At AES 2022, Avid has announced the release of a new MBOX. MBOX STUDIO is a 21x22 desktop USB interface with some tricks up its sleeve. Is this a worthy successor to the groundbreaking original from 2002? We have the details.
The widely teased release of this new MBOX. extends considerably on the past MBOXs. The second and third-generation MBOXs were available as a ‘pro’ variant which included additional I/O. The new MBOX STUDIO adds high-quality variable Z mic and DI inputs, built-in DSP effects, guitar-centric features, Bluetooth connectivity, extensive metering, tactile control of software and extensive use of colour into a substantial wedge-shaped enclosure, all for $899. So what is it, and just as importantly, what is it not?
Key Features
21 in/22 out USB Interface with DSP
4 mic preamps/line inputs with Variable Z (impedance)
2 Variable Z instrument inputs
4 additional line inputs
2 impedance-switching effects loops
2-way simultaneous stereo Bluetooth I/O
Optical I/O (8-channel ADAT or 2-channel S/PDIF)
Coaxial S/PDIF I/O
MIDI I/O
2 stereo monitor outputs
1 Hi-Z reamplification output with ground lift
2 headphone outputs with individual cue mixes
2 footswitch/expression pedal inputs
Hi-Z Reamp Output
Loopback
Monitor Controller Functionality
Integrated talkback mic
four assignable, dual-function, user action buttons
Included 1 year Pro Tools Studio subscription
MBOX STUDIO Ignition Pack software Bundle included
With 21 inputs and 22 outputs, this is an interface with connection options, but it’s not just about quantity. The choice of connections are revealing in terms of who this new MBOX. is aimed at. The desktop format, lack of bus power and chunky size indicate that this is designed to be a centrepiece for a small studio rather than something designed to be thrown in a bag and used on the move. But it is the more unusual connections which suggest that with MBOX STUDIO Avid are targeting new users in exactly the same way as they were with the original back in 2002.
Built In DSP
So the unit itself is a smart, relatively large, wedge-shaped metal enclosure with two large encoders on the top and a plethora of meters and buttons with lots of use of colour. Clearly designed to function as a monitor controller and capable of functioning as a standalone monitor controller, the MBOX STUDIO is a USB audio interface with onboard DSP powering a DSP mixer for low latency direct monitoring via the new MBOX Control software and for powering onboard EQ, reverb and delay effects. For clarity, this DSP isn’t HDX style DSP. 4 mic preamps are available, the same design as those found in the Pro Tools Carbon, with variable Z for timbre-shifting experiments.
Guitar Features
Guitarists are extremely well catered for with two variable Z inputs with an added capacitor option on each of the impedance options, which adds a different, tube-type response when in use. Impedances are also addressed in the design of the two built-in effects loops, one of which can be switched to Hi-Z operation, making it suitable for use with guitar pedals. The front panel, as well as presenting two combi XLR connectors for the mic/line/DI inputs and a pair of independent headphone outputs, also houses a Hi-Z output, which shares a path with one of the rear panel FX loop sends, which is designed for re-amping duties.
Bluetooth and Monitor Control
Bluetooth in and out are also available, offering not only the increasingly essential means for streaming from phones but also a way to run mixes out through AirPods or Bluetooth speakers. The expected ADAT ports are available, and monitoring options beyond the aforementioned pair of independent headphone outs are complemented by a main and an Alt pair of monitor outputs and spdif inputs and outputs on RCAs for the connection of digital monitors and the like. The MBOX STUDIO is a well-specified monitor controller with tactile control of source switching, dim and mute and level linking between monitors, so once your monitors are level matched, which the MBOX STUDIO can do, no balancing levels via the back panel controls of your monitors, you can choose to link their levels, so they stay level matched. Indeed the MBOX STUDIO can function as a standalone monitor controller for a larger system.
Control
The two large encoders on the top handle input and output levels (left and right, respectively) and while some of the buttons which accompany them speak for themselves - mute, dim, input select, mono, Talkback (there is an integrated talkback mic) etc., some warrant more explanation. The Tune button launches a built-in DSP guitar tuner with tuning displayed onscreen, and on one of the level meters, the illuminated button with the MBOX Logo launches the new MBOX control software. The row of 4 illuminated User Action buttons are programmable soft keys which can launch any of a long list of predefined actions in the MBOX control software, though, in a future release of Pro Tools, these buttons will be able to trigger actions with Pro Tools itself. Because these User Action keys can have a momentary and a press-and-hold action programmed, there are actually 8 user actions available.
A large part of the functionality of the MBOX STUDIO is in the new MBOX Control software, which controls the built-in DSP, including the mixer. The user interface sets out hardware and software inputs in the top two rows, and the available hardware outputs are arranged on the bottom row. Clicking on any of the hardware outputs displays a separate layer of fader setting for each of the inputs, indicated by a change of colour of the fader caps. Low latency monitor paths can be set up here. Low latency monitoring mode in Pro Tools mutes the output of your record-enabled track allowing direct monitoring and feeding into an integrated DSP mixer, extending the usefulness of this mode. This software also controls the DSP effects, as well as EQ, reverb and delay, are available for monitoring duties; the EQ can be printed if desired. The User Function buttons are set up from here, and settings can be stored and recalled as presets. The central hardware button on the MBOX automatically launches MBOX Control.
Loopback, MIDI and ADAT
Loopback is available, an increasingly mandatory feature in these days of online collaboration, for YouTube and the like. Two footswitch inputs can also accommodate expression pedals, and unlike many interfaces today, MIDI in and out are provided on old-school 5-pin connectors. The MBOX STUDIO can work in a standalone mode where it will pass audio without a host computer connected, meaning that, as well as the already mentioned standalone monitor controller application, it is possible to cascade two units via the ADAT connections allowing two owners to build a larger system with more preamps or using the MBOX STUDIO as a preamp box with a larger system. The most likely application for computerless operation is for the playback of music and instruments, particularly useful considering the Bluetooth connectivity.
Additional Software
As well as the MBOX Control software, the MBOX STUDIO ships with a year’s subscription to Pro Tools Studio, a 1-year subscription to Sibelius Artist and a bundle of additional software over and above the 115+ AAX plugins included with the Pro Tools subscription.
The MBOX STUDIO Ignition Pack includes:
bx_Megadual (Mesa Boogie Emulation)
Ampex SVT-VR (Ampeg SVT Emulation)
ADA Flanger (A/DA Flanger emulation)
bx_bluechorus2 - Boss CE-2 Chorus emulation)
bx_greenscreamer (Ibanez Tube Screamer emulation)
bx_console N (Neve Console channel Strip emulation)
Baby Audio ‘Vibe Box” - Only available with mBox Studio
Gague Lush Vox
BPM Create - mBox producer Toolkit
The MBOX STUDIO is available from November 17th with an MSRP of $899.