All user reviews for the MOTU UltraLite mk3 Hybrid

Possibility of connection on Mac & PC (Hybrid)

Use homestudio: Multitrack DTD and sequence with plugins and soft treatment.
synths and 2 hard + an expander E-mu.
No external mixer console since it is synthetic and accepts direct input, all done in the computer: awesome

Used a PC with Pentium4 and QuadI7 and MBP

UTILIZATION

This is my first external card, before I had a RME HDSP9632 super converters but who planted all the time!

The drivers are stable on Mac and PC with Logic Audio and Studio One Firewire (never used USB) (P4 with a pci firewire has 9 euro! I7 and has integrated the CM)
Deplus is is supplied with firewire, no need for transformer, and convertos are well made and transparent as the RME.

GETTING STARTED

nothing to say at this level, the manual is a bit stingy with info on some specific points but overall it's going smoothly

level config I like medium, the console is a bit complex CuemixFX anyway, the Mac interface is nicer when using a "Standalone"
without turning on the PC: the idea is good but ergonomics side that's not it.

certe it does not take place but an additional MIDI port would not have been superfluous.

OVERALL OPINION

2 years

+ The "all-in-one" functional I love it!

Complexity-and the rough side of the interface as well as soft-hard (manip front) that are not ergonomic

tried 2 PCI cards before

A low-level price but it's still okay and professionalism in all,
we feel that with Apple acoquinage requires a certain level of finish and has some other serious compared marques.je remake that choice I think ..

* Focus on the opportunity, some models had first thought of feeding problems that defective let loose after some time.

I use the Ultralite MK3 Hybrid with (Version 1) to "DaisyChain" to route the audio outputs of my synthesizers to my sequencer so use home studio for sound recording only.

UTILIZATION

I'm running Windows 7 64 bit.
The card is plugged into a Firewire bus driven by a VIA controller.
The card works well with Sonar X1 (64 bit) and all is stable at 44.1 KHz / 24 bit (Buffer set to 256 samples).

GETTING STARTED

Installation: RAS
Configuration: The new console CueMix FX ergonomic and configuration of the card without the latter is no mean feat.

His side: No complaints, it is very clean, there is dynamic, not breathing audible, no alteration of the signal ...

OVERALL OPINION

This is a great card and that is why I have two.
But the price remains high for this product category.
Finally, it ergonomic for use in standalone mode

I like:
Do it racquable
size, 1 / 2 U, mounted in a rack with a motu micro lite, ca not take place.
Its quality of manufacture. It's solid, it weighs its weight and is sheet metal. I
I love the hybrid. Not too sure of myself when buying on the interface to use, it keeps me from my crash. Now I'm sure the firewire is really good, and I never put it in USB.
Its pre-amp microphone is really not bad. I compare it to my first strip sonus channel studio, and I must say that it is more correct. Obviously well below the studio but for a channel pre-amp built-in booster is great.
The microphone input in front, super convenient, it saves me to go behind the desk or leave a trailing cables.
His capacity as a DAC. I am audiophile with a purse tight, and therefore can not afford to pay me two different systems. Coupled with great headphones, a marvel.
Its super stable MAC drivers (never tested on Windows).
Turn mixer and PC-free operation. Good functionality mixer is cool, but walk the menu is pretty hassle, so I never use it (I'm lazy by nature). Mas the fact that it lights turned on without the PC is cool qd is to play the zik.
its simple design.

Well I'm running out of reasons, but I 'love and do not regret my purchase.

My instruments:
PRS, Ibanez = low, 10 Alesis DM Pro drum kit, a ToneLab, midi keyboard M-Audio, Electro Acoustic Ibanez, Studio Channel (PreSonus). I used all types of connectors on the card and no problem (just not enough when taken noon buying a Motu Micro Lite)

My conf: Mac Mini in 2009 (a bit light in terms of perf (thank you) adding an SSD OCZ Vertex 2, but I arrived with. Double screen (28 and 23 inches)

for his little meter on the LCD screen, handy for control (RPID finely and not to the size of the screen) which input is used, which output is used.

9 because nothing is perfect, especially in the area characteristics.

