHz
5 MB 5.5 MB
50 MB 55 MB
600 MB 662 MB
600 MB 662 MB
7 GB 7.8 GB
800 MB 883 MB
9.4 GB 10.4 GB
24-bit at 24-bit at
44.1 kHz 48 kHz
7.5 MB 8.2 MB
75 MB 83 MB
900 MB 991 MB
900 MB 991 MB
10.5 GB 11.6 GB
1.2 GB 1.3 GB
14 GB 15.4 GB
Chapter 1: Welcome to Mbox 3