All other controllers in the test field have a mains switch-free user interface. Another point of criticism is the power switch on the front of the case. A detour would be a USB to RS232 adapter, which work from own experience sometimes more and sometimes less well. There are hardly any notebooks with such an interface left on the market. But the days for RS232/R485 are numbered.
RS232/RS485 has proven over the years to be a reliable interface for transferring controller data, which is why it is still quite common to find it on other current loudspeaker controllers. Alternatively, there is also a well-known 9-pin RS232 socket available for the connection. Too early pleased, the RJ45 sockets manage only the good old RS232-/RS485 format. Looking at the rear RJ45 sockets, one might think that the "Ultradrive" could be controlled via Ethernet. Visually a child of his time and quite small, but she convinces through logical structure and clear signal flow. So the PCMCIA memory slot looks almost like a relic from another time.
But the wheel of time spins at least twice as fast with digital equipment. Looking at the features, one can see that during the development at that time a lot of importance was attached to a large range of functions and interfaces. The device is already years in the program and no successor in sight. To make it easier for us to get started, we start with an old acquaintance, the Behringer DCX-2496 "Ultradrive".