ProTools recording session set-up

[hellodave]

Hey guys, total and complete newbie question ahead, so brace yourselves.

I'm pretty much trying to teach myself the beginner basics of Protools. I've got the MBox2 Mini and I'm trying to set up a recording session. I quite LITERALLY need someone to help me understand how to do this set-up.

I hooked up the Sennheiser 416 via XLR to the MBox XLR input. First off, is this not even right? Do I need to go through something else to power the mic? If so, what?

Because after I hook the mic up and open Protools, it doesn't recognize any inputs. I figure I'm either doing something wrong with the hardware or something wrong with the ProTools settings. And I know that whatever I'm doing wrong is likely pretty stupid.

I honestly know very little about this subject, but as an aspiring director, I want to be AT LEAST somewhat familiar with every aspect of filmmaking. I consider sound extremely important and admire those who do it, so I want to be able to understand what they do, especially for when I need to work with them. That's basically why I'm trying to teach myself ProTools to an extent. I just need a little help ...

Thanks a bunch. Cheers.

[Dallas Taylor]

Start by pushing the "48 V" button & making sure it's set to "Mic" not "DI"

You might want to check out the Digidesign LE Forums

[mikevarela]

I'll bite...

Hook up the mic via the XLR cable, which then goes into the mic in on the mbox. hit the 48volt phantom power switch and make sure it's set to mic.

now having already connected the usb to your computer. open pro tools and create a session (new session). set a bit depth (24) and sample rate (48k). now create a new audio track (mono) and set the input of the track to input 1 and the output to 1-2. hopefully at this point some speakers are connected to the mbox, or at least some headphones.

now click the record button, then play and off you go.


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I'd suggest getting the Pro Tools 101 book. it'll explain the basics and help you understand how and why things work.



good luck

[hellodave]

Actually, I did get a PT manual and did all the steps you listed. It's just that I can't seem to get the program to recognize the input. Try as I may, I can't seem to understand why it isn't working. I was hoping I was missing an obvious step or something that someone here could clear up ... but now I'm a bit concerned. It seems I've been doing it right, but still can't get things up and running.

Does anyone know if there's another way to hook up the mic to the MBox? Or will that not do anything? Maybe the problem has to do with the Pro Tools settings?

I'll definitely try the PT forums, too. Thanks, guys.