Mbox Mini User Guide ® Version 9.
Legal Notices This guide is copyrighted ©2010 by Avid Technology, Inc., (hereafter “Avid”), with all rights reserved. Under copyright laws, this guide may not be duplicated in whole or in part without the written consent of Avid.
contents Chapter 1. Welcome to Mbox Mini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Mbox Mini Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 System Requirements and Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Conventions Used in This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appendix B. Compliance Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Environmental Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 EMC (Electromagnetic Compliance) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Safety Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Index . . . . . .
chapter 1 Welcome to Mbox Mini Welcome to the Mbox® Mini USB audio interface from Avid®. Mbox Mini provides your USB-equipped computer with two channels of analog audio input, two analog monitor outputs, and one headphone output. Mbox Mini includes one professional-quality mic preamp and 24-bit analog-todigital and digital-to-analog converters. Mbox Mini integrates with Pro Tools® software, and is compatible with third-party audio applications that support the CoreAudio (Mac) or ASIO (Windows) standard.
System Requirements and Compatibility Conventions Used in This Guide Mbox Mini can be used with a qualified Windows or Mac computer running Pro Tools software 8.0.4 or higher. All of our guides use the following conventions to indicate menu choices and key commands: For Pro Tools installation instructions, see the Pro Tools Installation Guide. Mbox Mini can be also be used with a qualified Mac or Windows computer running any other Core Audio- or ASIO-compliant software.
About www.avid.com The Avid website (www.avid.com) is your best online source for information to help you get the most out of your Pro Tools system. The following are just a few of the services and features available. Product Registration Register your purchase online.
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chapter 2 Mbox Mini Hardware Overview Mbox Mini Front Panel Features Figure 1 identifies controls, indicators, and input and output ports on the front panel on the Mbox Mini. Mon/Mute switch Gain/–20 dB pad switches 1–2 Master monitor knob Mix (Ratio) Signal Clip LEDs Signal Clip LEDs Phantom power (+48V) LED Headphone output Power LED Figure 1.
Signal/Clip LEDs Speaker/Mute Switch These LEDs illuminate green in the presence of audio signal, and illuminate red if the input signal has clipped (overloaded) the input of the Mbox. Clipping the input can result in audible distortion. This switch mutes the Monitor Outputs, without muting the Headphone Output. This switch does not affect recording. Phantom Power (48V) LED The Master Monitor knob controls the Monitor output and headphone output levels.
Mbox Mini Back Panel Features The Mbox Mini back panel has the following features: Line/DI switch DI input USB port Combo/DI switch Monitor outputs Line/DI Input 2 Mic/Line input 1 Phantom power (+48V) switch Figure 2. Mbox Mini back panel Mic/Line (Input 1) Combo/DI Switch The channel 1 Mic/Line input on the back panel provides Mic (XLR) and Line (1/4-inch Tip-RingSleeve) on a combination jack. Switch between channel 1 Mic/Line and channel 1 DI using the Combo/DI switch on the back panel.
Line/DI Switch About Phantom Power This switch selects either the line-level input or instrument-level input for channel 2. When pressed in, the instrument-level input (DI) is enabled. When not pressed in, line-level input is enabled. Dynamic microphones (such as a Shure SM57 or an M-Audio Aries) do not require phantom power to operate, but are not harmed by it. Most condenser microphones (like an M-Audio Solaris) do require phantom power to operate.
chapter 3 Installing and Connecting Mbox Mini To use Mbox Mini with Pro Tools or any other CoreAudio- or ASIO-compatible applications, you must install the Mbox Mini hardware drivers on your computer. This chapter provides instructions on installing the drivers on Mac and Windows, and connecting the Mbox Mini to your computer. Do not start this procedure with your Mbox connected to your computer.
6 After the computer has restarted, connect the small end of the included USB cable to the USB port on Mbox Mini and connect the other end to any available USB port on your computer. If the USB LED on the front panel of the Mbox Mini does not illuminate, try unplugging the USB cable from the Mbox USB port, and plugging it back in. If the USB LED still does not illuminate, shut down the computer, disconnect Mbox and start the computer. Once the computer has fully restarted, reconnect Mbox.
chapter 4 Making Studio Connections This chapter provides step-by-step instructions for connecting mics, instruments, mixers, headphones, speakers, and other devices to Mbox Mini. Connecting Headphones You can use headphones equipped with a 1/4-inch stereo jack to monitor your audio. To connect headphones: Connecting Outputs To hear audio from Mbox Mini, you need to connect headphones or an external sound system (such as powered monitors or a home stereo) to Mbox Mini.
