Dangerous D-Box

[Hattrick]

I am looking to add a new monitor controler such as the Dangerous Monitor ST but have also considering the Dangerous D-Box. Is anyone using this, and does it do the job of both summing and monitor control all in one box as the device claims at a proffessional studio level?

[GearHunter]

Yes it is an all-in-one 8-channel summing and monitor in one. It has the same quality components as the more expensive Dangerous stuff. So...But do you already have a summer?

The Dangerous Monitor ST is has great features, sounds excellent and is priced very reasonably. If you are a project studio just getting in to out of the box mixing, then the D-Box is dandy.

[Hattrick]

Thank you for the input. Yes I have a home based DAW which is being upgraded to professional level hardware. My goal is to capture overflow work from larger studios as well work with local artist to provide professional grade results. One thing I do not want to do is find that I purchased a piece of equipment that I will want to replace in the near future. I do not plan on doing 5.1 at anytime soon however in a few years I may. Currently I do not have a summing box nor a high quality monitoring box. It sounds like this should be a wise choice to get both in one quality unit. Though my concern is I would be bummed out finding that I should have purchased seperates like the ST and a dedicated summing box.

[drewrevolution]

i want to know too!
i'd love to start some analong summing at that price point.
:-)

[ignatius]

there is a review of the d-box in the new Tape Op. it got high marks.

[Hattrick]

Cool,
Thanks.

[Unknown soldier]

I just got a dbox - excellent unit. I use it to monitor the PT mix via the D/A and midi keyboards/drums via the analog input. It sounds wide and clean. Definitely an improvement in monitoring over your standard mackie mixers - easier to mix with as you have depth of field! Only issue is level control over the various inputs - you need to control them at the source and it can be some juggling to get it all right

Haven't used it for summing yet as I don't have eight channels coming out of PT, but hopefully soon....

[Doc Mixwell]

The D-box is an incredibly useful tool as far as monitoring is concerned,
With the summing section, not only can you use it to SUM back to 2 analog inputs of you’re DAW, but why not use it for another Headphone mix. Simply take the Direct outputs to a headphone mixer and give the drummer or vocalist an entirely different mix!

I have found that when monitoring from the digital output of my DAW via the D-Box D/A converter, nothing is left to chance. I know EXACTALY what is coming through my A/D converter. With only ONE stage of conversion RIGHT BEFORE YOURE SPEAKERS, there will be NO CONFUSION whatsoever.

I really like the momentoggle talk back switch that can function in one of two ways with the front panel TB microphone,

"this guy sux" mode and the "Lazy Producer in the control room, who is not allowed to touch my gear" mode.

When you press and release the button quickly it will latch on. When you press and hold for a second, the TB stays active.

When you have a secondary microphone patched into the back 1/4", that input will always be function as "press and release" so the producer can't tell his artist how bad he/she sux, without knowing it!

Very cool feature indeed!!!

peace
mixwell

[matucha]

what about the built in DA? Is it up there in the middle class with all the bechmark dac1, apogee minidac, lavry da10, mytec.... does it touch avocet?....

[Unknown soldier]

Originally Posted by matucha

what about the built in DA? Is it up there in the middle class with all the bechmark dac1, apogee minidac, lavry da10, mytec.... does it touch avocet?....

I would say it's excellent - a step above a lucid DA2496. It won't disappoint you. It doesn't have the sound of something that's "thrown in" but sounds like it's a main part of the unit.

[1979]

I am interested in snagging a dbox, but I'm wondering how the dbox would work in the following situation:

Let's forget about the summing component at the moment.

Here's how I want to set it up-

1-Protools aux 1/2 foldback + click> dbox analog 1 in> headphone amp> to the artist's cans.

and at the same time...

2-Protools Master buss (digital out) > dbox digital in> speaker selector/dbox control room out> to control room speakers.

Can these two different sources and outputs co-exist simultaneously in the Dbox?

It seems that the block diagram on the dangerous website would say 'NO', but people have mentioned that there is logic switching and 'set up' mode. But I have yet to hear this clearly explained, and I've read the online manual.

I still It's think it's a good deal even If It could n't allow this kind routing
of routing. It would be a valuable tool for mixing. I 'm just wondering if the artist is going to be stuck hearing my 'solos' 'rides' and 'premixing' or I'm going to be stuck Listening to the headphone mix + click while I'm tracking.
Anyone know?

Cheers

[Unknown soldier]

Originally Posted by 1979

I am interested in snagging a dbox, but I'm wondering how the dbox would work in the following situation:

Let's forget about the summing component at the moment.

Here's how I want to set it up-

1-Protools aux 1/2 foldback + click> dbox analog 1 in> headphone amp> to the artist's cans.

and at the same time...

2-Protools Master buss (digital out) > dbox digital in> speaker selector/dbox control room out> to control room speakers.

Can these two different sources and outputs co-exist simultaneously in the Dbox?

It seems that the block diagram on the dangerous website would say 'NO', but people have mentioned that there is logic switching and 'set up' mode. But I have yet to hear this clearly explained, and I've read the online manual.

I still It's think it's a good deal even If It could n't allow this kind routing
of routing. It would be a valuable tool for mixing. I 'm just wondering if the artist is going to be stuck hearing my 'solos' 'rides' and 'premixing' or I'm going to be stuck Listening to the headphone mix + click while I'm tracking.
Anyone know?

