M-Audio Black Box

Sounds are easy to get. The new firmware upgrade is awesome! really makes it into a whole other machine than what it used to be. My complaint is that it was a nightmare to install. I tried at least 7 times to get it done. I ended up going to the Yahoo Groups Black Box User site and found the fix.
Haven;t edited patches yet, but it is a menu deal like many effectors. Shouldn't be a problem.
Manual seems fine, especially after printing out the updated one.

I have only listened through headphones so far while playing my G&L Legacy, but the sounds are great. It really let the Straty sound of the Legacy shine through. I love the Bassman model. Many of the models are very good. Noisy? A few patches, but not any noisier than the amps would be that are being modeled.
Effects sound fine, although the choruses and such aren't as creamy as my Visual Sound H20. Where it shines is with the sync'd effects. Having them automatically be in time with the built-in drum machine or an external source is very cool.
All in all, this will be a great recording tool. I don't need it for liive use right now, but I wouldn't be scared to use it that way.

Don't know yet. It seems ruggedly built, but with all computer chip driven items, I guess it could get wiggy. This isn't against M-Audio; just the nature of the beast.

I sent an email a week ago before I bought it to ask a question. Haven't heard a thing back yet. I tried calling today to get my firmware issue resolved, and was on hold for about 10 minutes. I tracked the solution down via Yahoo Groups before anyone came on the phone. I just had a computer built, and the guy put the M-Audio Audiophile sound card in it. It was a few months before he was able to get them to give us a driver fix for a pop and click issue. This doesn't speak well for them as being customer-friendly.

This is a great bargain with the firmware upgrade additions and the free Black Box footswitch that was included. It will be an awesome recording addition, and will be great for a portable practice or small gig rig for me. I play CCM and lead worship, so it will be a good match for all that. I have lots of stuff I have accumulated over the years, and have been a gadget freak for a while. I can see replacing this with another one, since I am so impressed by the sounds of it. Having a drum machine and a mic pre and a direct recording interface in one box, along with a foot controller, all for $200.00 is amazing.
There are probably units out there that do certain things better than the Black Box, but none have the features and sounds for this money.
I give it an "8" only because of the firmware installation problems and the lack of customer support. Otherwise it would be a "10".

There's no doubt this is an easy unit to use, controls are pretty instinctive and common sense. Connecting to PC was ok, driver took a bit of fiddling to work, and Ableton requires some patience.

It is no possible to emphasise enough, as previous couple of reviews state, GET THE FIRMWARE UPGRADE (version 2.xx) - it addresses many of the moans on Harmony Central - M-Audio have well and truly sorted it out. Tweaks of the firmware were available before, but this upgrade actually increases the number of decent amp sounds and effects.

Before the upgrade I must agree the sound was weak - everything was too heavy, my Gibson SG pushed almost all the amps into a weak fuzzy sounding overdrive. SO WHAT - the units been completely re-programmed with the firmware upgrade and you can now get some great amp sounds out of it. Have only had it a day so I can't offer an exhaustive review of all the amp models, but the clean and slighly overdriven sounds I have been using are great - compares very favourably to my Vox modelling amp. Particularly like the Marshall and Fender models - they are good 'mature' amp sounds, great for blues or jazz. Conclusions - this isn't a toy for metelheads anymore but has some great usable amp models.

Some effects are nice too - numerous choruses and flanger sounds plus Roger Linn-style appregiators and trems. Unit has been criticised for 'computer music sounds' - there are some pretty out-there effects which may not be usable, at least its good fun!

Wouldn't gig it (its plastic!), brought it mainly as a USB interface for home recording. But seems sturdy enough.

