Also, I wish the screen was dimmable, it is very bright. We prefer the design of the Audient iD44 over the Mk5. You can switch between controlling your headphone and main output volume by pressing the knob. The Ultralite 5 got a brand new Cuemix5 which has 4 band EQ and a cut down Compressor. MOTU can design a high quality interface, but lacks the skill or resources to test it properly. The UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid provides cross-platform compatibility with Mac and Windows and all of your favorite audio software and host-based effects via WDM/ASIO/Core Audio drivers. The Ultralite MK5 is amazing in all regards and my soul mate of an interface! The Ultralite Mk5 has similar capabilities but obviously different inputs. software before connecting the interface to ensure the driver installs Don't think twice, this thing is the one! Acoustic panels and acoustic foam are two of the most popular acoustic treatments used in music recording studios. Sweetwater has helped me before. Please note: I update the hardware (and drivers) well before productions. After months of back and forth with MOTU trying to find out why I get random bit crushed sounding distortions, and audio glitches, MOTU And they didn't even bother to throw in four rack screws. You'll benefit from round-trip latency of 2.4ms over USB at 24-bit/96kHz. Also, I wish the screen was dimmable, it is very bright. Good thing I didn't listen to the people who told me a better interface wouldn't make a difference and that "Specs are just about marketing"(Someone actually told me that). At first glance, it may not look like much, but it supports 18 inputs and 22 outputs, features onboard DSP effects, and has top-quality microphone preamps. (800) 222-4700. All the input and output jacks feel secure, and the controls feel sturdy and well-built. The software is incredibly powerful, yet so easy to use (unlike RME's TotalMix). A Sweetwater Sales Engineer will get back to you shortly. Supports Apple silicon and Intel-based Macs. At first glance, it may not look like much, but it supports 18 inputs and 22 outputs, features onboard DSP effects, and has top-quality microphone preamps. Actually just looked, Sweetwater has a 2 year warranty also! The most notable UltraLite Mk5 feature is CueMix 5, a DSP mixer that gives you control over every feature this interface offers. At some point you have to wonder how it can get any better. Theres also a USB-C port and a 15V DC port for power connection. 18-in/22-out USB-C Audio Interface with 24-bit/192kHz Conversion, 2 Mic Preamps, DSP Mixing and Effects, MIDI I/O, and Loopback - Mac/PC/iOS, Rackmount Kit for Use with MOTU Ultralite MK5, 10-in/14-out USB 2.0 and FireWire Hybrid Audio Interface with 2 Microphone Preamplifiers, DSP Mixer and Built-in Reverb, EQ, and Compression Effects - Mac/PC, 18 x 18 USB/AVB/iOS Audio Interface with 36 Simultaneous Audio Channels, MIDI In and Out, 2 Mic Inputs, 2 HiZ Inputs, 8 Line Outputs, Headphone out, and 8-channel Optical I/O, Happy customers, one piece of gear at a time! Otherwise analog I/O is too lim In this article, well go over some of the best audio interfaces for Mac users. Optimized drivers for both Mac and PC deliver ultra-low latency performance. The UltraLite-mk5's dual microphone preamps offer crystal-clear audio capture, and with this much I/O at your disposal, you'll have no trouble integrating your favorite outboard hardware. Free Expedited Shipping. Apollo). And Motu stuff is super good - but a bit more limited . These items are shipped from and sold by different sellers. After months of back and forth with MOTU trying to find out why I get random bit crushed sounding distortions, and audio glitches, MOTU Love this device because you are not paying for esthetic as much as reliability and functionality. I'm thinking about selling it, but in the mean time I use it as my desktop interface in my home production space. macOS 10.15, To top it all of this things has all the I/O I can ever want and is less than most of these others. I would say the main quality differences are the UAD Unison pres, the really good Apollo DSP, and the overall interface / UI. Hand selected from all across the globe, each brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of music gear. Sweetwater's Sales Engineers are regarded as the most experienced and knowledgeable professionals in the music industry, with extensive music backgrounds and intense training on the latest products and technologies. I'll be often left to rerouting sessions and projects after troubleshooting due to technical issues during soundcheck. on November 16, 2022, Music Background: Live Producer, Music Director, By Chris So the interface is outputting the stereo Ableton mix with loads of VSTs running through outputs 1 and 2. Hey its great! The knob should be a digital encoder so it seems strange to me that it interferes with the analog circuit of the board. Learn More. I am so glad they released this. For further control of a specific channel, such as the level, click its. Upgraded from a Scarlett 2i2. 