Motu Ultralite Mk3 and Max 6

cocamon's icon

Hello friends.

In my efforts to optimize audio quality I have purchased a Motu ultralite mk3. I am using one of the quad processor Macbook pros and Max 6. For one reason or another I can't seem to consistently set up the Ultralite as the output for my computer but get lots of white noise. (This doesn't usuallly happen). Any ideas what could be causing this and how to fix it?

Cheers,

cocamon

Simon's icon

Assuming you have installed the latest drivers etc.
Does it work in any other application?

Do you see any activity on the front panel when you select 'metering' other than something you are generating by mic/gtr whatever that is plugged into an input?

White noise sounds like a word clock issue,try setting 'clock source' to 'internal'

If you open Cuemix software do you see any activity on the spdif channels?
If so you may have a defective unit, as I did. Send it back to the retailer/MOTU.

If none of the above, there are some potentially complex routing options on that unit so you may be routing channels to the wrong output.

Good luck & hth

Let us know what happens. Might help someone else later

djlbe's icon

i'm using ultralite on pc with max 6 without any prob

vichug's icon

same as sjilbe.

Some additional advices : you might want to check your firewire 400/800 cable, fragile things they are. Or your adapter if you're using this instead. Or your usb ? then maybe your power supply unit ? Also, if you're using microphones with phantom power, it might be that it doesn't work well if you don't connect your Motu to external power supply. Lastly, there exist somewhere a special keys combinations to brutally reset your Motu, which is said to be efficient and which i don't know.

cocamon's icon

Thanks everyone! Simon's suspicions were dead on. I was gettin spdif output on the computer screen without plugging anything in to those channels....new motu awaits. Thanks again.

Simon's icon

Looks like they had a bad batch.
The one I have now is fine, nice little piece!
Incidentally, I have found Musictrack, the UK distributors, to be really helpful with any MOTU problems.

Glad you got it sorted cocamon