Mark of the Unicorn UltraLite-mk3 FireWire User's Guide

UltraLite- mk3
User Guide for Windows
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Business fax: (617) 576-3609
Web site: www.motu.com
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TO PERSONS WHO PURCHASE OR USE THIS PRODUCT: carefully read all the terms and conditions of the “click-wrap” license agreement presented to you when you install the software. Using the software or this documentation indicates your acceptance of the terms and conditions of that license agreement.
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Limited Warranty on Hardware
Mark of the Unicorn, Inc. and S&S Research (“MOTU/S&S”) warrant this equipment against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of TWO (2) YEARS from the date of original retail purchase. This warranty applies only to hardware products; MOTU software is licensed and warranted pursuant to separate written statements.
If you discover a defect, first write or call Mark of the Unicorn at (617) 576-2760 to obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization Number. No service will be performed on any product returned without prior authorization. MOTU will, at its option, repair or replace the product at no charge to you, provided you return it during the warranty period, with transportation charges prepaid, to Mark of the Unicorn, Inc., 1280 Massachusetts Avenue, MA 02138. You must use the product’s original packing material for in shipment, and insure the shipment for the value of the product. Please include your name, address, telephone number, a description of the problem, and the original, dated bill of sale with the returned unit and print the Return Merchandise Authorization Number on the outside of the box below the shipping address.
This warranty does not apply if the equipment has been damaged by accident, abuse, misuse, or misapplication; has been modified without the written permission of MOTU, or if the product serial number has been removed or defaced.
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MOTU/S&S ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM ANY BREACH OF WARRANTY, OR UNDER ANY LEGAL THEORY, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, DOWNTIME, GOODWILL, DAMAGE OR REPLACEMENT OF EQUIPMENT AND PROPERTY AND COST OF RECOVERING REPROGRAMMING, OR REPRODUCING ANY PROGRAM OR DATA STORED IN OR USED WITH MOTU/S&S PRODUCTS.
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This equipment has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for a class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television equipment reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by any combination of the following measures:
• Relocate or reorient the receiving antenna
• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver
• Plug the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected
If necessary, you can consult a dealer or experienced radio/television technician for additional assistance.
PLEASE NOTE: only equipment certified to comply with Class B (computer input/output devices, terminals, printers, etc.) should be attached to this equipment, and it must have shielded interface cables in order to comply with the Class B FCC limits on RF emissions.
WARNING: changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
Contents
Quick Reference: UltraLite-mk3 Front Panel
5
6
Quick Reference: UltraLite-mk3 Rear Panel
Quick Reference: MOTU Audio Console
7
About the UltraLite-mk3
9
Packing List and Windows System Requirements
13
15
IMPORTANT! Run the UltraLite-mk3 Software Installer First
Installing the UltraLite-mk3 Hardware
17
27
MOTU Audio Console
UltraLite-mk3 Front Panel Operation
33
Cubase, Nuendo, Live and Other ASIO Software
41
SONAR and other WDM Software
47
GigaStudio and GSIF
51
55
Reducing Monitoring Latency
CueMix FX
61
89
MOTU SMPTE Console
Performance Tips & Troubleshooting
93
III
IV
56
SETUP mode lets you access general settings. Use the
PARAMETER knob to browse settings, and use the VALUE
knob to adjust them.
From the factory, its output matches the main outs on
the rear panel. But it can be programmed to mirror any
other output pair (digital or analog). It can even be
programmed to serve as its own independent output.
Use the volume knob above to control its level.
power for condenser microphones. Up is on; down is off.
The pad switches are three-way switches: down turns off
the pad; the middle position provides an -18 dB pad; the
board CueMix FX mixer. Use the CHANNEL knob to
choose the input, output or mix you wish to edit. Push it
to switch among inputs, outputs and busses, then turn it
up position provides a -36 dB pad.
to choose the desired channel or bus. Use the PAGE,
PARAM and VALUE knobs to access the settings for the
chosen channel.
6. This is a standard quarter-inch stereo headphone jack.
a stereo output of your choice. The four knobs to the right
of the LCD correspond directly to the four labeled
sections of the LCD. Push the PARAMETER knob repeat-
edly to cycle through the three main LCD display modes:
METER, CUEMIX and SETUP.
METER mode provides level meters for each input and
4
3
7. The 48V phantom power switches provide phantom
output. The labels above and below the LCD refer to all of
the UltraLite-mk3’s inputs and outputs (both analog and
digital).
CUEMIX mode lets you program the UltraLite-mk3’s on-
Quick Reference: UltraLite-mk3 Front Panel
0
the current volume setting in the LCD display; push it
again to control the UltraLite-mk3’s MASTER VOLUME
setting. From the factory, MASTER VOLUME controls the
(TRS) MAIN OUTS 1-2 on the rear panel, but MASTER
VOLUME can be programmed to control any combination
of outputs. See “The Monitor Group” on page 82 for
details.
UltraLite-mk3; press and hold to turn it off. The
UltraLite-mk3 is powered by its FireWire connection to
the computer. It is recommended that you always power
off the UltraLite-mk3 before unplugging the FireWire
cable.
of the UltraLite-mk3’s inputs and outputs. It also gives
you access to the UltraLite-mk3’s built-in mixer and
other settings. There are eight independent stereo mix
7
1 2 5
cable with a quarter-inch plug. Both the low-impedance
XLR jack and the high-impedance TRS jack are equipped
with 24 dB of front-panel trim adjustment, along with
1. This XLR/TRS combo jack accepts either a mic cable or a
4. When power is off, push the VOL knob to power on the
zero, -18 dB or -36 dB of cut (pad). The XLR (mic) input
can be supplied with 48V phantom power via the Mic 1
front-panel switch.
2. These two Precision Digital Trim™ knobs provide 24 dB
of trim adjustment in 1 dB increments for the front and
rear panel Mic/Instrument inputs. Both have preamps,
so you can plug in just about anything: a microphone, a
guitar or even a synth. For +4 dB signals, use the rear
panel TRS inputs. Use the trim knob, three-way pad
switch and input level meter in the LCD to calibrate the
5. The multi-purpose backlit LCD provides metering for all
input signal level.
3. Turn the VOL knob to control the headphone volume. The
LCD provides visual feedback for the headphone volume
busses. Each mixes all inputs (or any subset you wish) to
setting as you turn the knob. Push the knob once to view
Use the
4
discharge, which can harm the electrical compo-
nents in the UltraLite-mk3 or your computer.
second FireWire port to daisy-chain up to four MOTU
FireWire audio interfaces to a single FireWire bus. You
can also connect other FireWire devices. Keep in mind
that the UltraLite-mk3 uses more FireWire bus
bandwidth when it operates at higher sample rates,
which will limit the number of devices you can daisy
chain on a single FireWire bus. For details, see see
“Connecting multiple MOTU FireWire interfaces” on
page 24.
with either tip-positive or tip-negative polarity.
