RME Audio Fireface UFX+ User manual

User's Guide
Fireface UFX+
The most powerful ThunderboltTM and USB audio interface ever!
USB 3.0 / ThunderboltTM Digital I/O System
12 + 16 + 2 Channels Analog / ADAT / AES Interface
64 Channels MADI Interface
24 Bit / 192 kHz Digital Audio
188 x 94 Matrix Router
2 x MIDI I/O
Full Stand-Alone Operation
Class Compliant Operation
MIDI Remote Control
TotalMix FX™
24 Bit / 192 kHz 9
SyncAlign™ ZLM™ SyncCheck™
SteadyClock™

2 User's Guide Fireface UFX+ © RME
Important Safety Instructions ..................................6
General
1 Introduction ...............................................................8
2 Package Contents .....................................................8
3 System Requirements ..............................................8
4 Brief Description and Characteristics.....................8
5 First Usage - Quick Start
5.1 Connectors – Controls - Display .............................9
5.2 Quick Start ............................................................11
Installation and Operation - Windows
6 Hardware, Driver and Firmware Installation
6.1 Hardware and Driver Installation..........................14
6.2 De-installing the Drivers.......................................14
6.3 Firmware Update..................................................14
7 Configuring the Fireface
7.1 Settings Dialog – Main Tab..................................15
7.2 Option WDM Devices...........................................18
7.3 Tab Global (Thunderbolt only) .............................20
7.4 Pitch (Thunderbolt only).......................................21
8 Operation and Usage
8.1 Playback...............................................................22
8.2 DVD Playback (AC-3 / DTS) ................................23
8.3 Channel Count under WDM.................................24
8.4 Multi-client Operation ...........................................24
8.5 Analog Recording.................................................25
8.6 Digital Recording..................................................25
8.7 Clock Modes - Synchronization ...........................26
9 Operation under ASIO
9.1 General ................................................................27
9.2 Channel Count under ASIO .................................27
9.3 Known Problems ..................................................28
10 Using more than one Fireface UFX+ .....................28
11 DIGICheck Windows ...............................................29
12 Hotline – Troubleshooting......................................30

User's Guide Fireface UFX+ © RME 3
Installation and Operation - Mac OS X
13 Hardware, Driver and Firmware Installation
13.1 Hardware and Driver Installation ......................... 32
13.2 De-installing the Drivers....................................... 32
13.3 Firmware Update ................................................. 33
14 Configuring the Fireface
14.1 Settings Dialog..................................................... 33
14.2 Clock Modes - Synchronization ........................... 36
15 Mac OS X FAQ
15.1 MIDI doesn't work ................................................ 37
15.2 Repairing Disk Permissions................................. 37
15.3 Supported Sample Rates..................................... 37
15.4 Channel Count under Core Audio .......................37
15.5 Various Information.............................................. 38
16 Using more than one Fireface ............................... 38
17 DIGICheck Mac........................................................ 39
18 Hotline – Troubleshooting ..................................... 40
Inputs and Outputs
19 Analog Inputs
19.1 Line Rear ............................................................. 42
19.2 Microphone / Line / Inst Front .............................. 42
20 Analog Outputs
20.1 Line ...................................................................... 43
20.2 Headphones / Line Out........................................ 43
21 Digital Connections
21.1 ADAT ...................................................................44
21.2 AES...................................................................... 44
21.3 MADI .................................................................... 45
21.4 MIDI ..................................................................... 46
22 Word Clock
22.1 Word Clock Input and Output .............................. 46
22.2 Technical Description and Background............... 47
22.3 Cables and Termination....................................... 48
22.4 General Operation ............................................... 48
Stand-Alone Operation
23 Operation and Usage
23.1 General ................................................................ 50
23.2 Settings at the Unit............................................... 50
23.3 Store / Load Setups at the Unit............................ 50
23.4 Storing Setups from the Computer ...................... 50
24 Examples
24.1 12-Channel AD/DA-Converter ............................. 51
24.2 4-Channel Mic Preamp ........................................ 51
24.3 188-Channel Monitor Mixer ................................. 51
24.4 Digital Format Converter...................................... 51
24.5 Analog/Digital Routing Matrix .............................. 51
24.6 Stand-Alone Recorder/Player .............................. 51

