All user reviews for the MOTU UltraLite

I wanted a simple, no-brainer, especially with power and clarity in the sound

what motivated me (in addition to its excellent technical):

1. compactness
2. the number of inputs / outputs that, together with the software interface: the famous "CueMix" (very easy to use in passing), eliminates the need for mixing desk
3. MIDI in / out
4. use in stand alone (no need to turn on the computer for sound)
5. it is the little sister of the 828 mk2, which has over 25 reviews for AF, and a very active forum
6. the reputation of the brand: Motu
7. aesthetics
8. simplicity
9. versatility: it can be used for anything other than the computer music (listen to MP3s, watch movies, etc.).

Use?
computer music alone at home

Config?

my config is in my profile (PC, Windows XP)

instrumentals?

same, in my profile

UTILIZATION

The install is done without prbl as long as you respect the instructions

I not only have no conflict but I could keep my old sound card: an Emu APS, and the two live together without problems, I can switch from one to another on the fly

on the other hand is true, when you're on PC, it must be to be careful with compatibility with the firewire card, and you have to change IRQ if necessary (if what I say is Chinese for you will see on the forum, everything is explained and fro across)

GETTING STARTED

The drivers are ok,
I do not know if they are updated often, all I care is that it works, as is the case

I use a master keyboard, and billions of Cubase plug

latency around 11 I believe in myself, but I know we can go lower

OVERALL OPINION

it's been over a year that I have, I bought it at its output, in fact,
I have what I wanted: something simple, easy and efficient

I turn, I play, it sounds

at my level I know it's a long-term investment, because now I have to use 40% of its ability, it leaves me room for progress.
The fact that it is more portable, though for now I use it as sedentary.
If I had to talk about his negative points, after a year of use would be:

1. wait for the count of 4 seconds each time you want to turn it off, it filled up (especially at the beginning, I had to have the hang of it, I know, kicking it at the end of the 4s and I had ggrrrr again ...)
2. favors the Mac world (that's for the galleys that some found on the PC with firewire and stories irq, which result in audible artifacts and other unmanageable crunches), the corollary is that we Of course include the purchase of a firewire interface as standart if the PC makes its own (and it is in the € 40 more in the teeth of the budget), by the way most people think in this case that is the ultralite is defective, when in fact it simplemenet firewire interface on the PC that is not in line with the Ultralite ...
3. the knobs are small
4. input jack on the back are very close to each other (avoid too jacks bales)

"- With experience, you do again this choice ?..."

yeah ...

That led to my choice CHARACTERISTICS:
1 - The mobile characters of the card, because I like having a station computer music potentially follow me in my dplacements.
2 - reputable MOTU
3 - His appearance particulirement solid. You can stand on it, it will not budge one iota.
4 - It ensures compatibility with Digital Performer
5 - May it be self-powered through the firewire port (the concept of mobility still.)

For what purpose:
Audio recording only. (For MIDI I prfre pluge directly to a USB keyboard on the laptop)
I limit myself only use it for Labor models at home. But the sound is really excellent quality.
Besides, I pushed the vice dernirement up use it to record a pro. Jtais limpossibilit me dplacer in the studio, and lon mavait command a guitar part on a movie soundtrack. (Sacr challenge for such a small thing! From 5.1 to cinma you imagine?).
She held the distance.
Well hun, just to track c'tait guitar 33 sec, and who did not specially designed be put forward in the mix.
Therefore conclude that for 590 investment, what you record an album of pure utopia would be pro quality. But I think this story can help some den dduire the quality of the BTE.
Taking into account the range and this what she prtend I give almost full marks. (My top quality for small cards of this ilk from the same when the RME Fireface 400. Would that the sound level of his pramplis But hey, 350 takes over. L it's really murder. The report quality price Ultralite remains more INTERESTED in my opinion.)

My configuration is modest, but even when running with the fire of God:
Macbook (Intel Core Duo 2 GHz), 2GB RAM, DD 5400 trs / min.

UTILIZATION

- Installation is it without problem?
No problem

- Have you experienced any incompatibility?
No, but at the same time, I had just chosen for a. And I no longer amuses me tweak the PC.

- The configuration gnrale is easy?
If the child goes through the computer.
However, if you want to fiddle with custom settings directly on the Ultralite, I am much more reserved. Cest when not even the top.
And yet I do not have big fingers, jai 10 each and there jvite to work loose.
Let's say that in certain circumstances, this GUI can physically save the day. But, in my humble and subjective opinion (store the forks), anest Figure quune more gadget that seems least one CRITERIA srieux purchase a small gift to counter Bonux MOTU every eventuality. Or should the rel mexpliquer potential of thing and I dont know clearly not conceptualize.

