All user reviews for the RME Audio Fireface 800

Connected firewire 800 on macbook pro in cubase sx 3
Coupled with another Fireface 800.
Multitrack recording and mixing.
Connected to the console mitec Varydesk joker by patch, but happiness, the lime one (mitec), clean the other (rms).

The converters are really good.
The preamps have a good supply.
Adjustable gain headphone frontage ...

UTILIZATION

Reliable driver (except in early 2008)
I recorded with dozens of trails in all directions, input output, headphone and routing pushed, and it rarely fails to.
Almost zero latency.

GETTING STARTED

Not really, at the time the pilot was outdated, conflict with the map of the computer etc. ... since everything is settled.

OVERALL OPINION

Excellent sound card starts dating but is staying on top of its class for a decade.
If interesting opportunity (700 euros) the user can only be satisfied because it is a gas plant.
Even today, the difference with the newer model will remain inaudible to 80 percent of users, unless you have a string of really high audio quality.
The internal routing is really complete and can replace a mixer for small studios if we branch a good control surface.

Only default it works with firewire now when most of his card can be used with a usb.

The RME quality, good value.
Simply used with a preamp / comp Joe Meek 6Q now for a home studio use for now, recording model of good qualities.
Config: firewire Macbook pro intel core 2 duo, 4GB DDR3 memory. listen Fostex MKII.

UTILIZATION

• The drivers are stable?
Very, nothing to say.
• What software do you use most often?
Cubase 5 with plugs
• Latency: almost zero.

GETTING STARTED

• The installation is done it without problems?
A little complicated at first when a novice, but he just put his nose in it.
• The general configuration is easy?
instead.
• Have you experienced any incompatibilities?
Not with my config (or my old config: under Windows 7.
• The manual is clear and sufficient?
Yes very, just put his nose in it ^ ^

OVERALL OPINION

• How long have you use it?
4 years and intensively in the last two years.
• How would you rate the quality / price?
Excellent.
• With experience, you do again this choice? ...
For RME 800 I do not know regarding my simple desire to home studio: I've tried the RME babyface is still more convenient to render almost identical.
The 800 is a great sound card, a must have.

I was looking for a pro or semi-pro interface to produce a CD and get into the sound processing. Musicians friends looking for a sound engineer without being too demanding. Passionate for many years by listening HiFi, I wanted a "universal" interface, can be used as DAC for listening 2.1, 5.1, 7.1, and making sound work. Having a limited budget, I tried almost 2 months the best quality / price for something that can get as close as possible to a pro quality, with at least 8 inputs 8 analog outputs, at least four preamp 'rights' and functional and a more stable and faster than FireWire connector usb at the time.

No budget for the console, or for preamps, it was necessary to simulate all that live in Logic. I fell in love with this interface after reading many reviews on the net and file Audiofanzine test.
A classic SM58 for voice, two AKG Perception 170 and Perception 120 battery (sold since ... hmmm ... 'cause bcp too far from a pro quality), guitar and bass output receptacles line amps.

Config MacBookPro FireWire 8goRam 750GoHD, LogicPro9 and Harrison Mixbus.
Listens Focal Focal Cube2 Solo6be + box (not very pro the box, but in my room of 12m2 treated crafted it does).

I use it for:

- Reference listening. With Audirvana and my listening, it buries many more costly audiophile chains, I sold mine with no regrets.
Attention management listening volume by the driver is 100% digital, without dithering and lose dynamics and details by using it, it better add a single knob type TC-VolumePilot or a real controller is monitoring .

- Recording, then there is a killer, it captures what goes with the character of microphones and game artists, it's a bit 'cold' some say, but I will rather precise details and the dynamics are there and coloring can be upstream or downstream. Never had bp gain knobs are linear (not everything is in the last millimeter). Routing capabilities of all to all (with ad-hoc branch cables there without headphones 5 bp each with a different mix). Expansion capabilities with two inputs 2 ADAT, SPDIF and WorldClock synchronization master or slave outputs. Everything is there.

