MOTU UltraLite-mk5 Audio Interface - REVIEW (audio performance tested)
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- Опубликовано: 8 июл 2024
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Sweetwater US | MOTU Ultralite-mk5: sweetwater.sjv.io/LXozQY *
Thomann EU | MOTU Ultralite-mk5: www.thomann.de/de/motu_ultral... *
00:00 - Intro
00:31 - Hardware Overview
03:28 - Internals
04:12 - Software Overview
05:12 - Direct Monitoring Latency
05:23 - Round Trip Latency
05:49 - More Software Features
06:18 - Mic Input Performance
07:27 - Mic Preamp Performance
09:29 - Line Input Performance
10:53 - Main Output Performance
12:04 - HP Output Performance
13:52 - Verdict
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Хобби
Incredibly in-depth and objective as always. Still the best audio interface reviewer on RUclips.
The audio interface review king is back!
This review is superior to all others by far. Doesn't feel like a sales pitch. He gets right down to showing actually useful data instead of sales jargon. Good stuff.
I was so waiting for you to do this review. As always, top notch. You definitely are the best audio interface reviewer out there and I know I have to enjoy you now before one of these big companies comes and scoops you up. Keep up the awesome work Mr. Julian Krause!!
Been eyeing this interface for a while. Now I'm convinced of its quality. That's the respect I have for your journalism. Keep it up! Love the quality of the rear line inputs.
YESS been waiting for this!
A thoroughly super in-depth review Julian!! You helped me make my decision on this device, hands down!! I'm getting it!!
Thank you for another excellent review, Julian. I listened to this one on my Motu 2, an interface which is excellent value for money (as your review of it showed).
i am *most* impressed with your reviews, as well as your coverage of rew. you have earned a new subscriber :)
This is a great review of what looks like a great device. Thanks again, Julian! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Another outstanding review... Keep up the good work my friend.
Love your Videos Man, you're definitely the best audio interface reviewer on RUclips
I was waiting for your review since it came out
I own the Ultralite Mk5. Happy to watch your review becasuse it gives me assurance in my decision to buy.
Wow, what a refreshingly detailed review, thank you! subscribed!
This is just an incredible product and another great review Julian! I'm glad I waited and didn't get the M4. Pretty sure this will be my next interface.
Did you get it? I want to upgrade my interface and I was thinking about the M4 or ID14. Now I think this is what I have been looking for
Excellent review as usual
Please review and compare the new Motu 828 (2024)
What a great video - technically confident, nicely delivered and nice and short! Liked and subscribed. This looks like an excellent replacement for my RME Fireface which is sadly FireWire only and so won't work with my new Mac :(
I really thank you for amazing reviews you make, I always learn a lot from your videos, thank you so much again and good luck
Excellent review. I'm still using an old MOTU 828 mk3 and love it. With the exception of channels of IO, it's probably all I'll ever need.
Mega geil danke für dieses Review und einen schönen Dezember gewünscht ❤
Loved this review from the Starship Enterprise! Looks like this puppy is killin it! Wow!
Thank you so much for this. Superb analyses. My favourite is the headphones comparison table. Nothing speaks louder than facts and figures! Well done!
especially since the manufacturers always HIDE their true stats on HP outs!
Such a good review. All your videos are excellent man! Would love to see your review of the Apogee Symphony Desktop 🙏🏽
Great review! Thanks!
Love the dry humour and delivery!
wow thank you for rhis review ...amazing man !
lo mejor en análisis de interfaces!!! 🤘🤯
Thank you a lot for this review! I'm really searching for alternatives to the Focusrite Clarett line since they're out of stock almost everywhere, and this new product really caught my attention!
That safety offset tip at 5:48 saved me so much time, thank you.
Awesome review, thank you for the detail. I had it for few weeks, and yes the EQ is very limited, DSP is lacking and I wish they had a 2nd headphone output on it. Great sounding unit.
Great review, as usual; it'd be interesting to see the results of your preamp testing methodology on classic mic preamps like a Neve 1073 or API 312 (or clones/repackaging thereof).
I just ordered this interface, essentially based on this review. Thanks for your work. It's excellent.
May I ask where you ordered it from, how, and how it worked out? Can't find any in stock.