8. This jack accepts any standard 10-24V DC power supply
57 6
Important note: it is best to turn off
analog inputs (3 through 8) are gold-plated, balanced
TRS (tip/ring/sleeve) quarter-inch connectors that can
also accept an unbalanced plug. They do not have micro-
phone preamps, so they are best used for synthesizers,
drum machines, effects processors, and other instru-
ments with line level signals (either -10 dB or +4 dB).
These inputs are also equipped with the UltraLite-mk3’s
Precision Digital Trim™ feature: digitally controlled
analog trims that let you adjust input level in 1 dB incre-
ments from either front panel LCD or the included
CueMix FX software. The trim can be adjusted over a
range of -96 to +22 dB.
the standard 1394 FireWire A cable provided with your
UltraLite-mk3.
the UltraLite-mk3 when plugging in the FireWire
6. Equipped with 24-bit 192 kHz converters, these six
7. Connect the UltraLite-mk3 to the computer here using
cable, as this avoids the possibility of static
Quick Reference: UltraLite-mk3 Rear Panel
0
). You can also use CueMix FX to monitor
cable with a quarter-inch plug. Both the low-impedance
XLR jack and the high-impedance TRS jack are equipped
with 24dB of front-panel trim adjustment. The XLR (mic)
input can be supplied with 48V phantom power via the
Mic 2 front-panel switch. The Mic 2 three-way pad switch
provides zero (down), -18dB (middle) and -36dB (up)
pad settings for the XLR (mic) input as well.
4. This XLR/TRS combo jack accepts either a mic cable or a
1 2 3
8
Connect the UltraLite-mk3’s MIDI OUT port to the MIDI IN
port on the other device. Conversely, connect the
UltraLite-mk3’s MIDI IN port to the MIDI OUT port on the
other device. You can connect different devices to each
1. Connect a MIDI device here using standard MIDI cables.
port, such as a controller device to the IN port and a
UltraLite-mk3’s main outputs. You can connect them to a
5. These two balanced, quar ter-inch jacks serve as the
sound module to the OUT port. You can also daisy-chain
MIDI devices, but be sure to manage their MIDI channels
(so that they don’t receive or transmit on the same
channel).
Main Out 1-2
set of powered studio monitors and then control the
volume from the front panel volume knob. To hear disk
tracks in your audio software on these main outs, assign
the disk tracks (and master fader) to these main outs
(
live UltraLite-mk3 inputs here as well.
and output at any sample rate up to 96kHz.
plated, balanced +4dB TRS (tip/ring/sleeve) quarter-
inch connectors that can also accept an unbalanced plug.
They are equipped with 24-bit, 128x oversampling
2. These jacks provide stereo, 24-bit S/PDIF digital input
3. The UltraLite-mk3’s eight analog outputs are gold-
converters.
Quick Reference: MOTU Audio Console
CHAPTER
Click the tabs to access general MOTU
Determines the clock source for your UltraLite-mk3. If you’re just using the analog ins and outs, set this to Internal. The other settings are for digital transfers via S/PDIF or synchronization to time code or other audio devices.
Check this option if the audio software you are using with the UltraLite-mk3 does not support Windows WDM drivers and instead only supports legacy MME (Wave) drivers. When checked, this option makes all of the UltraLite-mk3 inputs and outputs available to legacy Wave-driver compatible audio software.
interface settings or settings specific to the UltraLite-mk3 (or other connected interface).
Choose the global sample rate for the system here.
Choosing a smaller setting here reduces the delay you may hear when listening to live input that you are running through effects plug-ins in your software. But lower settings also increase the strain on your computer. For details, see “Samples Per Buffer” on page 29.
This option should always be left on (checked). There are only a few rare cases in which you would want to turn it off. For details, refer to the MOTU tech support database at www.motu.com.
This menu lets you choose what you will hear from the PHONES jack. To mirror the main outs, choose Main Out 1-2. Or you can mirror any other output pair. To hear the phones as their own independent output, choose Phones 1-2.
Choose the output pair you would like the main outs to mirror, or choose Main Outs to operate them as their own independent pair.
How to access these settings
There are several ways to access these settings:
From the Windows Start menu, choose
Programs>MOTU>MOTU Audio Console.
From within Cubase, go to the Device Setup
window, click the MOTU Audio ASIO list item and and click the Control Panel button.
From within other applications, refer to their
documentation.
Click the UltraLite-mk3 tab to access these settings.
The UltraLite-mk3 driver provides a stereo return back to the computer. This return feeds the signal on any UltraLite-mk3 output pair directly back to the computer, where you can record, process, monitor or otherwise use it. This is a great way to “bounce” full mixes, complete with live audio routed through the UltraLite-mk3 only, back into the computer.
Device Setup in Cubase
7
8
CHAPTER
1 About the UltraLite-mk3
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
The UltraLite-mk3 Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
The UltraLite-mk3 Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
16-bit and 24-bit recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
CueMix FX 32-bit floating point mixing and effects . . 11
Host Audio Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
OVERVIEW
The UltraLite-mk3 is a FireWire audio interface for Mac and Windows with on-board effects and mixing that offers 10 inputs and 14 outputs at any standard sample rates up to 96 kHz. Both analog and digital I/O are offered at sample rates up to 96 kHz, and analog recording and playback is offered at rates up to 192 kHz. All inputs and outputs can be accessed simultaneously. The UltraLite-mk3 is housed in a sturdy, compact half-rack enclosure that connects directly to a computer via a standard IEEE 1394 FireWire™ cable.
The UltraLite-mk3 offers the following main features:
Bus-powered operation
Six 24-bit analog quarter-inch (TRS) inputs
Ten 24-bit analog quarter-inch (TRS) outputs
MIDI I/O
On-board SMPTE synchronization
Headphone jack with volume control
Front panel volume control of the Main Outs (or
any programmable combination of outputs)
CueMix™ FX no-latency mixing, monitoring
and effects processing
Front-panel LCD programming for the mixer
and all other settings
Extensive front panel metering and status LEDs
Stand-alone operation
Mac and Windows drivers for multi-channel
operation and across-the-board compatibility with any audio software on current Mac and Windows systems
With a variety of I/O formats, mic preamps and no-latency mixing and processing of live input, the UltraLite-mk3 is a complete, portable “studio in a box” when used with a Mac or Windows computer.