I must say, the firmware upgrade was the reason i brought the unit, so from in that respect thumbs-up to m-audio. Plus a good website, manuals and a resource for sharing presets with other users. Not bad

OK - here's my take on Black Box. Its 99quid - thats the price of Pandoras box, a second hand Pod2 - or some zoom piece of plastic. BUT - its a USB interface which also works along (unlike toneport), with Mic-in, Ableton software, drum machine, etc. I admit, if you're not looking for a PC interface there are probably better units for the price. But to get you guitar onto computer this is an UNBELIEVABLE BARGAIN! Even with a basic usb-instrument interface and amp modelling software you'd spend well over #100. And this box is SO MUCH MORE. Yes it lacks 'vibe' and 'flare' - buts its functional, looks sleek and has real pots to control amp characteristics, volume etc. A lot of criticism has been thrown at the Block Box and, with the new upgrade, i don't think it deserves it. (for e.g. its not true that you cannot bypass the amp models or effects, or turn off the noise gate, & there are bass amp models and a mic-pre amp)
At the price the unit is selling for now (#99 at turnkey) i think it will genuinely be hard to beat.

Very easy to get a cool sound right out of the box. You do need the firmware upgrade to give it some mojo. It's a different box with this upgrade, no question about it. If you are using the version 1 firmware you are not talking about the same box.

There is a steep learning curve with the included Abelton software but worth the effort if you want to do some digital recording. This is what this thing is all about.

Get the firmware upgrade!!!!

The purpose of this thing is as a easy interface to your PC to recdord stuff and the amp sims are excellent!

It sounds killer with the firmmware upgrade. Did I mention this already?
Some people have tried to use this with an amp and that is not what it was meant for. Even the documentation does not expect you to use it with an amp.

Powered speakers? Ok that will work but not with an amp. It is not intended to be used with an amp.

The amp sims are quite good and get the essense of the amnp.

40 amp sims that work quite well.

Looks reliable. I am not ready to gig with this thing and although you couold use it for that purpose I cannot comment on it. It is a recording and practice tool. Mostly recording to a PC or Laptop.

I had a problem installing the latest drivers which included the firmware upgrade to v2. Called Customer support and the guy was way cool and kinowlegeable on this product. We did not resolve the problem right away but we made an appointment for the guy to call me back. He called right on time but I had resolved the issue without his help.

Very impressed by his callback right on time.

If you want to record stuff to your PC this is a great tool. It is also a great practice and jam/inspiration tool.

I would not hesitate to buy it again. The Line 6 toneport seems cool but this has way more features and the amp sims are easily as good if not better.

I have used alot of gear, so this was fairly easy to figure out, only looked at the manaul a couple of times

Through the phones it sounds fairly decent. using it through an amp was horribel, I think primarily because you cannot bypass the amp models. The effects are failry good, thoughalot of stuff I would never use, like synth sounding tremolos, etc.

Only had it a few days, so it lasted while I had it

No basis

OK, here is my main problem, and listen up all you gear manufacturers: this gear has absolutely no vibe, and did not elicit a bit of inspiration (with the exception of the looper). A piece of gear must be MUSICAL and INSPIRATIONAL and USEFUL, not just cool, convenient or a good copy of something else. This unit, in my humble opinion, failed in this regard and will not go down in history as a classic, must have unit (maybe that is not what they were going for). The first night it kept me entertained for a couple of hours through the headphones while I was surfing through the presets. But the next day when I plugged it into my amp I was very disappointed and starting figuring out how Musicians Friends return policy worked. I agree with many others in this forum who said that the sounds did not even come close to the demo (which was why I bought it). It is definitely not a good live unit.

I suppose you might like this unit if:
1. You are a new player and have never played through real analog and tube gear and so have no basis to compare this unit.
2. You need an inexpensive, all-in-one sollution for recording.
3. You like strange, electronic types of effects (blues and straight ahead rockers, stay away)
4. Money is no object and you can afford to but this for the one or two things it does well (I cannot, I have to get alot out of my gear to justify the cost).
5. You primarily record guitar direct and can spend time tweaking sounds in order to find a good one. I primaily mike tube amps to get tube amp sounds, and it is hard for me to go back to the direct guitar sound anymore.

Well...seems like I get the honor to review the reloaded version of the Black Box. Firmware upgrade on 17/03/2006.

