Mbox with Pro Tools LE 5.3.3 for Windows XP Requirements

Digidesign Hardware Supplied with System

  • Mbox (firmware v20 or higher required)
  • USB Cable

Digidesign Software Compatibility

Control Surfaces & MIDI Interfaces

Optional Digidesign Hardware

Hard Drive Minimum Requirements

Qualified SCSI HBA Cards

Third-Party Video Capture Cards

  • Playback within Pro Tools is only supported via the computer monitor. Hardware Codecs are not supported. Use a third party application and card to capture video and import the video into Pro Tools. For the best performance use Avid CODEC DV files created by Avid Express DV.

Performance Guidelines

  • Recording to the system startup drive is not recommended or supported
  • For desktop models, a separate internal or external dedicated audio hard drive is highly recommended for maximum performance and track count (see Hard Drive Minimum Requirements)
  • Although limited recording and playback of audio tracks may be possible using the internal drive in laptop models, a separate external dedicated audio hard drive is highly recommended for maximum performance and track count. Digidesign recommends the use of FireWire drives for use with these computers. (see DigiDrive FireWire 80 Requirements)
  • Turn off or unplug any unnecessary USB devices when using Mbox
  • The Mbox should be connected using the included USB cable directly to the computer's USB port. Connection of the Mbox to a USB hub is not supported.

Maximum Performance Guidelines
To provide full 32-track, 24-bit performance on Pro Tools LE with high edit densities and the maximum number of Plug-Ins follow these guidelines:

  • Intel Pentium 4 or Xeon Single Processor
  • AMD Athlon XP with pure VIA chipset
  • Performance and the number of Plug-Ins will vary from PC to PC; however, faster processor speeds produce better results
  • Total System RAM: 384 MB or higher
  • File System (all drives): FAT32 or NTFS
  • Also note that we have seen better performance on computers that have less components attached and non-custom versions of the BIOS or Windows XP

Digidesign ASIO Driver

Supported CPU Models & Speeds

  • Intel Pentium 4 or Xeon - Processors with 1.3 GHz speeds or higher supported, Single Processor
  • Intel Pentium III - Processors with 500 MHz speeds or higher supported, Single Processor
  • AMD Athlon XP - Processors of all speeds supported, Single Processor
  • AMD Athlon Thunderbird - Processors of all speeds supported, Single Processor

Additional Computer Requirements

  • System Software: Windows XP Professional or Home Edition
  • Windows XP Service Pack 1 Required
  • Pro Tools LE 5.3.3 can NOT be installed on systems running Windows 98, Me, 2000, NT, 95, or 3.1
  • Windows XP Settings & Requirements
  • Total System RAM: 256 MB
  • Additional RAM required for simultaneous use with MIDI sequencers, extensive use of plug-ins, better video playback performance, high edit density sessions, and laptop computers
  • Intel chipset (with Intel processors)
  • Pentium 4 or Xeon systems with HyperThreading technology must have "Intel HyperThreading" in the system BIOS disabled.
  • VIA or NVIDIA nForce chipset (with Athlon processors)
  • ATX motherboard
  • CD-ROM drive for software install
  • Monitor, color required, minimum resolution of 1024 x 768
  • 4GB hard drive space dedicated for audio (minimum)
  • For maximum performance a separate Digidesign Qualified ATA/IDE, SCSI or Firewire Drive dedicated for audio is required

Apple QuickTime v6.0 recommended

  • Required only on systems using video
  • AGP graphics card with 16 MB or more video RAM required for movie playback
  • Available at www.apple.com/quicktime

Known Incompatibilities
Caution - Mbox is NOT supported on the following systems or systems with the following components:

  • Dell Inspiron and Dell Latitude line of laptop computers
  • Computers with motherboards containing SiS (Silicon Integrated Systems) chipsets
  • Computers with motherboards containing mixed chipsets from AMD plus VIA combined
  • "ESS Solo-1 PCI AudioDrive" Sound, video and game controller. This device can be disabled from the "Device Manager" in the "System" Control Panel.
  • SampleCell II PCI cards and SampleCell Editor are not compatible with Windows XP
  • The Digidesign WaveDriver does not support Avid Xpress DV or certain other DirectSound applications that require advanced DirectSound capabilities
  • Pro Tools LE 5.3.3 is specific to the Mbox. It will not work with any other Digidesign or third party hardware or in standalone without the Mbox connected.

Need Advice on a Computer Purchase?

Be sure to check out the Pro Tools LE Windows section of the Digidesign User Conference for computer recommendations from other Pro Tools LE users.

Disclaimer: Digidesign can not verify that the information in this forum will provide full functionality or performance. Please refer to these Compatibility Documents for Digidesign's official system requirements.

Mbox Systems Product Information