@@jonathanjacobs1525 They're now in stock
Excellent review
That's what I want to see ,,a close up look of inside the interface, thanks bro ,I love to see, actual chips and so on,. Great video
Wow. Thanks Julian. Looking at your table, the MOTU seems to demonstrate the best performance with no pink or red cells. This is exactly the review I needed to see.
This is so helpful thank you!
I love all the numbers :-)
Excellent review.
Hi Julian, You don't need to use Loopback to add processing on recording. You can change the setting "To USB host" to "Post FX" on the Input tab and it will apply all effects before sending to the computer.
Wow thats good to know!
I think he was inferring if you wanted to add the Motu input fX to your entire mix. Using loopback to bring the whole mix through two inputs stereo linked.
Watched this one with my Ultralite MK 5 providing audio, haha, love this thing
LUCKY! lol. I'm really wanting to sell my M4 because my fav interface of all time has been the Ultralite line. But I have to be honest, I don't need the extras the UL gives me ( but I want it sooooo bad!)
Damn the MOTU-Mxxx line seem to be killing it. Got M2 and I am very very happy.
MOTU has always been on it.
Love my little m2 this looks interesting!
Was waiting for this one, Julian. Good review, as we've come to expect.
Wondering which of the interfaces you've reviewed is your best overall pick. Have a feeling this one would be near the top.
The Motu is a finalist for me, along with the Antelope GO. However, the number of ins/outs on the Motu is key as I have external equipment to patch in and this will probably be the deciding point, since Julian's check of the audio specs paint it as a top choice.
Best channel for making good buying decisions!
Great one Julian. Maybe it's time for some Apogees, Prisms or RMEs to see if their high price matches the performance.
+1
Agreed!
I agree, because I suspect that most of the more expensive interfaces sell their brand. 0 distortion is 0 distortion
I just commented the same thing essentially, lol
Agreed. Totally
Also, not to forget it has DC coupled outputs which allow you to run modulating signals from your pc into modular synths or similar hardware ..
Very helpful as always. Please do Apollo Twin MkII!
Great channel and great reviews for beginning creators needing to make the best buying choice. Pretty much makes every other review out there superfluous.
Best review ever
Thank you!!!
Hi Julian, love your videos. Would you consider testing the inbuild interfaces on analog mixers like Tascam, Zoom, SSL...
Probably the best audio interface for running backtracks live!
Dammit .. I'm buying one now haha great video
Another very thorough review, thanks Julian!
Thank you for your reviews! I hope you reach 100k soon, earn more with this channel and review the top ones. Meanwhile you can review IK Multimedia I/O that was "made for guitarists".
You could record a basic course about mixing! I would buy it!
Awesome - I was thinking about lending you a 624 before, but this does the trick :D
I have 624. Can you test balanced and unbalanced output-input for distortion? Balanced with 2 stereo TRS and mic cable. In an unbalanced one, there are also 2 stereo TRS and a mono cable. I have ~ 40 times more distortion in unbalanced 0.00013% versus 0.00633%. The Motu 624 output has Hot and Cold phase distortion. On balance, they are compensated. No balance does not compensate for them.
@@Kolin4556 I don't have any measuring equipment, sorry
Thanks Julian! You’re an awesome presenter. I enjoy having the meanings explained to me as it helps me understand better. Keep up the great work.
I just bought one of these but was looking for your review first. I’m nowhere near a professional or even need anything this fancy but I’m super happy with it. The UI program is a bit much for me to get used to though.
Nice. Thanks Julian. I have been using my MixPre 10 II as an interface and am switching it out for something that can handle surround channels. I would love to see how the headphone output of the MixPre compares.
Just discovered your channel and was suprised at the professional and detailed reviews! I have a suggestion for an upcoming video. In you interface comparison table, you are missing the RTL and it would be interesting to see all the interfaces RTL performance side by side! Also, I noticed you have not yet tested any UAD products, which many consider the gold standard. It would be interesting to see how they compare given your test methodology. Finally, I have a question. Your headphone compairisons for pre-amp output is based on a model for dynamic speakers right? As planars are getting more and more popular, would the results translate 1-1 to them or are they to different and need other tests? The Audeze LCD-XC for instance, have an impedance of 20 Ohms, but recommended power level of >250mW. Looking at your comparison table, only the Rode AI-1 would provide enough current to power them, or am I reading the table incorrectly?
watched all your stuff and it's great and really precise work! could you tell what's the fastest RTL you measured and with which interface?
