Pro Tools 8 users

I'm a Pro Tools virgin, and was wondering if there is a way to listen to what I recorded without having to listen to it through the Mbox with my headphones on. I have an Mbox 2 Pro and running it with Pro Tools 8. I also have an MPC 2500 and a 12 channel mixer and 2 Rokit 5 monitors. Would I need to buy cables for my monitors to hook up to my Mbox to be able to listen to the recorded audio session from Pro Tools? It seems like that would make sense... If so, what kind of cables and how many?

Also, is there a way to hook the Mbox 2 up to my mixer and record from there instead of hooking it up directly to my MPC?

I forgot to mention that I'm a Mac user if that helps.

Crikey! I just figured it out. I found some extra TRS cables lying around. I hooked the TRS cables up to the back of the Mbox 2 where it says "Mon Out". Just plugged them into those 'Left' and 'Right' inputs. And from there I plugged the other ends of the cables to the 'Balanced' inputs on the back of my Rokit 5 monitors. So cables are going from my Mbox 2 to my 2 monitors.

My MPC 2500 is connected to my Mbox 2 via the 'Input 1' and 'Input 2' on the back. I got TRS cables going into those 'Line (TRS)' inputs. And since my Mbox 2 is connected to my speakers it picks up what the MPC plays. Thus, getting recorded into the computer via Pro Tools. And whatever Pro Tools plays back I get to hear from my monitors instead of my dang headphones. I forgot to mention the only thing I got plugged into my mixer are my monitors via the left and right Main Out inputs. Sorry for using the word 'via' alot, I know it sounds gay.

Two birds with one stone baby. Two birds with one stone.

Just a quick update, even though this thread is kind of old:

Turns out I don't even need my mixer at all. It's just the MPC, my 2 monitors, and my Mbox 2 Pro. I have my MPC hooked up directly to my Mbox 2 Pro. TRS cables are going from my MPC stereo outs to the Line inputs on the back of the Mbox. And the Mbox is connected to my 2 monitors. On the back of the Mbox 2 where it says 'Mon Out' I have TRS cables plugged into the Left and Right inputs. And from there the other ends are going into each 'balanced' input on my monitors. I also forgot to mention the midi hookups! I have a midi cable going from the IN of the Mbox into the OUT of the MPC, and IN from the MPC into the OUT of the Mbox. This way when you hit the play button in Pro Tools it triggers your MPC to start playing. Same goes for recording.

Hopefully this helps someone out. I'm just happy to have figured this out and am now able to track my beats into Pro Tools 8 with no problems at all.

Have you tried sequencing sounds from pt8 on the mpc 2500 sequencer? Say like using pt8 as a sound module.

Sharod wrote:Have you tried sequencing sounds from pt8 on the mpc 2500 sequencer? Say like using pt8 as a sound module.

I knew Pro Tools has a sound bank but I haven't figured out how to use it yet. After tracking a beat I was gonna try plugging a USB midi keyboard in and just go from there. Like if I record my kick, snare, hi hat, and sample sequence from the MPC into Pro Tools, I'd just go into the Pro Tools sound bank and find a dope bass sample and bang out a dope sequence directly into Pro Tools using the USB midi keyboard.

It sounds to me like you want to use the sounds from Pro Tools to play on the MPC instead. It wouldn't make sense to take sounds from Pro Tools to play on your MPC. Then turn around and re-record those sounds back into Pro Tools.

Of course once I figure everything out I'll be sure to update you guys.

xmpc9000XL wrote:

Sharod wrote:Have you tried sequencing sounds from pt8 on the mpc 2500 sequencer? Say like using pt8 as a sound module.

It sounds to me like you want to use the sounds from Pro Tools to play on the MPC instead. It wouldn't make sense to take sounds from Pro Tools to play on your MPC. Then turn around and re-record those sounds back into Pro Tools.

No not take sounds from pro tools but sequence sounds (as if it was a sound module) from pt8. A lot of people run the mpc an software together like say reason & mpc because the sequencer in the mpc's are easier.