All user reviews for the RME Audio Fireface 800

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.

number of input / output analog
quality of converters
driver frequently updated
strength, it does not move my rack since I bought it

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable?
excellent, updated frequently renewed

GETTING STARTED

no worries
the fireface mixer rout at first but just read the instructions and after it is happiness, it can route any signal how

OVERALL OPINION

yes, several models, I do not remember names, it's been a while I have this card since almost the beginning of its release.
excellent value for money
never enmerdé by drivers despite changes in windows.
this card is very flexible, we do what we want with
we get a neutral sound with this card.
I would take if I had the same eyes closed without looking at whether there's been better there since it came out.
I doubt there has been better in comparison with its price

I opted for the FF800 first for the number of converters RME board and for the fact that it corresponded exactly to my needs.

I use it for the tracking, mix, and everything that has to do with! It is planted in a Mac Pro 4 x 2.66Ghz, 8GB ram, all under OS 10.6.

I have a preamp / compressor AU 6176, RME convertos for him doing a very good job, nothing to say. Ditto on listening, listen with accurate (I tested on Adams, Yamaha, AKG headphones, Beyer, Audio-Technica, Sennheiser ..) it is in a category of material that the user enter in the world professional with a depth and precision that makes this tool very seriously.

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable, the soft routing "-fireface mixer" is against confusing!

Protools, I get a huge lag, it is rather boring. I have tried in cubase.

GETTING STARTED

I have not regretted Mac instalation problems, however I tried a PC, the executable will not even launch, so a PC, I do not know ...

Aside from the fact that it is necessary to wash the brain before using the fireface-mixer and sharpen the eyes, it is a tool that can take over quickly if we already have serious notions of computer music, without it I do not see how a nobody can grasp the intricacies of routing in this gas. The manual is clear, but expect a good training day to run the beast.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for more than a year, and it is not obsolete in my config, again, this is a multiple inverter that can operate in stand alone for a ridiculous price, considering the number of channels conversion. Which converts an adi 8 8-channel AD / DA (ie 8 x 8 AD DA) costs € 1,300, the FF800 for the same price offers 10 concurrent AD and 10 AD (via ADAT and S / PDIF suddenly).

Unbeatable value for money, of course, given the conversion quality, stability and reliability of the clock.

I've never had artifacts with this interface, which was not the case presonus or alesis I had before.

Again this choice? Of course yes!

Inputs / outputs simultaneously - the four preamps microphones corrcts - both pipelines ADAT + SPDIF.
I work with a Mac Pro dual legacy in Logic.
I use coupled with a digital console (01V96) using two I / O ADAT + SPDIF.
(Which gives me 16 in / out + 2 adat in / out spdif (for the final mix)

UTILIZATION

Ultra stable driver mac OSX. I work in Logic.
More than 40 simultaneous tracks ...

GETTING STARTED

Nickel!

OVERALL OPINION

For 7 years, I wanted a sound card pro without blowing my budget. This card is not given, of course, but for the price and quality, it plays in the course of large ....
I would do this choice without doubt!

Price / quality
I use this card (in duet with a TDIF-1) to animate my Home Studio.
I go out on a 16-track mixer Chandler Limited on 16 channels (analog)
Then I go into a compressor Manley before recording in stereo in my mac.

UTILIZATION

Very stable
I use mainly LOGIC
16 tracks
Very low latency
-> Filled

GETTING STARTED

I'm not super good at technical and I admit I sometimes qq trouble me out with the interface on the Mac to find my I / O But it is a matter of habit, that I do not necessarily make more history than his zik ...

OVERALL OPINION

Use for over 5 years.
I had many sound cards but not in this category, therefore difficult to compare in my set-up.
Very good price / quality ratio, of course find the opportunity