Designed for the road or for use in studios, the MOTU UltraLite-mk4 expands on previous iterations to give you 18 inputs and 22 outputs in a class-compliant, high-speed USB-2 interface. From the device itself, you can monitor inputs and outputs, while a web-control app allows you to control signal routing, tweak levels, and apply onboard effects utilizing a laptop, iOS device, or smartphones over a closed Wi-Fi network. This means that in live scenarios, you can use the UltraLite-mk4 as a standalone digital mixer.

In conjunction with a DAW, the device can record audio at up to 192 kHz / 24-bit. It can do so via two combination XLR/1/4" jacks, as well as six 1/4" jacks on the back panel. Eight output jacks allow you to patch in outboard gear, while two main 1/4" outputs and a headphone jack give you monitoring capabilities. An optical I/O section allows you to connect eight channels of compatible inputs and outputs: a pair of S/PDIF connections afford you digital I/Os; MIDI can also be routed via two 5-pin DIN jacks.

In addition to the built-in 32-bit DSP effects provided by the UltraLite-mk4, the device ships with AudioDesk, a digital audio workstation for Mac and Windows which provides 24-bit recording, sample-accurate editing, and the ability to mix and master. The interface is class compliant—meaning no drivers are required in most cases—and can record audio at very low latencies.