MBox noise

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Nordy

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 2:54 pm

Guest

I have a Digidesign MBox, and am encountering a quiet high-pitched
whine when using it with either my desktop or laptop (AMD and Pentium
4). After another 30 minutes of long-distance charges went down the
drain waiting on their phantom tech support, I settled with an e-mail.
So I'll probably hear back from them in a month or so.

Anyone else have the noise issue with the MBox or other Digidesign
hardware? A friend mentioned that he had heard something about a
grounding issue, and as I think about it, I believe that I only have
the problem when the PC is running on AC.

As for Digidesign, I won't rant on and on, but I will say that I will
NEVER buy or recommend this company again. Getting the PT 6.1 upgrade
was a two month process. Sure, the MBox is the LE/consumer hardware,
so I'm not expecting stellar customer support, but every other company
in the world with similar audio interfaces has real tech support,
toll-free.

Jay Rose CAS

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 5:22 pm

Guest

In article <ee85132c.0404261254.375c1d00@posting.google.com>,
nordynord@yahoo.com (Nordy) wrote:

Quote:

I won't rant on and on...

It's not just you, and it's not just that MBox is a prosumer product. My
son is assistant CE at a very large newsradio station, and - among other
things - has to maintain 5 PT rooms. He says even calling as an obviously
professional user with mission-critical needs, their tech support is the
worst he encounters..

--
Correct address is spell out the letter j, AT dplaydahtcom
Clio- and Emmy-winning sound design
Learn audio for video at www.dplay.com

silverking

Posted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 10:11 pm

Guest

In article <SEE-SIGFILE-2604041922240001@192.168.1.100>,
SEE-SIGFILE@rcn.com (Jay Rose CAS) wrote:

Quote:

In article <ee85132c.0404261254.375c1d00@posting.google.com>,
nordynord@yahoo.com (Nordy) wrote:

I won't rant on and on...

It's not just you, and it's not just that MBox is a prosumer product. My
son is assistant CE at a very large newsradio station, and - among other
things - has to maintain 5 PT rooms. He says even calling as an obviously
professional user with mission-critical needs, their tech support is the
worst he encounters..

I'm a ProTools Mix24 user and I don't have ANY problem getting tech
support.

MBox is not pro hardware, is not sold as pro hardware, and isn't
supported by Digi like their pro hardware is.

It's music store stuff, it's priced like music store stuff, and it's
supported like music store stuff. The presumption is that anybody with
an MBox isn't running up against the same timelines as a pro system
running HD or Mix24.

It's like going out and buying a Sony recording minidisc from your local
Sony Store and then trying to get the same kind of tech support from
Sony as their Oxford customers get.......it ain't gonna happen.

You want pro level support........buy pro gear......that's one of the
reasons it costs more.
Simply put, when you buy an MBox, you don't buy 24/7 instant tech
support.

Frank Kruse

Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 3:47 am

Guest

try the digidesign user conference on www.digidesign.com. you will get
fast answers there.

frank.

SEE-SIGFILE@rcn.com (Jay Rose CAS) wrote in message news:<SEE-SIGFILE-2604041922240001@192.168.1.100>...

Quote:

Randy Thom

Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 9:36 am

Guest

I and several people I know have had a problem which sounds like the
one you are having, and it was cured by using an external power source
for the usb hub. If you are using a usb hub you need to avoid
powering it via the usb connection, and instead power it from the
wall. Digidesign and Apple know about the problem, and they are
working on it.

RT

nordynord@yahoo.com (Nordy) wrote in message news:<ee85132c.0404261254.375c1d00@posting.google.com>...

Quote:

Philip Perkins

Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 10:34 am

Guest

Whatever your feelings are in the various religious wars over
ProTools, I've found that their website, and the DUC, is one of the
best things about Digidesign: they really have put a lot of money and
effort into it. Just because you are an MBox user don't be afraid to
post your question on the "TDM Post and Surround etc" forum, since
that is where most of the knowledgeable high-end motion picture sound
people hang out. Many many of them have PTLE systems as well as HD
etc, and are very willing to help. Whatever you think about whether
it is right or not, Digi phone support is a mixed bag at all levels.

Philip Perkins CAS

Jason Miller

Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 11:52 am

Guest

Quote:

Nordy

Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 5:42 pm

Guest

Quote:

You want pro level support........buy pro gear......that's one of the
reasons it costs more.
Simply put, when you buy an MBox, you don't buy 24/7 instant tech
support.

