For both mboxes (1 & 2) you'll need to go from the viper mic pre output into a line-in input in the mbox. to connect the 2 you'll need a cable "XLR male" coming out the output of the viper, "to TRS" going into the line input of the mbox. plug it in the mbox and you'll bypass the mbox's preamp.

On the mbox 1, since they are both in the same input unit you'll have to select the "line" in from the little button in the front and it changes the color of the LED to specify which input you selected (put line). No gain on the mbox should be necesary anymore since it will be bypassed.

Hope that helps.

Bas.

Sorry,
the cable to connect the 2 pieces of gear is actually a "XLR female" (from the viper output) to TRS (into the mbox). Not a male as I said a minute ago.
Let me know if you have hany problems.

Bas.

Actually to completely bypass the pre, you need to run a TRS(or XLR) to TS cable from the ViPre to the insert of the MBox. If you run it in and select Line, you're still using the pre, just at a different impedance.

Thanks to both of you. McCheese, I think you'rer right. I think choosing 'line' or 'instruments' just changes the impedence. I'll use the insert.
Steve

McCheese

An insert is just what it says, an insert.
Inserts should not be used as inputs.
You already lose 6 dBs of gain by having to use the TS.
Also increasing noise levels.

Line in should be the TRS/XLR inout, with zero gain (Unity)
The impedance is changed by the selector button.

SME wrote: McCheese

An insert is just what it says, an insert.
Inserts should not be used as inputs.
You already lose 6 dBs of gain by having to use the TS.
Also increasing noise levels.

Line in should be the TRS/XLR inout, with zero gain (Unity)
The impedance is changed by the selector button.

If you want to bypass the pre on the MBox, that's how you're going to have to do it. On a better piece of gear, the line-in would be indpendant of the preamp, but not on the MBox. You can run the ViPre into the line-input, using the selector switch, but you're still using the Mbox preamp to set the levels.

You are right McCheese. Thanks for the clarification, it's been a while since I used the mbox.

Bas.

On a better piece of gear, the line-in would be indpendant of the preamp, but not on the MBox. You can run the ViPre into the line-input, using the selector switch, but you're still using the Mbox preamp to set the levels.

The last major piece of gear I used (Neve VRP) had the same input shared by mic/line, similar to the MBox. A switch determined Mic or Line. I would never consider jacking a line source into the send return.

Youre better off NOT using the insert for an input. On the Mbox you essentially bypassing the mic pre, by using a TRS in the XLR/TRS jack.
The XLR side goes through the mic pre, the TRS side is a line in.
Leave the knob turned down, and youre in unity gain.

Have you tried your method? I just tested this, using a TLM103 through a Grace 101, and I dont like the sound through the insert, confirms my posts!!!