Easy to use. Version 2 includes a new shift function giving you access to:
* mid control
* compressor
* 5 types of reverb

The updated user manual can be downloaded from the M-Audio website in pdf format and is very well written.
Once you get the picture, this enhanced Black Box is very easy to use.

I first bought the new Line 6 TonePort, which turned out to be a downer for me. Not because of the sound quality, I thought it sounded very good, but because of a chipset problem on my laptop(acer aspire 1804 3,2Ghz). Using TonePort, USB has an unreliable sound stream when controled by Intel series 915 chipsets. This would cause the stream to interrupt and replace the audio by nasty white noise every now and then. I tried a pcmcia usb card with a NEC chipset but the problem persisted. I eventualy got fed up, brought the TP back to the shop and swapped it for the Black Box. I had never heard of the BB before....

My first impressions were rather negative. It sounded metalic, dull and soulless. I didn't realy recognize the Plexi, Twin reverb etc
Also no reverbs, no compression, no bass amps...
I kept on playing for a couple of hours but in vain. I had already stored it away again in order to return it when I found out on the internet that a firmware upgrade had just been released.
Not having anything better to do on this rainy day, I started downloading and installing the firmware upgrade and gave it a second try.

Wwwhooooow... Now that's what I call good tone !!!!
If you have a BB, upgrade now!!!!!

It's a different product, it sounds alive, it sounds convincing.
The Bogner Extasy is a killersound.
There are 40 amps and 120 effects to chose from and they realy sound very good.
So far, the best I've heard in this range of products.
(I've tried out pretty much everything: korg, boss, line6, native instruments...)

The beat sync effects work very well. Very usefull.

No clue, just got it a few days ago. It looks sturdy though.

I don't want to find out...

I was looking for a not too expensive device/software being able to offer decent guitar and bass tones mainly for home recording activity and I am more than pleased. The BB delivers.
I have played loads of amps (from Class A to solid state) in 22 years of music playing and I think this product is closest as can be to the real things. Try it out for yourself.
Most factory presets come without effects or delay/reverb.
M-Audio is not trying to hide mediocre simulation behind a wall of effects. When you play the amps without anything added to it, it already sounds close to the real thing. Check it out.

Cool features: all BB owners can exchange their presets over the internet, the beat sync effects.... a must!, pretty convincing drum loops to play along with and also a nice addition of drum loops and samples on cd rom to be used with your favorite multi-track recording software, very convincing bass amp simulations and more...

All this for 289 euro, I'll give it a 10.
(20 years ago, one would have gotten 2 stomp boxes for this money. Isn't life great in the 21th century?)

I tried the Line 6 before this, and the line six was definately easier. I have had this for about 2 weeks now.... and I just now have figured out the basics. I dont know if it is just not working properly, or it is just so confusing or what the deal is, but it is not a one day and jam type product. I am very computer literate, and have 3 solid years of guitar play. If I could return it to trade for something else, I would definately do it, but I have already swapped it for the line 6 guitarn 1x

I have expensive cables and accesories, and there is quite a bit of noise. It says to increase the latency to decrease the noise? It keeps resetting to a lower latency I dunno? what that is all about... it will only let me go to the second to the highest latency setting. ( I have a P4 3.2 80gb) so I dont think I am lacking in the computer dept.)

Tried updating .. still noisy

it seems to be pretty reliable.. I dont think I would gig with it though...the audio settings arent very versitile.. maybe I havent had it long enough to comepletely figure it out ... I will give it an 8 that is being very generous....

Havent dealt with them yet.. I am in Paris right now, and it would cost a fortune to call.. plus the time diff.. N/G

I dunno.. I am not that happy with it.. it has sound through the headphones.... so I can jam on the road.... but I dont think I would buy another one.... the line six had way better quality... but it just kept having short moments of silence/ pauses. Take your chances... but I would try one before you bought one for sure.... it is really way to noisy for anything but practice

Pretty easy especially if you have previous experience. I havent bothered with the software but as far as I can see it does not have a pc patch editor like the pods and vox boxes, this is a major downfall for a pc tech like me.