- The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
If you speak good English and you do not beginners computer music: Yes everything.
Besides, If you are not beginners, it is unlikely that you need it as long as your use of the card does not leave the beaten track. It has an intuitive operation trs. I nai sheet the doc at the time of installation, and then for a problem that does not fawn all concerned.
The 48V switch, the pad such as volume knobs or gnral phone, good as it ben-Port Hi, this is written on it. And for the rest, there is the CueMix and Motu audio setup on your computer that interface all in simplicity.

But if you beginners, the manual could you light mchamment stepfather. Many spa techniques are not explicit. We will most directly without going through the box dico, and prsume your knowledge in the Contents of FDI that, since it is a relatively sophisticated map e, it is not your Premire.
At the same time, I guess anyone can get by as long as he shall decide to devote time to learning ncessaire on forums and other sites DDIS.
If, however, I can understand as we begin prfrerait soft and especially not to take the cabbage, I would advise plutt of disorientation on a Fast Track M-Audio, or Tone Port of Line 6. L sr is, you will not galrer.

Note that if you do not speak English or that, even if you know your Shakespeare, after 8 h of intensive mix in the lemon you just some preferences for the mother language, note it is available in French dsormais in pdf format. You must pass a call from UM distribution (business hours in gnral they rpondent), so they send you a CD. (It is a shame in passing that their site does not have a support section or downlaod for this kind of thing. Ok, so what UM. Dint we would end up being almost a right ... almost.)

GETTING STARTED

- The drivers are stable?
Never needed to do an update since my purchase. Golden RULES: As long as it works, you touch anything.

- Are they often put day?
It would seem. But again, at UM is a bit bordlique distribution. It is "the will as j'te grows" in brothel on the home page in a drop down box type "news" right.

- What software do you use most often?
Digital Performer 5.1.

- What you get lag?
No audible latency. APRS tell you what was given in milliseconds, to confess that I never had to look at the curiosities. As long as I do perois absolutely not the thing, I knocked a bit.

- How many tracks you get record / playback simultanment? ...
When recording, I much underemployment trs. I use both the worst combos simultaneously so good ...
I have not read pieces Exceeds 20-25 tracks, so beyond, I can not say. But 20, with a buffer 1024 has also turns itself that 2.

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you use it?
8 months

- What is the particular feature you like best and least?
The best: the sound-size
The least: the distributor franais. The people who work at UM are nice, but management level is just too limited.

- How do you report qualitprix?
All fine.

- With the exprience, you do again this choice?
Yes, hsiter. (However a does not have to squint m'empche the RME 400, but the price is really dcourageant).

- What technical specifications motivated your choice?
Several input-output
pramplis
XLR input
- For what purpose?
Record number
- What is your config (motherboard / CPU / Ram / Hard ,...)?
P5WDH deluxe / Intel 6750 / 2 GB / 160 GB 7200 tm
- Which instruments or Systmes (console, prampli, DTD ...) you use it and how connections? ...
on-board preamp guitar, synth, mic, as usual ... what

UTILIZATION

- Installation is it without problem?
No problem
- Have you experienced any incompatibility?
YES it is essential to use a firewire card with a TI chipset or AGERE
The VIA chipset is unusable with the MOTU card and cause cracking when using ...
- The configuration gnrale is easy?
yes
- The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
not read ...

GETTING STARTED

- The drivers are stable?
no problem for now
- What software do you use most often?
cubase Reason
- What you get lag?
10 ms
- How many tracks you get record / playback simultanment?
not tested thoroughly

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you use it?
2 days
- What is the particular feature you like best and least?
+ General for the quality card
- The buttons a little too close
- Have you tried many other models before acqurir?
not
- How do you report qualitprix?
very good
- With the exprience, you do again this choice? ...
I would take a 19''model

