[Problem]: crash when using Motu Ultralite Mk5

[24fpsDaVinci]

What happened?

on the Motu ultralite mk5 usb soundcard shairport crashes immediately using default config, I went through a bunch different configs as well but did not work.

alsa speaker-test -c 2 works and produces a sound through both speakers

Relevant log output

0.000006926 "../player.c:2406" *fatal error: An unknown format was encountered while choosing output bit depth. Please check your configuration and settings.
Shairport Sync Startup (Tue May  5 02:19:12 UTC 2026)

dacquery output: 
  --- Card 1:
        --- CTL name: "hw:CARD=UltraLitemk5".
        --- Name: "UltraLite-mk5".
        --- Long name: "MOTU UltraLite-mk5 at usb-xhci-hcd.1-1.1, high speed".
        --- Devices: 1.
              --- Device 0:
                    --- Name: "USB Audio".
                    --- ID: "USB Audio".
                    --- Subdevices: 1.
                          --- Subdevice: 0:
                                --- Name: "subdevice #0".
                                --- Interfaces:
                                      >>> "hw:UltraLitemk5"
                                      >>> "iec958:UltraLitemk5"
        --- No mixers found.
        --- Interfaces and Supported Formats:
              >>> Interface "hw:UltraLitemk5":
              >>> Interface "iec958:UltraLitemk5":

System Information.

raspberry pi 5

Configuration Information.

default config
raspberrypi OS lite
alsa

PulseAudio or PipeWire installed?

• Check if your system uses a Sound Server.

How did you install Shairport Sync?

Docker

Check previous issues

• Confirm

[mikebrady]

Thanks for the intriguing post.

Shairport Sync is not actually "crashing" here -- it is terminating in an orderly way because it can not configure the output device.

What is more intriguing is that Dacquery can't make sense of the output device either.

Both Shairport Sync and Dacquery expect a DAC that can accept interleaved audio with integer samples (e.g. S16, S32, S24, etc.) at standard rates. Maybe this device uses floating point sampling or non-interleaved audio only?

So, to begin, could you run:

$ dacquery -e -vvv

and post the results here please? Dacquery was not built for this kind of remote investigation, so it may not turn up much initially, but it's a start.

Meanwhile, if anyone has any specific information on MOTU Ultralite Mk5 capabilities, it would be appreciated.

[24fpsDaVinci]

I tested the ultralite in gnome desktop fedora initially and everything worked as expected, the ultralite also part of alsa-ucm

ls /usr/share/alsa/ucm2/USB-Audio/MOTU
total 56
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   349 Apr 14  2025 D828.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 11743 Apr 14  2025 D828-HiFi.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   229 Apr 14  2025 M2.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  1201 Apr 14  2025 M2-HiFi.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   229 Apr 14  2025 M4.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2601 Apr 14  2025 M4-Hifi.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  2601 Apr 14  2025 M4-HiFi.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   229 Apr 14  2025 M6.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  3425 Apr 14  2025 M6-HiFi.conf
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   230 Apr 14  2025 UltraLite-mk5.conf   <-----------------
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  6711 Apr 14  2025 UltraLite-mk5-HiFi.conf  <------------------

