Hello everyone! First time MOTU user (ultralite)

jhamesbeats · Post by **jhamesbeats** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:49 pm

Wussup everyone! New user to both this forum and to motu. First I want to say that i'm a BIG NOOB at all of this, so excuse me for my dumb questions and poor grammar... I got into music making about a couple months ago and i'm using Reason 3.0.. Have not done much recording really.. mainly just making instrumentals...

Well I just recieved my motu ultralite today

(my first audio interface

) So far I'm pretty happy with it. Installation was fairly easy and the quality of the box is great! Anyways I have some really noob questions on how to treat an audio interface because I want to make sure that I don't screw anything up.

My question is about powering it off and on. While I was installing it today. I forgot to read the section on shutting down your PC before hooking up the firewire. So I actaully hooked it up while my pc was on to the interface. So is there a chance I could have already messed up something? I've only done this once... I believe I read somewhere that you can Hot Swap, and I kind of understand that Hot swapping is where you just take out the firewire plug while the interface & PC is still on and sticking it into another port. My other question is, is if Motu suggest that you do not plug the firewire into the interface while your computer is on then how is it that you can hot swap?

I have more questions but I'll ask them after this is answered so it doesn't get all long, jumbled up, and hard to read.

Oh my PC Specs is:
Windows XP Home
P4 3.0ghz HT
1 gig of ram

Edit

It would be great if yall could also give me other tips on what to do or what NOT to do, in keeping my ultralite in good shape.

cuttime · Post by **cuttime** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:41 pm

I would like to know the answer, too! Apple says my Powerbook is hot-swappable, MOTU says don't do it! Judging from the number of people I know who have had their firewire busses fried for no reason in particular, I would say that powering down before unplugging is a small price to pay for the peace of mind.

I think if anything got fried you would know right away.

My guess is that MOTU interfaces are bus powered, and probably draw more current than other firewire devices, and the possibility that a short or spark on connect/disconnect could send your sizeable investment down the tubes.

Anyone?

jhamesbeats · Post by **jhamesbeats** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:08 pm

Thank you for your quick reply!

"My guess is that MOTU interfaces are bus powered, and probably draw more current than other firewire devices, and the possibility that a short or spark on connect/disconnect could send your sizeable investment down the tubes. "

That is exactly something im paranoid over right now. I do not mind at all having to power down to disconnet my interface but I would like to know whether i've already messed up something. But you said if anything happened then i would know right away. That makes me feel much better, thank you.

But when you say power down? Do you mean the interface or pc? Because when I'm talking about that, im talking about both! Because they say that when you power off the interface its actaully in sleep mode?

Also this might be a stupid question BUT just to make sure(and once again this is my first audio interface) Do I have to power down when plugging in audio wires? like my headphones and other analogue wires? I'm assuming not.

jhamesbeats · Post by **jhamesbeats** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:48 pm

Okay... Another problem.. I have some cheap sony headphones. The phone jack is ACTUALLY a 1/8 phone jack BUT it comes with a 1/4 phone jack adapter where it just snaps on top of the 1/8... Anyways as im listening to music through this thing, it only plays on the left UNLESS I move the wire to the right a lil.. then I get both LEFT and RIGHT playing.. has anyone have this problem? Is it just my headphones?

cuttime · Post by **cuttime** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:57 pm

Power Down: Both computer AND interface. Headphones?- Seems like time to get a new pair.

jhamesbeats · Post by **jhamesbeats** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 7:34 am

Thanks for your reply.

Ok ANOTHER question that I have is about the firewire again. I'm using a firewire pci card that I also bought yesterday. Anywas the manual says that if your using a PCI Firewire card you should have some power harness? The same one that goes to your harddreives and cd drives should be used on the pci card. Problem is my PCI firewire card has no place to hook a power harness. BUT the Motu Ultralite powers up fine...

And isn't the ultralite suppose to power on when i turn on my computer? because it doesen't.

project · Post by **project** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:16 am

Jhames you should read your manual. Try pages 5 and 6.

jhamesbeats · Post by **jhamesbeats** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:21 am

Thank you for your reply project.. I've skimmed through pages 5 and 6 before but I went back again and read it more carefully... It didn't really answer most of my questions because those 2 pages are just a quick reference and yes, I've read other pages too.. but I found an important note: " it is best to turn on off the UltraLite when plugging in the Firewire cable, as this avoids the possiblity of static discharge, which can harm the elctrical compents int he Ultralite or your computer" I noticed that no where does it say you have to shut down your pc. ( Except on Pg. 17 but that's only when you are INSTALLING)

This is what confuses me.. by saying this they are assuming that your using the power adaptor, am I right? How else would it be on before you plug it in? So unless I am using a power adaptor I wouldn't have to worry about this?

Mika · Post by **Mika** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:02 am

Static discharge can happen with or without the power adaptor being plugged, because it's static electricity.
Like when you touch something metallic after being seated in your car and you get a discharge or when you try to clean a cathodic screen while it's turned on and ZAAAPPP, you're not plugged to an adaptor right?

You just happen to conduct the static charge on the screen or the metal part.

jhamesbeats · Post by **jhamesbeats** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 11:35 am

Thanks for the reply. This only applies to the firewire cable right? What about audio cables like my headphones and such..

Okay I guess that question has been mostly answered.. I'll just try to be extra carefull..

Now for ANOTHER question.. hopefully my last... Okay, I do not have speaker monitors right now so i'm using my PC speakers which are 2.0 GMX Klipsch with a subwoofer. I went out and bought a 2 phono plugs to one 1/4" stereo phone plug. Anyways I hooked the 1/4 phone plug to my analogue output on the back of my interface, both left and right speakers work but my subwoofer isn't.. anyone know whats the problem?