MOTU Ultralite MK3, Volume Level Problem

[MrFisse]

Hi there guys been reading around the forum and other places but found no one with the same problem i have. It's not a huge issue i guess but i might as well check if someone knows of a solution or the reason for it.
Like the title says i have a Motu Ultralite MK3 FW/USB version. Got it hooked up to Cubase on a PC. The device actually works just fine but the volume level outputs seems to be way to high. I'm using 1 Adam active sub and 2 Adam active monitors. As it is now i can only use the device when it's master volume level is around -52db or it becomes dangerously loud. It is not the same with the headphones output. There the levels seem to be find.
Like i said not a real big issue but if someone knows why it is like this please do tell.

Cheers !

[torrentg]

Hey...

make sure that you don't have any input(s) on one of the bus(es) doubled on another bus, or even tripled or quadrupled.

Basically, I'm saying to check each bus so that whatever it is you are listening to is only fed to the particular output you're currently monitoring once. On other buses, it/they should be muted.


If you're only using the first bus, master mute all the other buses you have in CueMix. Or alternatively, set their output(s) to "none".

[MrFisse]

Ok tried to find what you were talking about in CueMix but without success. Not very familiar with CueMix. Have not been in it and fiddled around. Could you please explain more detailed
Currently i am using the Main Outputs on the Motu. I think i understand what you are saying but could not find any master mutes for the other channels/buses in CueMix. Did not dare to mess around with it any further since i pressed the monitor button on the main out thing in cuemix and it put the volume up to monitor destroying levels. Thank god for the failsafes in the monitors so they cut out.
Right now it actually feels kinda unsafe to use the Motu with my monitors. Not sure where the fault is though if it is the monitors or the motus.Though my old sound card did not have this problem and that was the bad built in on the alesis master controller.

[j_e_f]

The MOTU outs are at pro level (+4dB). Your powered monitors probably expect the much lower consumer level (-10dB), which your cheap audio card undoubtably was. Just keep the MOTU master level down low, or get an attenuator that converts +4dB to -10dB. (Or buy pro powered speakers that expect +4dB on input).

[RonaldDumsfeld]

I also own a Ultralite and ADAM monitors with a sub.

It does go loud. Very loud. Certainly too loud for normal domestic listening.

If you don't want to get a monitor controller then you have at least 3 places you can attentuate the signal. In the application s/w, on the MOTU O/P or finally on the speakers/sub. Since you don't want to be constantly adjusting both speakers and the sub or risk not getting the best out of your converters by running them cold the best place is what you are doing atm - on the MOTU O/P. Nothing to worry about.

I use a mixer between the MOTU and the ADAMs as a de facto monitor controller.

[albino]

Finally!

Finally I found somebody who agrees with me. I actually sent one copy back to the store because I thought it was broken.. Now I got a new one and was really amazed to notice that it has the same thing going.

I use professional active speakers, which are expecting a 'pro level' signal. (Profel PS302DT, It's a Finnish brand, not very well-known, but very good..) I also have to keep Ultralite at about -60 dB or so, just to prevent myself from sudden death..

That wouldn't bother me so much, but there is a notable hiss-noise coming from the last stage of motu's gain processing (I think, I'm not sure, I admit..), which is not affected by the main level knob. (I assume that the output gain is constant and the main level is just attenuting the signal before it, but again, this is just what me thinks..)

The noise is loud enough, that I heard it from a distance of about two meters and enough to piss me off.

I have previously used mbox2 and had no problems like this with it (still I'm not a big fan of mbox otherwise) and as I took a better look of mbox specs, I think I know the reason: It has a maximum output level of +4 dBV and also uses unbalanced outputs so compared to Motu in that way, the level is 6 dB lower/channel.. Of course I can hear noise from mbox too, but then I have to stick my ear right next to the speaker and/or pull the volume full up also. (Considering that, I think it's output is also differently build than Motu's, but this is again only my assuming..)

Unfortunately, I have had no luck in finding decent tech specs about Ultralite on internet.. Does anyone here know where to get any? (Motu tech support, I guess?)

Anyways.. I came to conclusion that I'm gonna get me monitor controller.. Assuming my ultralite (mk3 hybrid) is otherwise alright, I think it's the best way to handle this issue..

Or does anyone come up with a better suggestion?

Although, I had bad luck with the firewire connection also.. there seems to be some random bursts in signal, when using that.. I have mac mini and it has a texas instrument firewire chip (I got the feeling from internet that it should be better than others..), so i don't know 'bout this thing.. It might be a bad firewire cable, I haven't tried other one yet.. USB is working fine though..

I'd like to hear more about your problems. English isn't my mother tongue, so I might come out quite unclearly, but I hope you got the idea..

toni.

[4stripes]

There's nothing wrong with your MOTU or your ADAMs. What you are describing sounds like your speakers are set too loud and that you may be mixing too loud as well. You don't mention what ADAM you are using, but they all have sensitivity knobs. You should turn them all down to their lowest level to start with.

Chances are the UltraLite's out max is somewhere between +16 to +20 dBu--that's hotter than most any amplifier can take, but is closer to what other pro gear puts out.

Here's how you can verify if your monitor level settings are decent:

Play this file hard-panned out one speaker, with all the DAW and MOTU output levels set flat/0/unity. If you have a cheap SPL meter, you'd want to turn your monitor levels so it was about 79 dBSPL C slow-weighted. It should be quite loud, but not deafening. You should be able to loudly talk over it, but it would be annoying to have a conversation this way. This is the setting where you mix.

Now, you will find that if you play back already mastered material, it will be super loud and you'll have to turn the monitor level down more. That's ok, it just means there are no dynamics in the mastered audio. But you shouldn't mix at this level, otherwise you'll get squashed mixes.

If you want to know more, read Bob Katz's book, parts of the ATSC A/85 doc page 33, or watch this.

If you play that file and it is really quiet or blows your head off, then your monitor gain setting needs to be corrected.

[MrFisse]

Woah totally forgot about my thread, thanks for all the replies everyone.
So i have now lowered input gain on the Adam monitors to -10db and the sub to match it. Still when listening to something in my Daw at 0db it is still loud as hell. I can turn up the volume a bit further now in the Motu but it still gets extremely loud at -30db on the Motu and a bit higher the speakers cut out. I know someone talked about the motu expect "pro" gear but i am fairly certain that the Adam S1x speakers are considered in the pro range, albeit small. Same goes for my Adam Sub-10 i guess?

On the Sub i only have one gain knob that affect the sub itself, it ranges from -60db up to 10db. On the speakers there are four knobs, one for input gain -10db/+10db, one for high gain -4db/+4db, one for Room EQ <150hz -6db/+6db and one for Room EQ > 6khz -6db/+6db. The two last ones im not really quite sure what they do, cant hear much of a difference.

I still find it a bit strange since i can't use the Motu as is intended, mainly noticed since the Eq bars on the device itself is not activated at such low levels, not that i really care about that specific feature but i just have the constant feeling that it is not as it should. Maybe it is? Still weird i think.