UltraLite Mk111 Hybrid : Any Views?

[Kaotech]

My system run under Windows 7 32bits, motherboard Asus P5W DH Deluxe, with firewire no problème, i test very quickly the usb port and i've Got sound on my apps.

[haraleah]

An update on 4(!) systems I've checked. Commonality is USB chipset and multi-core - version of Windows XP or amount of memory seems to be unrelated. I've also checked that the problems aren't caused by DEP by disabling it. Would be good if others could post their specs here.

FAILS
Windows XP SP3 32 bit
HP Compaq dc5800
Intel Core Duo E8200 @ 2.66GHz
2GB RAM
ICH9 USB Controller

Windows XP SP2 32 bit
Asus P5KC
Intel Quad Core Q6600 @ 2.4GHz
4GB RAM
ICH9 USB Controller

WORKS
Windows XP SP2 32 bit
HP Compaq dx2000
Pentium 4 2.8GHz
1.25GB RAM
Intel 82801EB USB Controller

Windows XP SP2 32 bit
HP Compaq dx2000
Pentium 4 2.8GHz
2.5GB RAM
Intel 82801EB USB Controller

[RonaldDumsfeld]

FAILS

Windows Vista Home Premium 64
ASUS P6T Deluxe Vn2
Intel i7 920 @ 2.67
6Gb RAM
Intel ICH10 USB Enhanced Controller

[boborama]

We never got it working properly so we gave up. But, the following things seemed to help.
First, resetting the device to 'Factory Default'. Unplug usb. Press 'Param' 'til UL Hybrid Setup shows. Turn 'Param' 'til reset default shows. Press 'value' twice. Wait a couple minutes then plug USB back in. A restart will likely help. In MOTU Audio Console set to 44k, 1024 buffer. In windows 'Sounds' etc. control panel, re-choose a MOTU out.
Second, I noticed that opening and closing the MOTU Audio Console seemed to break or fix the audio output even without changing settings... though, mostly break.
Hopefully, that helps someone. FYI, this was an older 82801 USB controller on maybe a seven year old computer.

[RonaldDumsfeld]

I am now in contact with MOTU on this issue.

Continued contact appears to be dependent on respect for an implied confidentiality agreement. However I think I can tell you all that MOTU is aware of an issue with at least some USB connections and that they are actively working on solutions. Which is good news.

It would still help enormously if people could post up system specs for as many UL hybrid using USB under windows examples as possible. The more help we can give them to narrow this down the easier it will be for them to fix it.

[lynch17081972]

I Have Alienware M17 Laptop with Windows Vista 64bit Ultimate with a Intel Core 2 Duo, T9400, 4 GB Memory. I have Intel(R) ICH9 Family USB Universal Host Controller.

USB Fails / Firewire works.

I was not expecting this so poor quality driver from MOTU. Its unbelievable!!!

[haraleah]

Update - and it sucks.

I tried the following and it resolves the problem (in an unacceptable way). In the Windows boot.ini file, I added the switch /numproc=1 which forces the HAL to only use one processor. I was then able to reliably and repeatedly open CueMix and work within SONAR. This suggests to me a threading issue.

I think we need to state how many processors/cores our working/failing machines have. The ones I have working are all single core, the one reliably failing are dual or quad cores.

[haraleah]

I've had some dialogue with MOTU too, and they've been very good at communicating. However, they've finally essentially admitted it won't work with at least some USB controllers:

"We are continuing to diagnose and address reported issues when the UltraLite mk3 Hybrid is connected by USB. At this time, one possible workaround is to use the FireWire connection instead of the USB connection. Alternatively, we have identified the Bytecc BT-PEU2410 PCI-Express USB controller card as one that works well with the UltraLite mk3 Hybrid:

http://www.byteccusa.com/product/xP-car ... EU2410.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; "

This is completely unacceptable to me and most people, I would imagine, as it negates one of the points of buying the Hybrid in the first case! I think that any customer needs some kind of recompense from MOTU for their release of a product that does not work as advertised - a token gesture (say, the price of the USB card above or a usable Firewire card or the difference between it and the non-Hybrid version) would be enough, but the product should be removed from the shops until it works as advertised. I'd take mine back except that I need it and there's no alternative (it's also quite a while since I bought it and the shop could play silly b*ggers and I can't be bothered to argue with them at the moment).

At least they agree with my analysis, which I suppose makes me somewhat happy

[exaj]

Hi, I'm sure this has already been tried but I felt I should mention a small problem I had with my new UL3 Hybrid. I first connected it via USB and, apart from a few failed driver installations and blue screens of death (first time I'd had them under Vista), I managed to get it running fine on USB.

Next day I tried it on firewire but it wouldn't work. After some mucking about I eventually played with the front panel knobs and discovered there a choice of "USB" or "FW" in the "Setup" menu (press the Param button button a few times). I didn't see anything about this in the manual, probably because the supplied manual is for the non-Hybrid version of the Ultralite Mk3. There's a single sheet in the box which covers a few differences but not about setting an option for the interface connection. So now I've had it working fine on both firewire and USB.

That's nice, but I now wonder if that means you can't run Firewire and USB at the same time (to daisy chain additional devices such as an 8pre off the FW port while connected to PC via USB). So far no joy, though it worked when the 8pre was connected to the PC and the UL3 Hybrid was on the other 8pre FW port. This is a different topic so I'll post the question elsewhere.

[RonaldDumsfeld]

exaj.

Thanks for the useful information.

I am not sure if the issue you describe is the same as we are experiencing. You could connect via USB then could not via Firewire.

We cannot connect using USB at all. MOTU have admitted there is a problem with at least some USB controllers.

It wouold be very useful to know what version of USB controller you have. Please take a look back through this thread to find out how.

As far as we can tell atm ICH8 USB controllers work. ICH9 and ICH10 controllers do not.

You input may prove to be pertinent.

Thanks again.
It would be interesting to discover at

[RonaldDumsfeld]

I have the proverbial good news and the bad news. Which would you like to hear first?

No. Wait. MOTU customers don't get a choice.

Like haraleah mentioned earlier MOTU are aware of the problem and are currently working on a s/w driver solution. My Vista premium 64 bit system is now talking, or rather mumbling, to my Ultralite Hybrid via an ICH10 USB 2.0 controller.

There is still a ways to go. There are clearly still some issues with the ASIO drivers and Audio Console and Cuemix need further work.

More info would still be helpful but I think MOTU and us deserve at least 1 cheer.

[RonaldDumsfeld]

From Lenzo

WORKS

about USB i got something like :

- Intel[R]ICH Family USB Enahnced Host controller
pilot : 9.0.0.1005
25/02/2008
INTEL

- USB racine
pilot 5.1.2600.2180
01/07/2001
MICROSOFT

I use Windows XP service pack 3
______________________
R0N again.

^^ Adds support to the 'it's not the Windows version it's the USB controller; new = bad' theory. Dunno why it's not an ICH number but it's yonks since I've used XP.

[haraleah]

I've had feedback from MOTU too that they're working on a driver update solution - I'm optimistic given how good they've been communicating and asking for information.

[RonaldDumsfeld]

Gone a bit quiet again though hasn't it haraleah? At least at my end.

Any news from your pov?

[Muzicole]

Hi there,

I eventually sent my ULH back some time ago, but thought I'd read this thread again as I'm going up to London tomorrow to try out various other audio interfaces, such as Edirol, Focusrite etc. While I'm there, I may as well try the the ULH again with the latest driver update which was released just a few days ago. Does anyone know if it solves the problem with either threading or USB controllers?

This unit would still be the best choice for me if the darn thing is viable.