- Sound: yes, I beeps in some concerts and I always ship, its latency is almost zero between inputs and outputs, making it a great DI with mass decoupling between the input / output (farewell buzz in many cases, excellent control level, asymmetric universal balanced inputs /, +4 dBu or line level, it's great) and I add 5 preamp quality my little Z10FX A & H (including 4 XLR with phantom power supplies independent).
Little more clear, there are many 8-track analog input, but you can connect up to 17 sources.
Input 1 is in front with high impedance, gain control, limiter and simulator HP detachable, but it is also present on the back, one can connect two jack that will be pre-mixed, the gain setting only affects the front entrance.
The entrance is 7 AND XLR jack on the front (with adjustable gain) and recovery in jack on the back, so there may have Premixer three sources.
Ditto for the 8.
Entries 9 and 10 are in front but they can also Premixer jack and XLR (gain setting applies to both simultaneously).
These features are explained bounce in the manual and not a hack, the driver enables or not the simultaneous intake front / rear).
All jacks are universal and accept the symmetric or asymmetric with auto detection of jack used.

UTILIZATION

Very stable in my driver (on OSX, not tested on Windows), never crash a few hundred (see thousands) of hours of use. Drivers updated regularly to adapt to system updates. The bomb.
The bad thing is, the two FW800 entries are fragile and tend to desoldering on intensive use. By dint of assembly / disassembly they are barred, I managed to reseal not without difficulty, but they are blocked again and I no longer use the FW400 waiting to put the hands dirty.

GETTING STARTED

Everything went smoothly. Few hours to understand the flexibility of settings, especially in Matrix mode, the feedback mode where outputs can be returned to the inputs (internally and without wiring) and encoder / decoder M / S built. After that, it is a treat.
Difficult to find in French manual, I bought secondhand German with English manual /, and I finally found the French version in PDF.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 5 years, requiring compressors and low-latency DSP sound in my part, I'd go to the Fireface UFX, to keep the same flexibility / quality.
It is a bit expensive but I never had the impression of having been stolen by RME, quality is at the rendezvous.

The characteristics that motivated my choice are quality preamps, stable drivers and possible extension with ADAT.

I use it with a mac book pro, and four additional amps Fireface Quadmic

I use it for recording (up to 12 tracks for the moment) and mix (routing the 10 tracks on a Soundcraft M12)

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable, no problems in 2 years of intensive use. Nothing to say about updating drivers, RME clearly does not seem to be the kind of box that abandons its customers once the paid invoice.
I use Logic in macosx and it is stable nothing to say, that my not let go once during the same live recording of two continuous hours 12 tracks.

At the latency .... I usually drive directly through the internal mixer of the card feeder for returns, and a priori the latency is very close to 0. For routing through the DAW .... I do not know I do not use.

GETTING STARTED

Easy installation, easy config general, damn good, and really complete.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 2 years, I test PreSonus interfaces (digimax 8 and Focusrite) and stability level, overall quality, and quality preamps Fireface than justifies the additional investment. With the experience I do it again this choice without hesitation.

Mac or PC Studio or Live ... she follows me around for 8 years.

UTILIZATION

Definitely the best drivers on the market.
Used with Live, Reaper, Reason, Protools ...
Very good support for RME.
2ms latency recording.

GETTING STARTED

RAS

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 8 years.

THE MUST!! Nothing to do with Motu or other Mbox ... I will never change creamery

Stability copy, internal routing super, excellent preamps, very good momentum.

A choice to make eyes closed.

I have 2 connected in ADAT.
I use it connected to my instruments (BAR, synths, samplers ...) and go out into a summer.
A classic, now in ALL home studios producers electro pro that I've seen.

UTILIZATION

Used with Logic Pro 8.
HYPER stable drivers.
Never had a problem of latency.

GETTING STARTED

RAS
The manual (in English, but can be downloaded in French) is clear.
It just takes a little practice to set the matrix if you have other devices (SPDIF / ADAT ...).

OVERALL OPINION

I RME Fireface since 2004 (400 and 800).
An obvious choice for me.

Taking sound studio management adat channels.

UTILIZATION

Very good frequency response, ultra stable drivers, the best on the market, table mix of ultra complete channels (but somewhat complex to first).
If the budget allows, I would take his big sister ufx (new converters, opportunities to add effects ds virtual mixer) resolutely turned towards the future (but expensive .......

GETTING STARTED

Easy install. Complicated by a simple configuration needs audio routing

OVERALL OPINION

I have since switched to a Lynx Aurora converter, powered by a RME card RAYDAT

The converters have weighed very heavily in the selection. I hesitated with an apogee together. I use a Neve 1073 DPA, an Aphex 107 and Avalon U5 (in addition to four preamps RME).

