The problem is not compatibility, but your computer's ability to handle both at the same time. I'd say with the computer you have, you shouldn't have any problems. You'll just going to have to try it and see.

Ok, but unfortuntately, software such as pro tools is not returnable. So, I guess basically, I am wondering if anyone knows the answer to the following question and has feed back and advice as to the second one:
(1) Does pro tools itself have the capacity to convert wav files into mp3s, or does one need a whole separate program to do that; and,
(2) In general what advice do people have as to getting their records and mixes from a multi-track program into mp3 format as cleanly as possible, and WHICH multi-track program do people think is the best value?

Sound Forge

had it since 1998
It can save to mp3 with the mp3 plug in

Protools.

Does not have the ability (right out of the box) to export as MP3, I believe you can purchase a plug in. But my advice would be to use the LAME encoder after you have recorded your tracks (its free).

Protools works fine, but you can't use the MBOX and SSL at the same time. Mbox uses 40% of the USB bus/bandwaith?? (don't know the correct term) and ssl uses 75%, which equals well over 100%, so you can't use both at the same time unfortunately - at least not on my computer (p4 3.06ghz laptop, 1g of ram), so I am assuming that its the same for every other computer.

When this first happened I thought it was because both units were being powered by USB, so I bought the adapter from radio shack, to no avail, still won't work.

btw, if you need a muli-track just to record tracks and layer elements over top, audacity should do the trick and its free (more importantly-its legal), however you are at the mercy of your sound cards a/d converters

soundforge is good like DJ X suggests, but its not a multi-track sequencer, and you need an mp3 plug-in, at least for the version I bought.

good luck

use sound forge 8 and lame encoder

Thanks everyone. I have a follow up:
IS THERE A MULTI-TRACKING PROGRAM ROUGHLY EQUAL TO PRO TOOLS THAT CAN BE RUN CONCURRENTLY WITH SSL so that one can record multi track sessions into the program from SSL?

Yes.

I use Digital performer 4.6. I play my MP3's in SSL off my root drive, and I record my Digital performer project on an external drive. I have a superslim 2.5" IDE/Firewire based external drive @ 5400rpm.

Works like a charm.

I had problems recording at the same time while running SSL when i didnt not have the external drive. My computer would give me an error about the harddrive RPM's [or performance] not being fast enough .

so... maybe you CAN run pro tools at the same time as SSL if you try to record to an external drive. NOt sure though. I have never tried a USB external drive, only firewire.

oops... i forgot that digital performer does not come out for PC.

sorry.. maybe try 'adobe audition'? and an external drive.

Check out Audacity. As far as I know you can multi-track record with it......and.......it's free! audacity.sourceforge.net

I don't blame you for wanting to use pro tools - do you have a laptop or desktop? If you have a desktop you could simply purchase a used digi 001 instead of a new mbox, they go for slightly higher but they are 8 in and out opposed to 2. It's also pci based which would cure the usb bus issue, the only thing you would be losing are the nice mic pre amps on the mbox (made by focusrite), but you would be gaining 8 ins and outs and the mic pre's on the digi arn't bad. As far as cpu, I think you would be fine as you have a pretty fast computer and ssl (on my computer) uses like 20% of the cpu and pro tools (when only recording a stereo channel with no effects on the master channel) uses like 35%..

honestly if all your are going to do is record dj sets, to give to promoters or out to your fans then audacity will do the trick and save you about $600


easy

thanks for all of the input. I will keep everyone posted about how the issue plays out once everything is hooked up. i will probably hold off on the pro tools but need it eventually in order to swap session files w/ other folks who work w/ pro tools...

I saw a flaw in someone response, You can extract a aiff, wav to MP3 in protools. I do it all the time. Also, I am curious why you want to record your SSL material to protools. Thats a waste, you should just use something like audacity or Audio Recorder (mac). Its very low on the CPU. Now as far as making blend / mash up records then Pro Tools is essential in my opinion. And then from there you bounce to disk as a mp3.

