Don't call an article a "Product Review" when you really should be calling it a Product OVERview. I don't need you to point and describe the product to to me; there are enough pictures to do that. I wanted your OPINION on the product.
TOTALLY. I freakin' hate wasting my time looking up reviews when I'm trying to geek on something and a good chunk of them are, like you said, simple-no-substance overviews.
Quote:
Said product is the new Mbox 3. OVERVIEWS are glowing based on its slick design, but people who actually took the time to REVIEW it are bombing it across the board (industry pros, not wannabe kids sitting in their parents' houses who pay for the brand rather than performance). Test clips I've listened to don't show any significant improvement from the Mbox 2 family (the preamps sucked so hard I almost cried when I first tried it).
Good to know. I was considering the Mbox 3 Mini as a portable interface option .. but also saw a used Mbox 2 for a decent price. I will definitely get the Mbox2 off my list of potentials. Oh, and for the record, the preamps on the M-Audio Fast Track Pro suck too.
Quote:
Has anyone played with the Mbox 3 yet? Thoughts? The only reason I want to buy it is so I can use Pro Tools.
I've been wondering the same thing. I'd love to hear some voice samples. I did find one sample, but the guy had a noise gate on, so it was tough to hear how noisy the pres are.
I already have an ART MPA Gold preamp, so I guess the onboard preamps aren't THAT important. But sometimes I'm lazy and/or spontaneous and favor on-the-fly recording without having to turn on all my equipment and wait for the tubes to warm up.
I've been looking hard at the Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 (non DSP verison) . . . Have you looked at or heard much about that one?
« Last Edit: Feb 9, 2011, 11:26pm by scottstoked »
shoester Global Moderator Gear Head member is offline
Joined: Dec 2010 Gender: Female Posts: 202 Location: Boston
Re: Speak Your Mind « Reply #16 on Feb 10, 2011, 3:18am »
Yeah, I actually bought the Fast Track Pro and sold it immediately for the same reasons. Now my MobilePre USB is even funnier in that it surpasses both Avid/Digidesign products AND M-Audio products of a higher price range.
My main focus right now is to get more Pro Tools-savvy, hence I've only been looking at Pro Tools LE compatible hardware (sadly only Avid and M-Audio products...you think they'd try harder with their limited selection). I had M-Powered but I lost it when I moved apartments. My mom's friend/my sorta mentor uses the Digi 003 (non-rack version) simply for the Pro Tools compatibility with outboard MIDI and guitar DI rack gear. He never touches any of the sliders or buttons, save for "Mute" to switch between headphone and monitor monitoring (lolol that sounds funny). So really, I just need something to act as the Pro Tools middleman. FUCK YOU AVID FOR MONOPOLIZING PRO TOOLS LIKE THAT.
But like someone in the thread said, you can't completely trust home tests because most people don't have consistent studio environments that are properly treated like in a professional venue etc.
I've also been reading a lot of owner's complaints on a fatal flaw with some Mbox 3 units. Apparently, recording at any sample rate over 44.1K leads to an unexplained drop in pitch and/or speed. Avid has yet to respond to this issue, only replacing hardware as requested. That is...disappoint. I am disappoint. I hardly record at over 44.1K (if I needed CD quality, I'd be paying for proper studio time), but STILL. WHAT IF I WANTED THE OPTION HUH HUH.
Joined: Mar 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 537 Location: Canada
Re: Gear Talk! +Wishlists « Reply #17 on Feb 11, 2011, 11:25am »
Have you been looking at the Profire 610? I spoke to dude at a big shop in the city (he's also a recording engineer) and he said the 610 has the quietest pres for under $500. But he also warned you have to the right firewire chipset. I have a spare PCIE TI firewire card kicking around . . . so I might give it a try. But man, reading on the forums, there are a bajillion complaints about the sucky Win 7 64 drivers (which is what I would need).
In other news, my GAP PRE73 has developed a quiet power supply hum. Ugh.
Anyway, I tentatively add a M-Audio Profire 610 with solid Win 7 64 drivers to my wish-list.
shoester Global Moderator Gear Head member is offline
Joined: Dec 2010 Gender: Female Posts: 202 Location: Boston
Re: Gear Talk! +Wishlists « Reply #18 on Feb 11, 2011, 11:51am »
I use a PC without Firewire ports. I'm fine with USB due to Firewire/USB conversion issues. And I REFUSE to go Mac.