THE ULTRALITE-MK3 REAR PANEL
The rear panel has the following connectors:
Two combo XLR/TRS mic/guitar inputs with
preamps, 48V phantom power, three-way pad switch , and Precision Digital Trim™ preamp gain adjustment
Operation on all analog I/O at standard sample
rates up to 192 kHz
Digitally controlled analog trim for all analog
inputs
RCA S/PDIF digital I/O at sample rates up to
96 kHz
Ten gold-plated, balanced +4dB quarter-inch
(TRS) analog outputs (with 24-bit 192 kHz converters)
Six gold-plated, balanced quarter-inch (TRS)
analog inputs (with 24-bit 192 kHz converters)
One combo XLR/TRS mic/instrument input
RCA S/PDIF in/out
MIDI IN and MIDI OUT jacks
Two 1394 FireWire jacks
9
DC power jack
10 inputs and 14 outputs
All UltraLite-mk3 inputs and outputs can be used simultaneously, for a total of 10 inputs and 14 outputs when operating at sample rates up to 96 kHz:
Connection Input Output
Analog 24-bit 192 kHz on bal/unbal TRS 6 10
Mic preamps 24-bit 192 kHz on XLR/TRS combo
SPDIF 24-bit 96kHz digital 2 2
Headphone output - 2
Total 10 14
2-
All inputs and outputs are discrete and can be active simultaneously.
The headphone outputs can operate as an independent output pair, or they can mirror any other UltraLite-mk3 output pair, such as the main outs.
Mic/guitar inputs with preamps
The two mic/instrument inputs (front panel and rear panel) are equipped with preamps and “combo” XLR/TRS jacks, which accept low­impedance XLR microphone inputs or high­impedance quarter-inch guitar/instruments inputs. Individual switches supply 48 volt phantom power to each mic input. A three-way pad switch provides zero, -18 dB or -36 dB of attenuation. The Precision Digital Trim™ knobs on the front panel for each mic/instrument input provide 24 dB of adjustment in precise 1 dB increments.
Analog
All six quarter-inch analog inputs are equipped with 24-bit 192 kHz A/D converters. All eight analog outputs have 24-bit 192 kHz D/A converters. All audio is carried to the computer in a 24-bit data stream.
All ten analog outputs and six quarter-inch analog inputs are on balanced TRS +4dB quarter-inch jacks. All of these jacks can also accept unbalanced plugs.
Precision Digital Trim™
All of the UltraLite-mk3’s analog inputs are equipped with digitally controlled analog trims that allow adjustments in 1 dB increments. The mic/guitar input trims can be adjusted using front­panel digital rotary encoders that provide feedback in the front panel LCD with 24 dB of adjustment. All analog inputs, including six rear-panel TRS analog inputs, can be trimmed using the front panel LCD or using the UltraLite-mk3’s included CueMix FX control software for Mac and Windows. This allows you to fine-tune trim settings for synths, effects modules and a wide variety of analog inputs for optimum levels. Different trim configurations can then be saved as files on disk for instant recall.
S/PDIF
The UltraLite-mk3 rear panel provides RCA “coax” S/PDIF input and output.
MIDI I/O
The UltraLite-mk3’s standard MIDI IN and MIDI OUT jacks supply 16 channels of MIDI I/O to and from the computer via the UltraLite-mk3’s FireWire connection.
On-board SMPTE synchronization
The UltraLite-mk3 can resolve directly to SMPTE time code via any analog input, without a separate sy nchron izer. It ca n also gene rate time cod e vi a any analog output. The UltraLite-mk3 provides a DSP-driven phase-lock engine with sophisticated filtering that provides fast lockup times and sub­frame accuracy.
The included MOTU SMPTE Console™ software provides a complete set of tools for generating and regenerating SMPTE time code, which allows you
10
ABOUT THE ULTRALITE-MK3
to slave other devices to the computer. Like CueMix FX, the synchronization features are cross-platform and compatible with any audio sequencer software that supports the ASIO2 sample-accurate sync protocol.
1394 FireWire
The two 1394 FireWire jacks accept a standard IEEE 1394 FireWire cable to connect the UltraLite-mk3 to a FireWire-equipped Mac or Windows computer. The UltraLite-mk3 has the ability to power itself from its FireWire connection to the computer.
control the volume of the main out jacks on the rear panel. It can alternately be configured to control any combination of outputs.
Programmable backlit LCD display
Any UltraLite-mk3 setting, including the powerful CueMix FX on-board 16-bus mixer with effects, can be accessed directly from the front panel using the four rotary encoders and the 2x16 backlit LCD display.
The LCD also provides activity metering for all UltraLite-mk3 inputs and outputs.
The second jack can be used to daisy chain multiple interfaces — up to four MOTU FireWire int erfac es — o n a sin gle FireWire bus. It c an als o be used to connect other FireWire devices without the need for a FireWire hub. Keep in mind, however, that the UltraLite-mk3 uses more FireWire bus bandwidth when it operates at higher sample rates. These operating configurations will limit the number of devices you can daisy chain on a single FireWire bus.
Power supply
If you do not want the UltraLite-mk3 to draw power from the computer, and AC power is available, you can power the UltraLite-mk3 from any standard 10-18V, 12 watt DC power supply with any polarity (tip positive or negative).
THE ULTRALITE-MK3 FRONT PANEL
Mic/instrument input
See “Mic/guitar inputs with preamps” on page 10.
48V phantom power and pad switch
See “Mic/guitar inputs with preamps” on page 10.
Headphone output and main volume control
The UltraLite-mk3 front panel provides a quarter­inch stereo headphone output jack and volume knob. The LCD display provides feedback as you turn the knob. The VOL knob can be used to
16-BIT AND 24-BIT RECORDING
The UltraLite-mk3 system handles all data with a 24-bit signal path, regardless of the I/O format. You can record and play back 16-bit or 24-bit audio files at any supported sample rate via any of the UltraLite-mk3’s analog or digital inputs and out puts. 24- bit audio files can be recorded w ith any compatible host application that supports 24-bit recording.
CUEMIX FX 32-BIT FLOATING POINT MIXING AND EFFECTS
All UltraLite-mk3 inputs and outputs can be routed to the on-board CueMix FX 16-bus (8 stereo) digital mixer driven by hardware-based DSP with 32-bit floating point precision. The mixer allows you to apply no-latency effects processing to inputs, outputs or busses directly in the UltraLite-mk3 hardware, independent of the computer. Effects can even be applied when the UltraLite-mk3 is operating stand-alone (without a computer) as a complete portable mixer. Input signals to the computer can be recorded wet, dry, or dry with a wet monitor mix (for musicians during recording, for example).
ABOUT THE ULTRALITE-MK3
11
Effects include reverb, parametric EQ and compression/limiting. The UltraLite-mk3’s Classic Reverb™ provides five different room types, three frequency bands with adjustable crossover points, shelf filtering and reverb lengths up to 60-seconds.
Two forms of compression are supplied: a standard compressor with conventional threshold/ratio/ attack/release/gain controls and the Leveler™, an accurate model of the legendary LA-2A optical compressor, which provides vintage, musical automatic gain control.
CueMix FX also provides 7-band parametric EQ modeled after British analog console EQs, featuring 4 filter styles (gain/Q profiles) to effectively cover a wide range of audio material. Low-pass and high-pass filters are also supplied with slopes that range from 6 to 36 dB. The EQ employs extremely high precision 64-bit floating point processing.