4 User's Guide Fireface UFX+ © RME
TotalMix FX
25 Routing and Monitoring
25.1 Overview ..............................................................54
25.2 The User Interface ...............................................56
25.3 The Channels.......................................................57
25.3.1 Settings ........................................................59
25.3.2 Equalizer ......................................................60
25.3.3 Dynamics .....................................................62
25.4 Section Control Room..........................................63
25.5 The Control Strip ..................................................64
25.5.1 View Options ................................................65
25.5.2 Snapshots - Groups .....................................66
25.5.3 Channel Layout – Layout Presets................66
25.5.4 Scroll Location Markers ...............................68
25.6 Reverb and Echo .................................................69
25.7 Preferences..........................................................72
25.7.1 Store for Current or All Users (Windows) ....73
25.8 Settings ................................................................74
25.8.1 Mixer Page ...................................................74
25.8.2 MIDI Page ....................................................75
25.8.3 OSC Page ....................................................76
25.8.4 Aux Devices .................................................77
25.9 Hotkeys and Usage..............................................78
25.10 Menu Options.......................................................79
25.11 Menu Window ......................................................80
26 The Matrix
26.1 Overview ..............................................................80
26.2 Elements of the Matrix View ................................80
26.3 Operation .............................................................81
27 Tips and Tricks
27.1 ASIO Direct Monitoring (Windows) ......................81
27.2 Copy a Submix.....................................................81
27.3 Doubling the Output Signal (Mirror) .....................81
27.4 Delete a Submix...................................................82
27.5 Copy and Paste everywhere................................82
27.6 Recording a Submix - Loopback..........................82
27.7 MS Processing .....................................................84
28 MIDI Remote Control
28.1 Overview ..............................................................85
28.2 Mapping ...............................................................85
28.3 Setup ....................................................................86
28.4 Operation .............................................................86
28.5 MIDI Control .........................................................87
28.6 Stand-Alone MIDI Control ....................................88
28.7 Loopback Detection .............................................90
28.8 OSC (Open Sound Control) .................................90
29 DAW Mode ...............................................................90

User's Guide Fireface UFX+ © RME 5
Class Compliant Mode
30 General..................................................................... 92
31 System Requirements ............................................ 92
32 Operation ................................................................. 93
32.1 Useful Hints.......................................................... 93
32.2 Class Compliant under Windows/Mac OS X ....... 94
33 Supported Inputs and Outputs.............................. 94
34 Front panel Operation ............................................ 95
35 Audio Routing and Processing ............................. 95
36 Setups ...................................................................... 96
DURec - Direct USB Recording
37 Direct USB Recording
37.1 Overview .............................................................. 98
37.2 Operation ............................................................. 98
37.3 Limitations and Important Notes ........................ 100
37.4 Multichannel WAV File Batch Processor ........... 102
37.5 Technical Background .......................................103
Technical Reference
38 Technical Specifications
38.1 Analog................................................................ 106
38.2 MIDI ...................................................................107
38.3 Digital ................................................................. 107
38.4 Digital Inputs ...................................................... 108
38.5 Digital Outputs ................................................... 109
38.6 General ..............................................................109
39 Technical Background
39.1 Lock and SyncCheck .........................................110
39.2 Latency and Monitoring ..................................... 111
39.3 USB Audio ......................................................... 112
39.4 Thunderbolt Audio .............................................114
39.5 DS – Double Speed ........................................... 115
39.6 QS – Quad Speed .............................................115
39.7 Noise Level in DS / QS Mode ............................ 116
39.8 SteadyClock....................................................... 116
39.9 MADI Basics ...................................................... 117
40 Diagrams
40.1 Block Diagram Fireface UFX+ ........................... 118
40.2 Connector Pinouts ............................................. 119
Miscellaneous
41 Accessories........................................................... 122
42 Warranty.................................................................122
43 Appendix................................................................ 123
44 Declaration of Conformity.................................... 124