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Avid revives the Mbox: Pro Tools-friendly Mbox Studio promises ‘more I/O than any other desktop audio interface’

Launched around the turn of the century, Avid’s original Mbox was a relatively affordable audio interface designed specifically for use with its Pro Tools software. Over the next decade, it resurfaced in several guises, before being discontinued.

Now it is back in the form of Mbox Studio. Compatible with Mac and Windows, this USB-C audio interface comes with a one-year subscription to Pro Tools Studio, but is also compatible with other DAWs.

When factoring in the analogue, digital and MIDI connectivity, Mbox Studio offers a total of 21 inputs and 22 outputs, which Avid claims is more than any other desktop audio interface. It features the same mic preamps as you’ll find in the company’s S6L and Pro Tools Carbon system.

Mbox Studio operates at 24-bit/192kHz quality and includes DSP-powered EQ, delay and reverb. There’s also independent cue mixing and low-latency tracking.

For guitarists, Mbox Studio offers variable Z impedance switching on the instrument inputs, so you can change the tone of your guitar when recording direct to complement your effects chain. There’s a handy built-in tuner, and amp emulations come courtesy of the Eleven MK II and bx_rockrack plugins, including stompbox effects.

The assignable buttons are intended to be used by podcasters, streamers and other content creators who want quick access to their most essential functions or to trigger sound effects or bring in other audio sources, and, an audio loopback feature.

Other features include outputs for two sets of headphones and two sets of speakers, and you can also send audio via Bluetooth so that mixes can easily be checked on other devices, a built-in talkback mic.

Other supplied software includes a one-year subscription to the Sibelius Artist notation software and the Mbox Ignition Pack. This includes Brainworx Megadual, Ampeg SVT-VR Classic and many other plugins and tools.

“We’re thrilled to bring Mbox back to the music creation community, who are a very big influence upon Avid’s continuous surge of hardware and software innovation,” said Francois Quereuil, Vice President, Product Management for Audio and Music Solutions, Avid.

“Our re-creation of Mbox is uncompromising,” he continued. “It’s overflowing with an amazing array of software tools and takes advantage of the same high-performance components found in Avid’s professional-grade audio solutions, guaranteeing best-in-class sound quality and production for anyone, from entry-level performers to the most accomplished artists.”

The new Mbox looks like the most capable model. The Mbox Studio is available now for $899. Find out more on the Avid website.

New Systems Instruments has released two new modules: the Quad LFO and an associated LFO Phase Expander.

With four independent LFOs, each of which can have its own expander with three more outputs, the pair gives you a wide range of modulation sources with a small HP footprint.

The Quad LFO is an 8 HP analog sine core oscillator, giving four independent sine wave outputs. Each of the outputs ranges from nearly stopped to about 23Hz, covering the full sub-audio range and just dipping into the low audible frequencies.

Each has linear voltage control as well, meaning that an increase in control voltage gives a proportional increase in output frequency.

While each LFO is initially configured as a sine wave, there are four jumpers on the back to switch between sine and pulse wave outputs. This can be handy for using one of the four LFOs as a clock, or if you just want a square wave LFO for some other reason.

The 6 HP expander gives you three more LFO outputs, in a controlled phase relationship with the LFO to which they are connected. That is, each of the outputs is delayed by a certain percentage of the LFO cycle.

• The first output ranges from 0–180º, or from unison to a half cycle delay.
• The second ranges from 90–270º, or from a quarter cycle to three quarter cycle delay.
• And the last ranges from 180–360º, or from a half cycle to a full cycle delay.

The Phase expander can be useful for creating interesting rhythmic modulations, or when the LFO is configured as a square wave, giving you three phases of a sine wave LFO synced to a clock.

The Quad LFO retails at $239, and the LFO Phase Expander retails at $99. Find out more on the New Systems Instruments website.

Audio effects creator Soundtoys has announced the immediate availability of Soundtoys 5.3.8, which includes VST3 support for both Windows and macOS, and native compatibility with both Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M-series) and Intel processors.

Soundtoys says that they will continue to support both VST3 and VST2 formats for all products for the time being.

This update is free for all users with Soundtoys version 5 or later plug-ins. See user accounts or their downloads page.