The UltraLite-mk3’s flexible effects architecture allows you to apply EQ and compression on every input and output (a total of 24 channels), with enough DSP resources for at least one band of parametric EQ and compression on every channel at 48 kHz. However, DSP resources are allocated dynamically and a DSP meter in the CueMix FX software (included) allows you to keep tabs on the UltraLite-mk3’s processing resources. Each input, output and mix bus provides a send to the Classic Reverb processor, which then feeds reverb returns to mix busses and outputs, with a selectable split point between them to prevent send/return feedback loops.
HOST AUDIO SOFTWARE
The UltraLite-mk3 system ships with standard Windows drivers that allow you to record, edit, play back and mix your UltraLite-mk3 projects using your favorite Windows audio software.
12
ABOUT THE ULTRALITE-MK3
CHAPTER
2 Packing List and Windows System
Requirements
PACKING LIST
The UltraLite-mk3 ships with the items listed below. If any of these items are not present in your UltraLite-mk3 box when you first open it, please immediately contact your dealer or MOTU.
One UltraLite-mk3 I/O rack unit
One 6-pin to 6-pin IEEE 1394 “FireWire” cable
One set of removable rack ears
One UltraLite-mk3 Mac/Windows manual
One AudioDesk Manual
One cross-platform CD-ROM
Product registration card
WINDOWS SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
The UltraLite-mk3 system requires the following Windows system:
A 1 GHz Pentium-based PC compatible or faster
equipped with at least one FireWire port
A Pentium III processor or faster is
recommended
PLEASE REGISTER TODAY!
Please register your UltraLite-mk3 today. There are two ways to register.
Visit www.motu.com/register
OR
Fill out and mail the included product
registration card
As a registered user, you will be eligible to receive technical support and announcements about product enhancements as soon as they become available. Only registered users receive these special update notices, so please register today!
Thank you for taking the time to register your new MOTU products!
At least 256 MB (megabytes) of RAM (512 MB
or more is recommended)
Windows XP or Vista
A large hard drive (preferably at least 250 GB)
13
14
PACKING LIST AND WINDOWS SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
CHAPTER
3 IMPORTANT! Run the UltraLite-mk3
Software Installer First
OVERVIEW
Install the UltraLite-mk3 software first! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Installing the UltraLite-mk3 software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
MOTU Audio Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
ASIO MOTU Audio Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
The MOTU Audio WDM driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
MOTU GSIF FireWire driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
MOTU MIDI Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
CueMix FX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
MOTU SMPTE Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
INSTALL THE ULTRALITE-MK3 SOFTWARE FIRST!
Before you connect the UltraLite-mk3 audio interface to your computer and turn it on, insert the UltraLite-mk3 software CD and run the UltraLite-mk3 Software Installer. This ensures that all the UltraLite-mk3 components are properly installed in your system.
If Windows asks you to locate the drivers
If you’ve already connected the UltraLite-mk3 to your computer and switched it on, Windows probably issued an alert notifying you that the UltraLite-mk3 requires drivers, followed by another w indow a sking you to lo cate the d rivers on disk. If this happens:
INSTALLING THE ULTRALITE-MK3 SOFTWARE
To install the UltraLite-mk3 software, insert the MOTU Universal Audio Installer CD and follow the directions it gives you on your computer screen. The UltraLite-mk3 ships with the following software and drivers for Windows XP and Vista:
Software component Purpose
MOTU Audio Console
CueMix FX Gives you complete control over the
MOTU ASIO Driver
MOTU WDM Driver
MOTU GSIF Driver Allows you to use your UltraLite-mk3
MOTU MIDI Driver
Provides access to all of the settings in the UltraLite-mk3 hardware.
896mk3’s CueMix FX on-board mixer, which provides no-latency monitoring, mixing and processing of live inputs through your UltraLite-mk3.
Allows Cubase or other ASIO-compliant software to do multi-channel input and output with the UltraLite-mk3. Only required if you are using Cubase or another ASIO-dependent program.
Allows any WDM-driver compatible audio software to do multichannel input and output with the UltraLite-mk3.
with Tascam GigaStudio.
Provides MIDI input and output via the UltraLite-mk3 MIDI ports.
1 Cancel the driver search.
2 Switch off the UltraLite-mk3.
3 Run the UltraLite-mk3 Software Installer as
instructed in the next section.
15
MOTU AUDIO CONSOLE
MOTU Audio Console (available in the Start menu) gives you access to all of the settings in the UltraLite-mk3, such as the clock source and sample rate. For complete details, see chapter 11, “CueMix FX” (page 61).
Figure 3-1: MOTU Audio Console gives you access to all of the settings in the UltraLite-mk3 hardware.
ASIO MOTU AUDIO DRIVER
ASIO stands for Audio Streami ng Input and Output. The ASIO MOTU FireWire driver allows the UltraLite-mk3 to provide multi-channel input and output for Steinberg’s Cubase and Nuendo software, or any other audio application that supports ASIO drivers.
The MOTU ASIO audio driver is only required if you are using Cubase (or another audio program that relies on the ASIO driver to support multi­channel I/O with the UltraLite-mk3).
The MOTU ASIO audio driver is installed by the UltraLite-mk3 Software Installer and properly registered with Windows, so you don’t need to be concerned about its installation or location.
For details about using Cubase and Nuendo with the UltraLite-mk3, see chapter 7, “Cubase, Nuendo, Live and Other ASIO Software” (page 41).
THE MOTU AUDIO WDM DRIVER
The MOTU Audio WDM driver provides standard multi-channel input and output for audio applications running under Windows XP or Vista. See chapter 8, “SONAR and other WDM Software” (page 47) for details.
The MOTU Audio installer CD installs the MOTU Audio WDM driver into Windows for you.
MOTU GSIF FIREWIRE DRIVER
The MOTU GSIF Driver allows you to access the UltraLite-mk3 as an audio interface for Tascam GigaStudio and related products. The GSIF driver features low-latency multi-channel performance.
MOTU MIDI DRIVER
This driver allows you to access the UltraLite-mk3’s MIDI input and output ports. The ports are published in Windows and are available to all MIDI software.
CUEMIX FX
This program provides a mixing console that gives you control over the UltraLite-mk3’s no-latency CueMix FX on-board mixing and effects processing. For details, see chapter 11, “CueMix FX” (page 61).
MOTU SMPTE CONSOLE
The MOTU SMPTE Console software provides a complete set of tools for resolving the UltraLite-mk3 to SMPTE time code, and to generate SMPTE for striping, regenerating or slaving other devices to the computer. For details, see chapter 12, “MOTU SMPTE Console” (page 89).
16
IMPORTANT! RUN THE ULTRALITE-MK3 SOFTWARE INSTALLER FIRST
CHAPTER
4 Installing the UltraLite-mk3
Hardware
OVERVIEW
Here’s an overview for installing the UltraLite-mk3:
Important note before you begin! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Take these precautions to prevent damage to your computer, the UltraLite-mk3 and other equipment.