UTILIZATION

No problem with the drivers. There is no latency. I make pieces that contain about 24 tracks in cooperation with 3 UAD-1 on a G5.

GETTING STARTED

I have often thought to take more powerful, but why. It works perfectly like that in Logic 8 and Mac OS 10.4.11.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for over a year and it is a joy. I had FIREPOD (nothing), a 9632 with RME cards in and out (much less ergonomic). Now, this is happiness, as soon as I turn it works without tangles. I'm not about to change my configuration.

To effectively started, I bought this new interface in January 2007 for € 1,270.
I was attracted by the FF800 by the quality of its converters, preamps quality, the number of input / output, integrated DSP, its format and internal routing.
My concern was to find a bcanne able to record with high quality and great different types of neutrality group (Finally I record almost thirty ranging from Jazz, through variety, Raggae, and Hiphop Rock the cutest most HardCore). So at the preamp neutrality 'is the Top!

The FireFace always turned on my laptop is a Sony Vaio VGN-FE28B (which does not break bricks but that has always been enough and always present) in Windows XP. I must admit that the card communicates Firewire, which forced me to buy a PCMCIA card to connect with my computer .. Apart from that, everything works perfectly.

UTILIZATION

Drivers side, everything is very stable, I have never had a bad surprise.
The Soft supplied with RME FF800 are simply ultra-efficient, things are done very quickly and accurately, especially with the Soft FireFaceMixer that turns your sound card exeptionnel patch incorporating a very well thought matrix which gives us a crazy imagination After routing. We believe in possession of a modular machine without limit, which is a comfort and avoids patch / unpatch the connectors on the card.

I also always made my recordings Cubase4 on this side either, I've never had a single glitch. But I was very busy projects in number of audio and MIDI tracks with a lot of VST plug-ins. It's not complicated, I've never stuck because of hardware related performance FF800.

Also very strong, non-perceptible latency for musicians. Ability to track routed to a live output without treatment (if you use a computer a little weak for such calculations).

GETTING STARTED

Nothing special to say about the installation, this is classic. General side configuration, it is not difficult but obviously need to put a minimum in and be patient and in the manual, and it's a big problem: They are not fucking give in French and they do not want not that users transmit them via the web. I remember the number of forum topics that have been closed by the admins of different sites (including AF). Aside from the annoying details when we have, it is very clear and detailed.
Anyway, if you have a glue, the AF community or else you always respond quickly!

OVERALL OPINION

Since the time I use it, I do not see the point to find something else at my level.
I have preferred certe 8 inputs / outputs additional lines instead of 8 inputs / outputs ADAT, it will have been more convenient to me, but it is a detail view of the performance and (I repeat) the comfort of use of FIREFACE 800. Value / strong price RME.

Technique?
Portability, high capacity in terms of connectivity, the 4 pre-amp with phantom power class A.
The possibility of extending digital (ADAT) but also the fact that you can stacker up to 3 fireface as simply as you plug an effects pedal.
Flashable ROM to store a config (even stand alone without computer)
Instruments?
This is the perfect interface that allows you to save up to 12 sources without flinching (including 4 supplied) and a little more if you use the SPDIF IN.
Drums, amps, any type of microphone for all types of recorded sources.
What purpose?
Home recording studio or mobile at concert.

UTILIZATION

drivers are very stable, RME is a very serious club that relies heavily on the user community to improve its products and drivers if they are defective.
Used with Cubase and Logic Pro but Garage band.
The drivers are properly updated and follow the evolution of large OS (Mac and Winblows)
Extremely low latency (I have not measured but I do not perceive nor any musician with whom I worked)

GETTING STARTED

The installation consists of a few seconds.
The general configuration gr ^ TotalMix this application is a breeze.
No known incompatibilities so far
The manual is clear (I got it in English because I bought the machine LONDON)

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for almost 8 years to record or play music and I'm very satisfied
I have not tried many other models but guys I know have tried Edirol, Presonus and others ... I confess that I had the budget at the time and that this purchase is one of the best possible technical choices.
What I like most: simple, practical, transparent is the best friend of the musician or engineer in the studio or concert (though FF 400 half-rack is smaller and no doubt easier to transport ).
The default few extra buttons or knobs would not have failed but when you look good, there is absolutely no way that this is a false regret because it would not be so compact to finish.
Excellent value for money: € 1000 LONDON bought while she was in 1150, € 1,200 elsewhere in France.