UTILIZATION

Driver MAC super stable. Never had a fart.
I use it with Logic Pro 9, Audacity, JackAudio. it is always recognized, all entries are still there. No complaints, if not perfect.
Even if I turn on the sound card after the PC is turned on, it is recognized directly, without flinching, and this past year and a half.
The update of drivers is not very common. On the other hand, are stable, so is it an update is needed.
I record the tracks one by one, because I'm all alone to play.

Never any latency problem. I use the card but not at 100%

Ben, I put 10, never had a problem, everything has always worked no matter what I tried to do.

GETTING STARTED

Installation? Double click, and then next, next, following a reboot, and everything works perfectly.
The configuration and the tool cue mix is ​​not very easy to use. To manage the mix and other effects must be knowledgeable on the subject, but for basic functions, it is very simple.
Yes the manual is very well done and French.

8 due to cue-mix that is not super clear.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for over a year and a half.
I had an Alesis Firewire 8. Frankly it is day and night. Also good in terms of quality of sound, stable drivers, audio interface, quality buttons, and especially with the quality of pre-amp: the difference is monstrous.
After I have not tested other sound card.

What I like most:
quality pre-amp and stable drivers. AND HER !!!!!
What I like least:
The menus are easily accessible and the buttons are a little too close for big fingers like mine. It is even a qd detail.

I got it in time for 350 euros. At that price was a steal, and a value for money génialissime. I do not know how new it is now (at the time € 490) and even at that price, it think it is an excellent value for money.

If I do it again the same choice: more ways than one.

What motivated my choice, it is mainly two things, or rather three:
1) The Sample rate that goes up to 192Khz
2) The hybrid mode that allows my macbook to do without power supply.
3) The connection that allows me connecting with my whole set of instruments, which is composed without being monstrous when even if I also takes into account an EWI 4000, a microphone for the flute, a VL70 and, where applicable, a vocal mic.

As said just before, this interface is the core of my set of 'snow blower wind instrument'

UTILIZATION

I had once problems with an interface that has literally lost the ball. I did not know what to do. I extinguished and relit it was good. Must say I've done has just about anything with sets of effects which are located in the interface and frankly, I put the loop on itself or qqchose of this kind there.
Otherwise, no worries. I work almost every day and it is there, breathless annoying, neutral and clean.
I am not updating the drivers, but I will still give it a try in 64bit soon if the interface supports it.
I am roughly 6ms latency when I play, which is not bad at all.

GETTING STARTED

No surprise to install. It's super simple. I already had an old 828Mk2 and I installed, started and played. was the install and play.
As I do is little or no part of its software, I will not dwell on this subject.
the manual is adequate and frankly, I have consulted with the installation. since then, I even know where I put it ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use it only for 6 months. what makes some of my views. it is the culmination of several attempts with other interfaces, cheaper, less obviously. I got tired of still having problems with noise, stability, and so on. Finally, I broke my piggy bank and I offered the MK3. Since I do not think about looking for something else.
I can not say what I like most or least. It suits me, it is in a price range that's still expensive. This is the only least at this time of crisis, but it is clear that this is important.

It is a USB or Firewire audio interface, equipped with 8 inputs (phantom power supply with 2XLR + 6 jacks) in a very compact, compared with a whisk. It can be used in stand alone, without a PC.

I bought it at the time to record vocals and guitars in a home studio for electro rock project. Since then, I also used to record 8 tracks in my rock band.
I use it on PC and Mac, Cubase, Logic and Reaper, mostly USB. Motu does not offer driver for Linux.

UTILIZATION

A black spot is its stability. I've had a few blue screens, but it is so exceptional it is not yet gone through the window (against, in a live, AC can be a problem).

Its ergonomics are not the top, but the defects of his qualities.
Optionally, it can be adjusted directly through the few front-panel buttons or PC via the supplied software.
The facade is laborious adjustment: 4 buttons to 8 inputs (with compressor, filters and reverb, ...) That's a lot of menus and submenus. Feasible, but the risk of tearing their hair.
For cons, the software is not too bad and, ultimately, is what I use all the time to adjust.

Finally, once adjustments are made and saved, it is very convenient. I use my home (in home studio) and repetition. It stores up to 8 tracks simultaneously with a relatively low latency.

GETTING STARTED

No problem with installation on various PC and Mac on which I use.
Only the grip is long enough, but the manual is dense.

