using an MBOX with garage band '09

Question

Level 1

0 points

using an MBOX with garage band '09

hi,

i have just bought a macbook. it runs OS 10.5.8. i am trying to use an old digidesign mbox (the first model) with garage band '09 v5.9. i have downloaded the digi core audio driver and changed the audio settings in system preferences to use the mbox as the default input and output. i have done the same in audio midi set up.

when i test with a mic i can hear it coming through headphones plugged into the mbox. so far, so good. when i load GB '09 it also recognises the mbox as "digidesign hw (mbox)". with GB running the mbox still receives sound from the mic and monitors it okay. however, the recording level is not highlighted so it is impossible to actually get what's going through the mbox to record onto a GB track. the track just records silence. i have tried looking in the GB help section but to no avail.

has anyone got an idea?

cheers,
htaj

macbook, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Aug 27, 2009 12:34 PM

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Answer 1

poflynn

Level 4

1,303 points

Aug 27, 2009 2:26 PM in response to htaj

however, the recording level is not highlighted

Not sure what this means exactly. You chose the MBox as the input in GB Prefs>Audio/MIDI, selected the correct input in the Track Info Pane, have the gain up on the MBox, etc?

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Answer 2

Aug 31, 2009 6:02 PM in response to poflynn

Hi. I'm having the exact same problem.

"The recording level is not highlighted" means that you cannot click and drag the slider for the recording level, and you cannot check the box that says "automatic level control." They're there, but you can't change them. And the recording volume slider is turned all the way down.

Does anyone know what the problem is?

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Answer 3

poflynn

Level 4

1,303 points

Aug 31, 2009 6:08 PM in response to efotlotras

That's not a problem, that's correct functioning. When an interface is connected the input level is controlled from it.

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Answer 4

speewee

Level 1

0 points

Nov 4, 2009 7:26 PM in response to poflynn

10.5.8 with latest garageband 5.1 with MBOX 1. On Nov 4.09 I did a software update, now i get no output volume or input volume to the computer itself. I get it from head phones from my mbox, but not to the computer. Before the software update It worked great. I've tried upgrading software through digidesign .com, but they dont seem to have one for what i need. any way to get my old garage band back? go from 5.1 to earlier? Or maybe it was the upgrade to 10.5.8. update? Can i go back in time lol?
Any help would be appreciated

BTW
Ive tried all the system sound prefs, and garage band drivers. Back and forth.

cheers

ds

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Answer 5

speewee

Level 1

0 points

Nov 4, 2009 7:49 PM in response to speewee

figured it out. you have to make sure you have 4 i mac efi firmware software update done. Then it'll all work. To get to the 2 levels of mono, turn output driver from GB to system settings, There you can change and pick. Then back to driver GB output.

good luck

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Answer 6

c9ky6qk3

Level 1

8 points

Jan 27, 2010 6:29 PM in response to speewee

Hey - so I'm experiencing the same issue.

After realizing that I had to download version 7.42 of the CoreAudio driver (even though there are later versions, anything past that are incompatible with the original MBox or "MBox 1") and successfully installing the driver and selecting it as my input in GarageBand (Preferences -> Audio/Midi -> Audio Input -> Digidesign HW (MBox)) I'm still unable to get any input signal.

*+Can you elaborate on your instructions about updating the firmware? Like where to download it? How to know what version you need?+*

Thansk!

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Answer 7

c9ky6qk3

Level 1

8 points

Jan 27, 2010 7:12 PM in response to c9ky6qk3

So I resolved my issue. I had to his the "source" button and set it to "inst" - immediately I saw the input bars spike in GarageBand and my issue was resolved!

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Answer 8

bar2k

Level 1

5 points

Feb 8, 2010 1:45 PM in response to c9ky6qk3

I had a similar problem with low audio coming from my Condenser mic. Turns out all I needed to do was to make sure I was speaking into the correct side of the mic. My AT2020 has a front and a back. Duh!!

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Answer 9

Feb 15, 2010 2:53 PM in response to htaj

I just bought a new imac i5 running snow leopard, and am wondering how i can get my mbox 2 mini to work in garageband?

any ideas. . not sure what to do

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