Motu Ultralite MK5 USB C Audio Interface
Details
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)