Connect the UltraLite-mk3 interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Connect the UltraLite-mk3 to the computer.
Connect audio inputs and outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Make analog and digital connections as desired.
Connect MIDI gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Connect a controller, synth or control surface.
Connecting and syncing S/PDIF devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Connect a DAT deck, effects processor or other device with digital I/O, but be sure to make the correct clock source settings.
Power options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Choose from among several convenient options.
A typical UltraLite-mk3 setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
An example setup for computer-based mixing/FX.
IMPORTANT NOTE BEFORE YOU BEGIN!
Before you begin installing the UltraLite-mk3 (or any bus-powered device), take these important precautionary measures to avoid damaging the sensitive electrical components in your computer, the UltraLite-mk3 or other devices being connected:
Tu rn o ff the co mp u te r.
Turn off the UltraLite-mk3 (push and hold the
VOL k nob.
Turn off the power of any other devices.
Touch the metal casing of the UltraLite-mk3 to
discharge any static electricity that you may be carrying just before the installation.
After you have made all of the necessary connections, as described in this chapter, turn on the devices in this sequence:
1. Turn on the computer.
2. Turn on the UltraLite-mk3.
3. Turn on other devices connected to the UltraLite-mk3.
Connecting multiple MOTU FireWire interfaces . . . . . 24
Connect additional UltraLites or other audio interfaces.
17
CONNECT THE ULTRALITE-MK3 INTERFACE
1 Make sure your computer and the UltraLite-mk3 are switched off.
CONNECT AUDIO INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
The UltraLite-mk3 audio interface has the following audio input and output connectors:
2 Plug one end of the UltraLite-mk3 FireWire cable (included) into the FireWire socket on the computer as shown below in Figure 4-1.
3 Plug the other end of the FireWire cable into the UltraLite-mk3 I/O as shown below in Figure 4-1.
10 balanced quarter-inch analog outputs
6 balanced quarter-inch analog inputs
2 XLR/quarter-inch “combo” analog inputs with
preamps
1 pair of RCA S/PDIF in and out
Here are a few things you should keep in mind as you are making these connections to other devices.
Mic/instrument inputs
Connect a microphone, guitar, instrument or other analog input to the XLR/TRS combo jack with either a standard mic cable or a balanced cable with a quarter-inch plug.
Do not connect a +4 (line level) XLR cable to
the front-panel inputs (because of the preamps). Use a rear-panel quarter-inch input instead.
Phantom power
If you are connecting a condenser microphone or other device that requires phantom power, move the 48V phantom power switch on the front panel to the up position (enabled).
Figure 4-1: Connecting the UltraLite-mk3 to the computer.
Make absolute sure to align the flat side of the
FireWire plug properly with the flat side of the FireWire socket on the UltraLite-mk3. If you attempt to force the plug into the socket the wrong way, you can damage the UltraLite-mk3.
18
Tr i m
Both the low-impedance XLR jack and the high­impedance TRS jack are equipped with 24dB of trim control. Use the digital trim knobs on the front panel to adjust the input level as needed for each input. The LCD provides visual feedback as you turn the trim knob. The UltraLite-mk3’s input trims are digital controlled, so they allow you to make fine-tuned adjustments in precise 1dB increments. You can also adjust trim in the MOTU CueMix FX software. See “Input trim” on page 67.
INSTALLING THE ULTRALITE-MK3 HARDWARE
Three-way pad
The XLR jack is equipped with a three-way pad, so “hot” signals are best connected via an XLR cable so that you can use the pad switch. Since the pad is not available on the TRS jack, hot signals connected via the TRS jack will probably overdrive the input. The independent three-way pad switch for each input provides zero (down), -18 dB (middle) and -36 dB (up) pad settings for the XLR jack. When combined with the 24 dB digital trim, the full gain range is 60 dB. This is the difference between the minimum (trim at zero + pad at
-36 dB) and maximum (trim at +24 dB + pad at zero) gain settings.
Combo jack summary
Use these general guidelines for the 48V phantom power, pad and trim settings on the two combo input jacks:
Input 48V Pad Trim
Condenser mic On As needed As needed
Dynamic mic Off As needed As needed
Guitar Off n/a As needed
CueMix FX software to adjust the input trim. To adjust these trims using CueMix FX, see “Input trim” on page 67. To adjust the trims using the front panel LCD:
1 Push the PARAM knob repeatedly until you see CUEMIX in the LCD display.
2 Push the CHANNEL knob repeatedly until you see “I:” (which stands for Input) in the CHANNEL section of the LCD (Figure 4-2).
3 Turn the CHANNEL KNOB until you see the desired analog input or input pair. For example, analog inputs 1-2 appear as “I:An 1-2” (Figure 4-2), which means Input analog 1-2.
4 From the factory, analog inputs are grouped in stereo pairs (1-2, 3-4, etc.) If you need to split a pair to program it as two individual mono inputs, turn the PARAM knob until you see PAIR in the parameter section of the LCD (Figure 4-2). Turn the VALUE knob to choose MONO. Then turn the CHANNEL knob again to select the desired input.
-10 dB Line level via TRS Off n/a As needed
-10 dB Line level via XLR Off -36dB +12dB
+4 dB line level (XLR only) Off -36dB Zero
Quarter-inch analog
The quarter-inch analog inputs (3-8) and outputs (1-8 plus main out) are balanced (TRS) connectors that can also accept an unbalanced plug.
The quarter-inch outputs are calibrated to produce a +4 dBu line level output signal.
Quarter-inch analog input trims
The quarter-inch inputs are calibrated to accommodate either +4 or -10 dBu signals and are equipped with digitally controlled analog trims that provide +22 dB of gain and -96 dB of cut. You can use either the front panel LCD or the included
INSTALLING THE ULTRALITE-MK3 HARDWARE
Figure 4-2: The settings for analog inputs 1 and 2 (as a pair).
5 After splitting the stereo pair, if necessary, turn the PARAM knob until you see the TRIM parameter in the LCD (Figure 4-3):
Figure 4-3: Setting the input trim for a TRS analog input pair.
6 Turn the VALUE knob to adjust the trim.
19
Separate main outs
The main outputs operate as an independent pair (they don’t share signal with any other output pair). In a standard studio configuration, the main outs are intended for a pair of studio monitors, but they can also be used as regular outputs for any purpose. Their reference level is +4dB. Main out volume is controlled by the VOL knob on the front panel: push it repeatedly until you see MASTER and then turn it to adjust the master volume output. This knob can be programmed to control any combination of outputs you wish.
S/PDIF
If you make a S/PDIF digital audio connection to another device, be sure to review the digital audio clocking issues, as explained in “Connecting and syncing S/PDIF devices” on page 21.
