Avid has unveiled two new hardware peices at AES New York — the MBOX Studio and Pro Tools Carbon Pre. Both are available for pre-order starting today and will be shipping in the next month. Keep reading to find out more about MBOX Studio and Carbon Pre.
MBOX Studio
The MBOX desktop audio interface is back, with the new MBOX Studio. Long sought after for its ability to bring power, simplicity, and pristine sound quality, the original MBOX was one of the most popular audio interfaces Avid ever made. Now reimagined for a new generation of creators, the new MBOX Studio is a fully-featured USB interface solution that operates on both Mac and Windows running not only the bundled Pro Tools Studio subscription, but also any third-party DAWs. Users can easily connect mics, instruments, studio monitors, Bluetooth® devices, and other analog, digital and MIDI gear with 21 inputs and 22 outputs—more than any other desktop interface. For optimal sound quality, MBOX Studio relies on the same mic pre-amps found in Avid’s S6L and Pro Tools Carbon system.
MBOX Studio users immediately tap into a wealth of exciting new tools to support their creative process and expand their production repertoire. Free with the purchase of MBOX Studio are one-year subscriptions for Pro Tools Studio and Avid Sibelius Artist music notation software, in addition to the bundled MBOX Ignition Pack bringing Brainworx Megadual, Ampeg SVT-VR Classic and many other plugins and tools.
MBOX Studio Key Features:
- 21 in/22 out USB Interface with DSP
- 4 mic preamps/line inputs with Variable Z (impedance)
- 2 Variable Z instrument inputs
- 4 additional line inputs
- 2 impedance-switching effects loops
- 2-way simultaneous stereo Bluetooth I/O
- Optical I/O (8-channel ADAT or 2-channel S/PDIF)
- Coaxial S/PDIF I/O
- MIDI I/O
- 2 stereo monitor outputs
- 1 Hi-Z reamplification output with ground lift
- 2 headphone outputs with individual cue mixes
- 2 footswitch/expression pedal inputs
- Hi-Z Reamp Output
- Loopback
- Monitor Controller Functionality
- Integrated talkback mic
- four assignable, dual-function, user action buttons
- Included 1 year Pro Tools Studio subscription
- MBOX STUDIO Ignition Pack software Bundle included
Onboard DSP with MBOX Control Software
MBOX Studio features onboard DSP powering a DSP mixer for low latency direct monitoring via the new MBOX Control software and for powering onboard EQ, reverb and delay effects.
Variable Z impedence on Instrument Inputs
MBOX Studio lets users go further than ever before to find their perfect guitar sounds. With variable Z impedance switching on instrument inputs, users can change guitar tones while recording to complement the effects chain. They can also play through the renowned Guitar Amp plug-in Eleven® MK II and numerous stompbox effects, in addition to incorporating personal outboard guitar effects pedals, reamplifying tracks, and staying pitch-perfect with the built-in tuner.
Elevate audio creativity in podcasts and social videos
MBOX Studio also streamlines and accelerates workflows for podcasting, live streaming, social video, and sound design for picture. For example, users can assign buttons to their favorite functions to inject sound effects and bring in other sources and content such as intro music and voice overs—enabling users to quickly produce more polished and professional content.
MBOX Studio pricing and availability
MBOX Studio is available for pre-order now priced at $899. For more information, visit https://www.rspeaudio.com/avid-mbox-studio
Pro Tols | Carbon Pre
Pro Tools | Carbon Pre is a new, 8-channel remote controllable mic preamp based off Avid's Carbon AVB audio interface. Carbon PRE can operate as a stand-alone mic pre and 32bit AD/DA converter or, can be attached to Carbon via AVB to expand a Carbon system out to 24 analog I/O with 24 mic preamps. This allows users to capture large tracking sessions and multi-mic live recordings delivering impeccable sound quality from capture to output. In addition, Pro Tools Carbon’s extremely low-noise mic preamps have variable impedance, which lets users subtly change the tone of their mics, so they can be confident of capturing every sonic detail in the studio.
Existing Pro Tools | HD systems needing more mic preamps can leverage Pro Tools | Carbon Pre as an eight-channel ADAT preamp expansion unit to scale up I/O. Users can control up to nine Pro Tools | Carbon Pre units in a Pro Tools | HD system, while also tapping into the Pro Tools Hybrid Engine for low-latency input processing.
To help capture impeccable sound quality across the entire system, Pro Tools | Carbon Pre also uses stacked AD converters on each input, while also providing industry-leading double-precision clocking. Pro Tools | Carbon Pre allows artists to optimize and color the tone of mic or instrument inputs with Variable Z impedance switching, so users hear and feel every nuance in their recordings.
Pro Tools | Carbon Pre accelerates audio workflows without the need for users to access the interface to make changes. Artists can remotely control, save, and recall all preamp settings—including phantom power, gain, and impedance switching directly in Pro Tools across all Pro Tools | Carbon-connected interfaces. And, with instant session recall courtesy of the virtual assistant, users can quickly switch between sessions without any delays from manual setup and reconfiguration.
Carbon Pre Key Features:
- Expand Pro Tools Carbon wirth 8 more Mic Preamps
- 24 x 24 simultaneous I/O
- 192 kHz / 32-bit conversion
- Get the ins and outs you need to build out your studio:
- 8 mic/line preamps with Variable Z (impedance) on inputs 5-8
- 2 Hi-Z instrument inputs
- 8 x 8 line I/O (DB25)
- 16 channels ADAT I/O
- Word Clock I/O
- 2 Ethernet ports
- Internal power supply
- AVB port for I/O expansion of Pro Tools | Carbon (sold separately)
- Standalone preamp operation
- Preamp control from Pro Tools
Raising the bar on audio interface performance
The Pro Tools | Carbon audio interface empowers artists, bands, engineers, and producers to record every detail of every performance with the utmost clarity and precision. Built to capture brilliance, this hybrid audio production system features incredible sound quality and intelligent Pro Tools integration that combines the power of the user’s native CPU with the unparalleled performance of HDX DSP acceleration.
Pricing and availability
Pro Tools | Carbon Pre will be available later this month, priced at $2,999. For more information about Pro Tools | Carbon Pre, visit https://www.rspeaudio.com/avid-pro-tools-carbon-pre