First Look - Digidesign MBox 2 Mini

Despite it being the goal of many, working from home has a lot of disadvantages, and I'm the poster child for most of them. When I sit down to write, my productivity usually ends up being distracted by any number of things - usually the TV or the idea of a quick nap on the couch.

To combat this, I usually take my laptop and my ideas to a coffee shop around the corner to get some work done without distraction. The only drawback? Even with a smaller offering, the MBox, I couldn't take my Pro Tools rig with me in the palm of my hand to work on mixing projects that would benefit from a change of scenery. Until now.

The answer to many engineers' prayers was introduced last week by Digidesign: the $250 MBox 2 Mini, a sleek, powerful Pro Tools interface in a palmtop form factor. Combining two inputs, including one microphone preamp with an XLR connector, quality headphone amplifier, and professional 24-bit/48kHz sound quality in a rugged metal enclosure, the MBox 2 Mini offers the ability to work in a Pro Tools environment anywhere.

Powered exclusively by USB bus power, the MBox 2 Mini offers a completely self-contained solution, ready to pair with the laptop of your choice.

Software in the box includes Pro Tools 7, Bombfactory and DigiRack plug-ins, and the Pro Tools Ignition Pack.

Combine the MBox 2 Mini with a really high-quality pair of in-ear monitors such as the Ultimate Ears UE-10 Pro, and you've got your studio in the palm of your hand. The MBox 2 Mini is no substitute for your full studio gear - you'll miss the multiple inputs - but for a palmtop interface allowing you to use Pro Tools power on the go, it can't get better than this.