Usb 2.0 digital i/o system 8 + 8 + 2 channels analog / adat / spdif interface 24 bit / 192 khz digital audio 36 x 18 matrix router 2 x midi i/o stand-alone operation midi remote control (92 pages)
Usb 2.0 / firewire 400 digital i/o system 12 + 16 + 2 channels analog / adat / aes interface 24 bit / 192 khz digital audio 60 x 30 matrix router 2 x midi i/o full stand-alone operation midi remote control (110 pages)
Usb 2.0 digital i/o system 22 channels analog / adat / spdif interface 24 bit / 192 khz digital audio 20 x 12 matrix router midi i/o midi remote control stand-alone operation class compliant operation (94 pages)
The State LEDs (WC, SPDIF, ADAT) indicate a valid input signal separately for each digital input. Additionally, RME's exclusive SyncCheck indicates if one of these inputs is locked, but not synchronous to the others, in which case the LED will flash. See also chapter 11.5/20.2, Clock Modes - Synchronization.
With this, the Fireface 400 can be used stand- alone after setting it up accordingly, replacing lots of dedicated devices (see chapter 25). 6. Accessories RME offers several optional components for the Fireface 400: Part Number Description...
Liability is limited to the value of the Fireface 400. The general terms of business drawn up by Audio AG apply at all times. 8. Appendix RME news, driver updates and further product information are available on our website: http://www.rme-audio.com Distributor: Audio AG, Am Pfanderling 60, D-85778 Haimhausen, Tel.: (49) 08133 / 91810...
Page 11
Current driver version: Windows: 3.034, Mac OS X: 2.90, Firmware 1.70 Although the contents of this User’s Guide have been thoroughly checked for errors, RME can not guarantee that it is correct throughout. RME does not accept responsibility for any mislead- ing or incorrect information within this guide.
After the Fireface has been recognized, (see 9. Hardware Installation) the hardware assistant starts automatically. Insert the RME Driver CD into your CD-ROM drive, and follow further in- structions which appear on your computer screen. The driver files are located in the directory \Fireface_FW on the RME Driver CD.
When facing problems with the automatic driver update, the user-driven way of driver installa- tion will work. Under >Control Panel /System /Device Manager /Sound, Video and Game Controllers /RME Fireface 400/Properties /Driver< you'll find the 'Update Driver' button. XP: Select 'Install from a list or specific location (advanced)', click 'Next', select 'Don't search I will choose the driver to install', click 'Next', then 'Have Disk'.
Therefore the internal clock can be set to 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, but not to a value in be- tween. SteadyClock, RME's Low Jitter Clock System, is based on a Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS). This superior circuitry can generate nearly any frequency with highest precision.
(wrong) clock from the ADAT i.e. out of sync. In this case, the Clock Source should be set tem- porarily to SPDIF. RME’s exclusive SyncCheck technology (first implemented in the Hammerfall) enables an easy to use check and display of the current clock status. Input Status indicates whether there is a valid signal (Lock, No Lock) for each input (Word Clock, ADAT, SPDIF and LTC), or if there is a valid and synchronous signal (Sync).
If the input sample rate is different then there will be no Sync indication. With RME’s AutoSync and SyncCheck, finally anyone can master this common source of error, previously one of the most complex issues in the digital studio world.
(the basic and the interleaved device). Multi-Channel using WDM The WDM Streaming device Loudspeaker (Analog 1+2) of the RME driver can operate as usual stereo device, or as up to 8-channel device. An 8-channel playback using the Windows Media Player requires the speaker setup 7.1 Sur- round.
Again the inputs can be used simultaneously. RME's sophisticated tool DIGICheck is an exception to this rule. It operates like an ASIO host, using a special technique to access playback channels already occupied. Therefore DIGICheck is able to analyse and display playback data from any software, no matter which format the software uses.
An automated control of real-time monitoring can be achieved by Steinberg’s ASIO protocol with RME’s ASIO drivers and any ASIO 2.0 compatible program. When 'ASIO Direct Monitoring' has been switched on, the input signal is routed in real-time to the output whenever a recording is started (punch-in).
• Completely multi-client. Open as many measurement windows as you like, on any chan- nels and inputs or outputs! To install DIGICheck, go to the \DIGICheck directory on the RME Driver CD and run setup.exe. Follow the instructions prompted on the screen.
17. Hotline – Troubleshooting The newest information can always be found on our website www.rme-audio.com, section FAQ, Latest Additions. The input signal cannot be monitored in real-time • ASIO Direct Monitoring has not been enabled, and/or monitoring has been disabled globally.