0.000044073 "dacquery.c:1138" Devices found in the sound devices directory "/dev/snd": 6, devices accessible: 6.
  --- Alsa Version: 1.2.12.
         0.016642472 "dacquery.c:773" hw:CARD=UltraLitemk5
         0.003518152 "dacquery.c:792" control interface name: "default"
         0.000013055 "dacquery.c:792" control interface name: "sysdefault"
         0.000005370 "dacquery.c:792" control interface name: "hw"
         0.000004093 "dacquery.c:792" control interface name: "default:CARD=UltraLitemk5"
         0.000004592 "dacquery.c:792" control interface name: "sysdefault:CARD=UltraLitemk5"
         0.000004537 "dacquery.c:792" control interface name: "hw:CARD=UltraLitemk5"
         0.000051424 "dacquery.c:823" ctl: name "hw:CARD=UltraLitemk5", index 0, components "USB07fd:000c", name "UltraLite-mk5", longname "MOTU UltraLite-mk5 at usb-xhci-hcd.1-1.1, high speed", mixer "USB Mixer", driver "USB-Audio".
         0.006905049 "dacquery.c:850" interface name 0 is "default:CARD=UltraLitemk5".
         0.000012889 "dacquery.c:850" interface name 1 is "sysdefault:CARD=UltraLitemk5".
         0.000004944 "dacquery.c:850" interface name 2 is "front:CARD=UltraLitemk5,DEV=0".
         0.000004296 "dacquery.c:850" interface name 3 is "surround21:CARD=UltraLitemk5,DEV=0".
         0.000005500 "dacquery.c:850" interface name 4 is "surround40:CARD=UltraLitemk5,DEV=0".
         0.000004111 "dacquery.c:850" interface name 5 is "surround41:CARD=UltraLitemk5,DEV=0".
         0.000004759 "dacquery.c:850" interface name 6 is "surround50:CARD=UltraLitemk5,DEV=0".
         0.000004203 "dacquery.c:850" interface name 7 is "surround51:CARD=UltraLitemk5,DEV=0".
         0.000004296 "dacquery.c:850" interface name 8 is "surround71:CARD=UltraLitemk5,DEV=0".
         0.000004260 "dacquery.c:850" interface name 9 is "iec958:CARD=UltraLitemk5,DEV=0".
         0.000006685 "dacquery.c:879" device: 0
         0.000007573 "dacquery.c:901" subdevice: 0
         0.000009278 "dacquery.c:333" get_permissible_configuration_settings for "hw:UltraLitemk5".
         0.000240750 "dacquery.c:370" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 1 channels.
         0.000016315 "dacquery.c:370" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 2 channels.
         0.000009684 "dacquery.c:370" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 3 channels.
         0.000009037 "dacquery.c:370" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 4 channels.
         0.000008500 "dacquery.c:370" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 5 channels.
         0.000007981 "dacquery.c:370" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 6 channels.
         0.000007796 "dacquery.c:370" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 7 channels.
         0.000008111 "dacquery.c:370" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 8 channels.
         0.000015648 "dacquery.c:399" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 5512 fps.
         0.000013684 "dacquery.c:399" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 8000 fps.
         0.000012203 "dacquery.c:399" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 11025 fps.
         0.000011759 "dacquery.c:399" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 16000 fps.
         0.000011444 "dacquery.c:399" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 22050 fps.
         0.000011389 "dacquery.c:399" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 32000 fps.
         0.000011111 "dacquery.c:396" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can handle 44100 fps, dir: 0.
         0.000015221 "dacquery.c:396" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can handle 48000 fps, dir: 0.
         0.000022759 "dacquery.c:399" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 64000 fps.
         0.000016203 "dacquery.c:396" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can handle 88200 fps, dir: 0.
         0.000015944 "dacquery.c:396" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can handle 96000 fps, dir: 0.
         0.000015184 "dacquery.c:396" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can handle 176400 fps, dir: 0.
         0.000012018 "dacquery.c:396" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can handle 192000 fps, dir: 0.
         0.000011574 "dacquery.c:399" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 352800 fps.
         0.000011222 "dacquery.c:399" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 384000 fps.
         0.000008814 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S8 format.
         0.000008148 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U8 format.
         0.000008241 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S16_LE format.
         0.000008277 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S16_BE format.
         0.000008444 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U16_LE format.
         0.000007944 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U16_BE format.
         0.000007778 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S24_LE format.
         0.000007666 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S24_BE format.
         0.000007704 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U24_LE format.
         0.000007703 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U24_BE format.
         0.000007926 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S32_LE format.
         0.000007722 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S32_BE format.
         0.000007777 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U32_LE format.
         0.000007778 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U32_BE format.
         0.000007666 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the FLOAT_LE format.
         0.000007685 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the FLOAT_BE format.
         0.000007741 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the FLOAT64_LE format.
         0.000007888 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the FLOAT64_BE format.
