60 channels of audio! Digitally controlled high-end preamps, reference class converters and full 192 kHz operation.
Ultra-low latency operation with USB and FireWire, combined with the legendary RME driver stability and maintenance. Including active jitter suppression, professional reference level support, advanced stand-alone functionality, RME's unique DIGICheck metering and analysis toolbox, and - of course - nearly identical operation and features on Windows PC and Mac.
DURec: Direct USB Recording: The UFX provides a spectacular feature: an integrated digital recorder for all inputs and outputs directly to USB memory devices - USB thumb drives or hard drives with up to 2 TB capacity - via the front USB port. Independent from a connected PC or Mac.
On top of it: TotalMix FX, the new digital high-end mixer and signal router, driven by two powerful DSP, with integrated EQ, Dynamics and Reverb/Echo effects up to 192 kHz plus a built-in monitoring control.
The full-blown feature set is backed up by extraordinary usability. At its heart is a bright multi-functional colour display with full front panel metering for all 60 channels plus effect bus, and complete control of all key features - directly from the front of the UFX.
RME's new Fireface flagship is a highly integrated pro audio solution, a full-blown studio packed in a 19" enclosure. An interface designed for users who don't want to make compromises in sound, stability and ultra-low latency operation, and who long for an unrivaled professional feature set. Once again a milestone interface from RME, including the best of the best - and even a bit more.
Connectivity
- 30 Input / 30 Output channels
- 12 x Analog I/O
- 4 x Mic/Instrument Preamp, digitally controlled
- 1 x AES/EBU I/O
- 2 x ADAT I/O (or 1 x ADAT I/O plus 1 x SPDIF I/O optical)
- 1 x Word Clock I/O
- 2 x MIDI I/O
- 1 x FireWire 400
- 1 x USB 2.0
- TotalMix FX
- Optional: Advanced Remote Control
Inputs and Outputs
The UFX provides 60 channels of audio: 30 input and 30 output channels. All inputs and outputs can be used at the same time. Up to 12 analog and 18 digital channels can be recorded onto 30 separate tracks.
Available I/O (channels) with different Sample Rates:
Sample Rate | Analog | AES/EBU | ADAT | Total In/Out |
44.1/48 kHz |
12/12 |
2/2 |
16/16 |
30/30 |
88.2/96 kHz |
12/12 |
2/2 |
8/8 |
22/22 |
176.4/192 kHz |
12/12 |
2/2 |
4/4* |
18/18 |
* With Windows USB connection the ADAT channels 3/4 are not available at 176.4 and 192 kHz.
Analog I/O
The UFX provides 12 analog I/Os:
12 Inputs. 8 balanced TRS on the back and 4 XLR inputs with mic/instrument preamps on the front.
12 Outputs. On the rear: 6 balanced TRS and 2 balanced XLR - perfect for the direct connection of the main studio monitors. On the front: Two additional TRS stereo phones outputs providing high volumes even with hi-impedance headphones (playback channels 9/10 and 11/12).
Overview Analog I/O
Back:
Inputs 1-8 (TRS - balanced)
Output 1-2 - Main Output (XLR - balanced)
Output 3-8 (TRS - balanced)
Front:
Inputs: 9-12 (XLR/TRS Combo - balanced)
Outputs: 9/10, 11/12 - Phones (TRS - Stereo)
Sound Quality. When it comes to sound quality and price to performance ratio RME plays in its own league. The Fireface UFX is no exception. Like any other RME product it combines excellent analog circuit design with high-grade AD/DA converter chips. Therefore all balanced TRS & XLR I/Os and both phones outputs guarantee outstanding low noise and distortion values. In best RME tradition and product philosophy converters and preamps don't produce "sound", they do not add or remove anything from the source signal, just capture it as it is.
Equipped with the latest A/D and D/A converter chips, all I/Os operate up to 192 kHz and reach 118 dBA dynamic range on playback - even both headphone outputs. Their high power technology delivers high volume no matter if high or low impedance phones are used. The balanced analog inputs are based on RME's low-latency converter design from the high-end converter ADI-8 QS. The DA section is based on RME's M-series. Both designs guarantee excellent S/N and THD specs across a wide analog level range.
Due to its efficient jitter reduction, RME's superior SteadyClock finalizes the state-of-the-art AD/DA conversion, even when clocking to an external digital source.
