2011 Macbook pro i7 issues with Ultralite mk3 RESOLVED

[peachfart]

Hi everyone got myself the new Macbook pro 2011 model with i7 cpu 8 gig ram and been trying to get it working with my Motu Ultralite-Mk3 via firewire (this is an earlier model with no usb2)

I have several problems

1. Connected my Ultralite-mk3 via firewire to the Macbook pro, bus-powered. Whilst in Ableton, the power from the motu will randomly drop out and then turn itself on between long intervals, ruining recording sessions. Before getting my macbook pro i used a pc-laptop (windows xp) and had no problems and powered the ultralite mk3 with the dc adapter. Does anyone know why the firewire bus-power is causing drop-outs? is there not enough power? i have the latest macbook pro model. can it be a driver/firmware issue? The cable im using is firewire 800.

2. My next problem is that when I power the Ultralite-mk3 by the dc-adaptor, the macbook pro will not detect the mk3 on the macbook pro or in ableton live. But when I Bus-power with just the firewire cable the motu is detected.

I originally wanted to use bus power, but i get those random drop-outs. And to prevent those random drop outs i've resorted to believing that the ac-adaptor will provide more power and keep it stable. But with dc-power, the motu is not being detected on the system. And yes, Im using the dc-power adaptor that came with the unit. With my pc-laptop i never had issues in detecting the motu. It always been detected on the system.

Can someone help me out?
Has anyone encountered similar problems?

Its leading me to think its the firmware of the motu being incompatible with my most up to- date version of snowleopard which is version 10.6.8

The firmware version of my ultralite mk3 is 1.0 - which has never been updated
The driver version of my ultralite is 1.6 - fairly new i think
My Macbook pro snowleopard version is 10.6.8 - most current version
Ableton live version - dont think it matters but im using suite 8

I was going to update the firmware on the motu but before I do i just wanted to know what everyone thinks.

Would greatly appreciate responses and help

Steve

[David Polich]

You know, I think this could be as simple as a defective UltraLite.

Last year I got three Ultralite Mk3 Hybrids for a tour I was working for (as a keyboard tech). Two worked great. One was just a dog - it would start up and the MacBook Pro would recognize it, MOTU Audio System GUI would launch - but it wouldn't pass audio. I could see audio registering on the display, but nothing from the actual outputs. Then I took it home - worked great at my house.

Back at band rehearsal next day - audio outputs dead after working for
about an hour. MIDI also worked intermittently on it. We finally returned it and got a replacement which was fine (that's the one I bought from the tour and still have).

I think it's a great product...perhaps your particular unit is a lemon.
It should still be under warranty. Maybe you can return it and get an
exchange unit.

[peachfart]

Thanks David. I was looking into the warranty of the unit. I've had it for a few years now. I quickly did some searching and saw that motu products have only a 90 day warranty period. Am I still able to make a claim on a defective product? or is there a fee?

[peachfart]

I was testing the dc adaptor and noticed it gets quite hot and when i connect it to the unit there is faint humming noise coming form the ac adaptor. does everyone's dc adaptor do this?
does yours get that hot?

[peachfart]

All good. I've solved the problem it was a faulty dc-power adaptor. i managed to get another dc adaptor and the motu is now detected on my macbook pro. so the problem was that the old dc adaptor was damaged and interrupting the unit. Can i suggest if anyone with similar problems just try the same thing as me. also, the dropouts from the bus powered firewire cable were due to the low-buffer count. So i just increased it back to 512. no idea why it was set to a very low value must have accidentally changed the setting.

cheers
Steve