MOTU intros FireWire digital mixer and processor

MOTU on Monday announced the release of its UltraLite-mk3 portable digital audio mixer and processor, which is powered and interfaces with computers entirely via a FireWire connection. The third generation of the company's UltraLite is now able to apply DSP effects and be used as a standalone mixer without a computer. The half-rack sized mixer offers 10 inputs and 14 outputs, the signals of which are processed via a 192kHz analog I/O and 32-bit floating point DSP.

The front panel's LCD screen allows quick and complete programming of on-board effects and mixing. Recordings can be performed via one of the two XLR/TRS combo-style mic inputs with high-quality preamps, as well as true hi-Z guitar inputs. The mic inputs have a 24dB gain, adjustable in 1dB increments.

The available effects include reverb, parametric EQ and compression/limiting. MOTU's Classic Reverb has five different room types, three frequency shelves with adjustable crossover points, shelf filtering and reverb lengths up to 60 seconds long. The are two forms of compression: standard allows conventional threshold, gain, ratio, attack and release controls while one called Leveler is modeled after the LA-2A optical compressor for vintage, musical automatic gain control. A 7-band parametric EQ and low- and high-pass filters with 6 to 36dB slopes are included as well.

The UltraLite-mk3 comes with CueMix FX software for the Mac OS X, Windows XP and Windows Vista. It allows graphic mixing and editing through a tabbed window that provides access to all of the features. Mac users also get AudioDesk workstation software that enables 24-bit recording or editing and 32-bit mixing, processing or mastering. CueMix FX gives users the ability to trim all analog inputs, including the eight TRS ins. An optical connector is able to provide digital stereo signals at up to 96kHz.

MIDI devices are supported via dedicated In and Out jacks, and also allows playing the devices thanks to a MIDI "thru" mode even when the PC is turned off.

The UltraLite-mk3 will be available this summer, with pricing expected to match the original UltraLite's MSRP of $549.