OVERALL OPINION

I have been using 2 / 3 years now.
I had a Lexicon Omega before the recording quality which left me on my hunger. With preamps and converters of this Motu is the day and night, and it is his main quality: excellent sound quality, good connectivity, and easily transportable.
on the other hand, it takes a little patience to learn and configure it properly.

As for the price, I found it a bit expensive to buy just to save his guitar and singing at home. But ultimately, it can replace a small mixer for a rock band, and there, it's worth it.

-> This card can be used either as Firewire or USB

-> Now I use it in FW with my macbookpro, but before I was on Windows 7 USB FW not as terrible with W7 64 bit.

-> My main use is to create tracks in Live 8

UTILIZATION

-> Never had any problems except under W7 64 b or it does not work at all

-> I'm often around 50 to 60 runs without problems on Mac

-> 6 ms latency

GETTING STARTED

-> Installation without any problem

-> Default configuration for me

-> Only with W7 64 b

-> Manually done well, for my use so far.

OVERALL OPINION

-> Very happy with this card I have for almost 2 years for both voice recording that I could do that as external sound card driving my active speaker.

-> I have another external card for when I travel

-> I love all and nothing in particular, it is a just what I need for my home studio.

-> Qualify value for money, I do it again this purchase if it was necessary, I will see may be higher in a model now that I'm motu switch MAC and USB is no longer a priority for me

- What characteristics have motivated your choice?

Outputs, inputs, firewire, USB, in short, the possibilities of routing it smelled hot sand.

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

In the basic external sound card, plugged in and Jack live console.

- For what purpose? What is your config (Motherboard / CPU / RAM / Disk ,...)?

Asus Pc of a pretty good bill, to go out and run a monitoring since FLStudio, doing the final mix is ​​then internally.

I said that it's all very theoretical, the drivers are so unstable in the end I mostly used the card to listen only to exploit the inputs and outputs.

UTILIZATION

- The drivers are stable?

No, it crashes often for no apparent reason and when it crashes blue screen is direct, very disabling.

- Are they updated frequently?

Never. (Edit: I spoke too quickly, they come from the update ...)

- What you get lag?

Okay, but I tend to really buggers on the tracks and effects.

- What software do you use most often?

FLStudio.

- How many tracks you get to record / play simultaneously?

I gave up this ambition I had to do everything with a PC, I decided to switch to multi-dedicated recording computer is not for me.

GETTING STARTED

- The installation is done it without problems?

Never lose the cd!

- Have you encountered any incompatibilities?

I do not know if we can speak of incompatibilities, rather ill-will on the part of the map ...

- The general configuration is easy?

Very complex.

- The manual is clear and sufficient?

After 5 blue screens, I decided to stay on the little I knew before throwing out the window, so I could not say ...

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you use it?

A year and a half.

- What is so special that you love the most, least?

Plus: The sound is good, it is very versatile, and it provides when I deal with FLStudio, I guess it is also very effective for people who have managed to resolve their config to the millimeter to not plant it. Routing possibilities seem really huge, maybe too much.

Minimum: the repeated crashes are really discouraging, I read that I was not alone in this case, I was reassured, but no more. No updates to the drivers when they are not stable, it is very unfortunate.

- How would you rate the quality / price?

Too expensive in view of the crashes that nullify any productivity.

- With experience, you do again this choice?

No.

Choice motivated by the opinions here or elsewhere and the number of inputs / outputs in a small box. Not to mention the reputation of MOTU.

I need to register a real band after years to register in any single overdub or two. My previous card Line 6 UX 2 I loved not enough. And in addition, Line 6 is infoutu to walk its drivers and software PodFarm on Snow Leopard, so I changed everything. I still like the Line6 PodFarm dongle for the plugin (when it deigns to be detected) because I have plenty of presets vocal / guitar in, but it is not always detected.

Config: MacBook Pro 2.53 GHz, 4 GB RAM - Firewire (but before the adapter FW 6 / 9 pin, USB I tested and no difference). SM58 microphones for reweighed and Rode NT 2000 for voice recording.
I do not use MIDI input / output because I have a MOTU Micro Lite interface to plug my keyboards, pedals, control surfaces and electronic drums.
Live with Mainstage in Config 2, it may suffice to use one of the ultralite for my pedals (with a USB keyboard and more).

