Mark of the Unicorn has long been a reputable name in the world of professional audio interfaces. From high-definition PCI devices such as the HD192 to mobile solutions like the Traveler, MOTU spans the gamut of pro audio interfaces.
Mark of the Unicorn has recently released a new version of the UltraLite mobile audio interface called the UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid.
New MOTU's Connectivity Equals Increased Flexibility
This new device is the first of its kind to connect to a PC or Mac via highspeed USB2 or bus-powered FireWire 400. Just like Mark of the Unicorn's previous version of the UltraLite-mk3, the Hybrid audio interface can be powered through the FIreWire cable connection.
Although a power supply is included for stand alone operation, the USB2 connection was added primarily for compatibility with laptop and desktop computers lacking a FireWire port. Either way, the Hybrid is very convenient for mobile audio applications such as location recording, editing and playback.
I/O Options for the New UltraLite-mk3
Outside of the remarkable power and connectivity options, this new MOTU audio interface packs a ton of professional features in a relatively compact enclosure. For example, the UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid includes 10 channels of professional audio input and 14 output channels of the same high caliber audio. Furthermore, this latest version of the UltraLite supports sample rates of up to 192 kHz and MIDI I/O.
Mark of the Unicorn CueMix DSP
Yet another advantage of this audio interface is the on-board CueMix FX digital mixer with DSP-driven effects processing. CueMix allows users to connect instruments and/or microphones and quickly route them to any of the outputs or through any of the effects processors (such as EQ, Compression or Reverb) - all without putting additional strain on the CPU of the host computer.
Other New Feature of the UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid
The new UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid includes all of the features found in the FireWire-only mk3. Outside of the hybrid connectivity, the other updates to this new version of the UltraLite include computer-controllable pad and 48V phantom power switches for the two mic inputs, simplified two-way pad switch (-20 dB or off), and an increased mic trim range (0-60 dB).
The MOTU UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid ships with Mark of the Unicorn's own AudioDesk digital audio workstation software for Mac. The UltraLite is also compatible with almost all major audio software (Digidesign Pro Tools, Apple Logic Pro, etc.) and plug-ins for both Mac and PC.
Clayton Worbeck - Clayton is a professional music producer, engineer and musician specializing in electronic and rock music. He has worked as an audio ...
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