Uh ... CHARACTERISTICS what motivated my choice?? uh ... THE FIRST IMMEDIATE motivation silent purchase a new sound card the APRS "flanging down" of my firebox ...
Can not go lower in the quality of pramps ... need multiple sets of outputs stro ... number of amazing for a map of this size ... MOTU brand, trusted brand ... left to pay the price since firebox + Repair Tool and shipping costs to a minimum = the price of the motu (530 euros) ... (And I do not have time to Repair Tool with the choice: I was told at least six weeks before ... rcuprer = abstinence musical or rental of a card during that time the c. .... d. fee in addition to everything else ...)... Finally sailing ... you can take the level of my colr read my update on the firebox ... good, I go ... I return the Ultralite ...
Home studio use only for now ...
The UL is connected a P4 3.2 GHz PC, 2GB ram ... firewire directly into the motherboard.
I use it in a config that includes an onyx 1220 (which I use for recording routing + benefitted from the EQ and the Mackie pramps) ... 2 keyboards which are re-read a guitar multi effect stro three microphones: a dynamic, a static electret, a static light ... I have a little more pramp I always leave on a branch of the tracks and to which I link what I want at the right time ... + KP3 in an insert and direct ...
Recently, I shot at a keyboard (the purchase of the ultralite refer the l. .. and I was wondering how to add my set ... I'm the ultralite not ask any more question, no need to dispatch given the number of input ... I can buy four keyboards if I want!
Voil you know everything! : D

UTILIZATION

The installation is on pc ... well ... dlicate ... not autorun, you get the correct version of the driver ...
No incompatibility meeting ...
The config is pretty simple in all ... but when you enter the dtails, we realize that it is not only a sound card ... in fact, is the heart beat that makes your system sound!
The manual is clear to some people to understand English because there is no French version or the cd or Tlcharger ... NOT GOOD!
I'm doing not too bad with English, but I think everyone who is German and Italian language Premire second language ... ... MOTU did not think ... shame! Espron that this oversight will be filled very soon ...

GETTING STARTED

The drivers are stable even if the frquence of chantillonage, it is not so stable ... When I Get You Started my pc, sometimes the map Get You Started in 44.1 ... sometimes 48 ... (I use default) ... but hey, nothing really grve, you just pay attention before the frquence software Get You Started ... if not good, a little walk in the MOTU audio console and the problem is in two seconds RULES.
No down time for the day (in my case) but there are a tlchargeable the MOTU site.
I use Cubase SX, I get a near-zero latency (with the MOTU ASIO driver) by turning in 48,000 (I got a latency of 10 ms with the firebox on the same frquence of chantillonage: s ) which is more than adequate to work ...
How many tracks can I record simultanment? ... I do not know since my set does not use all the capabilities of this card ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a few months ...
In terms of sound and warmth, we are far ahead of the firebox which APRS suddenly seems sound trsmtallique ...
The more the price compared to the possibilities of this card, its quality manufacturing ... the warmth of sound, "potato" gnrale ... the quality of pramps the screen (handy!), the pad and food fantme between each main button off (so rare on this type of product) ... dcompte and that goes with it because, unlike some opinion on the MODEL and having been the exprience of the "no on / off button," I think it's a good idea trs e: no need to get the button derrire the card and not the dye unintentionally ... must actually wait for 4 seconds (0 dcompte 3) in all for the bte s'teigne but it is a sensible security ... and frankly, 4 seconds is not long! It is a dtail but I do not use my computer for music, I have the choice to switch or not the sound card ... impossible with the Firebox ...
The least: the buttons are pretty tight ... which seems normal considering the aspect of "condensed card ... but if they are small because he had put absolutely! ... and why it was necessary to make concessions because ... I admit, they are useful for trs rgler DIFFERENT paramtres the card (oh yes, this card can be used in case of direct ... live by example. .. it's not the number of I / O in the empchera !)...
The report trs good quality price: 530 Euros for a MOTU, because it really is a MOTU! in every way! I worked a little on a traveler ... one finds the spirit, quality ... with few options unless, of sr, but we feel that the brand wanted to take a step back to the client less fortunate while providing a number of options and quality Whereas irrprochable ...
With exprience, I made this choice ... ds dpart if I were to buy a sound card, it would certainly be a more upscale brand ... or a DSP type TC Electronics Powercore ... but it is no longer in the same budget!
This ... enjoy ...

EDIT: APRS less than a year of faithful service, the firewire connectors of the card have made me (for a card that does not move from its place, it's not a shame ... mishandling, no shock ... just the fragility of the firewire! (I encountered the same problem with my firebox))
The map as out of order, the sender back under warranty ... 5 months of waiting, finally rcuprer Mk3 version of the card instead ...
5 months is a long time! But this version of the ultralite troisime provides non amliorations ngligeables (and more High Definition recording, among other things) ... then ... Finally, a worth the wait ...
Motu thank you!

- What characteristics have motivated your choice?
the number of I / O, robustness, noon, quality motu writ ...

