All user reviews for the RME Audio Fireface 800

I just change my MOTU 2408 mk3 for FireFace.

Premire surprises:

- The lighting, the FF will hold in 5 seconds, the MOTU took forever.
It automatically synchronizes the incoming signal WordClock, whereas with the MOTU had to open the setup before recording (for those who work with external converters).
He had to think to the MOTU off before the extinction of the computer, otherwise it caused a hissing tweeters that would not stand long. With the RME, no problemo, it's silence.
Trs-setup complete
Mix it
-L 'in between Instru faade
-MIDI IN / OUT
Regrets:

No-PAD to the MIC.
Out-MONITOR and PHONES are spares, I wish a stereo output volume indpendante adjustable headphone as the MOTU.
-No vritable AES-EBU.
-J 'lai purchase without manual or invoice, if someone could send me a pdf in FRENCH, please. Thank you.

UTILIZATION

Install, no problem

GETTING STARTED

Drivers stable

OVERALL OPINION

Not yet had time to compare the converters.

I bought the Fireface 800 for the purpose of recording instruments.
I was looking for:
- Enough for times between micro micro amps,
- From an instrument
- Line inputs in sufficient numbers ...
- Numriques inputs (optical if possible) to connect my multi-effects, and in the future other devices numriques
- Expandable in Firewire

Oh I forgot: I was looking for a builder who is also updating its drivers regularly, and offers support in France.

Here, well it's 100% done with the Fireface!

I turn my computer at a P4 3.2 Ghz, 2GB RAM, 236 GB HD 10000 t / min SATA. Config muscle for music only.
PS The motherboard is an ASUS P5AD2 Deluxe, I prcise because I read that Asus brought the problem to the Facilities audionumriques ... Not my case anyway!

Level instrument, I plug the bass from the instrument (I will discuss below), microphone + vocal microphones times on rhythm guitar amp pramps between line amp when you can not make noise, and between optical SPDIF for multi-effect guitar solo (Korg AX3000G)
The electronic battery for now, I use the MIDI port.

UTILIZATION

Install without problem. Updating the driver on the RME website and presto it works.
The configuration is fairly simple, the manual is very helpful on this point. Arbiter sent me a French version which brings even more when especially the config TotalMix.

GETTING STARTED

No crash so far, drivers are trs stable set day once (latest version) and the firmware.
I use XP with Service Pack 2 (no choice) and I have not had any problems with Firewire. I still apply the procedure for Microsoft to update the parameter in the registry (to put S400/S800 S100 instead of default).
I use Cubase SL3 and I have no problems.
The latency is inaudible, I forget to use TotalMix and direct monitoring in cubase so with the passage time tural effects does not affect me ...
I have yet to test the recording of more than 3 tracks. I will return to days later.

The use of TotalMix is ​​still really easy and convenient, especially with the graphic that allows a few clicks to configure the routing I / O freely. Each input can be sent to any output, or even all, all a few clicks. Also you can then flash the memory of the Fireface to keep the stand alone configuration!

OVERALL OPINION

I've had two weeks

What I like:
- The instrument input: no sound is frankly incredible. I enable the formulation of HP (but even without it very well) and the sound is perfectly respected and even promoted. I even found him a lamp its type amp (Fender) on which I played before. Always it is that direct recording gives excellent results. The gain is adjustable in faade.
- The pre-amps are excellent bill, and adjusted the level by potentiometers on the faade (handy)
- The phantom power can be active on each by clicking between micro,
- Headphone output with level rglage the faade (ca both practice)
- TotalMix: super simple and extremely powerful
- Matrial of quality!

What I dislike:
- The overdrive on the instrument between ... gadget ... same for the LIM (but I have not yet fully understand the usefulness!)
- Uh ... The price!

I wanted to beginners FIREPOD (presonus) but did not of optical and one coax between numrique .. But mostly they taient out of stock, I have been spirited to the Fireface. After ngo (bought 1200 euros), I consider it a great product. To say that the report is good qualitprix I would need more references. J'hsitais also with the MOTU traveler, but the important thing is that I do not regret my purchase, on the contrary, I have a powerful and reliable tool trs hands

I would do such a choice without any hsitation!

- This card works on both PC and Mac, with a Portable or a round => not restrictive
- 4 good prampli trs, trs transparant => trs well taken for acoustic (piano, guitar, vocals ...)
- Map trs complte: 10 votes ana, SPDIF or AES / EBU, ADAT 2 (optical or digital) with scroll trs => 28 in
- My config: Dell Inspiron 9300 1.73 ghz (60 GB HD 7200 trs, 1 GB RAM)
- I use it to catch tail piano, and it IDAL (practice with the zero-latency routing, which allows for a mix of DIFFERENT microphones in the headset to be the comfortable when taking!), stable trs, trs good sound!

