Digital out

I just bought an Mbox 2 when I try to connect the digital out from the mpc 1000 to the digital in Mbox I get no sound. I tried reading and searching the whole manual and forums and I don't see anyone with the same problem. I already enabled S/PDIF setting from ptools so that the interface is able to receive the digital signal. I was wondering if there is any settings I gotta change in the MPC 1000 so that it sends the main out through the digital out instead of the analog out??? I already used the analog outs and they work fine with the Mbox but I just wanna save me some desk space and clutter by runing one digital cable instead of two analog ones.

I think the MPC always sends to the digital outs AND the main outs, although I never use the digital outs so I can't be 100% sure.

Did you set the clock source on the Mbox to sync to the MPC's clock(probably called EXTERNAL or SPDIF on the mbox)?

Are you using SPDIF cables?

Make sure it's a stereo digital cable, not just an RCA cable which will also fit in the jack. Make sure that the input on protools is set to SPIF. Also you can't listen to it on input, you have to actually make a track and record enable it (at least on an MBOX, not positive about an MBOX2 but I would imagine the same). Make sure you're using the correct input and output jacks (I know that's a no brainer but..) You also might want to restart protools after enable spdif I know I have to do that.

That being said digital sounds better than putting all the outputs of a 1000 through very expensive studio quality Class A preamps. And you can do it in your room with an mbox.

Yes I do have a real digital cable and not RCA's I made sure of it before I bought it and I did enable the SPIF from the setup hardware menu, and I picked SPIF to record into my track. I am gonna check on the morning. There is a couple of things I didn't try such as restarting my computer after enableing the SPIF inputs in the protools and I did not sync the clock source to the MPC. How do I do that? I just got protools 7.1 and since I intalled it I have not reference manuals under the help menu. that sucks I am probably gonna switch back to 7.0. I did not mention it before but I get no headphone signal coming out of my Mbox 2 but as soon as I plug the analog the problem is gone. Man this sucks. I was so excited about getting all my stuff digital. Let me know about any other things I could be doing wrong. Thanks you all.

ps. I only need one digital cable going from the MPC's digital out into my Mbox's digital in right? someone told me that I need two digital cables is that true? thanks again.

I also believe both machines have to be setup for the same sample rate.

the mpc only puts out 44.1kHz and seeing as the mbox is (or should be) using the mpc's clock to sync, then it will be the same.

Set the MBox to "External Sync" or something like that!

this is a geuss but if ur running wiondows and if the mbox works anything like a audiointerface then u might wanna click no its mixer settings in ur windows os or mac os, make sure its enabled in ur recording properties as well as ur playback propertys. look on ur systray and bring up ur mixer

naugie wrote:this is a geuss but if ur running wiondows and if the mbox works anything like a audiointerface then u might wanna click no its mixer settings in ur windows os or mac os, make sure its enabled in ur recording properties as well as ur playback propertys. look on ur systray and bring up ur mixer

that shouldn't affect it. the mbox would be using some form of ASIO driver, maybe a proprietary digidesign driver, whereas windows uses directsound.

yeah listen to joeybells

does the mbox have a virtual mixer (on ur pc/mac)?

if so u need to set it to external sync or something like that

engineer wrote:That being said digital sounds better than putting all the outputs of a 1000 through very expensive studio quality Class A preamps. And you can do it in your room with an mbox.

You can do it without an MBox to, if you internally resample the main outs.

set the chanel to input spdif on the protools mixer....make sure u have started a new 44.1khz session........make sure u have the sdif input of the mpc hooked up the spdif output of the mbox therefore protools will control the sync clock and u dont need to worry about setting up external sync in pro tools........the most import and most overlooked thing is the mpc will onlly output a 44.1khz signal make sue when u start your new protools session it is the right sample rate

I use m-powered so this may or may not help but make sure you pick the right imput on the track. With m-powered, it defaults to analog i/o. Just pick the spidif and you good. I don't know if it's the same for LE and the m-box though.

I would like to thank everyone specially engineer and artworkjamal who help me with this problem. I finally figured it out. I had to play with the in and out audio drivers that are built in Pro Tools 7.1. I also needed to restart my computer to apply this changes. as it was stated above. thanks again. I will be back with more questions in a while!! I promise.