- For what purpose?
home studio

- What is your config (Motherboard / CPU / Ram / Hard ,...)?
P5K Premium WiFi, E6600, PC6400 crucial ballsitix 44,412 cases, raptor

- Which instruments and systems (console, preamp, DTD ...) you use it and how connections? ...

cubase, alesis ion ...

UTILIZATION

- The installation is done it without problems?
ras

- Have you experienced any incompatibilities?
ras

- The general configuration is easy?
very

- The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
English and simple yes

GETTING STARTED

- The drivers are stable?
yes ...

- Are they often updated?
to see

- What software do you use most often?
cubase

- How many tracks you get to record / play time? ...
40 tracks ... and insert anywhere but through the ballistix and Proco o / c to 3.4 ghz
I'm at 55% cpu

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you use it?
two weeks

- What is so special that you like most and least?
... as it sounds, it is easy to use and more for the button to stop counting
the least ... I do not know yet

- How would you rate the quality / price?
good stuff so it does not

- With experience, you do again this choice? ...

absolutely

I went from a laptop to a MacBook (the small DualCore 2GHz with 2GB RAM). So, my PCMCIA card was no longer valid. I opted for a MOTU to the reputation of the microphone pre-amp, and the number of outputs (using Ableton Live, quadraphonic systems ...).


UTILIZATION

For installation, it was the cross and the banner ... The drivers come with the card was not valid with my Mac. The card was not recognized, and after reinstalling moultes the problem by turning in all directions, I plugged the card on my PC (Celeron 3.2 GHz, 2GB RAM) and then, miracle: immediate recognition.
I understood then that the problem was drivers for Mac. After downloading the latest versions available from Motu, more worries ... the balance is still some spare time to read the forums!
Regarding the manual, it is well done. As one of AudioDesk comes with it is pretty huge.

GETTING STARTED

Since it is running, no problems at all on the side of drivers ... Neither PC or Mac.
Ableton Live, I get 12.2 ms latency to the output with a buffer of 512 samples.
As for reading the tracks, 12 tracks full of effects without any problems ...

OVERALL OPINION

I just got the card so I will try to update this part later. That said, I tried the mic preamp with a static I used my usual with EMU 1616 ... Well, it's incredibly clean! Much more than I had before.
Therefore, I find the price (485eur. Germany) particularly competitive. To choose, I resigned live!

CHARACTERISTICS excellent. Possibility of making multi-channel pramps.
Use pro.
Use with a Macbook pro

UTILIZATION

To beginners on PC, I had cracks, installation pnible silent, unrecognized card. Mac is software motu branch, and rolls without cracking, no problem.
The card is easy to use.

GETTING STARTED

Driver 100% stable on Mac, PC problem.
I do not update.
Extra low latency in Logic Studio.
8 analog inputs recordable simultanment no problem.

OVERALL OPINION

One month on Dell Pc, death. Three months on a Mac laptop, the rve. Note that my Premire control, Motu n'tait recognized by any computer, I have been changing, dfectueuse.
Sr choice, again.

I needed an external sound card to record (my group of friends ... ones) and put me computer music.

Premire is my sound card worthy of the name, I will focus not on the quality of the card (which seems more than adequate).

UTILIZATION

See below.

GETTING STARTED

I use it on a desktop PC and laptop. In both cases I had to reinstall the drivers several times before everything is stable. Now is not moving (although it is still some time other strange noises).

OVERALL OPINION

When I bought used even here, I acquired a Firewire PCI card for my desktop PC for which it intends silent. I was careful to buy a good brand to avoid incompatibility with the VIA chipset, among others.

I bought the laptop a week dernire ddier for the sound and keep my desktop PC for a more multimedia. So I bought an HP with a firewire port DV6 Intgr (4 pin) cable and a 4-pin -> 6 pin to connect the Motu. The possible incompatibility, the sound silent much too strong (in the sense made unusable as a saturating all my hardware), the map will then reconnect dconnect ever ... And despite all the possible drivers and Reinstalling (several times).

Dernire chance before selling my card: I bought a Belkin ExpressCard 1 USB and 2 Firewire (69!, At Darty, too, but to be c'tait sr can bring it back in case the problem), and prt is not stable (sometimes some strange noises, like the present, something that is often apparent on this board ...) but if it ' be used.

Basically, if you want this card acqurir, prvoyez buying a good Firewire card for all PCs on which you intend to use this card! It's been fast up the price (I pay 40 PCI card and the ExpressCard 70 = 110 just for a walk!) So be careful when you want the acqurir!