Every input and output is individually switchable to common professional studio levels: -10 dBV, +4 dBu, HiGain (equivalent to +2 dBV, +13 dBu and +19 dBu for digital full scale) - directly on the device or via TotalMix. The balanced XLR outputs even provide a level of up to +24 dBu.
All outputs can be used for ASIO Direct Monitoring purposes.
Preamps
The UFX has four high-transparency preamps backed up by four stereo converters with RME's new parallel converter technology.
Microphone and instrument preamps of the UFX use the core technology from RME's Micstasy - a high-end preamp for supreme sonic demands and critical applications, like the professional recording of classical concerts. The fully symmetrical preamp design impresses with extremely low distortion, excellent signal to noise ratio and a perfect linear frequency response. A premium solution for transmitting and amplifying any audio input truly unchanged, be it high-level stage or typical studio signals, lower level and high-impedance instruments, or dynamic, condenser and ribbon microphones.
The digitally controlled gain of up to 65 dB, adjustable in steps of 1 dB over a range of 55 dB, is individually set for every preamp by the display-supported controls on the front of the UFX. All level settings are 100% reproducible and can also be adjusted comfortably within the TotalMix software on the host computer or by a MIDI remote controller.
The four inputs on the front use balanced XLR/TRS combo sockets and operate alternatively as Hi-Z inputs. Directly plug in up to four guitars or other instruments - no other hardware required.
Each channel can be individually switched to 48V phantom power or instrument level. LEDs for signal, clip, TRS operation and activated phantom power give a complete overview on the unit's status.
Advanced Parallel Conversion. The four UFX preamps are feeding not only four, but eight AD converters. Every microphone channel uses a double, parallel AD conversion on two AD converters at the same time to reach exceptional signal-to-noise values and a performance not available with a classic converter design.
The UFX follows RME's tradition of providing flexible and expandable audio systems. Adding additional preamplifiers or more analog inputs is easily done via the dual ADAT optical I/Os on the rear.
Digital I/O, Word Clock & MIDI
AES/EBU: The UFX provides a professional AES/EBU I/O working up to 192 kHz.
ADAT: Two 8-channel ADAT I/Os expand the UFX by 16 channels available simultaneously with the analog channels. They can be used to connect two 8-channel AD/DA converters, mixing consoles, or to insert effects devices. Both I/Os support sample rates with up to 192 kHz (S/MUX4). Using two external converters like the ADI-8 QS, the UFX will provide 28 analog inputs and outputs, 20 with a sample rate of 96 kHz, and still 16 at 192 kHz.
SPDIF: The second ADAT I/O can be used as optical SPDIF I/O, making the UFX connections even more flexible.
Word Clock & MIDI: A word clock input and output (BNC) with switchable termination plus two MIDI I/Os complete the I/O list and turn the Fireface UFX into a professional audio system with universal usability.
DURec™ - Direct USB Recording
The Fireface UFX provides a spectacular feature: an integrated digital recorder for all inputs and outputs directly to USB memory devices via the front USB port. The UFX records on USB thumb drives or hard drives with up to 2 TB capacity.
The recording functionality is provided by the internal DSP, and is therefore independent from a connected Windows or Mac computer.
The Direct USB Recording converts the Fireface UFX not only into a stand-alone field recorder, but also into a powerful multichannel live player for previous recordings, e. g. for virtual sound checks. Live concerts, band rehearsals or spontaneous jam sessions can be directly recorded and played back from the medium - even completely stand-alone without computer or software. All 60 input and output channels can be individually chosen for recording and playback.
The Fireface UFX records the pure input signals as well as the effect processed mixer outputs in any combination - at up to 192 kHz! The channels to be recorded can be selected directly at the unit or comfortably in TotalMix FX. Playback supports up to 30 channels, either into the UFX outputs or the TotalMix FX inputs, enabling a post-processing of the audio data with EQ, Dynamics and Echo/Reverb.
The UFX writes standard multichannel WAV files to the USB memory. Despite the fact that nearly all common audio programs (e. g. Pro Tools, Nuendo, Cubase, Sonar, Samplitude) can load these files directly into their projects, RME provides a free conversion tool for Windows and Mac - the Multichannel WAV File Batch Processor - for splitting them into individual wav files.
The UFX USB recorder can be operated directly at the unit via the high resolution display. Additionally the Recorder is found in the TotalMix FX software user interface on both Mac and Windows PC. From the mixer software all Recorder settings and state displays are easily overviewed, files can be selected, and channels can be selected for record and playback function by simple mouse clicks. The whole configuration and setup can then be stored in a Workspace file.