Mbox 2 vs. Mbox 2 mini vs. Apogee Duet

[MusicJoshua]

Hey all,

i am having a gear crisis.

I just invested in a new mac to put together a home recording studio and I am completely torn.

Here are my three options:

#1 Apogee Duet - Logic Express 8 - Fostex PMO.4 monitors.
#2 Mbox 2 mini - ProTools LE - Fostex PMO.4 monitors.
#3 Mbox 2 Factory Bundle - ProTools LE - Fostex PMO.4 monitors.

I will be doing a lot of drum beats, keyboard and string scoring in addition to recording guitars and vocals.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let me know what advice you have!!

Thanks,

~JM~

 

[fraserhutch]

I cannot speak about the pres, but I do know that Apogee's convectors are much nicer than any I've heard from Digi.

can anyone chime in on the pre?

 

[pohaku]

I've not used the M-Box, I have used the Duet. Good enough to make me think about picking up a Mac. Very slick bit of kit. Integrates really well with the Mac and Logic. Conversion is very very good (I use a Lynx Aurora 8 for my regular rig). The pres are also very good as well. They run towards the clean and transparent side for pres, but most people would probably want that in an all in one package. Unless you absolutely had to have protools (I use Sonar for my regular rig) or really need the additional features provided by the M-Box (the Duet is a fairly simple system), I'd get the Duet based on a pure quality of conversion and pre decision. IMHO, having used other Digi products (001 and 002), I expect Apogee conversion to be way better than that provided by Digi/M-audio in the M-Box and I expect the pres are also better than anything Digi/M-audio provides.

 

[valverec]

I've used the MBox 2 mic pres, and IMO they're passable, but nothing great. If you can afford the Apogee, that's definitely the way to go.