MOTU Ultralite Mk5 Digital Volume Control

[rolo]

Hey forum.

I've just got myself the MOTU Ultralite mk5. Big part of deciding on this was I wanted something with digital output. It's connected to my Neuman KH 150s via the S/PDIF out.

There's one thing that's annoying me though - on the front of the unit there's a hardware volume control. This controls the main output volume in Cuemix 5 and you can choose which of the analogue outputs this covers, but you can't choose the digital output, so this knob is redundant for me using only the digital out.

I can't find any other online chatter about this so I wonder if I'm just using this wrongly or if this is just part of using digital.

Is there any workaround? I guess I can use the analogue outputs instead worst case but I'd like to grok why or find out first if poss.

Thanks all.

 

[mdsimon2]

Hey forum.

I've just got myself the MOTU Ultralite mk5. Big part of deciding on this was I wanted something with digital output. It's connected to my Neuman KH 150s via the S/PDIF out.

There's one thing that's annoying me though - on the front of the unit there's a hardware volume control. This controls the main output volume in Cuemix 5 and you can choose which of the analogue outputs this covers, but you can't choose the digital output, so this knob is redundant for me using only the digital out.

I can't find any other online chatter about this so I wonder if I'm just using this wrongly or if this is just part of using digital.

Is there any workaround? I guess I can use the analogue outputs instead worst case but I'd like to grok why or find out first if poss.

Thanks all.

Yes, the volume control only affects the analog outputs, not the digital outputs. What is your source? You can add volume control / indication using CamillaDSP as described in my signature.

Michael

 

[rolo]

Thanks for the swift reply. Source is primarily coming over USB on MacOS from Ableton.

I'm able to use Cuemix 5 to adjust the levels of the USB signal going into the Mix 1-2 inputs in software which works but I'd hoped to be able to use the hardware control.

CamillaDSP looks interesting, I hadn't considered something like this existing and I'm intrigued but I don't think this helps with the hardware control unless I'm misunderstanding.

Thanks.

 

[mdsimon2]

Thanks for the swift reply. Source is primarily coming over USB on MacOS from Ableton.

I'm able to use Cuemix 5 to adjust the levels of the USB signal going into the Mix 1-2 inputs in software which works but I'd hoped to be able to use the hardware control.

CamillaDSP looks interesting, I hadn't considered something like this existing and I'm intrigued but I don't think this helps with the hardware control unless I'm misunderstanding.

Thanks.

CamillaDSP gives the you the option of adding IR volume control upstream of the UL Mk5 that can act on all output channels. Others have also added wireless volume control knobs -> https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...r-raspberry-pi-help-needed-with-python.40320/. Although if you are starting from a computer you probably have lots of other volume control options.

I would guess that the UL Mk5 uses the DAC internal volume control rather than a separate volume control in a DSP which is why it does not act on the digital outputs.

Michael

 

[rolo]

CamillaDSP gives the you the option of adding IR volume control upstream of the UL Mk5 that can act on all output channels. Others have also added wireless volume control knobs -> https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...r-raspberry-pi-help-needed-with-python.40320/. Although if you are starting from a computer you probably have lots of other volume control options.

I would guess that the UL Mk5 uses the DAC internal volume control rather than a separate volume control in a DSP which is why it does not act on the digital outputs.

Michael

Ah interesting. Looks like adding a display and hardware buttons is possible with CamillaDSP too. Very impressive.

Ive done Python and Ubuntu for many years too so I think my biggest fear probably would be ending up in a rabbit hole tinkering instead of making music but I will investigate properly. Cheers

 

[phofman]

IMO the reason the device HW volume control applies only to its analog inputs is that typically a volume control feature of the DAC chip is used, not some DSP in the USB receiver chip (which could apply to the SPDIF output too).

Also the SPDIF output can transfer non-PCM data (AC3, DTS, etc.) which the volume control DSP would ruin.

 

[rolo]

IMO the reason the device HW volume control applies only to its analog inputs is that typically a volume control feature of the DAC chip is used, not some DSP in the USB receiver chip (which could apply to the SPDIF output too).

Also the SPDIF output can transfer non-PCM data (AC3, DTS, etc.) which the volume control DSP would ruin.

That's very helpful to understand, thank you.

 

[palm]

Good point about AC3 and DTS over SPDIF, this is indeed a good reason for disabling the volume control (ideally as an option)

Lately I’ve been looking at different options to perform bass management. So far I have used either the built-in capabilities of the O800, or an AVR. I’m hesitating between the “computer” route with a 4ch sound card and a miniDSP. The Motu is in the list.

I had an EMU 0404 and the potentiometer aged quite fast. I would prefer a rotary encoder. The downside is that anything running software can go wrong and output full scale signals but with monitors you can usually limit the max volume using their own settings.
I might anyway rely more on the digital volume control but the physical option is always nice.
It looks like the volume control on the Ultralite is such an encoder and can control the 2 pairs of analog outputs, do you confirm ?

 

[rolo]

It looks like the volume control on the Ultralite is such an encoder and can control the 2 pairs of analog outputs, do you confirm ?

Correct, the hardware control can control any of the analog outputs that you define as a group.