Motu Ultralite MK5 USB C Audio Interface

Best-in-class audio quality

 

The UltraLite-mk5 includes renowned ESS Sabre32™ DAC technology, featuring the ES9026PRO DAC, to deliver measured 125 dB dynamic range and -114 dB THD+N. Renowned drivers deliver rock-solid performance and industry-leading low latency.

 

Ultra-low latency

 

Optimized drivers for both Mac and PC deliver ultra-low latency performance. With a high-performance DAW such as Digital Performer, the UltraLite-mk5 delivers an astonishing round trip latency (RTL) of 2.4 ms (milliseconds) over USB (at 96 kHz with a 32-sample host buffer).

 

Built for studio and stage

 

Housed in a compact, steel enclosure you can take anywhere, the UltraLite-mk5 is equally well-suited for studio and stage, with or without a computer. Connect all your personal studio gear for state-of-the art computer-based recording and production, or take it to your next gig to mix live, without a computer.

 

40 simultaneous audio channels

 

As an interface or mixer, the UltraLite-mk5 provides 18 inputs and 22 outputs, for a total of 40 simultaneous, independent I/O channels. You get 2 mic/line/instrument inputs, 6 line inputs, 10 line outputs, headphone out and 8-channel optical I/O. The optical ports alternatively support stereo TOSLink (optical S/PDIF).

 

All the I/O you need

 

Connect all of your audio gear, including speakers, headphones, mics, guitars,

synths, keyboards, drum machines, effects processors and even MIDI devices.

 

iOS compatibility

 

The UltraLite-mk5 is USB audio class compliant, giving you plug-and-play compatibility with iPad® and other Apple® iOS devices. Record on-the-go, directly to your iPad, or play backing tracks during a gig, mixed with your live inputs with the UltraLite-mk5's built-in mixing. Control everything from the CueMix 5™ mixing app on your iPad or iPhone.

 

Loopback

 

The UltraLite-mk5 provides convenient loopback channels to your host computer or iOS device, so you can easily route computer output, along with a mix of live inputs from the UltraLite-mk5 itself, back to the computer, where you can record it back into your podcasting host software or stream it live to the internet. Streaming and podcasting has never been easier and better-sounding!

 

Mobile recording and mixing

 

After recording and mixing in the studio, take the UltraLite-mk5 on the road with your laptop for mobile recording and live mixing.

 

 

Half-rack Mounting Kit

 

Ready for serious touring, the steel-encased UltraLite-mk5 can be rack-mounted with thick, steel brackets designed to withstand the punishment on the road ahead. (Sold separately)

 

I/O (18 x 22)

• 2x mic/line/Hi-Z guitar inputs
• 10x balanced 1/4-inch TRS outputs
• 6x balanced 1/4-inch TRS inputs
• 1x optical in/out (ADAT or TOSLink)
• 1x RCA S/PDIF digital in/out
• 1x stereo headphone w/volume
• 1x MIDI in/out

 

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Superb sound quality & performance
• 40 simultaneous ins/outs (18 x 22)
• On-board DSP, mixing and effects
• Universal connectivity
• Loopback and other advanced extras
• CueMix™ 5 console app (Mac/Win/iOS)
• Performer® Lite workstation software

 

CONNECTIVITY

 

• USB-C audio class compliant
• Compatible with USB Type A
• Low-latency Windows ASIO driver
• Low-latency Windows WAVE driver
• Low-latency Mac driver (optional)
• iOS / USB-C
• iOS / Lightning (with adapter kit)

 

AUDIO PERFORMANCE

• 125 dB dynamic range on output
• -129 dBu EIN on mic inputs

 

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

• macOS 10.11 or higher
• For macOS 11 Big Sur, click here.
• Windows 10
• iOS 13.5 or higher

 

Includes Performer Lite

Performer Lite provides everything you need to record, edit, mix, process and master your own music tracks quickly and easily. Plug in your mic, guitar and MIDI keyboard and start tracking with over 100 virtual instruments, dozens of effects plug-ins, guitar FX processing and much more.

100+ Instruments

Performer Lite includes over 100 virtual instruments, including acoustic and electric pianos, guitars, basses, drums, organs synths, orchestral instruments, choirs, world instruments and much more. Take your musical muse wherever it wants to go.

6 GB of free loops and sample packs

Performer Lite includes 6 GB of free loops and sample packs from leading sample content providers to help you start making music right away. From Performer Lite's Content Browser, choose from dozens of musical styles, click to audition, then drag and drop in your projects timeline to build your track quick.