However, my mentor dude just told me that apparently Pro Tools 9 is NOT hardware-specific anymore. Aaaand a quick Google check says YES.
HOLY SHIT. THANK YOU AVID. This should've happened a long time ago 'cause your hardware SUUUUCKS.
Now that the limitations are raised, I might be staying away from M-Audio products for a while. It's all I've been using and I'm getting a little tired. First though, I'm getting a siiick DSLR. My home setup is good enough. In the end, I'm just wasting money constantly upgrading when there was nothing wrong with my old gear. Like I said before, having decent pres in an audio interface isn't that important since I already have external preamps that I can plug through. I just need something that can handle up to 96K sampling rates for peace of mind.
My god, I never thought I'd feel this blasé about gear now that Pro Tools is compatible with any hardware.
However, I might seriously consider PreSonus or Saffire lines.
I'm so lame, the lame half of me is sreaming "No! Don't get a camera. It is too nice for you!" But, I know I'll regret not getting it. I should be getting my Tax Refund back in the next few days, so, when that happens, I found the camera I'm set on.
shoester Global Moderator Gear Head member is offline
Joined: Dec 2010 Gender: Female Posts: 202 Location: Boston
Re: Gear Talk! +Wishlists « Reply #21 on Feb 12, 2011, 7:55pm »
My face exactly. I was looking at the Presonus Audiobox USB versus the Focusrite Saffire 6. My options with Presonus are limited since I don't have a Firewire port...
And Mekky, ALL of me is screaming yes. And yeah, I just said that. Canon EOS Rebel T2i you are almost mine, my sweet!
(Is getting the, otherwise just as good yet a different brand, Nikon D3100.)
I'm a Nikon guy as well, but with both brands putting out equally impressive products, I figure it really comes down to which one feels ze best in hand.
In other news ... I'm a moron, and put an eBay bid on a modded Safe Sound P1 channel strip. It was a lark. With two days to go in the auction, I figured I'd be easily out-bid . . . but I was the only bidder. Ack.
If I like the sound, looks like I'll have some other gear up for sale to pay for it.
Joined: Feb 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 3,627 Location: Fargo, ND
Re: Gear Talk! +Wishlists « Reply #24 on Feb 13, 2011, 7:12pm »
I looked at the new D7000, but that's like 1700 bucks for the body alone. It is, in almost every way, the best camera Nikon has ever made.
But, as it turns out, the D3100 has the exact same "Still image" capability that the 7000 has, for a lot less. So, reaaaaaaally excited about the prospect of new camera.
Joined: Mar 2011 Gender: Male Posts: 537 Location: Canada
Re: Gear Talk! +Wishlists « Reply #25 on Feb 13, 2011, 8:15pm »
Really? I had a D7000 body on pre-order forever and it was around $1,300 CAD. I cancelled the order once they finally told me I wouldn't get mine until around Christmas. My gf and I are booked with weddings for the summer now, so I'll pick it up in the spring to replace the D200 as my main.
shoester Global Moderator Gear Head member is offline
Joined: Dec 2010 Gender: Female Posts: 202 Location: Boston
Re: Gear Talk! +Wishlists « Reply #26 on Feb 13, 2011, 8:37pm »
Haha I get a lot of eBay buyer's remorse too. It just happened with a Gator 6u rack case. Though it was new in box for less than anywhere else I've looked and it will be super helpful for when I move to a new apartment in June.
Really? I had a D7000 body on pre-order forever and it was around $1,300 CAD. I cancelled the order once they finally told me I wouldn't get mine until around Christmas. My gf and I are booked with weddings for the summer now, so I'll pick it up in the spring to replace the D200 as my main.
What ended up happening, is that everyone snatched those up at 1300, and are turn-around selling them for more. I was seeing many-a 1700 for that masterpiece of a camera.
I don't deserve something that nice, (seeing a pattern here?), so, I will be 100% over satisfied with my D3100.
Joined: Aug 2005 Gender: Female Posts: 4,283 Location: Final destination. [No items]
Re: Gear Talk! +Wishlists « Reply #29 on Feb 22, 2011, 7:06pm »
I'm visiting California right now and my friend just got this really sweet setup - he said it was about $70; it's an insulated mini-booth type thing that goes around your mic. My C01U has been working fine for the internet stuff I do but I feel like eventually I'll need to upgrade to a more professional setup if I plan to do more paying jobs from home.
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