The only reason why you are stumped, is because you can only record into ProTools from authorized rated Digidesign equipment.

The only exception would be utilizing your ProTools interface with an ADAT optical interface (provided it has one) to accept a like optical output device.

Now if that's not an option, you'll have to continue using your current software for tracking. You can then import anything you want into ProTools. Your overdubs would be restricted to however many inputs are on your Digidesign ProTools authorized interface. For many, that works out well. If you're looking to record 24 simultaneous tracks? Ain't going to happen your way.

So it's either the Tool Way? Or the Cube Way?

Then there's the Remy pube way.
Ms. Remy Ann David

Thank you Ms. Remy. I know you can only use protools with a digidesign interfaces. I was told (incorrectly I suppose) that I could use other interfaces through firewire, s/pdif, or ADAT with an mbox.

ADAT and s/pdif will interface with the 002 and the 003. Don't think so with the mbox, but I'm not sure.

OK, I misspoke. I have an M-Box 2. It has SPDIF (Sony Philips Digital Inter-Face) input and output capabilities. So in an overdub job on location, I needed all 4 inputs. The 2 internal microphone preamps along with two external microphone preamps and an analog-to-digital converter.

I utilized my API 3124 microphone preamp outputs into an old head blown DAT machine to use as a crappy 16-bit analog to digital converter, recording to 32-bit float as a dithered 16-bit signal. (Only the best for me will do) I used the machine in record/pause, with proper level adjustment, to generate the SPDIF output bitstream. SPDIF is only capable of delivering a pair of channels multiplexed together. Later, they can be separated into two separate mono tracks after you get it into software, during or after recording. I.e., recording "source SPDIF left Channel", "source SPDIF right channel", or, "source SPDIF stereo". Or by splitting a stereo track into 2 Mono tracks.

If you have the 002, then you can get a 8 Channel microphone preamp with a optical light pipe ADAT 8 Channel digital output. The Alesis ADAT digital light pipe standard is capable of carrying 8 channels and has been adopted by many manufacturers. So figure 8 channels for each light pipe port. But you'll spend so much on light pipe microphone preamps, you'll wonder why you didn't just by a dedicated 24 track machine.

HD 24xr owner, external preamps & M-Box 2 with ProTools
Ms. Remy Ann David

benjisbadbrain wrote: I run 2 presonus fp10's with Cubase 4 and I recently purchased an M-box so I can start using protools. I am not necessarily trying to increase i/o but I would like to be able to use the firepods for tracking in protools. Thinking that the firepods probably wont support external sync with the m-box how could I possibly configure these units to be able to utilize the the firepod inputs for tracking in protools. Is there a configuration using s/pdif or otherwise that I might be able to achieve this? Please help I am stumped and can't find info anywhere... -Benji

You're out of luck with the FirePods feeding into an MBox. You could try an external 2-channel mic pre-amp with ADC (e.g. Neve 1073DPD or Audio & Design DMA2) to feed the MBox S/PDIF input via an AES-S/PDIF balun transformer, or else use the FirePods to track using non-PT software and then import to PT for mixing, as Remy suggested.