 

Specifications:

 

Technical Specifications

Sample rates                           44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz

Mic/line/guitar inputs             2 x XLR/TRS "combo" jacks

 

1 MΩ impedance on the line/instr inputs

 

Analog inputs                          6 x 1/4" TRS line in (balanced)

Analog outputs                       10 x 1/4" TRS line out (balanced, DC coupled)

Digital I/O                                1 bank (8 ch) of ADAT optical at 1x sample rates

1 bank (4 ch) of SMUX optical at 2x sample rates

 

Switchable to stereo TOSLink (optical S/PDIF) 1 x stereo S/PDIF on RCA (up to 96 kHz)

Computer I/O                          1 x USB-C 2.0 audio class compliant

Compatible with USB Type A (with adapter or C-to-A cable)

Total audio I/O                       18 in / 22 out (40 total) at 1x sample rates

14 in / 18 out (32 total) at 2x sample rates

8 in / 12 out (20 total) at 4x sample rates

 

MIDI I/O                     

 

1 x MIDI IN

1 x MIDI OUT

16 MIDI channels to/from computer host

Headphone                             1 x 1/4" TRS stereo phone

Phantom power                      2 x individual +48V

Front panel                             2 x XLR/TRS combo inputs

1 x 1/4" TRS headphone output

1 x potentiometer • phone/monitor vol

2 x potentiometer • mic/instr input gain

4 x switches • (2) 48V and (2) pad

1x high-resolution white OLED display for metering/status

Power  External                       12-18V DC power supply 1.0A max • tip pos or neg

Dimensions and weight         

(width x depth x height, enclosure only)

8.6 x 6.9 x 1.75 inches.   22 x 17.5 x 4.5 cm

Weight                                    2.875 lbs / 1.31 kg

 

System Requirements

 

Mac System Requirements     Intel Core i3 Mac or faster (including the new M1 Macs)

4 GB RAM; 8 GB or more recommended

 

macOS version 10.11 or later

(Optional driver requires 10.13 or later)

Available USB port

A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)

Windows System Requirements        Intel Core i3 PC (or AMD equivalent)

4 GB RAM; 8 GB or more recommended

Windows 10

Available USB port

A large hard drive (at least 500 GB for recording)

Class-Compliant Support        USB audio class compliant for plug-and-play operation on Mac or iOS (no driver required)

Included Software      CueMix 5

MOTU Performer Lite

6GB of loops and sounds from Big Fish Audio, LucidSamples, Loopmasters and MOTU

 

Analog I/O

 

Connector Type                      Dynamic Range (A-weighted) THD+N (unweighted)  Max Level

Line Input                                1/4" TRS, balanced, tip hot     120 dB -114 dB (0.0002%)      24 dBu

Line Output                             1/4" TRS, balanced, tip hot     125 dB -114 dB (0.0002%)      21 dBu

Mic input                                 XLR, balanced, pin 2 hot         115 dB THD+N: -113 dB

EIN:                                         -129 dBu         Max level: 0 dBu

Preamp gain:                           +74 dB

Phones 1/4", TRS stereo          118 dB -110 dB (0.0003%)        Max level: 14 dBu

Output Impedance: <1 Ohm

 

Compatible Mac Software

The UltraLite-mk5 ships with standard Core Audio drivers for macOS for compatibility with virtually all Core Audio-compatible apps, including:

 

• MOTU Performer Lite
• MOTU Digital Performer
• Avid Pro Tools (version 9 or later)
• Apple Logic Pro
• Apple Logic Express
• Apple Garage Band
• Apple SoundTrack Pro
• Ableton Live
• Presonus Studio One
• Propellerhead Record & Reason
• Steinberg Cubase
• Cockos Reaper
• Native Instruments Kontakt
• Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)
• Compatible Windows Software
• The UltraLite-mk5 ships with standard ASIO and Wave drivers for Windows 10 for compatibility with virtually all ASIO- and Wave-compatible audio apps, including:
• MOTU Performer Lite
• MOTU Digital Performer
• Avid Pro Tools (version 9 or later)
• Ableton Live
• Cakewalk Sonar
• Cockos Reaper
• Image Line FL Studio
• Native Instruments Kontakt
• Presonus Studio One
• Propellerhead Record & Reason
• Sony Vegas Pro
• Sony Sound Forge
• Sony Acid
• Steinberg Cubase
• Waves stand-alone apps (and plug-ins, via compatible host)