My MOTU Ultralite Mk3 Review(-ish)

misteron · Post by **misteron** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:28 pm

Just received UL Mk3.
Not much of a review as I haven't tried most of it's features yet, not even recording, but as I do (over the next few days) I'll post back results.

So far though...
-Sturdy
-Compact
-Light
-LCD good
-When bus powered, UL doesn't power off when computer powers off, if comp is still plugged to AC (I like that.)
-Computer sleep/wake = no probs.
-All switches feel sturdy (build) not fragile.
-All buttons, switches, connections, and knob increments give solid, reassuring click and feel very good.
-OOTB experience = full points. (install driver, power off everything, power on comp, power on UL)
-Come's with rack ears.
-Turning off comp and/or powering off UL; the UL remembers it's PHONES and MAINOUTS volume settings (haven't tried other settings yet)

Can't compare to Mk2 as I never used it.
If anyone has any specific questions just shout.

beatpoet · Post by **beatpoet** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:47 pm

It's pretty much the same box as the Mk2 with onboard DSP, isn't it ?

misteron · Post by **misteron** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:56 pm

misteron wrote:Can't compare to Mk2 as I never used it.

misteron · Post by **misteron** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:04 pm

Point to note:
the photos of UL Mk3 are not accurate.
They show it with rounded corners, but in fact, set slightly behind this are squared "shoulders" holding hex screws onto which the rack ears can be fixed.

MOTU were even kind enough the appropriate Alan Key (HexKey) and a pile of extra Hex screws and some PhillipsHeads too.

Also, (what seems to be) optional rubber feet and connectord for attaching several ULs side by side.

yoshitosser · Post by **yoshitosser** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 4:16 pm

Im being a bit of a twat pointing this out here, but there never was a mk 2, only mk 1.

Just saying, is all.

beatpoet · Post by **beatpoet** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:03 pm

And there I was sitting there wondering what came before the mk2

I wonder when Live 9 will be out then

stjohn · Post by **stjohn** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 5:56 pm

ordered mine there a few days ago!! cant wait

anch · Post by **anch** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:28 pm

Motu Ultralite MK-3 sounds very good. I like it for stability and small latency (2 ms). This fireware interface don't eat CPU power from computer. My previous Presonus FireBox need about 10% CPU power on my PowerBook G4. But the main is stability during performances. Plus not bad reverb and good compressors. I also use mic and guitar pres on it.

aburgener · Post by **aburgener** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:30 pm

misteron wrote:Point to note:
the photos of UL Mk3 are not accurate.
They show it with rounded corners, but in fact, set slightly behind this are squared "shoulders" holding hex screws onto which the rack ears can be fixed.

MOTU were even kind enough the appropriate Alan Key (HexKey) and a pile of extra Hex screws and some PhillipsHeads too.

Also, (what seems to be) optional rubber feet and connectord for attaching several ULs side by side.

confused... that's what the pictures look like to me...

misteron · Post by **misteron** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:43 pm

aburgener wrote:
misteron wrote:Point to note:
the photos of UL Mk3 are not accurate.
They show it with rounded corners, but in fact, set slightly behind this are squared "shoulders" holding hex screws onto which the rack ears can be fixed.

MOTU were even kind enough the appropriate Alan Key (HexKey) and a pile of extra Hex screws and some PhillipsHeads too.

Also, (what seems to be) optional rubber feet and connectord for attaching several ULs side by side.
confused... that's what the pictures look like to me...

My bad, u're right:
From the time of announcement of Mk3 til the last time I checked, any sites I tried used the same pic as Thomann, ie this one
http://www.thomann.de/ie/motu_ultralite_mkiii.htm
Just checked DV now and it's been corrected, so probably they all have (except Thomann)

aburgener · Post by **aburgener** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:45 pm

actually you're right too... cause that view where it looks all rounded is all over motu.com

i was just going off the more 3d looking shots on sweetwater and musiciansfriend

exaltron · Post by **exaltron** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 6:59 pm

Had this thing hooked up for a few days, but I wasn't that impressed. The Cue FX thing looked like it could do what Soundflower or Jack do (internal routing) without sucking up 80% of CPU. But no, all it can do is route ins to outs and busses, no internal routing. So I'm sending this back and reconfiguring the ancient original 828MOTU (which they replaced for $50 when it broke last winter).

I am finding that Live 7 improves latency and audio quality in a way that I thought the Ultralite would and at a fraction of the cost </corporate shilling>

misteron · Post by **misteron** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:47 pm

Haven't had time to try out other features yet but here is the Performance Test results
http://www.ableton.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 872#751872

misteron wrote:1 ) Ableton Live CPU Meter % ...................................51%
2 ) Laptop/Desktop? Make/Model?..............................MBP
3 ) Operating System?..............................................OS X 10.5.4
4 ) Ableton Live version?...........................................7.0.10
5 ) CPU Make, Model, and Speed?..............................Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz
6 ) Amount of Ram?.................................................4GB
7 ) Soundcard (and driver version if you know it)?.......Motu Ultralite Mk3 (original driver)
8 ) Hard Disk Drive Speed (if you know)?...................7200
9 ) Number of playback tracks?.................................8

Lo-Fi Massahkah · Post by **Lo-Fi Massahkah** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:18 pm

-- edited due to un-necessary asshole attitude from my side.

swishniak · Post by **swishniak** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:20 pm

im loving mine. . its a big step up from the edirol hell i was in.

can't quite wrap my brain around the cuemix fx software though. i find the whole routing and interface very confusing (creating internal mixes with effects etc.).

anyone have any tips or links to tutorials? the motunation site isnt too helpful.

My MOTU Ultralite Mk3 Review(-ish)

My MOTU Ultralite Mk3 Review(-ish)

Re: My MOTU Ultralite Mk3 Review(-ish)