Hi Julian. Thanks so much for the video, very useful. There is one thing I need to know but I can't see from the video: what opamps are there on the analog outputs?Because I need to see their specification to know what is the minimum impedance that can be connected.
Great video Julian. I am in the middle of shopping for a new interface coming from a Komplete Audio 2. I was looking to get either this MOTU Ultralight MK5 or the Arturia Audiofuse Rev2. They are both priced very similarly. Wanted to ask for your opinion between the 2 if you had experience with the Audiofuse before. My main concern is the input and output sound quality. Cheers
Objective and perfect as always! This should be a nice upgrade from Motu M4, can't wait for a mid tier audio interface shootout!
As always Good job my friend! Waht speaker arre you using in the background on your pc?
Great review! Just wondering what the best latency unit you have tried is. Thanks!
Great videos, Julian, thank you! I’m curious about the headphone power of the MOTU UltraLight-mk5 versus the M2. At 300 ohms, you measured very close (0.3dB higher) to the MOTU spec of +14dBu, but for the M2, you got about 1.9dB under their +12.5dBu spec currently on their website for the M2, M4 and M6. I know manufacturer’s specs aren’t always perfect, but I noticed there was a small update to the M line since you tested the M2. It seems outside your approach to disassemble them, but I wonder if they made any changes to the power supplies in the M models, and if the UltraLight-mk5 is using a different headphone amp and/or higher voltage. How about testing the latest MOTU M2 and M6 (which has an extra power connector)? Just per the numbers, I think the M models will drive my 150 ohm 94dB sensitive headphones well enough at the moderate levels I prefer but since I’d like to do a lot of listening, not just recording, it’s a bit of a concern, as are some negative impressions some have posted regarding using budget audio interfaces such as the M2 as a headphone amp. I’m on the side of the fence of just getting it, but am also considering if I need more than two mic preamps.
Awesome review! Thanks for the help. Is this the interface you currently use?
I love your reviews! I wish you would do the Arturia Audiofuse Rev2
This is for me the best audio interface for a home studio amazing preamp quality
Great review! But I would still like to see a comparison to some RME interfaces, e.g. Babyface. Or are these above a certain price range and that's why you don't take them to the test bench? 🤔
Great Review!!! When to review the Apollo Solo?????
Thank you , this interface looks great !! What alternative interface would be a good contender for it?
Great to see another review Julian.
Also when AXR4?
32/384
Rupert Neve Designs preamp simulations
Hybrid Micpres (found in Yamaha RIVAGE series)
I have this interface and its … just incredible. The only thing i miss is a second headphone output and I don’t love the headphone volume knob but theae are tiny drawbacks and otherwise its an unreal value at its price. The headroom on this interface is crazy.. i have not being able to make it clip and it sounds so good.
It's easily the best interface u can buy right now, short of a few personal idiosyncrasies.
How’s the latency though cause I’m the measurements they don’t look too good
@@tuneunleashed latency has not been a issue - but I’ve had massive issues with the clock / stability when using this for a longer time .. I have jitters and dropouts on both intel and M1 MacBooks and a Windows HP desktop - so I’m actually not that happy with the stability of my device. I don’t have these issues with my SSL 2+ interface.
Really enjoying your channel. Without being an expert i feel like the most important thing is the peripheral build (like the analog stage-line in and output etc ect) and not the converters themselves.
Having said that i was surprised by the noise on the Antelope interface. Jesus… Cant wait for 1) Spl Marc One, 2) Merging Technologies ANUBIS test
Julian, does the MK5 have center-tapped transformers for the phantom power?
Epic!
Incredible reviews!! Crazy to see the RME babyface ;) thanks!!
Thanks Julian we wanted to see some rme products please.
Thank you for the in depth reviews. Very good work. Great interface. I miss a dedicated (bigger) Volume knob for the Monitors. I hate these tiny multifunction endless turning encoders. I prefer an analog Volume knob „with a start and an end of turning“ even if it means channel volume discrepancies. and am a bit dissapointed by the headphone amp values but you cant have it all. Still very good interface.
