To be fair to MOTU, they're working on updating the drivers - I've had a lot of feedback from them after I reported the issue via motu.com and I reakon they're close to a fix.

When run by FireWire, there's still a hefty safety buffer, even though you can whack the user-configurable buffer down to 64 samples.

kp


To be fair to MOTU, they're working on updating the drivers

And so they should. Doesn't sound like they did much testing before releasing the drivers. And then retailers will presumably turn round and refuse returns because it's a software issue.
 
 
Anyway, I don't own one, but may well do so if a fix works.
 
Do you think the converters on this unit are one of the better ones on the market?
 
I only really need 4 inputs max and SPDIF plus midi but as long as the converters are amongst the best I don't mind paying extra.

Do you think the converters on this unit are one of the better ones on the market?

 
At that price-point...

Jim Roseberry

Do you think the converters on this unit are one of the better ones on the market?

 
At that price-point...

Sure. Actually the features I need are 2-4 inputs plus SPDIF with good converters.  I have an Audient Mico pre which is excellent and can connect via SPDIF, but I won't have that with me all the toime. So I was wondering if there was an equivalent to that, or, say, the Apogee Duet for PC?

Mus

kp


To be fair to MOTU, they're working on updating the drivers

 
And so they should. Doesn't sound like they did much testing before releasing the drivers. And then retailers will presumably turn round and refuse returns because it's a software issue. 
  
 


Too true - they should have done (way) more testing before release.  They're so much better than they used to be though (when I had one of their MIDI interfaces about 12 years ago) when messages vanished into a black hole and Windows users were ignored...
 
I haven't really pushed it hard at the moment (moving house - still :-)) so I can't comment too much on that question, but what I have done sounds good and it does seem to work reliably (with Firewire at the moment and I believe it will with USB too soon).

Jim Roseberry

Ah right, easily done. I know that Jim advocates the RME Fireface UC over the MOTU for USB, but it's a hefty price.

 
If you want/need low round-trip latency (via USB), the Fireface UC is currently the only unit that'll deliver ~6ms at a 64-sample ASIO buffer size/44.1k.  Most USB units don't even offer ASIO buffer sizes smaller than 128-samples... plus they're using a large hidden safety buffer... so round-trip latency is thru the roof.  
 
If you get the Ultralite mkIII, run it via a good TI Firewire controller... and you'll have decent round-trip latency.
It's a couple of ms higher than the pre-mkIII units (to support the onboard DSP), but if you run at higher sample rates (88.2 or 96k) it'll negate the extra latency (albeit at a higher CPU load - which is a good trade-off if you're running a fast DAW).

Which is amazing to me that the Profire 610 is 6.4ms with buffer set to 64 @ 44.1KHz sampling. I got this thing several years ago for $300 new. Too bad m-audio isn't supporting it and don't have anything as good as it now in their lineup.
 
The more I research this, the more I realize how good the Profire is (latency wise) for the price. It looks like I have to go from $300 to $2000 (RME) just to get something as good. 

Keep in mind this thread is pretty old (the information is a bit out of date).  
 
ie:  The new MOTU Ultralite AVB is $650, offers good A/D D/A, and has round-trip latency of 4.9ms at a 64-sample ASIO buffer size (44.1k).

this thread is over 5 years old.
 
why does someone bring such an old thread back up?
 

batsbrew
this thread is over 5 years old.
 
why does someone bring such an old thread back up?
 

...because I didn't notice that. lol
 
Jim, thanks for the MOTU Ultralight AVB info. 

I have been seeking faster and faster interfaces and when I came across the so called "updated" technology of Ultralite Mk3 I was puzzled as to why they had not made this interface faster than it's grandpa Ultralite... I later learned that CueMix, a latency free part of the new hardware would make zero latency for... you guess it: mic, guitar and everything unfriendly to techno. I myself make Dubstep and need something good with digital and not just no latency with acoustics. Therefore, I set about for close to three months seeking out the answers. I found that Google was a poor choice as there is just not enough information the subject!
 
Here was my findings on my own:By themselves, the difference is very large for digital musicians: Roundtrip latency recordings...
On a buffer of 32 Sample 44.100 kHz...
My problem:
Roundtrip is a 3.4 ms on Mk3! Very slow for MIDI users. Roundtrip on my grand-father original Ultralite from 2007 is an awesome 2.7 ms. This is a .7 ms which is way to high of a difference for me. For audio musicians the CueMix is awesome, but for us techno guys it is not so great to have the extra baggage for this technology placed on our speed. :(( Boo!
 
However, I found something that may be of use to some on this search:
 
My solution:
With just the Input Device set to none in Preferences I got 2.4 ms on my Mk3 and the Ultralite was a 2.1 ms... hey I can live with .3 difference because it comes with CueMix, which I can use for my guitar players and singers to have zero latency. I must let the reader know you need a USB piano, like the one I have, that bypasses MIDI - or you will need the Ultralite's Input to be on, dragging down your latency. A USB piano should not be hard to come by nowadays though!
 
Also, when recording your techno, set it to input none and when you are recording audio set it on - as you may need your Input to be set to Ultralite mk3 for CueMix to do it's magic. Either way, it is low latency for digital guys - whohoo!