A few questions regarding pro tools

[MSUician]

Alrighty first I have the old pro tools LE 7.3 that runs with windows XP and whatnot, and now I have a new laptop that runs windows vista. So I thought, I could just buy an upgrade for my pro tools that allows it to run with vista.. right? Well I can't install the original program on my computer in the first place to put an upgrade to. So is there a way to do this, or do I have to buy a new version? If so might as well go with version 8.

Secondly, before I have had troubles with the whole volume of my recordings. Would it be wise to buy a pre-amp, along with a mixer because I want one, to get better volume levels?

Thanks, sorry for so much text!

[pezking]

Each upgrade is a fresh installer so you don't need to have the previous version of software installed on your computer.

What is your signal chain?

[MSUician]

I'm assuming, because I'm somewhat new to recording, that signal chain is the input level from the mbox? If so I have no idea and if that is not what it is could you help me with what that is?

I've been looking at the 003 Rack and wondering if this would be a good upgrade from the mbox if I want to get more serious recordings done. The price is a bit hefty for me, but if it is worth it I can scrap together some pennies.

[pezking]

Sorry dude was on autopilot this morning - should have clocked I may need to explain that.

By signal chain I mean basically the path which your sound (both acoustically and electrically/electronically) takes.

So for example:

Acoustic Guitar>AKG C1000>Mbox 2 for example...

[MSUician]

Makes sense. It would be my Yamaha compass acoustic thru an MXL 67i into the mbox mini.

[MessianicDreams]

Originally Posted by MSUician

Secondly, before I have had troubles with the whole volume of my recordings. Would it be wise to buy a pre-amp, along with a mixer because I want one, to get better volume levels?

I assume you're refering to the volume level of your finished mixes, and you're comparing them to commercial releases?

If so, the problem does not lay with the pre-amp, but rather the "mastering" of the track. I would research into mastering and how to use a limiter on your stereo buss (where all the tracks get summed) to increase the average level (RMS in technical terms) of your recordings. You can try playing around with this in PT by creating a Master (found in the same pull-down menu as creating a new audio track) and using PT's limiter - you'll notice the more you compress, the louder you can get the track, but the worse it will sound *in broad terms*.

In terms of tracking volume, you should be looking at having your tracks peaking around -16dBFS. To check this, use PT's own (free) spectoral tool, which will give you a peak level reading.

Originally Posted by MSUician

I've been looking at the 003 Rack and wondering if this would be a good upgrade from the mbox if I want to get more serious recordings done..

THe 003r will allow a number of things:

1) More simultaneous inputs and outpus (a total of 18 i/o can be accessed whereas the Mbox Mini only has 2 i/o)
2) More preamps (003r has 4, 003r+ has 8)
3) Recording/mixing up to 96kHz sample frequency.
4) Supposidly, the preamps in the 003r should be better than in your Mbox Mini. YMMV.

So, if you plan on recording more sources simultaneously than you currently are, or wish to access higher sampling rates, then it could be a worthwhile addition. However, this will not help you fix your first problem.

Originally Posted by MSUician

Makes sense. It would be my Yamaha compass acoustic thru an MXL 67i into the mbox mini.

There's nothing wrong with that chain - if you're looking for a better sound quality, then you could skip the Mini's preamps and buy your own stand alone preamp. Again - this won't solve the volume issue that you've raised.