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MOTU Ultralike mk3 must go, what's next?

The MOTU Ultralite mk3 must go! Last week I witnessed how another dj pulled out the FW cable by mistake and fried his comp and the interface. It was actually scary lol -

I'm putting it on CraigsL tonight, however I'm not quite sure what I should get next, it must be USB not FW, no way! Price its not an issue
The Audio 8 DJ looks interesting as well as the fasttrack ultra...
I must also be able to use it for production

what do guys recommend?

Thanks!

Re: MOTU Ultralike mk3 must go, what's next?

quote:

Originally posted by Alekos The MOTU Ultralite mk3 must go! Last week I witnessed how another dj pulled out the FW cable by mistake and fried his comp and the interface. It was actually scary lol -

If you are that concerned about it go PCI if you can.

Re: MOTU Ultralike mk3 must go, what's next?

quote:

Originally posted by Alekos The MOTU Ultralite mk3 must go! Last week I witnessed how another dj pulled out the FW cable by mistake and fried his comp and the interface. It was actually scary lol - I'm putting it on CraigsL tonight, however I'm not quite sure what I should get next, it must be USB not FW, no way! Price its not an issue The Audio 8 DJ looks interesting as well as the fasttrack ultra... I must also be able to use it for production what do guys recommend? Thanks!

Go for an RME fireface800 - I have no idea how they manage it but I have NEVER seen or heard of anyone frying even the shittiest of FW Bridge chipsets.

Not to mention they sound really fucking good....

But if price is not an issue go a Lavry Black.

Problem solved

I looking for something a bit more mobile. Don't you use a Audio8? what do u think of it?

fireface 400 then.

quote:

Originally posted by Alekos I looking for something a bit more mobile. Don't you use a Audio8? what do u think of it?

I have an Audiofire4, which I'm really happy with. Propably one of the better investments I made in terms of kit. It's never crapped out or crashed on me and has been rock solid.

The pre's are actually pretty good and very useable, the connectivity is great (midi, 4 in, 4 out, FW port for daisy chaining other devices, headphone amp and control etc.) and the quality is really great - very quiet and clean and nuetral without sounding totally cold.

It actually uses the same chips as the RME range - the Audiofire8 is an excellent choice (and I know a a couple of studios that use them as their main interfaces).

I honestly have nothing negative to say about them - palm has one as well and he hotplugs it all the apparently with no issues.

quote:

Originally posted by kitphillips fireface 400 then.

I wouldn't bother with fireface400 - it's just over a $1,000 and the audiofire is so close that I don;t think its worth spending the extra $$$'s.

The 800 is a different matter (way more functionality if you need that of course).

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN I have an Audiofire4, which I'm really happy with. Propably one of the better investments I made in terms of kit. It's never crapped out or crashed on me and has been rock solid. The pre's are actually pretty good and very useable, the connectivity is great (midi, 4 in, 4 out, FW port for daisy chaining other devices, headphone amp and control etc.) and the quality is really great - very quiet and clean and nuetral without sounding totally cold. It actually uses the same chips as the RME range - the Audiofire8 is an excellent choice (and I know a a couple of studios that use them as their main interfaces). I honestly have nothing negative to say about them - palm has one as well and he hotplugs it all the apparently with no issues.

i have an audiofire 2 and think it's brilliant.. and also hot plug it with no worries..

Damn I hope that never happens to me. I've done that at least a hundred times with my ultralite no fried chips.

i really like my presonus firestudio mobile. They have 1 or 2 more mobile versions a bit pricier but this fit my needs perfectly.

If price isn't an issue, contract someone to build you a custom A/D converter.

Also, if a firewire cable getting disconnected really fried your friend's computer and ultralite, there had to have been something else going on.

The Metric Halo ULN-2 is a great interface, and has really nice sounding preamps on top of it.

quote:

Originally posted by hexadecimal If price isn't an issue, contract someone to build you a custom A/D converter. Also, if a firewire cable getting disconnected really fried your friend's computer and ultralite, there had to have been something else going on. The Metric Halo ULN-2 is a great interface, and has really nice sounding preamps on top of it.

Well, I have heard (and seen) slightly more FW burnouts with motu products than with other brands. I don;t think it's motu fault as such, just the way the cheaper FW chipsets seem to be more vulnerable with them

And hell yes, the ULN-2 is amazing but $2k+ for 4in / 6out?

I'd just go he whole hog and get a Prism MX4R - bargain, only $4k for 4 in/out. It does sound absolutely flawless though.

I have Echo Audiofire 4, and I love the sound from it, the drivers are awesome. Had Audiofire 12 before too and that one was awesome too, just that i didnt need it anymore as i sold all my hardware. I had some incidents with FireWire on Echo Audiofire 2 (had that one too) which made me upgrade to 4 (Audiofire 2 doesnt have a powerbutton). Because of this, and that not all laptops have firewire, im not sure i believe in firewire anymore so im thinking about replacing to RME Fireface UC (http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_fireface_uc.php) if the Audiofire blows someday. By that day i might want some more inputs/outputs though so i might ending up with a 19" device again. I dont really have any problems with a little bigger devices. Right now my laptop has firewire but i really dont want to limit myself to that in the future.

quote:

Originally posted by Zild Damn I hope that never happens to me. I've done that at least a hundred times with my ultralite no fried chips.

Yeah, I think Palm is knee-jerking.