What characteristics have motivated your choice?
I need at least 9 inputs / outputs for the scene, you can send stereo files (. Wav) while playing over virtual instruments ... in peace. At the time (early 2007) reviews the reliability were all very good (this is still the case I guess). Here is the main reason for the time.

With which instruments or systems you use it and how connections?
* Currently on an i5, 8GB Ram, 2 "small" 250 GB HDD ..
* The entries bah ... microphones, preamps additional instruments ... with an ancient Receptor (Muse Research) which gives me two analog inputs + 6 outputs internal host (Receptor) via a cable adat
* The noon one of my keyboards in EnergyXT password, host plugins in the pc, then soft thru the receptor. Basically, I change by changing vsti midi channel.
* In outputs (balanced) a console for controlling the front ... Here for example are grouped all my synths - whether hard or soft - a stereo pair manageable for the sound technician. Microphones have preamps 4 of the rm and out separately.
* Because of this live recording (up to 12 physical inputs in the state) becomes transparent ...

UTILIZATION

Drivers ultra stable ever since 2007, a plant that side. I use an "old" cubase (sx3) but I think reaper ... I'm recording at max of 20 simultaneous tracks but with hardware extensions and see how the map is no doubt that it would turn out as well with 28 physical inputs over ten generated by the host (PC). Reading with twenty tracks the LED of hard disk resource remains in the 2 or 3% ... But I've never had more audio tracks for now ... Regarding the latency is no such concern is also that instant the internal sounds of my Nordstage.

GETTING STARTED

The installation is done it without problems? No

Have you encountered any incompatibilities? But it was not advisable for Texas Instruments chipset firewire interface. Moreover about it is its disappearance signing the judgment of the fireface 800 (and the appearance of its big sister, who despite retains the usb firewire ... )

The general configuration is easy? Yes as soon as we understood the workings of TotalMix: 28 inputs 28 inputs + physical host independently routable to all 28 physical outputs with the possibility of closure ...

The manual is clear and sufficient? ... Yes

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you been using? 6 years

What is so special that you like most and least? Of the ball ... With still a downside, the standards war to which manufacturers deliver that firewire has disappeared from new machines ... For laptops and proposed solutions do not really inspire me confidence level connectivity (and therefore reliability)

Did you try many other models before buying it? Vaguely focusrite, it works but it is less intuitive, and I could not compare the sound for a different system, but I am sure that dynamic converters are better on the ff800. If not before I had a emu 1212M (even on another pc) the sound is very nice but hey it is so much smaller than it is hardly comparable.

How do you rate the quality / price? Occaze today, and knowing that it connects firewire is a great value.

With experience, you do again this choice? ... I have it working, I care! With a bigger wallet I revendrais to buy his "little" sister ... If I win the lottery (I noted nothing 10/10) I invite a sound engineer at the restaurant and maybe I asked him to assist me in planning my new home studio ... Then maybe I would change brand ... And if it falls in a carafe, I would look at the state of the market that day, but now that I had a rm I know also have a more critical eye ...

Hello everyone.

In order not to add to the already numerous posts that say what it is - well -! ....
Nothing to say about this card.
When I bought it, I was looking for a card without problem, offering the ultimate in features and technical possibilities (Adat etc etc) with minimum 4-6 entries with minimum 2-3 pre-outs, serious pre-amp and an ultra-low latency. (The Fireface-400 did not exist at the time). I was looking for a card with external rack, willing to work on mac (not necessarily immediately or only on Pro-Tools).
This card - like any soundcard with 8 input channels simultaneous recording - which is useless does not need all the inputs (or who do not have the infrastructure that allows place- such records). But if you're drummer example ... there is on.

UTILIZATION

I use it almost daily since, in all situations. Nickel. Usually with Logic and Nuendo.
Drivers hyper-stable.
Latency-office is less than 6 msec, easily reducible to zero by playing just the size of the buffers.

GETTING STARTED

Install without any problem. Just at the beginning, on Mac OS 10.5.8, the core-PM should be updated by connecting to apple. That's it.
The manual is not available in French to my knowledge. The manual is very clear English.
No incompatibility. (We just hope that one day ... Digidesign opens next RME interface and map). Because in my opinion, surpasses the RME Pro-Tools, by its pre-amp.