Usage: mix in rehearsal (vocals, electronic drums, Mainstage, guitar ...) and home recording studio

System connected to my listening / monitoring (a Soundcraft mixer, 2 Tapco S8 and system config Stagepas 500 for repetition.

UTILIZATION

Stable drivers.
I do not know if it's a question of technical feasibility but home listening I wish I had a driver that can be adjusted from Mac OS X, which is not the case (the buttons are disabled). Damage.
Especially if it does not output monitor in CueMix FX was no possibility to adjust the output volume (Main Outs 1-2) and this morning the surge in the volume sent to my speakers. Hence the fact that I prefer to keep my mixer between the two even though I could see how much it had an influence on the sound monitoring, which is a shame. Configuration mixing, I blunder and I go out live from the MOTU on my speakers. The sound is much clearer than with my old interface (Line 6 UX2).

Use listening to music on the Mac (iTunes) but especially with Mainstage and Logic Pro 2 9. Registration runs from April to May simultaneous max (for my needs) and reading of more than 20 tracks / bus with minimum 3 plugins per track without problem.

Buffer to 128, no problem.

GETTING STARTED

No problem. Small update drivers CueMix + console on the site and go.

Lack of a manual in French but it does not bother me more than that.

For someone from simpler interfaces which do not embark a mixer complete with full routing capabilities of the inputs / outputs, it takes time to adapt.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had a few weeks but I use it every day.

Before then I had an interface Emagic (very good if you do not need mic / preamp but a little old) and a Toneport UX2 Line 6.
I also tried a lot of M-Audio, Edirol ... I tested long enough and a Focusrite Sapphire.

What I liked in the PodFarm is the possibility of having a modeling preamp + compressor LA2A. Frankly, MOTU has it all a thousand times better. I am amazed by the efficiency of compressor, leveler and EQ MOTU.

Being a bassist, I have the galleys of neophytes too long to make a record low nickel to have a mix that is not of the slurry (Line 6, I avoided modeling bass amp because of it) .
Here I take directly out of my DI preamp pedal with a little help from my Rickenbacker Leveler and has never been so well taken.

If there was not this thing in volume of the main output Outs, although I would put 11 in value for money. It is a gear a little more expensive than what I had before. And I think that a beginner does not need that.

The pros:
- The compactness and the number of I / O
- Quality audio input and output
- The quality DSP effects
- Opportunities for CueMix FX (Some small details interesting example resume output hardware directly input via the input "Return" or having the input of the DAW return of the reverb DSP unused .. but if I find Good reverbs why not).
- The hand mixer that works even without the computer.
- The general stability
- The attractive price for the pro side of the assembly.
- The hybrid side to go to work with people who do not have Firewire.
- The mic preamp me seem to have enough left for my needs.

The -:
- Just the story of one day being able to adjust the volume of separate trips home listening (default output of Mac OS X) when there are several monitoring systems to control and master volume since the hotkeys of Mac OS X . But good in a DAW, no problem, everything works for the better.
- Better to have a little experience to use at its peak. Not recommended for beginners.
- To quibble, I have the software integration available in the MOTU (AudioDesk, Digital Performer) in Logic (just what they did to Apogee). For now with FX CueMix I'm doing but on a screen 15 inches macbook, it's a lot.
- And still more to quibble, I would have liked to have a system of presets finest: save a configuration of a single entry by example because I use my microphone inputs for both vocals and guitar / bass but I does not move out of my setup.

I would do this choice without hesitation.

This ultra-compact interface is truly a marvel. She does everything well, and for a price that is reasonable given the benefits.

CONNECTIONS:
2 Inputs Coaxial Jack / XLR Phantom for microphones and instruments, with Pad (attenuator)
6 line inputs coupled or not Jack stereo
1 SPDIF digital input
1 MIDI input

Main Out Stereo outs +
8 output jack independent
1 SPDIF digital output
1 MIDI output
1 headphone stereo jack 6.35

SOFTWARE:
Fx CueMix which assigns entries from the computer outputs and effects
AudioDesk which is a lighter version of the excellent MOTU Digital Performer, MIDI tracks * without
But for collectors packs MIDI, you can create these tracks in GarageBand and import them into WAV format. A little longer than the tracks included, but it does (especially for a guitarist whose priority is not MIDI)

