Apogee Duet vs. Motu Ultralight?

[kincept]

I just bought a motu ultralight and have 30 days to return it. I am considering taking it back and getting a DUET. Do you think the sound pre amps are superior to the ultralight? Some say the preamps are about equal to the grace 101 on the duet? That would give me a bit more quality of sound without adding in an external preamp for awhile? At least I think so?

what do you think return the ultralight?????? before I regret it.

I just bought a powerbook so that will integrate nicely. and im planning on running logic.

PS I only record one vocal track , 1 guitar at a time, just me no one else.

[hatzalam]

I was in the exact same boat as you, except I didn't buy the Ultralite first. I did a lot of research, and since I'm a Mac user, and only record vocals (and maybe one other instrument at a time), I went for the Duet. I've tried the ultralite, and it's good. I just think the Duet is better overall, in terms of sound quality.

[macleodgrant]

the Duet's a great piece of gear and the quality is awesome.

though!
i don't understand why they've given features to supposedly control the SPL in logic but it doesn't work! you have to assign this manually as suggested by an GS user though i haven't yet tried that!

there's definitely a driver issue, i would be playing the audio and then once in a while if i stop and start playback again or jump to a different location i would just get this loud burst - i just kinda accepted it and got used to though sometimes it would happen while the track was playing back too. people would be listening to the track and think, WTF!
anyways, MOTU drivers have always been absolutely rock solid and i seemed to always take that for granted as i never ever got an issue with my MOTU 828MKII like that

i think the DUET is a great device but needs that driver issues dealt with as a matter or urgency - maybe it's just me, who knows

cheers

[Clarence]

Hi there,

i would just get this loud burst

Like harmful to speakers loud?
I thought about buying two of these for my kids, but they usually monitor at scary levels ...

The one duet I had for testing was flawless, though. What OS are you using?


Clarence

[kincept]

Originally Posted by macleodgrant

the Duet's a great piece of gear and the quality is awesome.

though!
i don't understand why they've given features to supposedly control the SPL in logic but it doesn't work! you have to assign this manually as suggested by an GS user though i haven't yet tried that!

there's definitely a driver issue, i would be playing the audio and then once in a while if i stop and start playback again or jump to a different location i would just get this loud burst - i just kinda accepted it and got used to though sometimes it would happen while the track was playing back too. people would be listening to the track and think, WTF!
anyways, MOTU drivers have always been absolutely rock solid and i seemed to always take that for granted as i never ever got an issue with my MOTU 828MKII like that

i think the DUET is a great device but needs that driver issues dealt with as a matter or urgency - maybe it's just me, who knows

cheers

i might just buy it and then return it so I can see how it really performs. Motu is defenitely ROCK solid drivers.

I recentley put my TC konnekt 24D to sleep. The drivers were always an issue couldnt get abpve 44.1 on my computer, freezes, and other issues. Its a new unit and I think that I cant risk that kind of frustration again on a new interface.

HEY when I disabled my WIRELESS CARD on my computer it solved the loud bursts that I had. I also read somewhere on macrumors . com that duet likes to be set to low priority, motu likes high priority.

my goal is to get the best sound I possibly can get.
I think in the end the best combo for me will be the motu ultralight for reliability, and adding an external pre like RNP, 101, or P solo. NOW the question is how much better woulld the sound be with the DUET and those preamps?

[JEGG]

These products are so different that it should be a no brainer for a decision. Decide what you need the box to do, and then buy the appropriate box!

[kincept]

Originally Posted by JEGG

These products are so different that it should be a no brainer for a decision. Decide what you need the box to do, and then buy the appropriate box!

DEERRRR???????

I want the best possible sound for the buck, IE CLARITY PUNCH RECORDING STRENGTH GREAT CONverters etc. Thats the NUMBER ONE STUNNA. the question is sound vs sound, not functions. DUHHH.

If one is better right now in sound quality than that wins because it means i dont need to rush out and drop another 5 bills on a preamp.

[macleodgrant]

thanks for the tip,i will look into that priority stuff!

i don't know the ultralite but the DUET is quite a fair bit better quality than the MOTU 828MKII. i really don't like the fact that it only has unbalanced outs though - that point really sucks so when i use the DUET, i need to unplug all cables from my rack going into my mackie big knob and only have the DUET going in, then i don't get a ground loop; what a nightmare!

so in essence, it's about sound and function since the lack of balanced outputs may affect your sound like it did mine. somebody might not know any better and assume the unit is broken

[JEGG]

Originally Posted by kincept

DEERRRR???????

I want the best possible sound for the buck, IE CLARITY PUNCH RECORDING STRENGTH GREAT CONverters etc. Thats the NUMBER ONE STUNNA. the question is sound vs sound, not functions. DUHHH.

Dear Mr. or Ms. Kincept:
"DUHHH" and and the rest of the shouting may represent what you want and how you express yourself. However, I was responding to your original post. You didn't articulate this strong sentiment in your post. If that was your number one priority, and you think the Duet will better suit your needs, then why did you buy the MOTU and then post questions in this forum? It makes no sense.

So "DUHHH" to you. And had you displayed your boorish behavior earlier, I would not have bothered writing.

Enough shouting and flaming from you. Now I'm off to find that oft mentioned ignore button.

Grow up.

[kincept]

Originally Posted by macleodgrant

thanks for the tip,i will look into that priority stuff!

i don't know the ultralite but the DUET is quite a fair bit better quality than the MOTU 828MKII. i really don't like the fact that it only has unbalanced outs though - that point really sucks so when i use the DUET, i need to unplug all cables from my rack going into my mackie big knob and only have the DUET going in, then i don't get a ground loop; what a nightmare!

so in essence, it's about sound and function since the lack of balanced outputs may affect your sound like it did mine. somebody might not know any better and assume the unit is broken

could you elaborate on how unbalanced might effect sound quality?since its for output that would be monitors?

[kincept]

Originally Posted by JEGG

Dear Mr. or Ms. Kincept:
"DUHHH" and and the rest of the shouting may represent what you want and how you express yourself. However, I was responding to your original post. You didn't articulate this strong sentiment in your post. If that was your number one priority, and you think the Duet will better suit your needs, then why did you buy the MOTU and then post questions in this forum? It makes no sense.

So "DUHHH" to you. And had you displayed your boorish behavior earlier, I would not have bothered writing.

Enough shouting and flaming from you. Now I'm off to find that oft mentioned ignore button.

Grow up.

Firstly you had atittude with me by saying "features, its a no brainer pick one". when you didnt even read my original post

[gizeh12]

I had a hard time, getting the high frequencies to sound less dull and flat, worked very hard to spice it up. Last week ive learned that the Ultralite converters were the cause. Now ive ditched my ultralite, and use my onboard soundcard for inbetween the new interface, i hardly notice any difference in sound quality.

My point is,,,, get the Duet, the ultralite is just not a decent sounding machine.

[inthere]

The Duet's sound quality is so much better than the Utralites' you will laugh hysterically every time you see the words "Motu" and "quality" in the same post for the rest of your life.

[clonewar]

If you only need two I/O then get the Duet, its an awesome piece of gear..

[blaugruen7]

Originally Posted by inthere

The Duet's sound quality is so much better than the Utralites' you will laugh hysterically every time you see the words "Motu" and "quality" in the same post for the rest of your life.

any new impression about this topic?

i am wondering if the ultralite mkIII has been improved in that direction?