3. Yeah same here, from Sweetwater. CueMix 5 is a completely new app with attractive graphic mixing, graphic editing of parametric EQ, and a convenient touch-friendly interface for quick access to all mixing features, digitally controlled trims and other settings in your UltraLite-mk5. The overall quality and the extensive I/O have really made a difference for me. 5501 U.S. Hwy 30 W, Fort Wayne, IN 46818 Therefore, it works best with high gain, low noise mic preamps, such as the ones in this unit. It wobbles a little and i had to use a business card to balance one of the rubber feet. Its very clean and professional. Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty gives you extra peace of mind at no extra cost. Now is the perfect time to get the gear you want with simple promotional financing. Thank you for purchasing an UltraLite-mk5 audio interface! See giveaway details & rules or check out our past winners! MOTU Gen 5 Installer PC v92462 | Jan. 10, 2023 . This interface needs a very well-made USBC cable. No excuse MOTU, this is terrible customer service. UltraLite-mk5 feature highlights 18 x 22 USB audio interface with DSP, mixing and effects Superb analog audio performance driven by ESS Sabre32 Ultra DAC Technology However, the design of UltraLite Mk5 makes sense since its meant to be compact. To learn more about our cookie policy, please visit our Privacy Policy. Each mic input has corresponding gain knobs on the front. I have one complaint: why did they even bother with the nobs? $9.99. I've been a long time MOTU user (Digital Performer since it was originally just Performer!) Click the image to download the UltraLite-mk5 driver. Terrible that companies rely on their customers to be beta testers. Sweetwater Sound from Aiken, SC on September 8, 2022, By Richard Bluestein from Minnesota on April 17, 2022, By Sweetwater Customer Please note: I update the hardware (and drivers) well before productions. Quality is excellent and pre-amps are as good as I could have hoped for. I'm holding out, though; the Motu Ultralite Mk5 has the features I need and stellar audio performance. It produces top-of-the-line audio quality and features onboard DSP effects for zero-latency monitoring. But it works for your BASIC home recording needs in the sense that I'm able to record, track, and playback adequately in a "sterilized" environment (for lack of better words). Its very clean and professional. Either bit crushed random distortion events, or sometimes it loses sync with computer and then all audio is delayed like you suddenly switched to a vary high buffer. The conversion etc will be pretty interchangeable. from Lake View, New York on September 13, 2022. Each mic input has +74 dB of independent preamp gain, a -20 dB pad and 48V phantom power for condenser mics. Music Background: Composer, Programmer, Sound Designer & Audio Engineer. I'm embarrassed that I didn't deal with my interface quality issue sooner. 18-in/22-out USB-C Audio Interface with 24-bit/192kHz Conversion, 2 Mic Preamps, DSP Mixing and Effects, MIDI I/O, and Loopback - Mac/PC/iOS, Rackmount Kit for Use with MOTU Ultralite MK5. The USB sync is not stable with this unit, hasn't been since I've owned it. Now is the perfect time to get the gear you want with simple promotional financing. Exclusive deals, delivered straight to your inbox. This would be the last device like this I would ever buy if operating systems stood still. The RME-Baby Face Pro FS: Great Spec's, Price was around $1K, limited I/O's, it can control 2 Monitors. 36 simultaneous audio channels The most I/O ever offered in the UltraLite series Terms, No Hassle Return Policy $595.00. But it works for your BASIC home recording needs in the sense that I'm able to record, track, and playback adequately in a "sterilized" environment (for lack of better words). MOTU UltraLite mk5 20 USB 2.0 Audio Interface With USB C connector ESS Sabre32 Ultra DAC technology 24 Bit / 44.1 - 192 kHz Precise level meters for all analogue inputs/outputs with high-resolution OLED display 2 Microphone / line / Hi-Z inputs via XLR/jack combo socket Gain control and 48V phantom power for both mic inputs Copyright 2008-2023MOTU, Inc. All rights reserved. The headroom is amazing. Monoprice 6-foot USB-C to USB-A Cable. ProdJunkies is reader-supported. - Great sound quality Sweetwater Sound, 5501 U.S. Hwy 30 W, Fort Wayne, IN 46818 Get Directions | Phone Hours | Store Hours, If you have any questions, please call us at (800) 222-4700, MOTU UltraLite-mk5 18x22 USB Audio Interface, MOTU UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid USB / FireWire Audio Interface, MOTU UltraLite AVB USB / AVB / iOS Interface. This new MOTU is almost perfect. The fifth-generation MOTU UltraLite-mk5 packs 40 simultaneous channels 18-in and 22-out in a compact, portable USB audio interface that vaunts reference-quality ESS SABRE PRO D/A and an astonishing 2.4ms of round-trip latency. I love my purchase and I will happily order from Mark of The Unicorn again (that's MOTU's full name!). This is over most users' heads and a pain when I'm setting up in a hurry. Supports Apple silicon and Intel-based Macs. Simply connect the MOTU to your computer and connect the Well also give you some things to look for when shopping around. It wobbles a little and i had to use a business card to balance one of the rubber feet. Now is the perfect time to get the gear you want with simple, promotional financing. Please click below to login. Yeah, I have other interfaces that have never given any problems . Lastly, I wish the display had a way to indicate peaking like a red color or light. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The Mk5 has the M4 beat in sound quality and features. The Motu UltraLite Mk5 is one of the most overlooked high-end audio interfaces. Also love that it supports iOS from the get go. The UltraLite-mk5 connects to a computer through Hi-Speed USB-C (audio class compliant, compatible with USB 2.0, 3.0 and iOS) and operates at sample rates up to 192 kHz. Show Details MOTU Gen 5 Installer Version: 92131 Release Date: Sept. 15, 2022 Download Supported Platforms Happy customers, one piece of gear at a time! Total price: $604.99. Copyright 2008-2023MOTU, Inc. All rights reserved. Perhaps mk6 will be knobless. It boasts ESS Technology's reference-quality ES9026PRO SABRE D/A, which yields a 125dB dynamic range and -114dB THD+N. Turn your old gear into new gear with the Sweetwater Gear Exchange! Performer Lite provides everything you need to record, edit, mix, process and master your own music tracks quickly and easily. you should now see a small 'Test Mode' in the bottom right hand of the screen). 5th-generation engineering delivers unprecedented sound quality, ultra-low latency and proven performance. Background: I direct live music productions and need multiple sends to send stems, loops, cues, and click tracks to various mixing engineers. I use a thunderbolt 3 cable and it works much better for me. Output volume to my headphone amp: louder and cleaner. Buying music gear can be complicated, but your Sweetwater Sales Engineer is here to help. power supply. This interface needs a very well-made USBC cable. Launch your DAW, select the MOTU as the primary playback and recording device. This. Navigate to your OS sound settings and set it as the default input and output device. Based in Brighton, England, this label has been providing pristine audio libraries for more than a decade. To learn more about our cookie policy, please visit our Privacy Policy. 2. , Supports Apple silicon and Intel-based Macs. Over the years, their sounds have been featured in hundreds of charting songs and top film and television soundtracks. Pre amps are solid, great routing. I perform on stage with a keyboard attached to the interface via MIDI to an Ableton Rig. No Hassle Return Policy I had purchased my previous interface back in 2007, so it's fair to say I was way overdue on replacing the 15 yo relic. Free Expedited Shipping. download and install the driver for lower latency, as well as access to the Even when I had a problem with my order, not only Sweetwater, but MOTU went way above and beyond to make things right. The Mk5s preamps have a max gain of 76 dB and an equivalent input noise measurement of nearly -130 dBu (ultra-low preamp noise). So I purchased the MOTU. I also read through forums both on MOTU's site and open source. Compatible with Mac, PC, and iOS, the MOTU UltraLite-mk5 comes with Performer Lite DAW software, 100-plus virtual instruments, and 6GB of loops/samples. macOS 10.14, Windows 11, Highly recommended. - Has a power switch (sadly not a given on USB interfaces) Registered users also qualify for technical support and information about software updates, so please register today! From Performer Lite'sContent Browser, choose from dozens of musical styles, click to audition, then drag and drop in your projects timeline to build your track quick. 5501 U.S. Hwy 30 W, Fort Wayne, IN 46818 Upon registration, you will Phone Hours | I use a thunderbolt 3 cable and it works much better for me. Even when I had a problem with my order, not only Sweetwater, but MOTU went way above and beyond to make things right. 