         0.000007722 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the IEC958_SUBFRAME_LE format.
         0.000007926 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the IEC958_SUBFRAME_BE format.
         0.000007981 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the MU_LAW format.
         0.000007981 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the A_LAW format.
         0.000008148 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the IMA_ADPCM format.
         0.000011388 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the MPEG format.
         0.000007963 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the GSM format.
         0.000007944 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the SPECIAL format.
         0.000008093 "dacquery.c:415" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can accept the S24_3LE format.
         0.000007777 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S24_3BE format.
         0.000007778 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U24_3LE format.
         0.000007722 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U24_3BE format.
         0.000007777 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S20_3LE format.
         0.000007796 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S20_3BE format.
         0.000008018 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U20_3LE format.
         0.000007630 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U20_3BE format.
         0.000007666 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S18_3LE format.
         0.000007648 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S18_3BE format.
         0.000007722 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U18_3LE format.
         0.000007703 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U18_3BE format.
         0.000007796 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the G723_24 format.
         0.000008148 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the G723_24_1B format.
         0.000011259 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the G723_40 format.
         0.000007685 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the G723_40_1B format.
         0.000007703 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the DSD_U8 format.
         0.000007630 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the DSD_U16_LE format.
         0.000007685 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the DSD_U32_LE format.
         0.000007648 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the DSD_U16_BE format.
         0.000007647 "dacquery.c:418" "hw:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the DSD_U32_BE format.
         0.000016389 "dacquery.c:333" get_permissible_configuration_settings for "hdmi:UltraLitemk5".
ALSA lib confmisc.c:1377:(snd_func_refer) Unable to find definition 'cards.0.pcm.hdmi.0:CARD=UltraLitemk5,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2'
ALSA lib conf.c:5204:(_snd_config_evaluate) function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib conf.c:5727:(snd_config_expand) Evaluate error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib pcm.c:2722:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM hdmi:UltraLitemk5
         0.002033556 "dacquery.c:630" get_permissible_configuration_settings: error -2 ("No such file or directory") on device "hdmi:UltraLitemk5".
         0.000008389 "dacquery.c:945" error -2 looking for configurations for "hdmi:UltraLitemk5"
         0.000005555 "dacquery.c:333" get_permissible_configuration_settings for "iec958:UltraLitemk5".
         0.000391431 "dacquery.c:370" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 1 channels.
         0.000013055 "dacquery.c:370" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 2 channels.
         0.000008463 "dacquery.c:370" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 3 channels.
         0.000007777 "dacquery.c:370" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 4 channels.
         0.000007704 "dacquery.c:370" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 5 channels.
         0.000008018 "dacquery.c:370" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 6 channels.
         0.000007777 "dacquery.c:370" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 7 channels.
         0.000007944 "dacquery.c:370" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 8 channels.
         0.000014037 "dacquery.c:399" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 5512 fps.
         0.000012685 "dacquery.c:399" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 8000 fps.
         0.000011184 "dacquery.c:399" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 11025 fps.
         0.000011019 "dacquery.c:399" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 16000 fps.
         0.000010833 "dacquery.c:399" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 22050 fps.
         0.000010851 "dacquery.c:399" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 32000 fps.
         0.000010963 "dacquery.c:396" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can handle 44100 fps, dir: 0.
         0.000014481 "dacquery.c:396" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can handle 48000 fps, dir: 0.
         0.000020684 "dacquery.c:399" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 64000 fps.
         0.000015055 "dacquery.c:396" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can handle 88200 fps, dir: 0.
         0.000015018 "dacquery.c:396" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can handle 96000 fps, dir: 0.
         0.000014629 "dacquery.c:396" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can handle 176400 fps, dir: 0.
         0.000011648 "dacquery.c:396" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can handle 192000 fps, dir: 0.
         0.000012407 "dacquery.c:399" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 352800 fps.
