While stable, the Windows driver requires you to manage sample rate conflicts manually. If your DAW is at 48kHz and YouTube is playing a 44.1kHz video, one of them will go silent unless you let Windows resample (which adds latency). This is a Windows architecture problem, not exclusively MOTU's, but competing interfaces like RME handle this with a more robust internal clocking manager.
The hardware gives you the pristine conversion. The software gives you the control. Together, they make the UltraLite-mk5 the only interface you will need until you decide to spend $3,000 on a boutique system. motu ultralite mk5 software
When MOTU released the UltraLite-mk5 in 2021, the headlines were dominated by the specs: the new ESS Sabre32 DACs, the impressive 125 dB dynamic range, and the leap to USB 3.0. On paper, it looked like a simple, albeit powerful, refresh of a 15-year-old legacy product. While stable, the Windows driver requires you to