Dude, just because one fucknut had his world end when he unplugged his Mk3 doesn't mean you will.

I have 3 MOTU firewire interfaces, and they all work except one.

But i'm pretty sure it's my fault, I lived in a room with high humidity and I think i fucked up the preamps on my 828 MkII

quote:

Originally posted by wrzonance Yeah, I think Palm is knee-jerking.

lol what?

LOL! Sorry palm... that whole language barrier.

If you're selling your Mk3 just because you're afraid it will fry your system, I call that a knee-jerk reaction.

Or jumping to conclusions and reacting too quickly.

Etc.

LOL... no... I don't think your masturbating with your knee :P

quote:

Originally posted by DJ RANN And hell yes, the ULN-2 is amazing but $2k+ for 4in / 6out?

No.

~$1,700 (or more with the transformer option) for a hell of a lot more than that.

From the Metric Halo site:

2 Mic/Line/Instrument analog inputs on Neutrik Combo connectors
Balanced TRS analog sends and returns for analog inputs
2 analog outputs on balanced TRS connectors
24bit/96k converters on all channels
Headphone amp with front panel volume knob
Balanced stereo master control room monitor output with front panel volume control
AES-S/PDIF Digital I/O with selectable SRC
8 channels all new ADAT I/O with switchable TOSLINK support
v.5 Configurable mixer for near-zero latency mixing and routing
Metric Halo�s unique instantiable +DSP processing
4-pin XLR power port for compatibility with most location battery systems
10 front panel preset system/routing memories for stand-alone operation
FireWire Connectivity
Compact, light, and bus-powerable
Total recall with MIO Console
OS X drivers with multi-box support


The preamps in the ULN-2 are great. You'd have a difficult time finding a 2-channel stand-alone preamp that matches them for under $2k. Add everything else listed above, and it's a great deal. Also, in what was probably an attempt to sound cool, the original poster said "price isn't an issue".

Even ignoring all that, $1,700-2,300 or 2,400 barely puts the ULN-2 "middle of the line" as far as price goes for high quality interfaces.

thanks for the help! The Echo Audiofire 4 looks pretty nice, but I'm trying to stay away from FW... I should've said that Money isn't an issue, since I'm not willing spend more than $500-600 on a soundcard.

Looks like the options are quite limited...

Oh shit I'm confused. I'm going to STFU.

As right now, it's down to
NI Audio 8
Novation Nio 2/4
M-Audio Fast Track Ultra

MOTU Ultralite Hybrid may be another option, since I already know the sound's solid, the only difference its that I will be use it via USB

advice/opinions/ highly appreciated

quote:

Originally posted by wrzonance LOL! Sorry palm... that whole language barrier. If you're selling your Mk3 just because you're afraid it will fry your system, I call that a knee-jerk reaction. Or jumping to conclusions and reacting too quickly. Etc. LOL... no... I don't think your masturbating with your knee :P

lol again.

i dont have anything MK3 (assuming you talk about RME or MOTU, I have Echo AudioFire 4 atm). im keeping until it fries because its good, very good. I just dont see firewire keeping on as fewer and fewer laptops has it. Even apple removed it on the bottom-models. By the time im getting something new, USB3 might be commercial.

quote:

Originally posted by hexadecimal No. ~$1,700 (or more with the transformer option) for a hell of a lot more than that. From the Metric Halo site: 2 Mic/Line/Instrument analog inputs on Neutrik Combo connectors Balanced TRS analog sends and returns for analog inputs 2 analog outputs on balanced TRS connectors 24bit/96k converters on all channels Headphone amp with front panel volume knob Balanced stereo master control room monitor output with front panel volume control AES-S/PDIF Digital I/O with selectable SRC 8 channels all new ADAT I/O with switchable TOSLINK support v.5 Configurable mixer for near-zero latency mixing and routing Metric Halo�s unique instantiable +DSP processing 4-pin XLR power port for compatibility with most location battery systems 10 front panel preset system/routing memories for stand-alone operation FireWire Connectivity Compact, light, and bus-powerable Total recall with MIO Console OS X drivers with multi-box support The preamps in the ULN-2 are great. You'd have a difficult time finding a 2-channel stand-alone preamp that matches them for under $2k. Add everything else listed above, and it's a great deal. Also, in what was probably an attempt to sound cool, the original poster said "price isn't an issue". Even ignoring all that, $1,700-2,300 or 2,400 barely puts the ULN-2 "middle of the line" as far as price goes for high quality interfaces.

Hey man, you;re preaching to the (long time ago) converted regarding the ULN-2 - I've sold more than a dozen of them, provided tech support and used them extensively.

I know they're great. What I'm saying is that my audiofire4 does that entire list apart from the ADAT and DSP - OK so it doesn't sound as good as the MH, but I paid $200 including shipping

I really don't think 99% of people reading this, making EDM in their spare room or even project studio could justify the extra $1500 for the increase in quality and those extra function. I'm stating this based on the use we're talking about here, not a pro engineer in a commercial rec studio or OB.

I know the MH is in a different league and you can't compare them on spec, function or build but what you;re talking about is spending a big chunk of cash on what i would consider one of the best portable interfaces ever made - I just think it's overkill for the OP and for the application.

EDIT: Alekos - you've got $600 so I would suggest keeping the motu or going for the audiofire. Don;t go for any of those other interfaces, they're all lower quality than what you currently have.

Everything else is realistically going to be a step down.

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