In the past 2 months I have tried many of the latest units and this was the very worst by a mile ! There are more 'metal robots' in this unit than any other and no amount of tweaking will get you sounds that are similar to the demo's.

This is the very last time that I trust any Manufacturers demo's apart from the vox tonelab demo's which represent a true likeness to the sounds you will achieve.

Cannot comment, its back in the box to be returned already.

Dont know, never will know, but hope its better than the quality of sounds.

I play all kinds of styles and for many years. I am a studio guitarist and bought this for 'inspiration' at home. Everything works as advertised but there was no inspiration to be found at all and the sound quality is worse than some of the early zoom units ! For the price I think its very expensive and over-rated and although the beat synch and drums are reasonable they just dont justify buying it in the first place because the poor effects and sound let the whole unit down.

If, like me, you are a studio / home guitarist looking for a single unit to give realistic amp sounds / effects for direct recording without endless hours of tweaking and fiddling with 'magic boxes' or having to carry your entire rig into a small studio - buy a Tonelab and be done with it. Period !

Ive tried the pods, zooms, cack box and Tonelab - Guess which one ive decided to keep.................

As most reviewers state, the interface is intuitive if limited. Editing and saving is simple, though a quick look at the documentation will speed things up. Fortunately the docs are also short and to the point. You will not find any info about the "Gate" in the docs, or the display contrast which is best viewed at a certain angle and not adjustable.

Oddly this unit makes an excellent pre-amp for my Yamaha Acoustic (w/ added Martin piezo). The acoustic sound going out dry is clear and realistic. Unfortunately that is not what I wanted the box for. Used as an effects box for electric guitar it suffers. The effects are overblown and the sound quality is poor even for the cost of the unit. There are a few amp models and drive settings that are usable. Most however, are way too overdriven and do seem to clip regardless of how the gate is set. Some of the amp models are already distorted when the drive is set on "0" or "1". That can't be right. At settings of 1 to 5 some of the amps overdrive in a usable way, but most produce grainy noise. In it's favor, the beat synced effects do work and I have synced them to an external MIDI sequencer as well as the onboard tempo/drums. With some tweaking it could produce an interesting wah or flange to sync with a song.

So far so good. I mounted mine on a mic stand using the included adapter. It seems to be the most convenient way to use it other than on a desk. The stand fell over once right on the front input jacks. That's an arc of about four feet onto a wood floor. Nothing cracked or came loose. Still sounds the same.

I needed info about the digital output (S/PDIF jack at rear). I like this feature because my recording interface has a digital input. However, I could not get the guitar and mic to both output through the digital S/PDIF out. An email to M-Audio support did not get a reply in 24 or 48 hours or whatever they claimed. After 3 days I called. They we're very helpful once I got someone on the phone, but why not answer the email? So apparently it will only send guitar or mic but not both to the S/PDIF out. Through the L and R analog outputs, you get a mix of both guitar and mic so why not through the S/PDIF as well? The USB interface appears to work and breaks up into guitar R, guitar L, drums, mic.

I jumped on this realizing I could be burned by early adoption and ouch. I really wanted everything to work better than it does. I will be selling the Black Box and trying out something else.

