MOTU has posted a firmware update and new "Gen 5" driver download for its popular UltraLite-mk5 18 x 22 half-rack USB audio interface, now available for all UltraLite-mk5 owners at no charge at motu.com/download. The new firmware adds significant new features, including Wi-Fi access, A/B monitoring, monitor grouping, and talkback.
The UltraLite-mk5 essentially got a feature boost from our just-released 828 audio interface because they share the same DSP-driven CueMix 5 mixer and front-end app. While developing these features for the new 828, it made perfect sense for our engineering team to add them to the UltraLite-mk5 as well.
Jim Cooper, MOTU Director of Marketing
If the UltraLite-mk5 is connected to a computer on a Wi-Fi network, users can control everything wirelessly from the CueMix 5 app running on mobile devices or other computers on the same network — even multiple devices at the same time. Users can manage access to the UltraLite-mk5 (and other on-line MOTU devices) with network discovery and security features. Each MOTU device on the network can be assigned a password, for situations where security is needed. For example, if the devices are being used in a school lab or performance venue, staff can access all mixing features and settings, while students or audience members are blocked.
Newly added control room features include A/B monitor select, monitor grouping, and talkback.
Users can connect two sets of studio monitors (A and B) to outputs 1-2 and 3-4 respectively, and then switch between them with one click in the CueMix 5 app to instantly compare their mix on each set of speakers.
For studios with multi-channel monitoring setups, the new Monitor Group feature allows users to include any combination of analog outputs to be controlled by the UltraLite-mk5's main volume knob on the front panel, and its equivalent "soft" knob in the CueMix 5 app.
During recording sessions, the engineer or producer sitting at the computer can press the Talk button in the CueMix 5 app to communicate with musicians via a connected microphone. Settings are provided to control where the talk signal goes, its volume, and how much other channels are dimmed while talkback is engaged.
The UltraLite-mk5 firmware update and associated driver update are now available to all UltraLite-mk5 owners at motu.com/download. An updated PDF manual covers all the details of these new features.
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