OVERALL OPINION

Previously, I worked with a little map on the acclaimed forums: the Hoontech; surprised to read at the time of driver problems and latency, and mottled because I found a driver who was driving ASIO2 hell (latency of 3 at 0 msec). But the quality was not meeting my expectations.
When we know that, under warranty, purchased in stores in Belgium anyway, RME will replace automatically the card to any problem is to say the seriousness of this brand.
The pre-amp is one of the strongest points (next to a series of points that are all the same).
Solid and efficient. I've never had a single crash linked to this card. The possibilities that can be drawn are far-reaching.
Apart from other RME products are well designed and associable 'Note half-rack version Fireface 400, which may be enough for some users.
The price is justified. This material is top. Almost 6 years of use. You know, that kind of stuff as it was "time" without planned obsolescence!
I am I still RME.
If I had to buy a map, yes it would be the same or his successor later.

See overall opinion.

UTILIZATION

See overall opinion.

GETTING STARTED

See overall opinion.

OVERALL OPINION

I had a 800 for FF qques months. I've never driven into her entrenchment, so I can not testify intelligently on its technical characteristics.

The only thing I can say: pay attention to the FireWire interface that you take. I first took a low-end in Conrad failure, the card was not running (200 ms latency in Cubase ...). I took a Texas Instrument chipset, and then everything changed.

I sold and have opted for a Focusrite, who does the same job for half the price.

The Fireface is a safe bet, even if it is an older generation (therefore less optimized at prices that Focusrite has rightly).

I travaiille logic on a mac pro and I needed at the time to record 20 tracks simultaneously. This card was the best value I found at the time. With some additional purchases (2 OCTOPRE focusrite and clock) I piu reach my goals.
This is a good Swiss army knife audio level, stable with 4 preamps correct that color the sound slightly but it is very clean.

UTILIZATION

The drivers are very stable, I've had no problems with. We must dive in to understand their system, but once it is understood ca roule alone. This is also in my opinion a future standard interface with their MADI RME uses the same software.
I was able to record up to 23 tracks simultaneously in 24 bits/44.1khz
Be careful if you want to save in higher frequencies is no longer access to the same number of tracks ...

GETTING STARTED

the manual is clear, easy installation, no incompatibility problem ...

OVERALL OPINION

I used more than 5 years, I had tried edirol, value for money and motus I found much more interesting fireface 800 for the needs I had at the time.
What I liked most usability, compatibility, a small laboratory vra audio walking.
What I liked least not much ...
If I changed it to improve the quality of analog / nnumérique not on this model at the level of systems digidesign or metric halo apogee but obviously it is not in the same budget ....

What characteristics have motivated your choice?

equipment reliability but also the reliability of drivers, no problems on mac

With which instruments or systems (console, preamp, DtD ...) you use it and how connections? ...

be taken for recording outside sounds with ADL 600 preamp and RPQ ribbon, I also use the 4 inputs for microphones if needed and not natural color dimension that provides RME preamps.
and also in the studio with me, or I plug my synthes

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable? solid!

Are they often updated?

is based on the evolution of different OS version, but it follows well, nothing to say

What software do you use most often? CUBASE 7 LOGIC9, STUDIO ONE

How many tracks you get to record / playback simultaneously? ...
say in recording situation classic 10

GETTING STARTED

The installation is done it without problems?
no problems

Have you encountered any incompatibilities?
no

The general configuration is easy?
so clear and easy

The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
then yes there is a lot of info on the website RME

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you been using?

2 years

Did you try many other models before buying it?
yes I had a TC ELECTRONIC studio konnekt 48, horrible! the premps had not held
the road and I do the installation!

What is so special that you like most and least?
most, in general the clarity, confidence in the field, it will never let you down
the least? can be at the beginning of the use fireface mixer is a little difficult to understand at
routing, but it's going after


How do you rate the quality / price? With experience, you do again this choice? ..

great value quality / price no doubt, and YES I remake this choice or even even buy other RME

Purchased primarily for making digital sound in concert. Used with a custom made console with 6 inputs, microphones Neumann and Schoeps, MSI laptop with i5 processor, Seagate Barracuda 1TB external HDD and firewire connection via Express Card LaCie

Rating: 9

UTILIZATION

Excellent stability. Used with Samplitude 11.3. Few updates, with very low latency 256 samples. Max number of simultaneous recording tracks: 10.