I found the use of the BB to be very easy to get good sounds and new presets. I was surprised to hear the bashing of this unit. Between the user's manual, quick start guide and the Black Box Tone Room and website it was pretty straight forward. I downloaded the latest driver from the website and there were some problems with the recording software not accepting the code on the CD to activate the program but as soon as they were contacted, M-Audio sent me a new full copy of the Ableton software! So far as getting good sounds. No problem. Listen to and watch the Roger Linn video. Read the recent Guitar Player review by Mike Molenda. The amp simulations are good, effects are awesome and beat syncing works well with guitar and vocals. For me the unit is very easy to use BUT you have to understand how to set up and EQ your equipment properly (Hint: Amps and boards have EQ too!). The presets are good but with a little work creating your own additional 100 presets is easy. For some reason, the user presets sound weaker than permanent ones. I'm tweaking them all so it doesn't matter. Out of the box through headphones, I got some awesome sounds. Then I added the M-Audio Expression Pedal and programmed the use I wanted for it to each unique user preset. Then instead of buying two non latching momentary pedals to turn things on and off or change preset selections for a combined price of $40 to $50 with shipping, I built a device box with a couple of non latching momentary switches on it for about $6 and some spare parts laying around my fix whatever breaks on my amp or guitar electronics bin that will do the duty better and is a lot easier to fit in my gig bag and use. Sound? Next I plugged the BB into my 59 Fender Bassman Reissue and got some good sounds out of it. Then I plugged a mic into the BB used the mic preamp and added some live vocals and drums after adjusting the bpm. To address the awh! there's no reverb on the BB what do I do now reviewers, I added a Digitech RP 300 into the signal chain and created a pretty neutral preset on the Digitech that only added some Room reverb with the RP300 expression pedal controlling the amount of verb. A mic preamp may be added on the front end of the vocals as well to warm that up. To any of the reviewers who have been very negative about this unit, I really don't feel you did enough in the how to use or set up your equipment category. Clapton and Mayer gave some decent unsolicited comments about this technology and the BB is a continutation of the Adrenalinn concept but a heck of a lot more interface friendly to computers and digital recorders. Sorry but your options are wide open here. I can be very comfortable using this unit live with it installed on a mic stand at hand level and using the floor pedals and other effects in the signal chain using powered speakers, one amp, two amps, one amp and into the mixing board, just into the mixing board and all the while recording into the computer and wearing a couple of earbuds so I can hear my guitar and vocals. The ability to record vocals and guitar and add guitar parts and effects over it is pretty awesome. Don't forget the Beatles did some of their best work on a 4 track.

See above for set up. Guitars include a Les Paul, Clapton Strat, Tex Mex strat with the super strat and Jimmie Vaughn/Eric Johnson tone mods and (laugh) an Oscar Schmidt OE30 Delta King with Cort 57 Classic and Plus pickups. Here's where the BB gets real subjective. Each guitar makes each preset sound different and reacts differently. The BB has truckloads of gain so you have to know how to adjust your amp gain, amp volume, guitar input, output, wet/dry mix, drums/guitar/vocals mix and volume and a lot more when you get into the recording software and mixdown. Mine is very quiet on clean sounds and the high gain sounds are as dirty as the amp they emulate. Amp gain and amp volume are the key items in how clean or dirty you can sound. The GP review might have been even better with a little tweaking of the amp gain and preset amp volume. Dynamics would have been better for other than high gain uses but I do like the ROAR too. There aren't many sounds you can't get out of this box IF you are willing to get your hands dirty on set up. There are many sounds that you may have never heard. You can get lost in this thing. 4 hours can feel like 5 minutes. Caution you may forget to eat or sleep and your wife may leave you or say "I wish you had your hands all over me like that black strat you have been stroking all night!".

Mine has had no problems and I gig without a backup. The pots and controls are smooth, setting it up on a mic stand is very user friendly, the detached expression pedal and momentary switchs are great because how many boxes with attached pedals have a broken pedal and good electronics but no way to attach an expression pedal. The chassis is metal and top is a hard plastic. It's not a stomp box. It's a recording interface that will work well live unless you want to slam stuff around and then nothing is going to last you!

M-Audio tech support has answered my questions, sent me new upgraded software and have a good website. If you don't get an answer soon enough, just respond to their tech support contact confirmation e-mail and someone will address your issue. Concerning customer support, I got to say I bought mine from Musician's Friend as a blem and it came UPS with all the finish rubbed off the knobs due to a packing issue and other things - not a MINOR defect anymore because a lot of the knobs don't seem to come off. MF sent me a brand new one at the blem price and a label to send the bad one back. Can't beat that.