I certainly don't expect 24/7 tech support for prosumer gear like the
MBox. I just don't understand why any other company's tech support
picks up after MAYBE 10 minutes on hold, and that's a toll-free call,
yet Digidesign makes the user pay for the long-distance call and can't
hire enough operators to pick up after a half-hour. In general, I
don't put much worry into a company's tech support because I usually
can solve my problems myself. This seems to be a defect with the
product, and I just want it resolved before the warranty runs out.

Going back to my problem, I still get the whine noise when the MBox is
powered from the built in USB port on my laptop running off battery,
so I don't think that it's my power source. It's constant even with
plugging in and unplugging AC to the laptop. Maybe I'm nuts, but it
seems to be getting louder from when I first noticed it.

Frank Kruse

Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 7:44 pm

Guest

this might sound stupid but did you check your setup for ground loops?
the "increase cpu usage" message refers to the CPU usage limit
settings in your hardware settings. you can force PT to limit CPÜ
usage to a certain percentage. you should check that...

frank.

Jason Miller <filmsound@nospammindspring.com> wrote in message news:<BCB41615.E3E6%filmsound@nospammindspring.com>...

Quote:

There always seems to be some noise emitted in the headphones when I use my
MBox. It gets 10 times worse when I turn on the phantom power. The good news
is that it doesn't get recorded to the tracks. It's just an annoyance in the
headphones.

Once I did have a buzz in channel 1 that was getting recorded. But I haven't
been able to duplicate that problem since.

My main problem is the "Increase CPU Usage" warning that pops up when I'm
using too many plug-ins.

Good luck,
JAM

in article ee85132c.0404261254.375c1d00@posting.google.com, Nordy at
nordynord@yahoo.com wrote on 4/26/04 4:54 PM:

I have a Digidesign MBox, and am encountering a quiet high-pitched
whine when using it with either my desktop or laptop (AMD and Pentium
4). After another 30 minutes of long-distance charges went down the
drain waiting on their phantom tech support, I settled with an e-mail.
So I'll probably hear back from them in a month or so.

Anyone else have the noise issue with the MBox or other Digidesign
hardware? A friend mentioned that he had heard something about a
grounding issue, and as I think about it, I believe that I only have
the problem when the PC is running on AC.

As for Digidesign, I won't rant on and on, but I will say that I will
NEVER buy or recommend this company again. Getting the PT 6.1 upgrade
was a two month process. Sure, the MBox is the LE/consumer hardware,
so I'm not expecting stellar customer support, but every other company
in the world with similar audio interfaces has real tech support,
toll-free.

Marc Wielage

Posted: Tue Apr 27, 2004 10:31 pm

Guest

On Tue, 27 Apr 2004 16:42:38 -0700, Nordy wrote
(in message <ee85132c.0404271542.7ebdfd87@posting.google.com>):

Quote:

A lot depends on WHEN you make the call and HOW you make the call.

Digidesign tech support has bailed me out more times than I can count,
particularly when I was on deadline or just up against the wall with a
problem that had baffled my local dealer's technicians.

I'd give you three pieces of advice:

1) before calling tech support, ask on the Digi user group at

http://duc.digidesign.com/

There's a lot of very helpful & knowledgeable people out there, many of them
working under situations identical to yours, and some may have the answer.

2) if you have to call Digi, call them as early as possible in the morning,
before they get "snowed under" with thousands of calls during the day. I've
been able to get them to answer within 30 seconds, if I call just as they
open at 8AM PDT.

3) there is also a (900) number that I don't have in front of me, and that
will give you higher-priority support, based on a charge of $1 a minute (with
a peak charge of about $30). They don't charge you the money if they can't
solve the problem. I use this if I'm in the middle of a session, and can't
afford to wait more than five minutes for an answer, and it worked the two
times I had to use it (and was well worth the money).

--MFW

Ty Ford

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 4:20 pm

Guest

So I'm off to Texas next month to do audio on a shoot. What's the deal on
gear and SW Airlines?

Do I store the boom in a 4" PVC tube?

Can I take any of it with me on board?

Any and all suggestions appreciated.

