UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid or 8pre

[tjscientist]

Hello,

I am a newbie and need some advice. I am setting up an Ubuntu Studio and I am looking for my audio interface. I have narrowed it down to either the UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid or 8pre. The only thing I am not sure of is the inputs on the UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid. In the literature, it says there are only 2 pre-amps (one on each of the first two channels). Does this mean I can not use the other channels for guitar inputs without adding a preamp or will they work OK if I just increase the gain?

In particular, I play a Chapman Stick along with a couple guitars and would like to leave these hooked up all the time in addition to a mike, so I quickly run out of channels with pre-amps.

So, from my perspective, I am leaning toward the 8pre, but I would really like the built in compression and reverb of the UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid.

Thanks in advance for any and all responses!
Jeff

[carrythebanner]

I am setting up an Ubuntu Studio and I am looking for my audio interface. I have narrowed it down to either the UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid or 8pre.

MOTU officially has Mac and Windows drivers. I've heard anecdotes about getting some functionality working with MOTU audio interfaces on Linux systems, but it's with a third-party driver and isn't guaranteed to work.

The only thing I am not sure of is the inputs on the UltraLite-mk3 Hybrid. In the literature, it says there are only 2 pre-amps (one on each of the first two channels). Does this mean I can not use the other channels for guitar inputs without adding a preamp or will they work OK if I just increase the gain?

Correct, you would need to add a preamp between a guitar-level source and the non-preamp inputs on the UltraLite.

[mikehalloran]

All the inputs are available all the time. If you need some line inputs and only a few mic pres at any one time, the UltraLite is the better choice.

You might also want to look at the Traveler.