Recording - September 2015 - 22

MOTU UltraLite AVB

way to connect multiple interfaces at once to the same computer, but that's only
one of many applications. The key to understanding AVB's power is to realize
one simple fact: an AVB interface is no longer just a peripheral attached to one
computer, it's a computer in its own right that knows how to talk to other computers on its network, and it does so seamlessly and instantly with no special
setup or hassle.
This leads to all manner of cool possibilities. For example, you're no longer tied
to a single control connection between computer and interface. If your computer
is busy running your DAW and you don't want to bring up the interface controls
there, use a spare computer to do it, or use your iPad wirelessly. Or use your iPad
and a second computer at once... or your iPad and a second computer and a
bunch of iPhones, each controlling one musician's monitor mix.
If your UltraLite AVB is cabled up to the same network as two or more computers,
it can act as audio interface to any of them, and one computer can send audio to
multiple interfaces. The only limitations are that only one interface can be connected to one computer via USB (or Thunderbolt)-although that interface will still be
accessible for remote control on the network-and you can't send or receive AVB
audio over wireless connections.
Speaking of wireless, you can even hook up a Wi-Fi router directly to the
back of the UltraLite AVB with no computer involved. That lets you control the
interface wirelessly in standalone mode from an iPad or tablet, essentially turning it into the world's smallest full-featured digital live console! See the facing
page for a quick example of mixer control from an iPhone.

I/O can run at up to 192 kHz.) Throw in the
front-panel 1/4" Phones output that can be independent of the other outputs, and the AVB's I/O
complement tops out at a whopping 18 channels of physical I/O... all in a half rackspace.
Speaking of which, the UltraLite AVB is packaged in a familiar MOTU half-rackspace enclosure, a confidence-inducing metal clamshell with
optional hardware for rackmounting a pair of units
side by side (included in the box). The front panel
of the AVB model is similar to that of its forebears;
there's still a large data display and individual pushclick encoders for level and gain control. However, the
AVB returns individual mic input pad and phantom
power controls to the front panel (the mk3 Hybrid used
push-click functions to access those), and repurposes
the push-click functions to control metering selection,
Main Out/Phones volume, and basic global function
access.
Most obviously, the mk3 Hybrid's LCD display
has been replaced by a higher-resolution and more
readable blue backlit LCD, and the front-panel
mixer navigation control knobs are gone. At first
glance, it may seem odd that taking away frontpanel mixer control is somehow considered a good
thing, but that's actually one of the greatest advantages of the UltraLite AVB over its predecessors.
Get yourself connected
Until you actually start working with AVB, it's difficult to understand how it gives you any advantages in a small home studio or live stage rig. We
tend first and foremost to think of networking as a
22

RECORDING September 2015

AVB Control
Say goodbye to MOTU's CueMix FX desktop software for controlling
the interface's onboard digital mixer and DSP effects. It's been replaced
by MOTU AVB Control, a web app that actually runs on the interface
itself. No more drivers or control panel software are needed; the UltraLite
AVB itself is USB class-compliant.
MOTU AVB Control runs on any web browser; you can use the web
browser of your choice, on anything that has a web browser. A
Mac running Safari, a Windows
PC running Explorer, an Android
smartphone running Chrome, an
iOS device.. you name it. A free
iOS app called MOTU AVB
Discovery finds your interface on
the network and connects you to
it from an iPad or iPhone, then
launches your browser. Or you
can just type in the IP address of
the UltraLite AVB (you can find it by calling it up on the unit's
display) and you're ready to roll.
Because it's browser-based, MOTU AVB control can be
as big or small as your monitor allows. You're not limited
by the interface window size that the programmers created for the control panel software.
MOTU AVB Control presents a huge, detailed console view of the internal mixer,
with individual effects on the channel strips selectable as needed and with various
ways to compact the interface to take up less space (collapsing pairs of channels
into stereo, hiding certain channel strip effects, etc.). You can scroll horizontally
and vertically to see everything, just as you would when navigating a large webpage. Or, if you've got a really big monitor, you can see everything at once. The
possibilities for large touchscreen monitors on PCs running Windows 8 or 10 are
remarkable!
As great as CueMix FX was and is, we must acknowledge the fact that it's a
bit cramped (especially on a laptop), and using push-click encoders to try and
run the onboard mixer from the front panel in real time isn't very practical. With
MOTU AVB Control, suddenly you have plenty of room to move, a familiar consolestyle interface for the effects, and unbelievably flexible routing options, all accessible
from your computer or tablet as you work.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - September 2015