Can the MBox be used as an SPDIF pre?

[JeffTD]

I need to pick up a small interface to be a bit more mobile, and the whole ProTools compatibility thing is a plus, as well.

That said, it'd be ideal if the interface could also be used as an external 2ch mic pre to be run via SPDIF into my FirePod when I need more inputs on it.

Can the MBox or MBox2 be used like this?

 

[Metaltastic]

The MBOX2 has SPDIF I/O, so I would assume so, yeah...though since it's bus-powered, I'm not sure whether the computer would like having two audio interfaces plugged in, and also, to get the signal to go from the pre's to the SPDIF out, you might have to route it within Protools, which would mean you'd have to have Protools open while using the MBOX2 as well as whatever DAW you'd be using the FirePod with. Oy...seems like a headache...

 

[Metaltastic]

Ooh, if you had two computers, though, you could plug the MBOX2 into one, open protools, and set the outputs to SPDIF, and then plug that into your firepod, which would be running and recording on your other computer...

 

[JeffTD]

Totally not worth doing all that!

I think I've got what I'm going to do all sorted tho, thanks!

 

[Metaltastic]

Haha, I figured as much, but no problem...it was a fun puzzle scenario to tackle