Ps: The Mk5 you cant buy in Germany right now. Not for 10+ weeks. I guess it is cause of the Chip shortage crisis ?
I so thought and thought about biting the bullet in getting this one. And seeing your review of it gave me all the missing information that kept me from going for it. It would have been my dream interface. But it’s so much money just for a hobby. 😳 I ended up buying the MOTU M4 instead. And judging by my measurement of the dynamic range (~108.5dB) it turns out to be roughly the same as the M2, you did. test before, not counting production variances. And listening back and forth between the noise 8:13 (Ultralite Mk 5)and 8:19 (M2) the noise monk in me is the only one to react. 🤣
Nice, enjoy your M4!
I would spend a bit more for an RME UCX II over this. Nice review!
Thank you, Julian for your wonderful review. But you don't comment on the drivers. What is your feedback and experience with Windows about them?
I’d like to see a review of the IK multimedia AXE I/O. It’s an interface with input ohm controls and a built in reamp box!
Will you do the Tascam 208i? Great vids!
Motu makes great gear. I love my M4.
CueMix 5 definitely needs some feature enhancements on the EQ and Compressor side imo. And, for a portable device, should include the guitar tuner of the previous CueMix software too. I'm hoping MOTU will be working to enhance and build upon version 5 a lot more in the very near future.
And the ommision of a red clip light on the preamps is a real oversight.
@@joelonsdale you can see if it's clipping on the OLED display
@@ar_xiv No you can't.....you can't see it.
Any update so far?
Julian great video....how would you choose / compare the ultralite with the Focusrite 18i20 3rd gen ?
Please do a review of the rme fireface ucx, and or the lynx aurora. You do a thorough analysis and would greatly appreciate your insight on these
Hello Mr Krause, since this unit includes a loopback function, would the built in effects be ok for podcasting since they are real time? I was looking at the Antelope Zen Go but the Motu seems to exhibit a certain amount of future proofing in regard to connectivity, which at some point I would probably be exploiting. One other thing, I'm assuming that a multi headphone amp would be simple to connect, in case of multiple microphones and guests?
Crosstalk is just measured for headphones but I wonder what the crosstalk is for line outputs when used for summing audio as it's important for clarity, depth and width.
MOTU is superb. Even the carton box were they come in like the vast majority of products (if not all) seems to be highly designed. For example I purchased the Strymond Big Sky reverb pedal, wich is great, and it came practically inside an unprotected box. It looked like a sandwich. I bet a lot of products start malfunctioning due to a carton box that does not protect well the item during shipping. It can also fell in the store from the display etc.
So my experience with MOTU is that right from the unboxing you can identify without being an expert the quality of MOTU products. Is like a diamond inside some fancy case. And like if that was not enough they cost a lot less than other products than can not even match the quality of MOTU.
👍👍🏻👍🏼👍🏽👍🏾👍🏿
A great review - thank you.
Can you please test the oldie but goldie Motu 896 Hybrid ?
Its greatly reduced in price and is so universal.
Cuemix5 updated. You don't need to loopback to have the fx printed on the way in. You just press a button on the mixer. Cool🎉
Only opportunity missed is a color OLED display with green yellow and red. 74db is great for dynamics like the Shure SM7B. I have the mk.4 and driving the SM7B can get a bit noisy. The mk.5 is tempting but not ready to take the plunge. The Mk.4 is still doing well. Maybe if a special comes up, I may get one.
Probably the best interface right now
Does,it have class compliment drivers for Apple iPad/iPhone? Great job!
Hi, your reviews are terrific, thank you for all the hard work you put into them. Regarding the huge spike at 1000 KHZ shown at 10:30 of the video, is that something to be concerned about and can you hear it?
Hey, the huge spike is the 1 kHz test signal, that's supposed to be audible ;) The other peaks are harmonics caused by distortion but they are most definitely at an inaudible level.
@@JulianKrause Hi, thanks for the quick answer. :-)
Hello,
Can you tell me what you think of the Arturia Audiofuze which seems to have similar specs?
thank you for your work friend