Ultralite MK3: no way to enable "... includes computr output

[supamonsta]

Hi dear fellows

I'm used to use my motu ultralite mk2 option "return bus includes computer output" to be able to directly record samples from anything (itunes, safari, vlc, another software, etc.), without any other software than live.

(selecting the additionnal input 11-12 that is created when enabling this option)

BUT

my friend has an ultralite MK3, and this option is "grey" and not enable-able in the motu cuemix menu...

so we need another stuff to sample in live from say, an avi file that is read in VLC... not that critical,

but I'm struggling to understand why this option is here, but not available...

I browsed the internet with no luck


anyone?

cheers

[8O]

What platform is your friend on? Why not just reroute the audio internally without using the Ultralite e.g. by using Soundflower (on Mac)...?

[supamonsta]

he's on a macbook 2ghz with snow leopard

the soundflower way is a bit cumbersome to me, never managed to get it working
and you have to choose either the soundcard, or soundflower in live's prefs... and I don't want to make an aggregate device to merge the ultralite and soundflower...

for now he still uses audio hijack pro demo for its ease of use...

but I love the way I can do it just with Live on my system, no need for any other app to be used... just sample the sound directly into a clip slot in live, so easy...


thanks for trying to help

cheers

[dazzer]

Never used it myself but I can confirm the option is enabled in CueMix in SL for my Mk I.

Has he got the Ultralite preferences set up right in Live? And in OS X AudioMidi Setup?

BTW how do you do it? I tried following what you wrote in the OP but I can't get it.

[Valiumdupeuple]

Soundflower is really easy to use. Once installed, when you need to record something from your computer, just go the audio/midi system config and select the Soundflower as your system output. Then, in Live's preferences select soundflower as your input. Done.
Live's output will still be the motu btw.

[supamonsta]

@ Valium du peuple : thanks for that clear answer,

see, that's easy, yes, but you still have to mod' both your system's and live's prefs.

@ Dazzer :

here it is really simple, once you know how to deal with it (I had lots of brain damage when trying to use this killer unknown feature)

when you enable this option in cuemix menu, you just get an additionnal virtual pair of inputs on your motu in live's prefs, I think it's 11-12. this virtual input mirrors your system sound output, e.g, you launch VLC and play a movie, then this input streams VLC audio output...

just enable this input in live's inputs prefs, choose this input in your live track's input menu, record-enable track, and you're ready to sample VLC, internet shit, iTunes audio output, skype audio and whatelse, directly in Live, without any other thing to be prep'd.

Thats soooo easy


My friend's system is exactly the same as mine. (just 0,4ghz less fast CPU) The only difference is, he got a MK3 ultralite, and mine is an old MK2. (or MK1, I think it's the same, there is either no MK1, or no MK2...)

this is not a live prefs problem, definitely more a cuemix MK3 problem/misundestanding from me...


everyone tells me to use soundflower but wait, there IS a really much more simple solution for motu ultralite owners, just it is cryptic, and seems much more cryptic in the MK3s... lol


thanks & cheers

[supamonsta]

WAIT WAIT WAIT !!!!

I just launched my own cuemix fx console, because I knew I wasn't right with this option name, in fact, it is "MIX 1 RETURN INCLUDES COMPUTER OUTPUT"

ok, I was'nt that far from the real option name.


BUT:

I just realised this option was also "greyed" on my system. Then I realised my ultralite was OFF.
I then turn the ultralite ON, and BOOM, the option is available.

then, on my friend's system, it is like the motu was turned OFF, but it isn"t (I tried several times to set it up on his system, and the motu was definitely ON...)

... ... ...

OK, still don't understand...

I'll contact motu, but I tried in the past, and had hard times to get some answers (don't remember what was the problem I contacted them for)


cheers

[cotdagoo]

interesting info for ultralite owners - thanks

[steko]

BUT

my friend has an ultralite MK3, and this option is "grey" and not enable-able in the motu cuemix menu...

From the UltraLite-mk3 manual (http://www.motu.com/techsupport/manuals/):

The Mix1 return includes computer File menu item applies to other MOTU interfaces products and has no effect on the UltraLite-mk3

Same on my 828mk3...

[dazzer]

I've still got no idea how to set this up on my Mk 1. The output of the computer (say, an iTunes tune) shows up in CueMix in the final track (labelled 'Output' and then 'Main out 1-2 Bus 1) which I cannot access in Live's input prefs or in the track "audio from' dropdown.

What am I missing here?

[steko]

http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?p=925986#p925986

[dazzer]

http://forum.ableton.com/viewtopic.php?p=925986#p925986

Er, thanks, I have read/am reading this thread and as I said, can't get it to work.

I go for the 11/12 that was mentioned but still get no audio coming out of the input in Live even though I can hear iTunes and CueMix is showing the audio output in the Master, like I mentioned in my post. Either I'm too dumb or there's a step here that's not been explained.

[supamonsta]

The Mix1 return includes computer File menu item applies to other MOTU interfaces products and has no effect on the UltraLite-mk3

SHIT!!

why would they remove such a useful feature?????

I hope my MK2 will live forever


@ Dazzer : I don't know how to help you more with that... I don't have any other step in the setup, nothing in the cuemix console to route or setup... I even don't have any clue about what could be this "mix 1 return"

BTW, I HATE this new cuemix console, I had to re-install all my setup when my HD crashed once, and I had to download the cuemix console and motu drivers back from motu site, and I got this new SHIT cuemix console I can't get to be understood by my brain (the former one was 1) really much more easy and friendly GUI and 2) really much more clear, 3) you had 4 different submixes available.... this new one is UGLY, CRYPTIC, and WTF a SCROLLBAR TO BROWSE YOUR INPUTS???? lol (yellow lol) )

cheers

[dazzer]

@ supmonsta - no worries, thanks for your input. I'll try to experiment more.

BTW, I can help you with one thing - no need to scroll inputs in CueMix man, just drag the interface from the bottom right-hand corner and it gets bigger

[fishmonkey]

BTW, I HATE this new cuemix console, I had to re-install all my setup when my HD crashed once, and I had to download the cuemix console and motu drivers back from motu site, and I got this new SHIT cuemix console I can't get to be understood by my brain (the former one was 1) really much more easy and friendly GUI and 2) really much more clear, 3) you had 4 different submixes available.... this new one is UGLY, CRYPTIC, and WTF a SCROLLBAR TO BROWSE YOUR INPUTS???? lol (yellow lol) )

i strongly suggest you never buy an RME interface then. TotalMix will fry your brain for sure.

CueMix is pretty bad though.