MOTU Ultralite AVB

Just got this unit and early testing looks good.
 
Connects via USB2
LOW round-trip latency (smallest buffer setting yields 4.9ms total round-trip latency at a 64-sample ASIO buffer size/44.1k)
Under decent load (Sonar demo projects), CPU use was identical to a Lynx AES-16e (same 64-sample ASIO buffer size/441k)
Average noise-floor is ~-112dB.  That's darn good for a $650 audio interface.
 

• Two decent onboard mic preamps via XLR
• Two Hi-Z 1/4" guitar inputs
• Six Balanced 1/4" TRS inputs
• Two "Main" 1/4" TRS outputs (connect to studio monitor speakers)
• Six additional 1/4" TRS outputs
• Lightpipe I/O (switchable to optical S/PDIF)
• MIDI I/O

 
Want to run more extensive tests before giving a final opinion, but thus far this looks like a great fit for many users.
With outboard preamps, you've got enough I/O to record a full band.
 
Haven't mentioned the onboard DSP and Mixing features... as (IMO) those aren't the primary reason to choose an audio interface... but they are a nice addition.
 
More to come...

Hi Jim,
this unit also connects via Ethernet, doesn't it?  I assume you've not tried that connection yet?
 
I have an ultralite MKIII hybrid (USB & Firewire) and I've loved it.  but this unit looks like an upgrade from that for an extra $100.

Cactus Music
Hey, any chance of a loop back test? 
Lately I'm obsessing about this.. 

I haven't done a loop-back test... but I have measured the round-trip latency in several different audio applications.
Also, you can check to see if audio is offset vs. the original (re-record a single existing track and compare).
If it's spot on, then the reported round-trip latency should be accurate.

Hi Tom,
 
The "X factor" with audio drivers is each one's hidden-safety-buffer.
All audio interface drivers have a hidden-safety-buffer.
 
A larger safety-buffer can help avoid drop-outs/glitches under less than ideal circumstances (ie: high DPC Latency)
But it comes at the cost of higher latency
 
Most audio interfaces don't allow you to adjust the safety-buffer (thus why I call it "hidden").
Some audio interfaces (Focusrite, Behringer X32 series, and the new MOTU ABV units to name several) allow you to adjust the safety-buffer's size.  This allows the end-user complete flexibility to decide how to use the safety-buffer.
In the case of the MOTU Ultralite AVB, that 4.9ms is the result of using the smallest safety-buffer size... and the smallest ASIO buffer size (which is 64-samples).
 
Don't throw the Babyface out with the bathwater!   
The ASIO I/O buffers *AND* the safety-buffer (combined) yield the unit's total latency.
Babyface:  

• Hidden (fixed) safety-buffer is a littler larger than the MOTU's (at the smallest size), but it can use a smaller ASIO I/O buffer size (48-samples)

MOTU Ultralite AVB:

• Safety-buffer can be adjusted to a little smaller than the Babyface, but the smallest ASIO buffer size is larger (64-samples)

Total round-trip latency of the Babyface and Ultralite AVB is identical (4.9ms at 44.1k). 
Both allow you to run substantial loads (glitch-free) at 4.9ms total round-trip latency.
Note: The computer has to be able to keep up with the load...
 
Both are great performers.

Well, I took the plunge and ordered the Ultralite aVB.
It will take a few days to get here, and I'll give it a workout - and report back.
 
I'm just going to set it up as a basic interface (skip the mixer and FX etc) and will only use the analog i/o. As long as I can get low latency and the CPU load isn't too bad (this is my first USB interface) then I'll be happy.
 
To be continued...

Hi John,
 
I can run at 4.9ms total round-trip latency with zero glitches.
Make sure you're not connected to a USB3 port (especially not a 3rd party USB3 controller).
 
FWIW, You can create a shortcut to the IP address (which will open the control-panel application).
You can even use the same icon.

==== UPDATE ====
Hopefully this will help anyone else going for this interface.
I noticed that there are certain combinations in the Audio Control Panel that do not work. You do actually get a warning, but I hadn't noticed it. I was wondering why my SONAR sounded horrible, and slow - like it was at the wrong sample rate! In fairness - it *does* warn you... (I wasted a lot of time with this)
 
I moved the USB connector to a USB port on the mobo, and it's not sharing a "Generic USB Hub" with anything else.
It did seem pretty much the same on a USB3 port on the mobo too.
 
==== Audio Control Panel settings ====
I've set "USB Streaming Mode" (the hidden buffers) to the lowest setting - and then adjust the ASIO Buffer Size.
- 64 samples (4.9ms RT latency) - Works OK without crackles but only with very few audio and/or soft synth tracks.
- 128 samples (7.8ms RTL) - Is much better. There are *occasional* crackles, but I'm going to work at this setting and see how it goes.
- 256 samples (13.6ms RTL) - This is still very usable. I'm sure that latencies like this bothered me with the Delta66 (playing through an amp sim plugin). Maybe it's a placebo effect because 13.6ms is 13.6ms no matter which audio interface you play through - but others have reported that they're OK playing with latencies like this too. Anyway - there are no crackles or anything at this setting.
=========================
 
The audio quality is great - although I'll pay more attention to this through the week when I actually use the Ultralite for tracking. I made sure I can return this interface "just in case" I had problems running a USB interface - but I think this is definitely going to be a keeper. I think the fact that I can't get the latency a little better is more due to my PC setup than the MOTU drivers or the hardware itself.
 