Rating for this item: 9

GETTING STARTED

No problem installing via the CD or to install RME website. No incompatibility. The manual English / German is very clear, but beware TotalMix can dérouter.Notation for this item: 8

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you been using: I used it for 15 months to my fullest satisfaction. I tried 2 other models before I decide, and Echo Audio Focusrite.

What is so special that you like most and least: the Firewire connection

Very good value for money, especially preamps built. If it again (and I did) I would buy the UFX rather for its USB connection.

Rating: 9

Reliability, ruggedness, the product motivated my choice.
Virtual Console is very easy to handle and routings for monitoring are at the top and without latency.
it is connected to an i mac Firewire and a presonus digimax Fs in ADAT.
no sync problem.

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable and easy to install.
I use Studio Pro for recording. The card is supported directly and through matrix can route signals or desired. With my system I can record up to 16 tracks simultaneously.
it says it has 2 ADAT 8 channel inputs + 10. So we are on a more than adequate for the studio or home studio.
O latency with virtual console (monitor) Everything is managed by the card and takes no resource of the computer.

GETTING STARTED

Installation eyes closed. Config ultra simple with clear instructions. That said when you worked with another card, it is not too homesick. operation is very logical.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 6 months.
I also have 2 presonus fire studio mobile. good products to begin. but I was a little just for inputs and outputs.
What I like most is that I could separate console 24 votes (it took up too much space in my studio). I therefore shorter in the digital chain.
The value for money is very interesting in Cygnus. I paid my 750 euros.
I remake the same choice without hesitation.

Without special knowledge and after reading the forum in the opinion of "experts" seem to be onboard components of quality. To the ear, the sound reproduction is identical to the sound that comes out of my synths.

UTILIZATION

Remember not crash except after installing an express card capricious. This is a crucial point to watch at the time of purchase of the Fireface 800 to connect it to the PC without any problem.
IT Chiset recommended and it is not rubbish!
Driver therefore very stable.
Digichek is capricious since I switched to Windows 7.A update is online .......... see for a correction.

GETTING STARTED

Nothing special for who knows how to use his PC and also handle the installation from the Windows Program Manager.

OVERALL OPINION

Honestly just read the forum and chat with the audio connoisseur to understand that this interface is a very good quality / price ratio.
Make a purchase with your eyes closed if you want a homestudio equipped with a sound card at the border of the world pro. Attention, however firewire 800 port to install on the PC.

excellent audio quality digital interfaces / analogique...étant a fan of high fidelity, I needed a card that is rich in sound, a sound with material and shades ... I was served


I used a computer with virtual instruments and it was connected directly to be six solo.

for use with a home studio mac 13 '2009.

UTILIZATION

drivers are stable.
I use ableton live
full

GETTING STARTED

not without worries
no incompatibility
easy
manual clear

OVERALL OPINION

3 years
two models and c'' is the best ... but also the most expensive
the most is the quality at all levels,
least, I do not know
excellent value for money
I remake this choice or I will see if the same brand is most suitable products ... at the size ... but hey ... it is what!

The reputation of the brand and the use of RME cards from friends has greatly motivated the choice of sound card for my home studio.

I had a lot of entries for racks and micro synth, low latency software and a management processor to release a little computer.

And of course the highest quality sound to hear as clearly as possible faults mixing with my monitor speakers and have fun on all types of music.

UTILIZATION

I had problems on PC. Freezait sound after a few seconds randomly despite the precautions taken and the readings to anticipate forums! In short, this is the coup that gave me Mac. And then no problem, it works nickel. I'm running Mac OSX 10.6.8 Snow Leopard.

The card has been tested on different software Audacity, Cubase Le, Live 8, Sibelius 7, Harmony Assistant, Logic, Renoise. It is rather amazing as quality. Level latency, we do not even talk. I often rule the buffers between 128 and 256 according to the most ambitious projects without a crack and I do not have mac pro, just a single iMac.

On a project 16 tracks Audio + Midi, with 4 occurrences Kontakt open, 3 Eq and Reverb effects, I have a latency of 5 ms input and output because I usually work in 44 Khz to not take up too much space disk. But the higher the frequency the card, the more latency decreases. A 96Khz I drops below 3ms input and just above 3ms output. The processor is held at 10%.

