M-Audio : The Black Box get a B+ from me.

[RushinSteele]

I originaly posted this here in the wrong forum ...Sorry! Ableton Live 5 on a Monarch Hornet Pro w/Athlon AMD 64 3400+ /1gb/190gb sata Drive running Windows Xp home edition w/SP2. I'm using the Blackbox as my main I/O Interface (USB). It's basicly got guitarist covered from the start and at first I hated it because I didn't know how to use it or Ableton for that matter. I had really bad latency issuses. First let me explain my setup. Most of my drums are wav. files chopped up to create that authinticity but sometimes I do get a chance to record a real drummer in the room. I use an Alesis MultiMix 8 (w/48V phantom & USB) I don't use the USB of the multimix at all .I run straight out of the multimix with a dual 1/4 to XLR 'Y' cable to the preamp of the blackbox (which doesn't have Phantom power for condenser mics) thats one thing it lacks besides multi XLR inputs and a firewire connection otherwise I would've givin it an A+. I mic up the drums with 4 mics and you have to get a good mix right off because there is no individual mixing of the drums after recording because it's all going to the same track which is basicly just like a wav. file anyway. I record the bass with a Behringer Bass Vamp( which also gives me more guitar effects too if needed ) I run the Vamp into the MultiMix out to the Blackbox . So now I have guitar, bass and drums. I record the Acoustic thru a Ultrasound DI into the multimix out to the blackbox and sometimes along with a condenser mic . Of course all Midi is done with my Keystation 49e. and vocals are done with the Studio Projects C1 into the multimix or into a cheap ART Tube mP preamp then into the Blackbox. The Blackbox has become that 1 piece of gear that if stolen right now would stop my production. I had an M-Box , Edirol FA-66 and The 410. All worked fine for inputs but I get zero Latency now with the Blackbox as an output because of the way Ableton Live 5 works in certian recording modes (the 'off 'position) and the mixing controls on the Blackbox go hand and hand. After everything is said and done I master all of it in Cubase LE (the cheapest software besides free software) If you would like to check out my work with this setup .....go to http://www.lonestarmusic.com/album.asp?aid='3010' and listen to the clips. Most of the guitar tracks were done with an SM57 and A fender Blues JR. 1x12 Combo (the sm57 ran into the Blackbox xlr input).

[RushinSteele]

If you have problems with above link go to www.lonestarmusic.com look up "Hog Legg Ellis" The Album is called " Homegrown "