I don't know but maybe he was thinking of mixing and multi-tracking at the same time all on the laptop; SSL and ProTools - Not just recording his mix. This would obviously be very intensive on the processor.

For recording just your mix using SSL, there are programs out there that are less intensive.

I'm tempted to try my mBox on my iBook while using SSL just to see what happens and what its limit would be.

I currenty use mBox on my G5 and I haven't been able to "max" the processors performance no matter what I've tried. :)

Easy, A/d converters.

I think Wes Wes is right about pro tools bouncing mp3's, I use pro tools all the time, but have never bounced an mp3 from the program. Infact, until I started using SSL, I have never encoded to MP3 at all.

sixxx Let me know what happens when you try this. For me, it had nothing to do with the Cpu (well I didn't even get a chance to find out), as the usb bandwith did not allow both units simultaneously.

Hmm, this is a conflict, Lets really think about this. You want to use SSL which is "compressed" music and your worried about the A/D converters used in Pro Tools to record with. Have you heard the statement garbage in garbage out? Not to say your SSL library is bad quality. But I seriously dont think that you will benefit from recording from pro tools with SSL. I would recommend you use a very low cpu intense program so that SSL doesn't have any hick-ups. And then import that aiff or wav prefered file into pro tools for sweetening. Just my opinion.

Or just use one that can use the mBox ASIO drivers and get the best of both worlds...

"You want to use SSL which is "compressed" music and your worried about the A/D converters used in Pro Tools"

I don't know about you, but for the most part I use "uncompressed" wav.

Regardless, just because you use mp3's doesn't mean you should record to a shitty medium...the a/d converters on a soundblaster are balls!! I fully understand why someone would want to record into Protools.

"Or just use one that can use the mBox ASIO drivers and get the best of both worlds... "

excellent comprimise, however you can't use SSL and an Mbox at the same time any way!

I do it all the time. Although I have a real computer, Noddd jokingly...... Mac power book 1.5 G4 2Gb of Ram. Again, I notice slight difference between using the mbox and using my input that is on the laptop itself. I get much better performance by using Audio Recorder and then bringing in that file into Pro Tools and using two plug-ins TC Master X, Focusrite Compressors. Just my workflow opinion. Might I add, I have never crashed using Audio Recorder and SSL 1.4. Beyond that I would tell everyone to record at high levels to get good recordings.

I will agree you have a "real computer", but due to the price tag that comes with macs I am unfortunately obliged to use a pc.

anyways..."I do it all the time" I assume you are refering to running the mbox and serato at the same time? Hmmmm... deffinitely will not happen on my system, and the real shitty part is that my laptop only has a "mic" in...balls!!

you will only be able to use the mbox and the SL1 at the same time if they can be connected to different root hubs.

Nobspangle

"you will only be able to use the mbox and the SL1 at the same time if they can be connected to different root hubs. "

sorry mate, that went over my head...how would I connect each to different root hubs?

USB ports on a PC are connected to a root hub, on most desktops these are in pairs (2 ports per hub). Each hub has 12Mbps bandwidth, if you can find two ports on different hubs then you should be able to use the mbox and the SL1 at the same time.
Use this www.usbman.com to see what you have connected to which hub.

thanks I will check this out..

pro tools users:

www.macnn.com

*moved to general*

hmmm.
Never had a problem running protools and SSL on my laptop.
Around 1200 at Best Buy, check my profile in the laptop thread. Not sure if they still sell it but it was one of the ones speced to support Protools on the DUC forums. But then again I always ran my digi002r on the fire wire port of my laptop. I will try my mbox tommorrow and let you know. If you are just recording records the mbox and sound forge works well for me. I only use protools when I'm recordng a mix or I want to edit the track, like give it the 8 bar treatment/make quick mix tracks.

oh yeah almost forgot about this gem.

catalog.belkin.com

Solves the USB bandwith problem