19.1 Driver Installation After the Fireface has been connected (see 18. Hardware Installation), install the drivers from the RME Driver CD. The driver files are located in the folder Fireface_FW. Installation works automatically by a double-click on the file fireface.mpkg.
(wrong) clock from the ADAT i.e. out of sync. In this case, the Clock Source should be set tem- porarily to SPDIF. RME’s exclusive SyncCheck technology (first implemented in the Hammerfall) enables an easy to use check and display of the current clock status. Input Status indicates whether there is a valid signal (Lock, No Lock) for each input (Word Clock, ADAT, SPDIF and LTC), or if there is a valid and synchronous signal (Sync).
21. Mac OS X FAQ 21.1 Round about Driver Installation The driver with the file suffix zip provided by RME is a compressed archive. Zip is directly sup- ported by OS X, a double click on the file is all one needs to do.
Fireface 400 ADAT 7 to 8 21.6 FireWire Compatibility RME's Fireface 400 should be fully compatible to any FireWire port found on Apple Mac com- puters. An exception are MacBook, MacBook Pro and iMac from 2007 up to 2009 with Agere FireWire chip revision 6 (FW643).
• Completely multi-client. Open as many measurement windows as you like, on any chan- nels and inputs or outputs! To install DIGICheck, go to the \DIGICheck directory on the RME Driver CD and run setup.exe. Follow the instructions prompted on the screen.
24. Hotline – Troubleshooting The newest information can always be found on our website www.rme-audio.com, section FAQ, Latest News. The unit and drivers have been installed correctly, but playback does not work: • Is Fireface 400 listed in the System Profiler? (Vendor ID 2613).
+4 dBu nominal level. The above levels are also found in our ADI-8 series of AD/DA converters, the Multiface, and even in our Mic-Preamps QuadMic and OctaMic. Therefore all RME devices are fully compati- ble to each other.
+4 dBu nominal level. The above levels are also found in our ADI-8 series of AD/DA converters, the Multiface, and even in our mic preamps QuadMic and OctaMic. Therefore all RME devices are fully compatible to each other.
The ADAT optical input of the Fireface 400 is fully compatible with all ADAT optical outputs. RME's unsurpassed Bitclock PLL prevents clicks and drop outs even in extreme varipitch op- eration, and guarantees a fast and low jitter lock to the digital input signal. A usual TOSLINK cable is sufficient for connection.
400 automatically adapts to it. As soon as a valid signal is detected, the WC LED is lit, and the Settings dialog shows either Lock or Sync (see chapter 35.1). Thanks to RME's Signal Adaptation Circuit, the word clock input still works correctly even with heavily mis-shaped, dc-prone, too small or overshoot-prone signals. Thanks to automatic signal centering, 300 mV (0.3V) input level is sufficient in principle.
TotalMix provides the means to mix and monitor these on a single stereo output. • Mixing of the input signal to the playback signal (complete ASIO Direct Monitoring). RME not only is the pioneer of ADM, but also offers the most complete implementation of the ADM functions.
Windows' hidden directory Documents and Settings, <Username>, Local Settings, Application Data, RME TotalMix. On the Mac the location is in the folder User, <Username>, Library / Preferences / Fireface. The first number indicates the cur- rent preset, the second number the current unit.
Thus it can be a valuable tool for sound optimization and error removal in the studio. Measuring SNR (Signal to Noise) is best done with RME’s free software DIGICheck. The function Bit Statistic includes three different RMS meters for exactly this purpose (RMS un- weighted, A-weighted and DC).
35.2 Latency and Monitoring The term Zero Latency Monitoring has been introduced by RME in 1998 for the DIGI96 series of audio cards. It stands for the ability to pass-through the computer's input signal at the inter- face directly to the output. Since then, the idea behind has become one of the most important features of modern hard disk recording.
FireWire audio is in several ways different from PCI audio interfaces. First of all, our cards have a PCI interface which has been developed by RME and optimized for audio. FireWire on the other hand, uses OHCI-compatible controllers that have not been optimized for audio, no matter from which manufacturer they are.
When limiting the measurement range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz (so called audio bandpass) the value would be -110 dB again. This can be verified with RME's DIGICheck. The function Bit Statistic & Noise measures the noise floor by Limited Bandwidth, ignoring DC and ultrasound.
Need help?
Do you have a question about the Fireface 400 and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers