Googled for the Mbox 2 mini manual:
http://akmedia.digidesign.com/support/docs/Mbox_2_Mini_Getting_Started_v73_32993.pdf

Maybe it will provide guidance.
Enjoy the gear and have a safe, happy new year.

YouTube IS your friend, search there.

Michael Maxwell, post: 409307 wrote: I just got all my equipment set up (see my gear profile). I am looking at the Pro Tools screen and have no idea what to do or how to get any sound at all coming from the mic, the guitar or the midi keyboard. Please point me in a direction of where I can start - even just to make a simple guitar and vocal recording. Nothing ever comes with instructions anymore. Thanks.

Looks like you have everything you need to do some recording there. A big part of all of that is setting up PT in the software so that it knows what channels and hardware and device drivers you're using and have connected to the computer. The software (PT) doesn't automatically "know" any of that. You need to read through the manual and follow the first time setup instructions. There's plenty of info online with videos etc...and you can always download the manual.
Have you done any of that yet?

Your profile didn't include your computer. if you have a pc, you have to follow the 'optimization' process for your computer to play nice w/ your mbox. this is absolutely the First step, in your setup. The Manual is a matter of fact step by step outline. Do Exactly what it says In the Order it says, pro tools, in particular is Very Very sensitive to this, they figured out the way to make it work, they know, they made it, trust them. do what they say.

You'll get a lot more help here if you do your own research first and then ask specific questions.

As it stands now, your post isn't all that different from "Okay, so, I bought a car, I'm sitting in the front seat... now what do I do?"

There are lots of very smart and talented people here who have no problem helping you with specific issues... but we're not gonna teach you recording 101 from the beginning, and we're not going to read the manual for you and then tell you step by step what to do.

Your first step, beyond what K and DJ mentioned regarding the configuration of your system, would perhaps be to book some time at a local pro PT studio, and pay the engineer there to answer whatever questions you have... but again, even in that scenario, you'll get a lot more help from that engineer if you have specific questions. ;)

Beyond that, if you are telling us that you have absolutely zero experience with audio recording of any kind, then perhaps you need to look into some type of continuing education, either in person at a local music store, school, university, or, as mentioned above, through a studio in your area, or, online through something like Berklee. [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.berklees…"]free music lessons, mp3, quicktime and pdf files download[/]="http://www.berklees…"]free music lessons, mp3, quicktime and pdf files download[/]

fwiw
-d.

Altough the information is not perfect, check this series of videos : [[url=http://[/URL]="http://therecording…"]5 Minutes To A Better Mix » The Recording Revolution[/]="http://therecording…"]5 Minutes To A Better Mix » The Recording Revolution[/]

DonnyThompson, post: 409392 wrote:
Your first step, beyond what K and DJ mentioned regarding the configuration of your system, would perhaps be to book some time at a local pro PT studio, and pay the engineer there to answer whatever questions you have... but again, even in that scenario, you'll get a lot more help from that engineer if you have specific questions. ;)

In place of booking time in a studio you might check around your area for DAW gurus who help noobs... I see them on Craigslist occasionally and they charge a certain amount to help get you going. Or you could place your own ad looking for someone to help. Maybe even ask around at the music stores. Being in Ventura County I would think that there are plenty of DAW/PT owners and that you would be able to find a few who could give you a hand for a price cheaper than renting studio time.

But I'm also sure that there are several studios in the VC area and their prices are usually lower than down in LA so that may work out for you after all.

Thanks guys, all of you. I will try your suggestions. I have two more questions, actually one question and a problem:

1. When you referred me to the "Manual," were you talking about the Pro Tools Manual or the M-Box Mini Manual?

2. I am having trouble getting sound to come out of the monitors (ROKIT 5's). I am talking about just playing a song off of my hard drive. Sometimes the song plays and sometimes it doesn't. I try different things and the song comes on, but there is a time gap so I don't know what I did to get it started. It definitely stops when I close the laptop and then open it again. When I open it, no music. My gut tells me it has something to do with the I-Lok. Boy, that thing is more trouble than it's worth!

Lastly, I get no sound at all from the Midi keyboard (Oxygen 49 connected from the keyboard to the computer via USB).

Thanks. Sorry if my questions are either naive or stupid.

Michael

Well sort of naive not stupid but hey everybody has problems...as far as manuals you need ALL of them!..to get the Mbox setup and working with your computer and then PT has to be setup to work with the computer and the Mbox. Same with the speakers and keyboard stuff. They all work as a system. And they all require certain settings. If one thing is missed it will not work. If you can't figure out how they all interconnect, hook up and work together reading the manuals, then I would call the people you bought it all from and ask for help or a refund.

Midi keyboards don't create sound they create data. In order to hear them you need to create an instrument track, and have an instrument pluggin like reason, sample tank.

Your issue w the the monitors is wired, have you disabled the stock sound card? That's a good first step.

To expand on what DonnyThompson said, take the MOOC on coursera.org called Introduction to Music Production. Six weeks, free, very clearly explained from the very first step. Put in the time and you'll get past that WTF stage, which is where I was before I took the MOOC.