The recording level to my Mbox is very low for some reason. I am running Pro Tools LE and I have a shure 87a microphone. Every time I attempt to record a track, the input volume is incredibly low regardless of the settings on my computer and protools. Please help!

I use an earlier model but try:

Press the "red" light on the correct channel you are using for input. that will bring up the dialog to set input level. the +/- level set is on the same side of the device as the menu wheel.
You need to be in 4CH mode for the external lights to be on

Here are the links:

Setup Guide

QuickStart Guide

Assuming you are on a Windows system, go to Control panel/Sounds and devices/ and check that the Mbox2 appears as the default in the Audio and also Voice tabs/panes while unit is connected. If it is not, select it in each... if it is not in the list offered, then the drivers have not been installed for the Mbox.

The headline has two different mics listed... a Shure 87a and a Beta 98/S... not sure which you really have... Normally leaving the mic in the car should NOT have affeected it, although you haven't told us the environment such as humid or immersed in water, etc. On the chance it may have had condensation I would put it over a hot-air register for a few days to insure there is no residual condensation .. DO NOT place in an oven to try to speed this up. If there is condensation on the diaphram it needs to evaporate and vent slowly. Also you can look for corrosion on the plug contacts.

Dynamic mics such as the Shure SM58 require the input trim levels to be almost or at MAX setting... this is normal. Are you aware there are counterfeit SM58's being sold from sources on Ebay? Search Gooogle for info about this and how to tell the difference.

I don't know what the latentcy is since you have not told us what you are attempting or where you are seeing this. If you are converting (recording) and playing back at same time there will be a latentcy because unit has to convert, put in memory then convert the other direction. The latency from this is NORMAL. If the unit has a MONITOR function, it can just echo the input signal without converting while recording to avoid latency.

Check if the Mbox2 has an echo setting that echos the audio from its input. If you want the audio to loop through the PC then it will have to echo there instead. Check that in "Sound and devices" of the PC are all set to transfer via the MBox for voice and playback instead of the internal PC audio system.

Assuming you are running windows XP you need to

1. right click the speaker in the lower right corner and select adjust audio properties.

2. Select the audio tab

3. Pull the drop down menu under sound recording and make sure it is selected to your audio driver device. Most are either soundmax, creative(for soundblaster and audigy standalone cards), realtek, or ASUS.

4. Next repeat step one but select open volume control

5. Go to options and then properties

6. Select the circle for recording and make sure your mic input is checked.

7. Close that window and recording mixers will pop up. Select the input you need by checking the box in the lower left corner of the mixer channel. Adjust the level and then use your recording program or sound recorder under Program files>accesories>communication>sound recorder.

Swap speakers to find if the problem is the speaker. If the problem follows the speaker it will require repairing.

This is a common problem with digital recording. Simply put, it takes some time to convert analog (audio) to digital and then more time to convert it back. So, your playback track goes through conversion and introduces some delay. You don't hear this because you have no zero reference. Your recorded sound goes through the A/D converter and also incurs some delay. When you play them back together, you hear the difference in time from one track to another. Most pro recording programs have some method to minimize or cancel the delay like slipping the tracks so they all start together. Pro Tools just introduced a version that automatically does this. They have always had what it called "low latency" monitoring which attempts to keep the "shortest" digital/analog path so overdubs are close enough that we don't hear any issues. So, since you talk about the mixer but not the recording program, I can't tell you specifics but I'd look into the recording program for time alignment settings and options. If you have a manual for the recording program, try to look up latency.

you can use the record outputs to run the signal into a stereo receiver without problems, though it would likely sound better with a shure sm57 microphone hooked up to a mixing board or other instrument amp.

the record output should be PERFECTLY balanced to hook up to a consumer-level stereo reciever with NO distortion; however, this record output might be too loud for another instrument amplifier or a mixing board; hence, the microphone in the latter situation.

short answer- "yes, but..."