The UltraLite-mk3 on-board mixer also supplies 12dB of digital trim adjustment for the S/PDIF input pair, which can be adjusted from CueMix FX (“Input trim” on page 67) or the front panel (using the same procedure as explained earlier for “Quarter-inch analog input trims” on page 19.
CONNECT MIDI GEAR
Connect your MIDI device’s MIDI IN jack to the UltraLite-mk3’s MIDI OUT jack (Connection A below). Conversely, connect the MIDI device’s MIDI OUT jack to the UltraLite-mk3’s MIDI IN jack (Connection B).
One-way MIDI connections
MIDI devices that do not receive MIDI data, such as a dedicated keyboard controller, guitar controller, or drum pad, only need Connection B shown in Figure 4-4. Similarly, devices that never send data, such as a sound module, only need Connection A. Make both connections for any device that needs to both send and receive MIDI data.
Connecting additional gear with MIDI THRUs
If you need to connect several pieces of MIDI gear, run a MIDI cable from the MIDI THRU of a device already connected to the UltraLite-mk3 to the MIDI IN on the additional device as shown below in Figure 4-5. The two devices then share the UltraLite-mk3’s MIDI OUT port. This means that they share the same set of 16 MIDI channels, too, so try to do this with devices that receive on only one MIDI channel (such as effects modules) so their receive channels don’t conflict with one another.
UltraLite-mk3
rear panel
MIDI OUT
MIDI
MIDI Device
IN
MIDI THRU
MIDI
cable
UltraLite-mk3
rear panel
MIDI OUT
Connection A
MIDI Device
Figure 4-4: Connecting a MIDI device to the UltraLite-mk3.
MIDI
cables
MIDI INMIDI
OUT
20
MIDI
IN
Connection B
MIDI IN
Additional device
Figure 4-5: Connecting additional devices with MIDI THRU ports.
MIDI Thru when operating stand-alone
The UltraLite-mk3 has a MIDI Thru feature for stand-alone operation. See “MIDI Thru in standalone” on page 36.
INSTALLING THE ULTRALITE-MK3 HARDWARE
CONNECTING AND SYNCING S/PDIF DEVICES
DAT decks and other devices with S/PDIF digital I/O will sync to the UltraLite-mk3 in via the S/PDIF connection itself. Just connect it to the UltraLite-mk3 via the S/PDIF connectors. When the device records a digital audio signal (from the UltraLite-mk3), it will simply synchronize to the clock provided by the digital audio input.
On the other hand, when you transfer audio from the S/PDIF device into the UltraLite-mk3, you’ll have to slave the UltraLite-mk3 to its S/PDIF input.
UltraLite-mk3
S/PDIF
S/PDIF
S/PDIF device
UltraLite-mk3
Clock Source setting =
S/PDIF (when transferring from the
other device to the UltraLite-mk3)
Figure 4-6: The setup for synchronizing a S/PDIF device with the UltraLite-mk3. Sync is achieved via the digital I/O connection itself. In this case, you have to choose S/PDIF as the UltraLite-mk3’s clock source when recording from the other device.
UltraLite-mk3
Clock Source setting =
Internal (when transferring from the
UltraLite-mk3 to the other device)
POWER OPTIONS
The UltraLite-mk3 can draw power from two possible sources: the computer (via FireWire) or a DC power supply.
Bus power requirements
The UltraLite-mk3 draws all the power it needs from the FireWire bus connection to the computer. However, the FireWire connection to the computer must meet all of the requirements discussed below.
6-pin FireWire connectors
The UltraLite-mk3 can only draw power over the FireWire bus from a 6-pin to 6-pin cable, or a 6-pin to 9-pin (FireWire B) cable. It cannot draw power from a FireWire cable with a 4-pin connector, as shown below:
YES
NO
6-pin FireWire
Figure 4-7: 4-pin FireWire connectors cannot be used for bus power.
When operating under bus power, daisy-chaining is not recommended
The UltraLite-mk3 can be daisy-chained with other FireWire devices from a single FireWire connection to the computer. However, if the UltraLite-mk3 is operating under bus power, this is not recommended. If you need to daisy chain the UltraLite-mk3 with other devices on the same FireWire bus, power the UltraLite-mk3 with the included power adaptor. The other devices on the chain should also have their own power supply. In general, bus-powered FireWire devices should not be daisy-chained.
FireWire adapter products must be powered
If you are using a FireWire adapter (a third-party product that supplies one or more FireWire ports to your computer), it must have direct access to a power supply:
PCI FireWire cards — If you plan to connect the
UltraLite-mk3 to a PCI card and run the UltraLite-mk3 under bus power, the PCI card must have a direct connection to the power supply harness inside your computer. This is the same power supply harness to which you connect internal hard drives, CD/DVD drives, etc.
4-pin FireWire
INSTALLING THE ULTRALITE-MK3 HARDWARE
21
PCMCIA or ExpressCard slot adapters — If you
plan to connect the UltraLite-mk3 to a PC card FireWire adapter (inserted in the PC card slot in your laptop), it must provide a 6-pin connection and it must also have its own power supply. Most commonly, these types of products have a DC power adapter. As you can see, however, this situation does not allow for remote battery operation, as the PC card adapter requires AC.
any standard 8-18 volt, 12 watt DC power supply with any polarity (tip positive or negative), and amperage as shown below.
Voltage Amperage
9 volts 1.33 amps
12 volts 1 amp
18 volts 0.66 amps
Examples of bus- powered operation
Here are a few typical examples of bus-powered UltraLite-mk3 operation:
Bus power from a desktop computer
Your desktop computer is running off of its usual AC power connection, and the UltraLite-mk3 draws power from the FireWire cable connected to the computer. There are no limits to running time.
Bus power from an AC-powered laptop
This scenario is identical to the desktop situation described above: the laptop is powered by AC, the UltraLite-mk3 is powered via the FireWire bus and there are no limits to running time.
Bus power from a battery-powered laptop
The laptop is being powered by its own battery, and the UltraLite-mk3 is being powered by its FireWire connection to the computer. So the laptop battery is supplying power to both the laptop and the UltraLite-mk3. This is the most compact and portable operating scenario. Running time is determined by the capacity of the laptop battery. For extended recording sessions, bring extra, fully charged laptop batteries.
DC power supply
If you do not want the UltraLite-mk3 to draw power from the computer, and AC power is available, you can power the UltraLite-mk3 from
Bus power versus DC power
When you connect a DC power supply, the UltraLite-mk3 could draw power from either FireWire or the DC power supply. So which source does it use? The answer is: the source that is currently supplying the greatest voltage. But in practice, it doesn’t really matter because the only situation in which you need to be concerned about the UltraLite-mk3’s power draw is when you are operating it with a battery-powered laptop. And in this situation, the only available power is from FireWire. In all other situations, the computer has its own power, so it doesn’t matter if the UltraLite-mk3 is drawing power from FireWire.
