There is a confusing array of home recording software and hardware products available to outfit your home music studio, and it can be difficult to keep the various manufacturers and programs straight. While many recording software products on the market are self-contained, a few either require or benefit from the addition of audio interface hardware to translate your musical instrument or microphone output from analog to digital format for computer recording and editing.
Image Line’s FL Studio 9 is one such program available to help budding producers and musicians transform songwriting ideas into tracks and albums. Studio 9 is extremely powerful, with an impressively long list of available features, effects, functions, and software instruments.
Digidesign MBox
It generally works well with your native computer USB and audio interface jacks. Most computers include such standard features, but you may need to upgrade your computer system to get the most out of a music recording software product if you’re using an older model.
Another option is to purchase an audio interface unit, such as the Digidesign MBox 2. It was designed and built for sale with the Pro Tools home recording studio line, and has been sold in a package with a free copy of Pro Tools LE included in the MBox purchase price, but MBox is perfectly feasible to extend the reach and flexibility of Image Line’s FL Studio software.
MBox features a couple of preamps for both instrument outputs (such as electric guitar) and microphone jacks, as well as a stereo headphone monitor jack and a USB interface. More advanced versions enjoy increased throughput and speed with a FireWire connection instead of USB.
The most common criticism of MBox 2 is that it’s priced above its market peers. This is perhaps a result of the Pro Tools exclusivity that Digidesign fostered over the years, but there are equally capable audio interface peripherals available for significantly less money.
FL Studio 9 and MBox 2 are a capable combination for your home studio needs.
Digidesign Mbox 2 Mini Portable USB-Powered Pro Tools LE Audio Workstation
- Professional sound quality (up to 24-bit/48 kHz)
- Two simultaneous analog inputs and outputs
- Zero-latency monitoring
- Compact, rugged metal enclosure for maximum portability and durability
- Powered by USB (USB 1.1 connection, cable included)
Digidesign Mbox 2 Mini, The World’s Smallest, Most Affordable Digidesign Pro Tools LE System Ever!Whether you are a novice or a seasoned studio vet, the Mbox 2 Mini delivers 2×2 simultaneous channels of I/O. It is an ideal solution for creating/recording music in an ultra compact USB-powered audio workstation. Mbox 2 Mini also includes award-winning, industry-standard Pro Tools LE software, over 50 effects and instrument plug-ins, and the Pro Tools Ignition Pack, a collection of powerful tools to get you started creating right away.Anyone who purchased 7.4.2 since October 3rd gets a free upgrade to version 8 (coming soon) as a free download.Version 8 features a gorgeous new interface, dozens of new plug-ins, five new virtual instruments and more!Musician FriendlyMbox 2 Mini and Pro Tools LE software are easy to use, meaning you’ll spend more time creating and mixing music than futzing around with convoluted controls and settings. If you’re new to digital recording and wondering how to
List Price: $ 329.00
Price: Too low to display
Digidesign Mbox 2 USB Audio/MIDI Pro Tools LE Interface
- Digidesign Mbox 2 hardware features superior sound quality
- Four simultaneous inputs with analog and digital I/O
- 48V phantom power for high quality condenser microphones
- 24-bit/48 kHz audio, MIDI in/out, Zero-latency monitoring
- Powered by USB
The MBox 2 has to be the best value in computer-based recording available today. MBox 2 is a USB audio I/O so you don’t need to install any cards into your computer (are you listening laptop users?). It has a simple MIDI I/O (1 In and 1 Out). It works with powerful Pro Tools LE software (probably the most supported software on the planet). If all this isn’t enough to get your attention, Mbox 2 comes with over 50 plug-ins including powerful signal processing from Bomb Factory and winners like SampleTank 2 SE, Reason Adapted 3, Celemony Melodyne uno, Ableton Live Lite 4 Digidesign Edition and more. MBox also comes with Digidesign’s Xpand!, a powerful sample-playback and synthesis plug-in that includes more than 1,000 sounds. Here’s what you’ll love about owning an Mbox: if you start a track on this Mbox / Pro Tools LE system, everything you’ve done will be compatible with the full-blown Pro Tools systems used by high-end studios. This means you can start a project at home and then go to
List Price: $ 495.00
Price: Too low to display
Digidesign Mbox 2 USB Audio/MIDI Pro
- Digidesign Mbox 2 hardware features superior sound quality
- Four simultaneous inputs with analog and digital I/O
- 48V phantom power for high quality condenser microphones
- 24-bit/48 kHz audio, MIDI in/out , Zero-latency monitoring
- Powered by USB
The Mbox 2 has to be the best value in computer-based recording available today. Mbox 2 is a USB audio I/O so you don’t need to install any cards into your computer (are you listening laptop users?) It has a simple MIDI I/O (1 In and 1 Out) It works with powerful Pro Tools LE software (probably the most supported software on the planet) If all this isn’t enough to get your attention, Mbox 2 comes with over 50 plug-ins including powerful signal processing from Bomb Factory and winners like SampleTank 2 SE, Reason Adapted 3, Cleemony Melodyne uno, Ableton Live Lite 4 Digidesign Edition and more. Mbox also comes with Digidesign’s Xpandi! a powerful sample-playback and synthesis plug-in that includes more than 1,000 sounds. Here’s what you’ll love about owning an Mbox: if you starta track on this Mbox/Pro Tools LE system, everything you’ve done will be compatible with the full-blown Pro Tools systems used by high-end studios. This means you can start a project at home and then go t
List Price: $ 495.00
Price: Too low to display