Regards,

Ty

Peter

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 5:09 pm

Guest

From the SWA baggage policy:
? Baggage Allowance: For each ticketed Customer, Southwest allows
three (3) checked pieces with size limitations for each individual piece.
? Excess Baggage: Excess baggage will be charged at the rate of
$40.00 each for the fourth (4th) and fifth (5th) pieces of checked
baggage; $60.00 each for the sixth through ninth (6-9) pieces checked;
and $110.00 for each piece checked thereafter.
? Weight and Size Allowance: Maximum weight is 70 pounds and
maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per checked piece of
luggage. Overweight items from 71 to 100 pounds and oversized items
(i.e., surfboards, bicycles, vaulting poles) will be accepted for a
charge, ranging from $35.00 to $70.00 per item. Any item weighing more
than 100 pounds must be shipped as Air Cargo. However, Customers cannot
use SWA Cargo unless classified as a Known Shipper as defined by the FAA
or FAA approved Indirect Air Carriers (IAC). For all Cargo inquires
please call the Cargo Sales and Service Center at 1-800-533-1222.

But note the convenient exception for fish poles. (I think a boom might
pass for this.)

? Fishing rods and tackle boxes will be accepted as checked or
carryon baggage provided the carryon rod fits securely in the overhead
bin when enclosed in a cylindrical fishing rod container. A container
may be purchased from Southwest Airlines for $10.00. When checking rods,
containers may measure three inches in diameter and 72 inches in length.
Fishing equipment includes a fishing rod and a fishing tackle box.

I don't know what their policy is about motion picture equipment, or if
they have one. They've always accepted my stuff without question, though
items over 100 pounds require the item to be taken to the shipping desk
rather than the counter. This is time-consuming at both ends.
And don't forget to bring a snack!
Peter

In article <0001HW.BCB5A6500016AA0FF02845B0@news.comcast.giganews.com>,
Ty Ford <tyreeford@comcast.net> wrote:

Quote:

G. John Garrett, CAS

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 5:40 pm

Guest

Ty Ford wrote:

Quote:

So I'm off to Texas next month to do audio on a shoot. What's the deal on
gear and SW Airlines?

Call em up. But its not SW Airlines you have to worry about. Make sure your
tweakers are in checked luggage or you'll be accused of terrorism. They don't
seem to mind the 2 pound laptop battery that will drop nicely into my sock though.

Quote:

Do I store the boom in a 4" PVC tube?
If you want.

Can I take any of it with me on board?
Probably the mixer/recorder and some mics, I check it all these days.

Quote:

Any and all suggestions appreciated.

Take a deep breath, and plenty of lube.

John

Eric Toline

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 9:43 pm

Guest

Do not expect to be able to carry the pole without a case on the plane.
They (the TSA) will not allow it because you might use it as a
"bludgeon" (true, I kid you not, their words not mine). And never ever
refer to it as a "BOOM" pole. When asked, tell them It's a microphone
extention holder.

Eric

John B., Indianapolis

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:22 pm

Guest

Ty,

As we discussed on the phone -- and I'll repeat here for the benefit of
others -- I did several plane trips recently, complete with sound gear.

After I booked the gig, the first thing I did was search RAMPS for
pertinent back messages. I found a host of helpful post 911 messages.

Some people carried all the gear on, some shipped it all and some did a
combination of both. I'd like to thank all those who took the time to
creat those posts -- I found them quite helpful.

I ended up carrying on all of my gear. I had little problem doing so.
I had a carry-on size suitcase with my short boom pole (at 24"
collapsed, it barely fit in diagonally), a light stand for holding the
boom for long "talking head" interviews, back-up gear and my clothing
and personal items. I put a piece of foam pipe insulation around the
boom pole to help cushion it. In a camera bag I had my main "portable"
kit which includes an SD302, two 210 Lectro sets, Comtek link, etc. in
the Portabrace case with an RM Multi attached. In a side pocket of the
camera case were a pair of Sony 7506s, the breakaway cable set was in
another pocket and a couple of spare cables in another.

The toughest airport was (every time) the one here in Indianapolis --
they always went through all the bags thoroughly. One time the TSA guy
said that I couldn't carry on my boom pole because it could be used as a
bludgeon. I didn't bother explaining to him that I was loathe to use a
thin-walled carbon fiber -- not to mention quite expensive -- microphone
pole as a bludgeon. Instead, I did what I had read here in the archives
that someone else did. I politely asked to speak with a supervisor.
The supervisor came over and immediately cleared the vdb for boarding.
Thanks RAMPS!

Carrying it all on gave me a great deal of peace of mind -- especially
as I sat and watched as the baggage fumblers threw bags onto the
conveyor belt -- and sometimes missing. NOTE: They seem to always put
suitcases on the conveyers FACE DOWN, not on their back. Remember that
as you pack.

John B., Indianapolis -- just back from the track -- listen for my
sounds on ESPN

Ty Ford wrote:

Quote:

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