USE: Home studio
Guitars directly connected with the sensor integrated stereo microphones or taken
Song: Direct XLR using compressors, filters and equalizer integrated: it shapes the sound will
Electric Guitars: Directly on inputs 1 or 2, with or without upstream effects, reverb in the loop: it sounds!
Bass: Via a housing Hartke (powered directly by taking phantom) or online which is not worse, with the compressors Synth: an old D110 on a pair of analog inputs. RAS
Drum: DR880 on the digital input, with a peach of hell, with adjustable compressors

UTILIZATION

After three weeks of intensive use, I have seen no stability problem.
I record in General 2 stereo instruments at once.
NO LATENCY when re-recording. It is pure happiness! next, all that I've tested over USB ago stands out as an amiable amateur hack for unwary. (I am, incidentally)

The sound is really amazing: it's consistent, loyal, dull, well-posed, with great dynamic, and numerous tools to refine its decision and the final mix, including the effects of Garage Band (delivered with the computer) that are available in iautomatiquement AudioDesk mixing.


GETTING STARTED

INSTALLATION:
FireWire Snow Leopard on iMac with 4GB of RAM: it turns instantly, no crash.
Software included on the CD with updates Internet CueMix Fx and AudioDesk

MANUAL:
The trickiest part was probably understand (English manual) how to properly use the dispatching CueMix FX
and how to have a good monitoring with AudioDesk. But after some tinkering with a good English dictionary will not leave anything to chance, and understood for example that "ANALOG1-2" can be either inputs or outputs, and they have nothing to do with each other - problem is vocabulary-velvet.

OVERALL OPINION

MOST

Everything that is written above
The sound! Excellent results
Metallic box, well made, lightweight and compact, which does not look like a plastic toy.

LEAST

Manual in English, with some concerns initially to control BUS
And of course options (effects) which become more limited if we use the high definition (192/24) as it monopolizes the capabilities of the integrated processor.
But 48/24 for example, everything is available with a more than adequate for the home studio quality.

AGAIN THIS CHOICE?
ABSOLUTELY!

macbook 2.4 ghz core2duo, 3GB RAM, dd 7200T / m 500GB
I connected various musical instruments, bass, guitar, microphones, all in firewire on Ableton Live 8.
I use it at home for the models on stage ...
What motivated me was the number of inputs / outputs, and effects. the look and reputation of the MOTU sound ... missed!

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable, even if they are old.
I have not tried to record more than 3 tracks simultaneously.
And I read a fortnight without any problems
J'utlise Live 8.
Updating of drivers seems slow, and I can not remember for latency.

GETTING STARTED

The installation went smoothly as usual on mac.
The config and the cue mix, let's be honest, I never managed to understand how it works and suddenly, I have not got what I wanted in routing, or managed to use the effects. Damage.
Incompatibilities, but oddly I had to reallocate each time you open Live. Boring.
The manual gives no concrete example of use of CueMix the coup, besides the forums, walou!
Anyway the problem is solved: let go and she told me I made before opting for a RME Fireface.

OVERALL OPINION

I do not use longer and I kept it three months.
I have tried many models before, Mbox mini, Edirol UA25, Presonus Firepod, M audio fasttrack, I wanted to change to a higher category.
I liked the sound, my shots rang out at last, however, I started having lots of galleys, which no longer activate 48v, entries that are not recognized in my DAW, LCD display, which only works once 4-Finally, I could go and the best.
So, I wanted to go in Sav, and finally I made and I switched to something else!

installed on a mac 2ghz 4gb ram leopard
I returned to the firewire drive through a pre amp lamps

I use it also in conjunction with a laptop as USB console.

UTILIZATION

core-simple to install drivers
I work on Digital Performer 6 02 and accessories on mac garage band
Maj regular imperceptible latency
I record 6 tracks simultaneously a8

GETTING STARTED

install without any problem
Manual in french


OVERALL OPINION

6 months since I love this interface
I also have a mbox 2 and I had ultralite aavant the first generation
effects are numerous and effective reverb, eq, compression, gain
I like the audio quality
the buttons are quite small and the screen is too small, wearing a strength, better work on the screen of the computer ......
no problem, I keep this interface, I hope it's not too fragile, the last I had (the first generation) had the screen brightness in loss of brilliance ... and that I deseperais it turns off ..... DEFINITIONS