Playing electric since 1966 and classical a couple of years before that! I play classic rock, blues, a church rock gig on Sunday and a lot of the newer Clapton, Perry, Mayer, Third Day, Green Day and Buddy Guy as well as working on my own stuff - yeah!. The BB is a great addition to my arsenal and adds computer interface at a good price. It works with other effects but is sensitive to amp gain, amp volume and changes in guitar types but so are a lot of amps. A Les Paul drives a Deluxe different than a strat, etc. I looked at POD XT Lives, Digitech GNX 3s and 4s (they are getting outdated and the GNX 3000 is too new, expensive and still not available), Vox ToneLab and this one turned out to be a steal. I wanted a basic all in one guitar, mic for vocals and amp sim recording interface and the BB really fills the bill. Try singing along with your guitar and the beat synced effects and you will see what I mean. It's probably every guitar players dream to be able to lay down some basic tracks, vocals, drums and layer some bass over that to produce your very own Joe Perry Joe Perry CD. If it sucks you can break it. This isn't a Pro Tools equipped studio but it can produce some quality products if you understand what to do with your work once it's in the puter. I wish it had on board reverb, compression, amp mids and presence, more uses for the expression pedal and more momentary switchs and more options/effects on the mic preamp and XLR outs as well but it would have jumped into the Digitech, Vox, Line 6 $699 retail slot so....I'll take it like it is - a bargain. You can tweak your effects more in the Live Lite 4 GRT software after/during recording but that don't help if you are doing it live. I'm having fun with this thing and the sounds produced and features are cutting edge. It does what it says and more if you get a little creative! If stolen, I'd hope the insurance paid me replacement cost retail and maybe Mr. Linn M-Audio will come out with a more advanced model with all the goodies.

I've had my Black Box for a little over a week now and I absolutely love it! I was checking out the reviews here and was horified to find someone bashing the product. Someone who sounds like they work for Line 6 or another competitor. So I thought I'd add my 2 cents.
The unit sounds great. Getting around on the unit is very easy. I was able to tweak sounds to my liking very easily.
I only read the manual to find out about the USB recording features. This was well explained. I've been using the included lIve LIte 4 GTR software with no problems.

I'm using the Black Box with an old pair of Alesis monitors and a Halfler power amp.
Some of the high gain amps are a bit noisy, but so are the high gain amps that are being modeled, so that's ok.
The effects are nothing short of inspiring! The time based effects are where this unit really shines. Tremolo, Filter Tremolo, Random Filters, Filter sequences, arpgiators, etc. These all automatically lock to the internal drum machine OR the MIDI Beat Clock coming from Live Lite 4 GTR. So all of your effects are in perfect time with your song. These effects are like nothing else I've heard in any other guitar effect processor. I highly recommend that you check them out! The Chorus and the flanger are nothing to brag about, but they sound fine.
The amp models sound great. I'm personally not fond of the Hiwatt DR-103 or the Fender Deluxe. But I don't like the real amps any more then the models, which do sound accurate to my ear. I love the Bassman, AC-30, Marshall Plexi and Marshall JCM-2000.

I've not had a problem with it so far. It's really not the kind of thing that I would gig with, but I would certainly take it to studios for recording gigs.

I haven't had the need to call tech support for this product, but the website is helpful. There are FAQs for things like adjusting the noise gate and resetting the factory defaults.
There is also a new website called www.blackboxtoneroom.com. This allows users to share presets with eachother. I love things like this! I can't wait to start sharing presets.

I play mostly rock music. I've been playing for nearly 20 years. There's not a sound that I feel that I can't get out of the box. Except for a large reverb sound. But the software comes with a reverb plug-in for my recordings, so no big deal.
I would certainly replace the unit immediately if it were stolen. There is really nothing quite like the Black Box to replace it with.
There are certainly things that I wish it had. A compressor, a reverb, more amp model controls, etc. But for the price and the feature set I'm more then satisfied.
It really HELPS with music creation. The ability to automaticallly lock your delays, tremolos, etc. with different time signatures right to the beat is a god send. I've used almost every effect processor ever made at least onece or twice and owned many of them. It's a nightmare trying to match these effects to the beat with any other device. This single feature is worth the price of admition.