Connecting a Sound System The Monitor Outputs on the back of Mbox Mini support 1/4-inch plugs. These connections can be balanced, TRS (Tip-Ring-Sleeve) style connectors, or unbalanced TS (Tip-Sleeve) connectors (such as those on instrument cables). To listen to your to audio, connect these outputs to any amplification system: powered speakers, a home stereo system, or an audio mixer.
Connecting a Microphone to Mbox Mini Using a Mic that Has an XLR Connector To use a microphone that has an XLR connector: Mic Cables and Connectors Use a microphone with an XLR connector to connect the microphone to the Mbox Mini. The Mbox Mini can only supply power through a microphone cable with an XLR connector. If you are not sure about the phantom power requirements for your microphone, refer to your microphone’s documentation or contact the manufacturer.
Connecting Instruments to the Mbox Mini To use a keyboard or mixer with Mbox Mini: 1 Plug your keyboard, mixer, or other audio source into either the Input 1 or Input 2 (TRS) inputs on your Mbox Mini. If your source is stereo (such as a stereo keyboard or the stereo output from a mixer), connect the left channel (often the white plug) to Input 1, and right channel (often the red plug) to Input 2.
chapter 5 Using the Driver Control Panel The Mbox Mini Driver Control Panel lets you configure settings for your audio interface for use with Pro Tools or other audio applications that support the CoreAudio Drivers (Mac) or ASIO Audio Drivers (Windows) standard. The Driver Control Panel also features convenient links to driver updates, downloadable manuals, FAQs, tech support, product registration, and our website (www.avid.com).
Setting Sample Rate and Buffer Size From the Driver Control Panel, you can change the Sample Rate or Buffer Size setting or access the Hardware Setup dialog for your Mbox Mini or third-party application. Using the Status Indicators Along the bottom-left of the Driver Control Panel are the following status indicators: Hardware Connected This indicates if a properly installed, poweredon Mbox Mini is connected to the computer.
appendix a Using Third-Party Applications The Mbox Mini hardware drivers allow you to use third-party audio and MIDI applications that support the CoreAudio (Mac) or ASIO (Windows) standard with your Mbox Mini. For driver installation instructions, see Chapter 3, “Installing and Connecting Mbox Mini.
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appendix b Compliance Information Environmental Compliance Disposal of Waste Equipment by Users in the European Union Proposition 65 Warning This product contains chemicals, including lead, known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. Perchlorate Notice This product may contain a lithium coin battery.
EMC (Electromagnetic Compliance) Australian Compliance Avid declares that this product complies with the following standards regulating emissions and immunity: • FCC Part 15 Class B • EN 55022 Class B • EN 55204 Class B • AS/NZS 3548 Class B • CISPR 22 Class B Canadian Compliance FCC Compliance for United States This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003 Radio and Television Interference This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device
Important Safety Instructions 1) Read these instructions. 12) For products that are not rack-mountable: Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the equipment. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/equipment combination to avoid injury from tip-over. 2) Keep these instructions. 3) Heed all warnings. 4) Follow all instructions. 5) Do not use this equipment near water. 6) Clean only with dry cloth.
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index C M compatibility 2 connecting instruments 13 connecting keyboards or mixers 14 connecting Mbox Mini to computer 9 connecting outputs 11 Master Monitor knob 6 Master Volume 6 Mbox Mini back panel 7 Mic Inputs connecting a mic 13 Mic/Line (Input 1) 7 Mix (Ratio) knob 6 D DI Input Combo/DI Switch 7 connecting guitars 13 DI (Input 1) 7 Line/DI (Input 2) 7 G O outputs Monitor outputs 8 P Gain adjusting gain for instruments 13 Gain knob 5 H Hardware drivers installing 9 Headphones Connecting Head
Avid Technical Support (USA) Product Information 2001 Junipero Serra Boulevard Daly City, CA 94014-3886 USA Visit the Online Support Center at www.avid.com/support For company and product information, visit us on the web at www.avid.
