quick question

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MRVILLA

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ok give me a break plz if this is a stupid question..i just want to know what u guys think


im going to buy one of these but im not sure which one


which one would u guys get

a Digidesign Mbox Mini USB Audio Interface

or

a Alesis IO2 2-Channel Portable 24/48 USB Audio Interface



thanks for u guys help. i appreciate it
 
I don't have any experience with the Alesis, but it seems that the Mbox is a pretty good deal for the price. I use ProTools through the Digi 002 Rack, which at the time I bought it was Digidesign's cheapest entry option, and it's been a good tool for what I need.

Hope this helps...
 
MRVILLA said:
ok give me a break plz if this is a stupid question..i just want to know what u guys think


im going to buy one of these but im not sure which one


which one would u guys get

a Digidesign Mbox Mini USB Audio Interface

or

a Alesis IO2 2-Channel Portable 24/48 USB Audio Interface



thanks for u guys help. i appreciate it
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I'd have to say, ANYTHING but digidesign. :D
 
i have an mbox mini, but its only used if i ever travel. It's an easy to use interface, but protools (comes with it).... if you dont have the money to buy a better interface, im betting your computer is gonna have a tough time with that program.
 
Pitseleh said:
i have an mbox mini, but its only used if i ever travel. It's an easy to use interface, but protools (comes with it).... if you dont have the money to buy a better interface, im betting your computer is gonna have a tough time with that program.
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Yeah, but also the protools unethical way of doing business. They are the most used program for recording, but they have a trap. If you use them, you basically can't use anything but their gear, which can be hugely expensive.
 
???

I don't understand the anger towards Digidesign. Yes, they have proprietary hardware requirements, but they also have incredibly inexpensive entry-level hardware options. $295 for an MBox mini which comes with the software, that's hardly prohibitive. And used Digidesign gear is pretty easy to come by, so you can upgrade without a lot of expense.

Also, the only way that proprietary hardware would be unethical is if they didn't tell you it was proprietary up front, which they do. Where's the ethics dilemma?
 
Sir_Matthew said:
I don't understand the anger towards Digidesign. Yes, they have proprietary hardware requirements, but they also have incredibly inexpensive entry-level hardware options. $295 for an MBox mini which comes with the software, that's hardly prohibitive. And used Digidesign gear is pretty easy to come by, so you can upgrade without a lot of expense.

Also, the only way that proprietary hardware would be unethical is if they didn't tell you it was proprietary up front, which they do. Where's the ethics dilemma?
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We'll Protool LE, is pretty restricted(like other entry-level programs). So if you want their program that rivals the best of other companies Sonar 7 producers edition, Cubase 4(I know there's many others out there, but these are what i'm looking at), then you need to fork out for a TDM system. And you can't mix and match what you want, it's basically digidesign or nothing.

Imo, Protools LE/M-powered is on a par with Cubase LE(ok it might be a little better, but not hugely). If you want to upgrade, then you're into £/$1000s, and have to go all digidesign. To upgrade to Cubase 4 from LE, is around £170, and almost all interfaces will work with it.
 
I don't doubt that ProTools has some serious rivals, but it's hardly a bad deal. That perspective may be due to my own personal trajectory (4-track cassette to Roland VS-880 to ProTools), but it's a pretty powerful program, and perfectly adequate to any recording project I've embarked upon. That said, I haven't tried every program or interface that's available, so it's quite possible there's a better deal out there. I'm just saying that ethics doesn't enter into it, just quality.
 
Sir_Matthew said:
I don't doubt that ProTools has some serious rivals, but it's hardly a bad deal. That perspective may be due to my own personal trajectory (4-track cassette to Roland VS-880 to ProTools), but it's a pretty powerful program, and perfectly adequate to any recording project I've embarked upon. That said, I haven't tried every program or interface that's available, so it's quite possible there's a better deal out there. I'm just saying that ethics doesn't enter into it, just quality.
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I think almost any of the others' top range programs rival protools. And other interfaces rival their digi ios. It is a powerful program, but so are the others.

Ethics do enter into it though. If you can get the same quality for a lot less, but really like the protools program, then you have to fork out the extra for the digidesign hardware, and cannot use anything else. Once they have you, it's difficult to get away from them.

Also, their protools courses, which you now basically need, to be considered an operator or expert in protools cost a small fortune. One of my lecturers from college last year has been working with protools since the beginning. They actually send him all the updates and gear to check it for bugs etc. He's well known as an expert at protools, and now even he has to go on the courses.
 
"Ethics" is still the wrong word to use. There's no deception involved here, as the hardware dependency is declared up front. I don't see how it's any different than a standalone non-PC recording unit that has its own OS and proprietary file types. As long as you know it going in, there's no ethical problem. The portability of software with different hardware and file types, etc. is a marketing edge, but ethics doesn't exist anywhere in this equation.

Also, I've been using ProTools for several years, and have never had to take any classes. You can teach yourself the program very easily. Perhaps individual studios require certification, but for people working at home on their own, there's no necessity for any of that.
 
Sir_Matthew said:
"Ethics" is still the wrong word to use. There's no deception involved here, as the hardware dependency is declared up front. I don't see how it's any different than a standalone non-PC recording unit that has its own OS and proprietary file types. As long as you know it going in, there's no ethical problem. The portability of software with different hardware and file types, etc. is a marketing edge, but ethics doesn't exist anywhere in this equation.

Also, I've been using ProTools for several years, and have never had to take any classes. You can teach yourself the program very easily. Perhaps individual studios require certification, but for people working at home on their own, there's no necessity for any of that.
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Ok, maybe ethics isn't a good word. But anyway, to be considered for most pro studios, you need to have been on these courses. Obviously with home studio stuff, it doesn't matter.
 
certification

I wonder, and I honestly don't know, if people working in studios that use programs other than ProTools also obtain certification. It may be that because so many studios use ProTools, that's the one we hear the most about. I personally have never been in a pro studio in the past decade that didn't have ProTools. Again, that's not to say that ProTools is the undisputed best (as we know, inertia kicks in after a while), but its ubiquity would go a long way in explaining why there is a certification screen for potential engineers, to thin the flock, so to speak.
 
We might be able to suggest a better interface for you if we know a few things:

1. Where are you(UK, US)?
2. What's your budget?
3. How many channels do you need(drums can be recorded well with just 4)?
4. What spec is your pc?
Any more info would be great
 
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