Turning off the UltraLite-mk3
To turn on the UltraLite-mk3, push the VOL knob. To turn it off, push and hold the VOL knob. When the UltraLite-mk3 is turned off, it is really in a sort of “sleep” mode, where it still draws just enough power to detect the power switch (a digital encoder) when the UltraLite-mk3 is turned back on. But the amount of power that the UltraLite-mk3 draws when it is turned off is so small that it has very little practical impact. If you are running a laptop under battery power, and you are in a situation where you are not using the UltraLite-mk3 and you need every last bit of laptop battery power, unplug the UltraLite-mk3 entirely from the computer.
22
INSTALLING THE ULTRALITE-MK3 HARDWARE
A TYPICAL ULTRALITE-MK3 SETUP
Here is a typical UltraLite-mk3 studio setup. This rig can be operated without an external mixer. All mixing and processing can be done in the computer with audio software. During recording, you can use the UltraLite-mk3’s CueMix™ FX no-
latency monitoring to listen to what you are recording via the main outs, headphone outs, or any other output pair. You can control monitoring either from the front panel or from the included CueMix FX software.
UltraLite-mk3
rear panel
FireWire
MIDI IN
MIDI OUT
synthesizer
mic
quarter-inch
analog outs
headphones
Analog outputs (sends, stage
monitors, surround monitors, etc.)
Analog returns
guitars (with or without an amp)
PC
S/PDIF
DAT deck
Figure 4-8: A typical UltraLite-mk3 studio setup.
INSTALLING THE ULTRALITE-MK3 HARDWARE
Compressor, reverb or other
analog outboard gear
monitors
23
CONNECTING MULTIPLE MOTU FIREWIRE INTERFACES
You can daisy-chain up to four MOTU FireWire interfaces on a single FireWire bus, with the restrictions described in the following sections. Most computers have only one built-in FireWire bus (even if it supplies multiple FireWire sockets). Connect them as follows:
PC
FireWire
FireWire
FireWire
Multiple interfaces in MOTU Audio Console
MOTU Audio Console displays the settings for one interface at a time. To view the settings for an interface, click its tab as shown below in Figure 4-10.
FireWire
FireWire
etc.
Figure 4-9: Connecting multiple UltraLite-mk3’s (or other MOTU Audio interfaces) to a computer.
Multiple interfaces cannot be bus-powered
Do not run the UltraLite-mk3 under bus power when connecting it with other devices to the same FireWire bus. See “Power options” and “Bus power requirements” on page 21.
24
Figure 4-10: To view the settings for an interface, click its tab.
Synchronizing multiple interfaces
All connected MOTU FireWire interfaces get their clock from whatever you choose from the Clock Source menu in the General tab in MOTU Audio Console. When you connect multiple MOTU FireWire interfaces, all of their respective sync sources are displayed in the menu as shown below in Figure 4-11.
INSTALLING THE ULTRALITE-MK3 HARDWARE
Figure 4-11: All MOTU FireWire audio interfaces get their clock from a single master sync source on any connected UltraLite-mk3 (or other MOTU FireWire interface). After you choose a source from this menu, the entire system, including all connected UltraLites, synchronizes to it.
Each FireWire interface in the system gets its clock from the computer (unless it is the master clock itself).
Connecting other MOTU FireWire interfaces
You can add an original MOTU 828 to the end of a FireWire daisy chain (because the 828 has only one FireWire port), or you can mix and match multiple UltraLites with other MOTU FireWire interfaces using a standard FireWire hub. You can also add 828mkIIs, 828mk3s, 896HDs, 896mk3s, Travelers and UltraLites, which have two FireWire ports convenient for daisy-chaining. Up to four interfaces can be combined on one FireWire bus.
Operating multiple FireWire interfaces at high sample rates
Four MOTU FireWire interfaces can operate at
44.1 or 48kHz on a single FireWire bus, although you may have to disable optical banks (on in ter face s tha t ha ve t hem ) to con se rve Fir eWi re b us bandwidth. At the 2x samples rates (88.2 or 96kHz) and 4x sample rates (176.4 and 192kHz), you can operate no more than two FireWire interfaces on a single FireWire bus.
Adding additional interfaces with a second FireWire bus
Third-party FireWire bus expansion products in the form of a cardbus (“PC card”) adaptor, ExpressCard adaptor or PCI card allow you to add a second FireWire bus to your computer. In may be possible to add additional MOTU FireWire interfaces connected to such a third-party product, depending on the performance of the product and the performance of your host computer.
Managing the IDs of multiple interfaces
Multiple UltraLite-mk3 interfaces are identified by number (#1, #2, #3, etc.) Interfaces are ID’d (given a number) by the order in which they are first powered up after being connected. This information is stored in the MOTU Audio preferences file. Once ID’d, they retain the same number regardless of the order in which they are powered up. You can disable an interface at any time with the Disable interface option shown in Figure 4-10 on page 24. Doing so frees up the FireWire bandwidth required by the interface without turning it off. Switching off an interface accomplishes the same thing. To get MOTU Audio Console to forget about an interface entirely, you’ll see a Forget button in MOTU Audio Console. Just click the Forget button and MOTU Audio Console will no longer consider the interface to be present but off line (turned off).
INSTALLING THE ULTRALITE-MK3 HARDWARE
25
26
INSTALLING THE ULTRALITE-MK3 HARDWARE
CHAPTER
5 MOTU Audio Console
OVERVIEW
MOTU Audio Console gives you access to basic UltraLite-mk3 hardware settings, such as sample rate, clock source and more.
Accessing the UltraLite-mk3 settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
‘General’ tab Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Sample Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Clock Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Samples Per Buffer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Wave support for legacy (MME) software . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Enable Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
‘UltraLite-mk3’ tab settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Phones Assign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Main Out Assign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Return Assign. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Disable Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
ACCESSING THE ULTRALITE-MK3 SETTINGS
There are several ways to access MOTU Audio Console settings:
From the Windows Start menu, choose
Programs>MOTU>MOTU Audio Console
In Cubase or Nuendo, open the Device Setup
window, click VST Audio System and choose MOTU Audio ASIO from the Master ASIO Driver menu as shown below. Then click the MOTU Audio ASIO item in the list and click the Control Panel
button.
From within other ASIO-compatible programs,
refer to their documentation.
From the front panel LCD (see chapter 6,
“UltraLite-mk3 Front Panel Operation” (page 33)).
General tab settings
The General tab provides settings that apply globally to all connected MOTU FireWire interfaces.
UltraLite-mk3 tab settings
The UltraLite-mk3 tab provides settings that apply to a specific UltraLite-mk3 interface. If you have several UltraLites (or other MOTU FireWire audio interfaces) connected, you’ll see a separate tab for each one.
