bypassing mbox mini preamp

[rekoj]

hi guys!

I want to use a studio projects VTB-1 preamp with my mbox mini, so I can record to protools LE with the preamp. Is there a way to 'bypass' the preamp from the mbox mini?

Any suggestions on making it work? balanced out from the VTB-1 to the line-in on the mbox? what kind of cable should I use (need to make one)? will it bypass the mbox' preamp?..

thanks!

[Brendo]

yes go into the line in. you may still end up going through all the mbox's gain stages or you may skip one or two, not sure about that one.

tried the duc?

[Audio~Geek]

Since you're going going balance out to balanced in you want to use a .... balanced cable! In this case (because the Mbox2mini has unbalanced line inputs) use XLR for the connections. Standard mic cable.

Keep the gain on the Mbox at minimum and set the level "to tape" with the output of the vtb-1

[Brendo]

augh really? I'd go XLR to TRS balanced because the XLR on the mboxes is, guess what, into the mic pre - which means he would not be bypassing squat, if it is actually possible to bypass at all.

[Audio~Geek]

The other input of the mbox is Line/DI (no button to choose?) unbalanced.
I guess it's a DI if you turn up the gain?

The preamp has both xlr and 1/4" outputs.

now I'm thinking you should just use a TRS cable because those are cheaper than xlr to trs.

[RWC]

Does it have spdif?

http://focus.ti.com/docs/toolsw/folders/print/pcm4222evm.html

a power supply can be found from digikey for under $70

if you're going to use an external preamp, I'd suggest trying one of these. I got it as an experiment a couple of weeks ago and it blows the doors off the shit in the mbox.

I've gotta rent a real converter eventually to compare it to. All I had to compare it to was a digi 002, some presonus stuff, and low level RME expansion cards.

thank you jim williams. :D I can't take any credit for the idea to simply get eval boards on the latest shit directly from the company. this is what companies use when making new converters... the life cycle on this stuff isn't even a year. and a lot of modern converters were made years ago. I wish I had the cash to justify renting some high level converters to compare it to.

[Brendo]

except i dont think it's bypassing squat. notice how the input sensitivity is exactly the same for mic vs line inputs:

http://digidesign.com/index.cfm?langid=100&navid=114&itemid=4962

sounds to me its just different sockets into the same preamp circuit?

[Justin Greed]

For the once a year that I track in LE, I go XLR from my Solo 610 to 1/4 on my M-Box 1, and its MUCH better, than the onboard pre's. They have so much noise that I find them almost unusable, especially when recording an R&B singer who may stack 5-10 vocals. The noise build up is unbearable.

Maybe M-Box 2 sounds better, not sure.

[Justin Greed]

sounds to me its just different sockets into the same preamp circuit?[/QUOTE]


I think most of the noise comes from the phantom power, once that's disengaged the noise floor is lowered significantly. At least that my experience with M-Box 1

[randallfreak]

cool!