It also seems to be connecting to the web interface OK today too - but as you say Jim, it's easy enough to just type the ip address (from DHCP) in the browser, and that *always* works.
 
== I'll maybe play around with the DSP mixer and stuff sometime, and find out what "audiodesk" is, but for now I think this is going to work out well.
 
I'll report back later in the week.
Thanks again Jim for your input, and help. This seems like a good low latency AI.

24 bits.  32 bits can be used for upsampled masters, but no hardware actually uses 32 bits as I understand it.
 

24 bits.

Thanks to both of you for the sanity check. I just had this thought - "I wonder if things have moved on...." ;-)

========== UPDATE ========
Here's another update - after tracking guitar all day at the second lowest latency setting (128 samples - 7.8ms RTL) this audio interface sounds terrific, and performed flawlessly.
I even rigged up the mixer to strap a (LA2A) limiter over the guitar input (well, I'm using the XLR mic input to record guitar).
 
The web interface goes a little wacky when you access the mixer - but I figured out that it just needs to be minimised, and then open it again and it's fine ;-)
 
Anyway - I think (unless something stupid happens in the next few days) I'll be keeping this - and will highly recommend it.
 
Thanks again to Jim R - for starting the topic...
 
EDIT - I just have to get used to turning the thing on every day - it doesn't seem to have a way of coming up automatically when I power on my "studio" ;-)
Also - I moved it to a mobo (Asus P8Z77-V) USB3 port and it seems fine.

Jim Roseberry
Starting with the Z77 chipset motherboards, USB3 was integrated into the Intel chipset.
This eliminates many compatibility issues.
Think of it being similar to using TI chipset Firewire...  
 
Glad to hear the Ultralite AVB is working well for you!

that explains why the first one wasn't so good. I went out and bought a PCIe card with a couple of USB3 ports on it - so the ultralite wouldn't be "sharing" with anything. Not to worry - it seems really happy on the integrated USB3 port.
 
 

The Web based control-panel is a little sluggish (I'm impatient), but it's also extremely flexible in that you can control it via any smart-phone, tablet, or computer (regardless of platform).

I was a little worried when I had "connection" problems - but it seems pretty good now. Also, like i said, the mixer problem goes away when you minimise and then go back in to it.
 
I should also say that I'm running at 24 bit/44.1 Sample Rate.
I may never get my PC to run at 4.9ms RTL - but I couldn't do that with the PCI interface either. I feel better spending a little more (althought they've come down in the last few months) for an interface where at least there is a *possibility* to go that low - so it's not running at it's lowest setting, and still giving me very workable latencies.
MOTU seems pretty good with driver support (like RME) so hopefully I'll be running with this for a long time now... ;-)
 

flawless for me under Windows 10.

steveo - I'm glad to hear that, as that will be my next big "upheaval" ;-)
 
Are you doing anything special to get the 4.9ms RTL? I'm assuming that my CPU/mobo (i7 3770K/Asus P8Z77-V) just can't cut it.

 P.S I'm a long time Cake user going back to the Pete Leoni / Catena days.

So am I! We've probably "met" before
 
Oh well, I'm not really in the mood for a clean install (not ready for Win 10 yet anyway). I'll play around and see if I can get the latency down - it's not imperative, as it's working fine at 7.8ms RTL...

steveo42
Or, if you can reach that number, is it unusable, meaning pops and clicks etc?

This ;-)
 
SONAR reports 4.9ms latency but it's not usable unless I have maybe 1 or 2 tracks of audio maximum.
On a "normal" project (fairly modest at maybe 8-10 audio tracks with amp sims and console emulators) plus a few soft synths - it's either crackle city, or else I get a little "burst" when the project loads - then no sound. It plays fine, but no sound - even when I reset the audio engine.
 
On a test project - it seems fine when I disable all FX (with the button in the control area), but I don't know if that's because of the FX or the CPU use going down. Mind you - the CPU is not very high (unless th emeters are inaccurate) so I think it has something to do with the plugins. Perhaps certain plugins are less happy running with 64 sample buffers?
 
 
I've had more fun and games too. SONAR works great (at 7.8ms RTL) and Windows sounds have been fine too (ie Windows Media Player) - but CD Architect was very unhappy yesterday. When I changed from a ASMedia USB3 port to a Intel one (they're all built in to the motherboard) - the CD Architect is fine (so is everything else).
I had favoured the ASMedia port because it 9well, there are two)  doesn't share an interrupt with anything else on the mobo - where the Intel USB3 ports share with the USB2 ports and some (empty) PCIe slots.
 
I'm not used to USB interfaces - so this is just fun and games. Once I get it settled down so that everything works and is happy - then I can occassionally play around to see if I can convince SONAR to run at 64 samples...