27
‘GENERAL’ TAB SETTINGS
Sample Rate
Choose the desired Sample Rate for recording and playback. The UltraLite-mk3 can operate at 44.1 (the standard rate for compact disc audio), 48,
88.2, 96, 176.4 or 192KHz. If you have a S/PDIF device connected to the UltraLite-mk3, make sure that it matches the UltraLite-mk3’s sample rate.
Internal
Use the Internal setting when you want the UltraLite-mk3 to operate under its own digital audio clock. For example, you may be in a situation where all you are doing is playing tracks off hard disk in your digital audio software on the computer. In a situation like this, you most often don’t need to reference an external clock of any kind.
Mismatched sample rates cause distortion and
crackling. If you hear this sort of thing, check the sample rate settings in your hardware and here in MOTU Audio Console.
S/PDIF at 4x sample rates (176.4 or 192kHz)
At the 4x sample rates (176.4 or 192kHz), all analog I/O remains active, but S/PDIF digital I/O is disabled.
Clock Source
The Clock Source determines the digital audio clock that the UltraLite-mk3 will use as its time base. The following sections briefly discuss each clock source setting.
Another example is transferring a mix to DAT. You can operate the UltraLite-mk3 system on its internal clock, and then slave the DAT deck to the UltraLite-mk3 via the S/PDIF connection (usually DAT decks slave to their S/PDIF input when you choose the S/PDIF input as their record source).
If you would like help determining if this is the proper clock setting for your situation, see “Connecting and syncing S/PDIF devices” on page 21.
Figure 5-1: MOTU Audio Console gives you access to all of the settings in the UltraLite-mk3 hardware.
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MOTU AUDIO CONSOLE
S/PDIF
The S/PDIF clock source setting refers to the S/PDIF RCA input jack on the UltraLite-mk3. This setting allows the UltraLite-mk3 to slave to another S/PDIF device.
Use this setting whenever you are recording input from a DAT deck or other S/PDIF device into the UltraLite-mk3. It is not necessary in the opposite direction (when you are transferring from the UltraLite-mk3 to the DAT machine).
For further details about this setting, see “Connecting and syncing S/PDIF devices” on page 21.
SMPTE
Choose this setting to resolve the UltraLite-mk3 directly to SMPTE time code (LTC) being received via the UltraLite-mk3’s quarter-inch SMPTE input jack. For details, see “Syncing to SMPTE time code” on page 92and chapter 12, “MOTU SMPTE Console” (page 89).
Samples Per Buffer
The Samples Per Buffer setting lets you reduce the delay you hear when patching live audio through your audio software. For example, you might have a live microphone input that you would like to run through a reverb plug-in that you are running in your host audio software. When doing so, you may hear or feel some “sponginess” (delay) between the source and the processed signal. If so, don’t worry. This effect only affects what you hear: it is not present in what is actually recorded.
Yo u c a n u se Samples Per Buffer setting to reduce this monitoring delay—and even make it completely inaudible.
If you don’t need to process an incoming live
signal with software plug-ins, you can monitor the signal with no delay at all using CueMix FX, which
routes the signal directly to your speakers via hardware. For details, see chapter 11, “CueMix FX” (page 61).
Adjusting the Samples Per Buffer setting impacts the following things:
The strain on your computer’s CPU
The delay you hear when routing a live signal
through your host audio software plug-ins
How responsive the transport controls are in
your software
This setting presents you with a trade-off between the processing power of your computer and the delay of live audio as it is being processed by plug-ins. If you reduce the Samples Per Buffer, you reduce patch thru latency, but significantly increase the overall processing load on your computer, leaving less CPU bandwidth for things like real­time effects processing. On the other hand, if you increase the Samples Per Buffer, you reduce the load on your computer, freeing up bandwidth for effects, mixing and other real-time operations. But don’t set the Samples Per Buffer too low, or it may cause distortion in your audio.
If you don’t process live inputs with software plug-ins, leave this setting at its default value of 1024 samples. If you do, try settings of 256 samples or less, if your computer seems to be able to handle them. If your host audio software has a processor meter, check it. If it starts getting maxed out, or if the computer seems sluggish, raise the Samples Per Buffer until performance returns to normal.
If you a re at a point in you r rec ordi ng pr oject whe re you are not currently working with live, patched­thru material (e.g. you’re not recording vocals), or if you have a way of externally monitoring input, choose a higher Samples Per Buffer setting. Depending on your computer’s CPU speed, you might find that settings in the middle work best.
MOTU AUDIO CONSOLE
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The Samples Per Buffer setting also impacts how quickly your audio s oftware will respond when you begin playback, although not by amounts that are very noticeable. Lowering the Samples Per Buffer will make your software respond faster; raising the Samples Per Buffer will make it a little bit slower, but barely enough to notice.
Monitoring live inputs without plug-in effects
As mentioned earlier, CueMix FX allows you to monitor dry, unprocessed live inputs with no delay at all. For complete details, see chapter 10, “Reducing Monitoring Latency” (page 55).
Wave support for legacy (MME) software
Windows only exposes the first two channels of a multi-channel WDM audio stream to applications which use the legacy (MME) multimedia interface. The Enable full Wave support for legacy (MME) software (less efficient) option forces the UltraLite-mk3 multimedia driver to expose all channels as stereo pairs, providing full MME support.
If your host audio software does not directly support WDM audio and instead only supports legacy MME drivers, use this option to access multiple UltraLite-mk3 input and output channels.
‘ULTRALITE-MK3’ TAB SETTINGS
Phones Assign
The Phones Assign setting lets you choose what you will hear from the headphone jack. Choose Main Out 1-2 if you’d like the headphone output to match the main outs. Choose Phones if you would like the headphones to serve as their own independent output, which you can access as an independent output destination in your host audio software and as an output destination for the eight on-board CueMix FX mix busses.
Main Out Assign
Choose Main Outs from the Main Out Assign menu to treat the Main Outs as their own independent output pair. Choose any other output pair to cause the MAIN OUT jacks to mirror (duplicate) the output pair you choose.
Return Assign
The Return As sign men u le ts y ou cho ose any pair of UltraLite-mk3 audio outputs. The audio signal from this output pair is then sent back to the computer via the Stereo Return 1-2 bus. This stereo return bus from the UltraLite-mk3 appears in your host software alongside all other UltraLite-mk3 inputs, wherever your host software lists them.
If your host audio software does directly support WDM audio, leave this option unchecked for optimal performance.
This option is only available when the multimedia driver has been installed, and it defaults to being not checked.
Enable Pedal
This setting applies to other MOTU FireWire audio interfaces, but it does not apply to the UltraLite-mk3.
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The UltraLite-mk3 stereo return bus can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, you could use it to send a final mix being played through the UltraLite-mk3 back to the computer, where you could record it for mastering or archiving purposes.
As another example, you could use the stereo return bus to capture tracks played from your host software, along with live inputs being routed directly through the UltraLite-mk3 hardware via CueMix FX (with or without CueMix effects processing on the live inputs).
MOTU AUDIO CONSOLE
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