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Posted by: ArchivalAudio Sun 8 Apr 2007, 18:30

after 2 + years struggling with
my Presonus Firebox and issues with it

I am considering "upgrading" to a
MOTU Ultralite

Do you use one?
what are you're thoughts?

What software do you use with it?
does it function properly every time?


I am running a iBook G4 1.2ghz 1.25GB Ram but often get poping and clicking and other digi noise with the firebox, I NEED reliability!

and record live shows in the field
There for I need a reliable unit that can function (by battery) with lack of "wall" power...

any insight would be very helpful

thanx
-- Ian

Posted by: ArchivalAudio Mon 9 Apr 2007, 20:06

anyone?
thanx

Posted by: lepetitmartien Tue 10 Apr 2007, 04:23

I can only tell you I've never seen a complain here about this one… Now as no one complained I can't tell for the field question marks.

I'll get back to you later, got to seep really now (5:30 am… erk!)

Your issue with the PreSonus are bewildering… It shouldn't be the case. Now I've never thought of any interface from them as built for the use in the wild and salvage world…

Posted by: ArchivalAudio Tue 10 Apr 2007, 05:01

hey
lepetitmartien
thanx
you always
have some insight!
thanx so much
5:30 yikes.... that's past my wake up time, usually I get up at 5:15!

well
My firebox keep having ticks clicks and pops
and exiting Cubase to change the sample rate in AMS then back again, is a buzzkill
I mean my recording stops
and then if I am lucky the clicks go away

any way
I am hoping that if I step up to the MOTU ultralite
these issues will cease

how bout the bundled Audio Desk?
any use that? I assume since it is a MOTU product and comes with the ultralite that it will work great with it...
any thoughts?


thanx
-- Ian

Posted by: lepetitmartien Tue 10 Apr 2007, 19:43

Audiodesk is basically most of the audio part of DP, as it's MOTU form head to toes, it's truly integrated with their interfaces.

Now, the field oriented interfaces I know of are

- The Ultralite firewire bus or main adapter powered
- The Traveler, which can do the same plus it has a mean to run on batteries.
- http://nav.440network.com/out.php?mmsc=forums&url=http://www.mhlabs.com/metric_halo/products/mio/ (serious stuff)

There are also less field oriented interface from Lexicon, TC…

Posted by: ArchivalAudio Wed 11 Apr 2007, 00:20

hey
thanx yet again!

Yeah...
I know the metric halo... I think its a bit out of my price range....
wish I could afford it
also I like the traveler B&H photo sells it bundled with an EcoCharge battery unit...
which I basically already have, a similar SLA 12v battery that I run to powere4 my firebox (non bus powered)I checked the Eco Charge website and they are not yet making a unit for the ultralite , but
what I found was....
The Traveler or UltraLite needs a 12 watt DC power adapter. It can be of any polarity (tip positive or negative), and of any standard voltage from 10 to 24 volts. The easiest way to achieve 12 watts is to use a 12 volt, 1000 mA (1 A) power supply.
which make me think it is possible to power via a SLA battery

I like the small size of the ultrlite
but the 4 mics pres of the traveller...


no news is good news
but
Still I 'd like to hear some real world experiences

Posted by: KingBarbarossa Wed 11 Apr 2007, 00:54

I did exactly what you consider doing. I moved from a Presonus Firebox to a MOTU UltraLite.

The Firebox only gave me trouble. Often it went out of sync and drivers seemed to be unstable. A second replacement unit finally went up in flames.

Now I have a MOTU UltraLite and so far it performs flawless!!

Posted by: ArchivalAudio Wed 11 Apr 2007, 05:54

hey
great
yeah for 2+ year I have had varying succes (Mostly failures withthe firebox and am ready for a stable unit)

so what software are you using with it?
I have been using Peak and Cubase for many years... as well as Jam
have you used the bundled audio desk?
I am y move on one of these very soon
ans a place has a great no-payment no interest til jan 08...
I am sure I can pay it off before then!

thanx for the input!

PS how long have you had it?

Posted by: KingBarbarossa Wed 11 Apr 2007, 18:00

I had the Presonus for about 9 months. Once I got the second replacement unit I could live with it's occasional dropouts. But fire in a studio is a different thing...

The MOTU Ultralite I have now for 2 months. Smooth installation and now I don't even notice it anymore being here - that is how it is supposed to work, doesn't it?

I use it on a PowerMac G5 dual and Logic mainly recording my hardware synths and keys.
I have not felt the need to use Audio Desk.

Posted by: ArchivalAudio Thu 12 Apr 2007, 03:26

KingBarbarossa'

thanx
for the insight
sounds like it works great!

I have found an posed some questions on
UnicorNation dot come

no replies yet
but
from what I have found there is not many issues with this on...
it looks promising!


thanx
again

Posted by: lepetitmartien Thu 12 Apr 2007, 16:53

I've seen some bad comments of users on the net, but looking like the PC/MOTU issues given where I found them.

Posted by: ArchivalAudio Fri 13 Apr 2007, 00:32

lepetitmartien'
thanx
yet again!


I have found that there were a very few issues on a mac
with the latest firmware upgrade to 1.15
but most think it was better then 1.10

and yes it seems with a MAC there are very few issues...

Posted by: lepetitmartien Fri 13 Apr 2007, 01:42

Cool hints thanks

At least we did not see one issue around here… so it's a 99.9% right guess. (at the opposite of the 828 family… unfortunately)

Posted by: ArchivalAudio Tue 1 May 2007, 04:41

got it
and after some struggles loading the drivers and Audiodesk
installed all ok with help from sweetwater and MOTU tech support

it stays nice and cool while running
which is so different from ye olde Firebox


still getting used to the functions and control panels etc...
but so far its so much more solid and error free than the firebox
it came with 1.15v of the firemware which may have helped

thanx all
any other comments are still appreciated..