For all the people stuck on laptop, I suggest you 1xUSB 2xFirewire Belkin card. That is the purpose of my opinion.

Jerome.

here I wanted a sound card that works well for my home studio I am well happy.
I used it before with a pc or I have a little galr to install because I knew very little good 2 c'tait ago 3 years.
Now I use it on mac and it works great.
Interest is the number of TRS in a small box is perfect for ca connect my mpc my microphone bass etc. ..

by I against my PSU has a grill at the end of the year I buy in damage.

UTILIZATION

mac driver stable zero-worries.
with cubase it works great.
low latency 6

GETTING STARTED

without installation problem on mac.
simple configuration.
the manual I did not even read.

OVERALL OPINION

very good card its good quality price for the home studio.
I would do not regret that choice despite his trs ct not reliable (I have a lot left right transport)
by against the buttons are not easily accessible especially for large fingers.

- What characteristics have motivated your choice?
Moult readings on AudioFanzine or other cards on that price.

- For what purpose?
Man studio.

- What is your config?
Widows XP exclusively dedicated to her. 4GB of ram.

UTILIZATION

- The drivers are stable?
No worries.

- Are they often updated?
As long as it works, what need to update?

- What software do you use most often?
Samplitude

- How many tracks do you manage to record / playback simultaneously?
I galley a little on this subject. But it is a story of day I'll get there!



GETTING STARTED

- The installation is done it without problems?
Not a tail.

- Have you experienced any incompatibilities?
Not the shadow of one.

- The general configuration is easy?
I will not go there ...
But it is the default self-taught: it falls on the gear, we cheat, we train THEN you open the user manual!

- The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
English ...



OVERALL OPINION

- For how long have you been using it?
6 months

- What thing do you like most/least about it?

The pros:
* It is compact and solid. The quality / price seems quite correct. It "feels" that it will last long. Cue mix is ​​relatively "intuitive" to use.

The -:
* The back entrances are too close to each other (adapter not possible then.)
* The buttons are really fronts painful to use, too tight, too. Prohibited for large fingers (really)!
* Extinction is painful: a few seconds to hanging around with your finger on the button. It's nothing but ... every day ...

- Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice? ...
Yes! But I read the manual ... before turning the machine

The opinions on this site had enthusiastic air

I wanted to play and record sound (finally something basic)

Windows Seven 64b
Q9450
gigabyte ds6
8gb of ram
3TB western digital
gfx nvidia 9800 gtx

UTILIZATION

The drivers have never been stable.
I am running Windows Seven and before that xp 64b, a hell to install.

The updates are the slingshot, and the responses of systematic support, they just throw the procedures of Practice.

GETTING STARTED

Installation chaotic and poorly documented.
Incompatible with many visibly firewire controllers.
In the trash ...



OVERALL OPINION

A nightmare.
They have also not trailed in designing a model firewire and usb ...

What characteristics have motivated your choice:

the compact side with everything needed as input for extended operation worthy of the name!
For what purpose?
What is your config (Motherboard / CPU / Ram / Disk ,...):

homestudio pro with a config Mac Pro G5 2 GHz / 4 GB Ram / 2 HD 500 GB Serial ATA internal HD + 500 GB external firewire 800 in

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable? yes

What software do you use most often? Hard, Live

What latency you get? 10 ms

GETTING STARTED

The installation is done it without problems? nikel

The general configuration is easy? difficult to get any easier

Have you experienced any incompatibilities? not

OVERALL OPINION

For how long have you been using it? 5 years

Did you try many other models before getting this one? yes

What is so special that you like best: the compact side and pro
What is so special that you like least: the buttons a bit small but it's still very handy

What is your opinion about the value for the price? excellent

Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice? unhesitatingly

just a very short notice to clarify a point about this sound card. besides its caractristiques I find very good, if not excellent, it is most strongly advised to use this card- and in principle the full range MOTU - only with Mac OSX, so on Mac

UTILIZATION

I do not know if the PC drivers are not stable, but what is true, especially, is that you can meet frquemment conflicts with FireWire cards (or USB or PCI for other models of this brand) manufacturers who quipent DIFFERENT PCs, whether supermarkets, assembled or pro.

GETTING STARTED

Mark Of The Unicorn has always worked since its debut and privileges Apple, and as Digital Performer and will not AudioDesk ports for Windows, do not dream,  forget MOTU if you work on PCs

OVERALL OPINION

in my case, MOTU products have always been a must (DP PCi2408, ULTRA series, BPM, etc. MX4.), and Related range Apple has done for me over 10 years of happiness