The drivers are updated regularly even if it is not instantaneous. In the year, you are almost sure to have the update for the following operating system but it may take 3 to 6 months.

GETTING STARTED

Worry-free installation. The drivers are easily found on the RME site and packages are installed easily on Mac.

I'm a little more reluctant about their software management card. It is probably improvable. Nothing to say about the "Fireface Settings" allowing you to choose different card options: SPDIF frequency, on / off the phantom power supplies on 4 XLR inputs on the front, on / off effect on the instrument input 1 facade (Drive, Speaker emulation and limit), choice of taking into account the inputs and outputs (eg there are two entries both 1.7 and 8, we suddenly chooses to activate the inputs 1,7,8 Facade or 1,7,8 entries from the rear of the rack or two).

on the other hand, their software "Fireface mixer" is not great in my opinion. I preferred instead of many I / O routing virtuellesun simplified its internal computer says "Playback", that is commonly known on the other cards, the "Full duplex". That is to say, its just consider the Internet or any player as INPUT and not as an output but nobody thinks to do that. So, it is necessary to use another kind Soundflower routing software ... In fact, it is quite possible but not very easy to do. Yet there is a matrix system which enables such entry as output (note the closures of its time!)

Proper and comprehensive manual, nothing more.

OVERALL OPINION

If this is the connection format, firewire which is rare now on the machines, this is an outstanding menu. I recommend choosing a rather fireface UFX is USB 2 and has just one remote control option that simplifies the setup I mentioned above. But RME is definitely a career choice. Nothing to do with MOTU about the quality, I can assure you having heard the difference. The real competitors would rather Digidesign ...

Former user of a M-Audio Delta 1010 LT which was very good for its price, at some point he took a number of I / O more important.
RME my PC running with Windows 7 64 bit.
The board manages input a Nord Rack 2X, an Akai XR-20 and Novation Mininova.
The only audio output I use (so it remains free ... 6) is a NAD C315 BEE amp and speakers are B & W Solid backed by a small subwoofer Yamaha YST-SW45. See photo for an overview of the system.

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable, no problem. They are updated one to two times per year by RME and their installation is easy.
I use a couple of VST in Reaper, and have not so far met with limiting the number of tracks ...
Working in 24-bit 48 kHz, the latency observed is 3 to 5 ms, imperceptible.

GETTING STARTED

Installation is easy but you still need to look a little on the doc when we do not know. TotalMix and the routing matrix are powerful but a little difficult to grasp at first!
The manual is clear and fairly comprehensive.

Yes I met an inconsistency, but without the certainty of the origin of the problem on my configuration, RME does not get along at all with Pro Tools 9 that I used before. Crashes, noise, ... I had to give a sequencer yet I began to master and enjoy. Since I've been in Reaper, no problem.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 2 years. I have not tested other in the same category but as is my habit before a purchase I really searched the net to gather views and that is that ultimately the best fit for my needs.

Pros: Stability, converters and quality sound, low latency, the number and variety of I / O than enough in a home-studio approach, impeccable build quality.
The -: maybe some incompatibilities? But not sure so take with caution as it is my case and my opinion.

The price / quality ratio is good because in my opinion it is a quality card made to last.
With the experience I would do this choice, with means I would have perhaps turned into a FireFace UFX! (Most recent)

The number of I / O ports with 2 + Adat word clock.
Very stable. OCTOPRE max config with two different brands of Adat ports.
Management Mac (Imac and MAc book pro) and Nuendo.
Two Fireface 800 is easily link.

UTILIZATION

Stability and efficiency.
Minimum latency of 3ms

GETTING STARTED

Worry-free installation and configuration. Everything is clear

OVERALL OPINION

I migrated to RME UFX (port AES), otherwise I would have gladly kept.
It's almost plug and play. You must install and no longer mentioned.
That said, there is no obvious protection on connecting FireWire ports that remain fragile. For info and gained consciousness, I did change the ports 400 before selling.
Quality preamps is considerably very good.
The readability of the interface is not very intuitive at first but then it rolls.
The space of analog connections is a bit weak to join jacks of good quality.
This is a very powerful tool but not digital compatible with périphs analos, like all digital media.
Good investment.