Mbox 2 or Lexicon Omega?

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RamseyA

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I'm new to home recording so I don't know much and I also have no hardware yet. I was thinking about getting a Lexicon Omega and an AKG Perception 200 mic for about $300 total then later getting studio monitors for about $100 more.

I then saw something on musician's friend where it's a bundle with Digidesign Mbox 2 Factory Bundle, AT2020 Mic, and Fostex PM0.4 studio monitors, plus cables and a mic stand for $680.

As the Mbox 2 itself seems to be going for $550 or so, this would seem like a great deal. Is the Mbox bundle worth the $280 premium over the Lexicon/Mic/Monitors I was looking to buy separately? Or would I be better off with the Lexicon?

Help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
This is not a "Which hardware?" decision, but a "ProTools or not?" decision. You will be locked into ProTools with the MBox.
 
fuzzrhythm said:
This is not a "Which hardware?" decision, but a "ProTools or not?" decision. You will be locked into ProTools with the MBox.
Click to expand...

I love this statement...it gets posted around here all the time.
Buying the Mbox "locks you into using PT for the rest of your life!!!"

lol

The Mbox works with all other major audio programs
 
And although I'm not a Pro Tools guy like Benny, I'll say GET THE MBOX. Its the only USB device I'd even think of considering. And that Lexicon happens to be about the worst of the bunch. I'll second his correct statement, you can use it with whatever you want. You just get Pro Tools LE software with it.
 
I also say go with the Mbox 2. You get solid hardware and the leading recording software as well, there's no comparison really.
 
Stay the HELL away from any Lexicon interfaces. Fair warning.
 
So is it worth the $280 premium though? I mean if MBox is good but Lexicon is alright, the difference might not be big enough for $280. You're saying the difference in quality is worth $280? The Omega is bad?

I did see things about the Omega not always working, having driver issues, and the phantom power is bullshit but other reviews praised it so I don't know.
 
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Also, the same retailer has an MBox 2 (Not Factory) bundle for $600 as opposed to $680 with everything else the same except, as far as I can tell, the cheaper Mbox bundle doesn't have some plugins that the Factory edition has.

I don't think the plugins are worth it (tell me if I am wrong) so that does bring the price down so I re-ask... Is the MBox 2 worth a $200 premium over the Omega?

And actually, I can get the cheaper MBox 2 for $425 somewhere else. If I get it separate, I won't be stuck with an AT2020 and these monitors (which retail at $150). I was thinking about an AKG Perception 200. Is the AKG better for recording hip hop and r&b vocals than the AT2020?

I know I have a lot of questions but I'm trying to learn as much as possible and this seems like the best site for it.

thanks
 
Put simply, yes. You get what you pay for. With the Lexicon, you don't. You get a shoddy interface that requires you to use ASIO4ALL to get usable results - and even then, it's pretty much a shot in the dark if it's actually going to work or not.
 
It says the MBox 2 is not compatible with Vista. Are there going to be any drivers or anything to make it compatible?

I currently have XP but I'll be getting a new computer soon.
 
Get an Mbox. Not vista compatible?

http://www.digidesign.com/index.cfm?navid=48&itemid=24626&langid=100

Looks like LE and Mpowered are, but not HD. You can use any recording software with the Mbox, but not any hardware with Pro tools. So if you get an mbox you can have that choice.

However;

Don't say the v word unless you want to go round in circles for hours talking about o/s's.

IMHO stick with XP because it works well, and there is a big knowledge base of known issues. With vista its still uncharted terriority. Which doesn't matter, unless you're trying to make music and not sit around troubleshooting your pc.

If you feel like beating your head against a wall, go read

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=255008
 
So the MBox hardware should be compatible it's just that the software might not necessarily be?
 
Follow that link and read the information again--both the hardware and software are compatible with Vista. You're buying an LE system, not HD.

The AT2020 is a good mic for the money, an excellent value.

Either the $600 MF bundle or the $680 bundle look like pretty good deals to me. If the extra $80 doesn't bother you, you might as well go for the extra plugins. The $680 bundle comes with an iLok key as well, which bought separately does cost money.
 
Yeah I did read that but guitarcenter's website said the MBox 2 is not Vista compatible so it didn't make sense but I guess they haven't updated their listing.

I guess MBox 2 is what I should get. Now I'm just wondering about the bundle though. I looked up the AT2020 and I saw places where it said it was at best a mediocre vocal mic but good for instruments. Is the (slightly more expensive) AKG Perception 200 a better vocal mic?

sorry for all the questions. This should be the last one.
 
Go to Digi's web site and check the compatibility yourself, it's important to do that. If they say it is compatible, then it should work fine. That's been my experience anyway.

Also, make sure the Mbox 2 bundle you get comes with, or can be upgraded to ProTools 7.4 (the latest version). Normally that should be the case, but just double check because I think you need 7.4 to work with Vista. Again, follow that link about and read it carefully!

I don't know about that AKG mic. In reality, anything you are getting in that budget range is going to be about the same. Once you have a working setup, you might want to start saving for a better vocal mic. But that will certainly cost you more than $160!
 
Any system you're buying that is new from a retailer should come with 7.4.

The one thing you may want to watch out for... read digidesign's pc compatibility stuff carefully. Protools is VERY picky about what it needs to run and run well on a pc. This caused me to abandon protools on pc back in the digi001 days. Now that I have a mac I've switched back to PT (mbox 2 pro factory) and have been happy so far.

As for factory or not factory... its an $80 difference, not a ton of money, but that $80 gets you some NICE plugins. You'll definitely like having these once you start learning more about mixing. I'd definitely recommend going factory.
 
bennychico11 said:
I love this statement...it gets posted around here all the time.
Buying the Mbox "locks you into using PT for the rest of your life!!!"

lol

The Mbox works with all other major audio programs
Click to expand...

Sorry, I thought ProTools hardware and software would only work with each other. My bad.
 
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