         0.000011018 "dacquery.c:399" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not handle 384000 fps.
         0.000008666 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S8 format.
         0.000009055 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U8 format.
         0.000007871 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S16_LE format.
         0.000008203 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S16_BE format.
         0.000007666 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U16_LE format.
         0.000007667 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U16_BE format.
         0.000007648 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S24_LE format.
         0.000007592 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S24_BE format.
         0.000007611 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U24_LE format.
         0.000007648 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U24_BE format.
         0.000007611 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S32_LE format.
         0.000007647 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S32_BE format.
         0.000007815 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U32_LE format.
         0.000007648 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U32_BE format.
         0.000007555 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the FLOAT_LE format.
         0.000007704 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the FLOAT_BE format.
         0.000007888 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the FLOAT64_LE format.
         0.000007741 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the FLOAT64_BE format.
         0.000007888 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the IEC958_SUBFRAME_LE format.
         0.000007963 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the IEC958_SUBFRAME_BE format.
         0.000007833 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the MU_LAW format.
         0.000007814 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the A_LAW format.
         0.000007741 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the IMA_ADPCM format.
         0.000007833 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the MPEG format.
         0.000007833 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the GSM format.
         0.000008129 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the SPECIAL format.
         0.000007907 "dacquery.c:415" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can accept the S24_3LE format.
         0.000007611 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S24_3BE format.
         0.000007648 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U24_3LE format.
         0.000007537 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U24_3BE format.
         0.000007592 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S20_3LE format.
         0.000007537 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S20_3BE format.
         0.000007592 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U20_3LE format.
         0.000007519 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U20_3BE format.
         0.000007573 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S18_3LE format.
         0.000007500 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the S18_3BE format.
         0.000007463 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U18_3LE format.
         0.000007555 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the U18_3BE format.
         0.000007574 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the G723_24 format.
         0.000007685 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the G723_24_1B format.
         0.000007703 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the G723_40 format.
         0.000007889 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the G723_40_1B format.
         0.000010555 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the DSD_U8 format.
         0.000007778 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the DSD_U16_LE format.
         0.000007610 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the DSD_U32_LE format.
         0.000007685 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the DSD_U16_BE format.
         0.000007537 "dacquery.c:418" "iec958:UltraLitemk5" can not accept the DSD_U32_BE format.
         0.000017111 "dacquery.c:80" process_mixers on device "hw:CARD=UltraLitemk5".
  --- Sound Cards: 1.
  --- Card 0:
        --- CTL name: "hw:CARD=UltraLitemk5".
        --- Name: "UltraLite-mk5".
        --- Long name: "MOTU UltraLite-mk5 at usb-xhci-hcd.1-1.1, high speed".
        --- Devices: 1.
              --- Device 0:
                    --- Name: "USB Audio".
                    --- ID: "USB Audio".
                    --- Subdevices: 1.
                          --- Subdevice: 0:
                                --- Name: "subdevice #0".
                                --- Interfaces:
                                      >>> "hw:UltraLitemk5"
                                      >>> "iec958:UltraLitemk5"
        --- No mixers found.
        --- Interfaces and Supported Formats:
              >>> Interface "hw:UltraLitemk5":
              >>> Interface "iec958:UltraLitemk5":
         0.000061664 "dacquery.c:975" 0 mixers found.
         0.000009277 "dacquery.c:1075" Pass 2

[mikebrady]

Great stuff, thanks. Shairport Sync and Dacquery both limit checking to up to eight channels, whereas the Motu Ultralite Mk5 has many more, possibly (?) up to 22.

dacquery has just been updated to look for up to 32 channels, so if you'd be kind enough to try it out and post the output, that would be very useful. Depending on what comes back, we'd have to look at updating Shairport Sync.

[24fpsDaVinci]

thanks! something came up and I no longer have access to the ultralite mk5, i will update as soon as I get a hold of another one, or someone else can chime in.

[mikebrady]

Thanks for the input so far!