Topic: question about mbox and USB stability

[firmdragon]

since i've lost confidence in the reliability of my soundcard, i'm thinking about getting an mbox for the dual use of transferring my dats and possibly mobile recording.

i was wondering how hard is it to drop frames/incur wanted digi-artifacts when you're transferring via USB 1.1.  (drop frames probably isn't the correct term, i've been doing more video than audio lately)  this is the main problem i've been having w/ transferring audio.  but i don't have problems w/ transferring videos via firewire. (yes i realize that firewire is a helluva lot faster than usb 1.1)

[TNJazz]

For 2 channels at a time (even at 24bit) the Mbox is solid.  The terribly limited USB 1.1 spec is still more than enough to handle the throughput. 

Digi has released the Mbox2 recently, which (BELIEVE IT OR NOT) is also USB 1.1!!  Not sure what they were thinking in not utilizing USB 2.0, but hey it still works.

Video is a lot more intensive than audio, so dropped frames would be common on a USB1 interface.  Audio 2-4 channels (simultaneously) should be OK though.

Dirk

[db]

since i've lost confidence in the reliability of my soundcard, i'm thinking about getting an mbox for the dual use of transferring my dats and possibly mobile recording.

i was wondering how hard is it to drop frames/incur wanted digi-artifacts when you're transferring via USB 1.1.  (drop frames probably isn't the correct term, i've been doing more video than audio lately)  this is the main problem i've been having w/ transferring audio.  but i don't have problems w/ transferring videos via firewire. (yes i realize that firewire is a helluva lot faster than usb 1.1)

1.1.vs. 2.0 should not matter. the only concern mentioned in the book is that you use a dedicated usb port as they say it might not work properly via a hub. also you do need a minimun of 512 memorywise, although i'd go higher if you can. as is normal, it works flawlessly on my os x machine via a 2.0 port. but as is also normal is freaks out on my older version of xp (xtra problems) -- i have not updated to sp2  yet ... (the entire windows configuration would be laughable, were it not such a giant pain in the ass). if you do not need protools, as is over-kill for most, a better option would be the firewire 410 (i think that the model). it's spdf in > firewire > recording program.

[firmdragon]

thanks for your advice guys.  i pulled the trigger and i love my new toy!

[nic]

For 2 channels at a time (even at 24bit) the Mbox is solid.  The terribly limited USB 1.1 spec is still more than enough to handle the throughput. 

Digi has released the Mbox2 recently, which (BELIEVE IT OR NOT) is also USB 1.1!!  Not sure what they were thinking in not utilizing USB 2.0, but hey it still works.

weird...all the literature and even the package printing says the mbox2 is usb 2.0