5.0 5.0 out of 5 stars (1) $595.00 $ 595. Installs the latest drivers and software for UltraLite-mk5. They also tend to have wider panels, allowing their controls to be more spaced out and easier to navigate. Sweetwater Card MOTU UltraLite-mk5 18x22 USB Audio Interface 18-in/22-out USB-C Audio Interface with 24-bit/192kHz Conversion, 2 Mic Preamps, DSP Mixing and Effects, MIDI I/O, and Loopback - Mac/PC/iOS See Product Details $ 595 .00 In Stock! Connect to a computer through hi-speed USB 2.0 with optimized ultra-low latency drivers (audio class compliant, compatible with USB 3.0 and iOS) and . I've been at this for about 25 years. Loopmasters is the definitive "sample boutique." There is a ton of gain (74 db I believe). Would buy again. I do not need tons of preamps, I already have external ones. There are loads of inputs and outputs. The bright, crisp, high-resolution OLED provides long-throw metering for all analog I/O, plus activity indicators for digital audio and MIDI I/O. After this experience I will never spend another dollar on MOTU products. Good Luck! this guide, well cover the basics, so be sure to check out MOTUs video below from Massachusetts on September 9, 2022, Music Background: Musician/Mixing Engineer, By Samuel Caballero Converters: Clearly superior. Get Directions | Tre is the Lead Writer at ProdJunkies. Connect all of your audio gear, including speakers, headphones, mics, guitars, synths, keyboards, drum machines, effects processors and even MIDI devices. I'm at that point with the quality of the sound running through this device. But not to worry! You need to turn the knob up to about 2/3 of max to get any real volume Fixed an issue that caused intermittent audio dropouts at lower buffer sizes on some hosts. The Motu UltraLite Mk5 is an 18-input, 22-output high-end audio interface. and connect the MOTU UltraLite-mk5 audio interface to your computer, as well as Your email, test has been entered to win this giveaway. The UltraLite-mk5 interfaces have a USB-C port for Good thing I didn't listen to the people who told me a better interface wouldn't make a difference and that "Specs are just about marketing"(Someone actually told me that). (Sold separately), Join two UltraLite-mk5 units together, side by side, to fill a space in your rack or road case. from Chicago, IL on August 28, 2022, By Jackie Baker Best Choice: MOTU M4 4x4 USB-C Audio Interface. Simply connect the MOTU to your computer and connect the power supply. MOTU's CueMix 5 software gives you easy-to-use, comprehensive, graphic control over your mix. The conversion is definitely a step above all of these and in many ways is pretty close to on par with Apogee. Eggsnow Microphone Shock Mount Clip Universal Mic Holder Stand Anti Vibration for AKG D230 Senheisser ME66 Rode NTG-2 NTG-1 Audio-Technica AT-875R. MOTU won't refund the unit so I can move on with another product, and I can't in good conscience sell it knowing full well it doesn't work with current Apple computers. I have my vocal mic running into the first preamp. on November 16, 2022, Music Background: Live Producer, Music Director, By Chris To learn more about our cookie policy, please visit our Privacy Policy. After recording and mixing in the studio, take the UltraLite-mk5on the road with your laptop for mobile recording and live mixing. Product Details This Monoprice 6-foot USB-C to USB-A Cable is compatible with the Motu M2, M4, Ultralite-mk5 Audio Interfaces. The UltraLite-mk5 ships with standard ASIO and Wave drivers for Windows 10 for compatibility with virtually all ASIO- and Wave-compatible audio apps, including: MOTU Performer Lite MOTU Digital Performer Avid Pro Tools (version 9 or later) Ableton Live Cakewalk Sonar Cockos Reaper Image Line FL Studio Native Instruments Kontakt Presonus Studio One I have CueMix 5 running on my laptop or sometimes wirelessly connected to my iPad (this is a bit complicated and my "wish" is that MOTU would make wireless iPad connection to CueMix 5 simpler). Plus, the knobs have a good amount of resistance. We'd love to save your interests, but first we need to know who you are! Learn more about optimizing your Windows 10 computer for music production! For access to the rest of the software included with your UltraLite-mk5, such as Performer Liteand the loop libraries, register your UltraLite-mk5 to gain access to additional software installers.For IMPORTANT installation instructions, watch the Mac driver video (above) before installing. Digiface + Ultralite together sounds pretty cool, possibly. if motu stick with it, roll it out to all prosumer interfaces, and keep improving upon it, they will then have that one ui that all their prosumer interfaces can enjoy, one codebase, and a universe of users who benefit from updates.. the rme totalmix philosophy works, proven, and has put that company in an untouchable position for software This is the best bang for the buck interface in existence.