Cheers

No, the monitor outs and headphone outs get the same feed - all inputs go to both simultaneously.

[Doc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by 1979

I am interested in snagging a dbox, but I'm wondering how the dbox would work in the following situation:

Let's forget about the summing component at the moment.

Here's how I want to set it up-

1-Protools aux 1/2 foldback + click> dbox analog 1 in> headphone amp> to the artist's cans.

and at the same time...

2-Protools Master buss (digital out) > dbox digital in> speaker selector/dbox control room out> to control room speakers.

Can these two different sources and outputs co-exist simultaneously in the Dbox?

It seems that the block diagram on the dangerous website would say 'NO', but people have mentioned that there is logic switching and 'set up' mode. But I have yet to hear this clearly explained, and I've read the online manual.

I still It's think it's a good deal even If It could n't allow this kind routing
of routing. It would be a valuable tool for mixing. I 'm just wondering if the artist is going to be stuck hearing my 'solos' 'rides' and 'premixing' or I'm going to be stuck Listening to the headphone mix + click while I'm tracking.
Anyone know?

Cheers

To monitor more than one source at time to the Main outputs and Headphone section, simply press and hold the MONO and ALT SPK to go into setup mode where you can select more than one input source to monitor.

You could use the SUM direct outputs for your Artist, although you would not have the facility of the TB through the summing section direct outputs.

hope this helps,
mixwell

[1979]

Thanks Boys. Still a nice piece in my opinion, still gonna score one soon.

Cheers

[Hattrick]

I ordered one from Adam at Mercenary Sounds and look forward to the addition to my DAW.

[dwall]

I'm interested in this unit as well, specifically for summing. However, I have a concern in that I currently use a Fireface 400 (with a PC) as my interface and for all conversion. It doesn't have the greatest DA conversion, so would it really make all that much sense to get a summer without getting a better way to convert 8 tracks of digital to analog?

I do have a DA-38, and thought about using that. I wonder if it's DAC would be any better than the Fireface's.

I thought about getting a Lynx Aurora as well, but currently I'm only looking for a mixing solution and am really hoping that someone will tell me "well, the Fireface does't have the best DAC, but using a summer will still give appreciable better results than summing in the box."

Any input on this would be very welcome.

[ejsongs]

i would get one tmorrow but it has no remote...which makes it not an option.

ej

[Unknown soldier]

Originally Posted by dwall

I'm interested in this unit as well, specifically for summing. However, I have a concern in that I currently use a Fireface 400 (with a PC) as my interface and for all conversion. It doesn't have the greatest DA conversion, so would it really make all that much sense to get a summer without getting a better way to convert 8 tracks of digital to analog?

I do have a DA-38, and thought about using that. I wonder if it's DAC would be any better than the Fireface's.

I thought about getting a Lynx Aurora as well, but currently I'm only looking for a mixing solution and am really hoping that someone will tell me "well, the Fireface does't have the best DAC, but using a summer will still give appreciable better results than summing in the box."

Any input on this would be very welcome.

I plan on getting an 002 or 003 to find out myself. If the on board converters aren't up to par, you can get an external high end D/A via the adat port. But all this would cost around $2K, so it's not cheap to go this route. Or do the BLA mod....any of this worth it for 8 channels of summing? Have no idea...

Here's another thing about the Dbox - you can actually use one of the speaker outs as a "master out", so the analog, digital, and summing inputs can all be mixed together in realtime. That means 10 tracks from pro tools (2 spdif, eight analog), and 2 more tracks from the analog input (PT, midi, etc.) You have to turn up the volume knob all the way to get unity gain, and that does add a little noise as expected (But the Dbox is VERY quiet overall!). This method adds some flexibility with summing, but it may have some drawbacks as well.

[dwall]

What is the "BLA mod"?

[dwall]

Yeah, it seems like it'd make more sense to upgrade my a/d/a conversion and interface etc... before getting into otb summing. Maybe next year.

[Unknown soldier]

Originally Posted by dwall

What is the "BLA mod"?

You can mod your 002 or 003 with upgraded performance...

Black Lion Audio Home

[stamand]

Do you know if the remote from the dangerous st is compatible???

[RACKMAN]

I had one for a demo and just running audio through the anolog in to my speakers[adam a7s] it was brighter then the source. This was a deal breaker for me. Stayed with my coleman. Dave

[russellwolff]

i have been using one...

THRILLED with the unit.

D/A is stellar and clean... headphone amps astounding and quiet...

etc, etc, etc

[WrightSound]

Originally Posted by Hattrick

I am looking to add a new monitor controler such as the Dangerous Monitor ST but have also considering the Dangerous D-Box. Is anyone using this, and does it do the job of both summing and monitor control all in one box as the device claims at a proffessional studio level?

I have the Dangerous 2 Bus and love it. Great gear, great people behind it. If that's any help.

[IAMGI Services]

D-Box D/A vs Lavry DA10. Any comments??

[Baz]

Originally Posted by russellwolff

i have been using one...

THRILLED with the unit.

D/A is stellar and clean... headphone amps astounding and quiet...

etc, etc, etc

Same. And I've had the [privilege] to have used the Avocet quite extensively for comparison sake. I'm currently feeding the DBox via spdif from my FF400 and have to say that it's all I could want for and I haven't even used the summing yet. The headphone amps might be the best I've ever used.

[chavernac]

I got a d-box too.
It works perfect. It sounds professional.