UTILIZATION

No-problem installation
-No problem of incompatibility
It is very easy configuration, the TotalMix requires a good half hour to be included (not so easy at first that the CueMix motu, but once assimil is very practical and ergonomic trs !)
- I have not opened the manual (I have a motu 2408 mk3 (very good card for that matter) when I was working with a tower, and I'm used to computer music for several Anns ... I immerse myself in need again later trs SPECIFICATIONS)

GETTING STARTED

- Trs stable drivers (0 bugg for now)
- Apparently they are being updated regularly, we'll see ...
- I am 512 buffer with SX2 because right now I only do audio and I use TotalMix (where it is unnecessary latency)
- For the moment I record 3 channels at once exprience but I'm not worried about being able to record 16 simultaneous carefree

OVERALL OPINION

-For 10 days, but not enough to get an ide enough prcise product!
"I do not like the fact that there have not indpendant knob for volume monitoring (I have a UB802 branch between the card and the amp to have a volume knob indpendant)
- I had one:
1st: 2408 mk3 (very good map, stable on a Dell Dimension 8300 and also on a Mac, but one suspects!) But since I'm on a laptop, I'm the s deal because it only works with a PCI card (also motu dvelopper will have a PCMCIA card that would make the same office that 424PCi for use on portable PC and Mac (as the Multiface! !) ide Good is not it!

2nd: Firepod (good converters pramplis but some colors (my ear) and not unlike the routing Presonus foretold when it was released! Presonus we lied??
Moreover Denfert that Aralis a test of the FIREPOD on AF, should make his test day because it is giving false information to our music site MEMBREX prfr (AF) as saying again: "A virtual mixing table to route any input to any output, and should make its appearance. We look forward to see ..." Dear Denfert, October 05 we are, you had to contact connatre presonus and a little more about you before you write anything! We have viterait of Energy Expenses useless!

=> The FIREPOD is unusable as a pice mistress of a studio (and I my words PSE) is a card troubleshooting but not a pro card, however there that see mdiocrit of drivers (a ds that cracks often charge a little number of tracks and a few plugs yet my config is specially computer music), nothing to do with RME or MOTU, Moreover, with the RME, without changing my config, the same title (quite heavy) will crack any more!

I ended up with was useless to talk any longer of the Firepod, it would make a PUB and it does not MRIT!

- Report quality Price: under trs good opportunities and sound (I pay a little more 1200 euros)

- If it is not fragile and the only time I will say, I choose the same referrer

RME if you read me, would it be possible to assign the Volume button Stereo headphone output (for a volume of Hardware Monitor). If possible via an update firmware has INTERESTED all owners of Fireface800. Thank you

Update: Premire SERIES of tests and measures on the FF800:
ftp://ftp2.fsms-paris.com/fsmspari/MEMOIRES/Samuel.tracol/dossier_tech_audio-fireface800-RME.pdf

Performance is generally Verify and confirm all the ads from the manufacturer.

One regret: the alignment of levels has a low possibility consquence back of "strong" levels (maximum +19 dBu!) Which can be quite professional Gnant in a configuration that is easy to see happen higher levels of ...

- Good quality of the clock. Synchonization in WC it seems to signal a redlivre he trs own: apparently a toilet out of some tables in the mix numriques s'avrerai insufisant electrical level (good output table but APRS 2 meter cable, you have to forget ...): the Fireface saved me a blow by providing a "regnrateur 'clock ...
- The standalone DCID me: the Fireface can run standalone (without computer) in a configuration that can come in the flash-boi box. This allows to use it as pramp indpendant-converter, or as numrique interface (ADAT to AES for example ...).

- The establishment of a Controller twelve o'clock on, but for now just gross dcoffrage, with little possibility of configurations shoots ... Too bad. (If anyone ever reads me ... RME)

UTILIZATION

Manual in English, but you can ask the importer en version (arbiter). (It could provide the standard ...) ->-1pts!

Getting Started with the total mix is ​​scary (GUI a bit overloaded ...-1pt!) To beginners but rvle a powerful tool trs routing.

GETTING STARTED

STABLE drivers (under win2k pc) has been a while since I had not think of as a. ..
Used with Samplitude and wavelab.

Most recent internship SHIFT RME constantly bring new features ... It has the luxury of on-board computer chip with a "house" (FPGA) programmable easy!

OVERALL OPINION

Use for beginners in September 2004.
Report quality unbeatable prices.
Quality of pramp / converters: I use to make of the classic, and it is more than adequate in terms of price vis vis the concurrency. For pramp / converters for micro heater, trs is satisfactory.

Converters, high-end
The 192-k
-Format firewire / adat
-Performance
Its inputs, outputs and especially many monitoring rm for pilots

, Connected behind one of my laptop, a hp p4 3000mghz
the goal is to build my fleet of production / mixing and live

compared with a 192L wamirack card I have and which is already admirable (but not perfect, the grain of the Fireface is gggranddddiose (+ dynamism, refinement in the grain, db .. enhanced treble sound even better , .. I am delighted

I'm out the 8-track outs in the wamirack 192k tracks directly in the Fireface .. the buffer is set to 512 by 192 k. ... live4 two (I do not pass through mixer)
I have to equip a second laptop p4 .., I'm saving for a second

UTILIZATION

Installing fun
I first go around on the net, I flashed the rack .. installed the updates
rocket science

I received a big spiral English manual .... and a booklet in french very clear .. congratulations for rm a very important detail

GETTING STARTED

On his first day everything is niquel

apparently the drivers are constantly updated in
.. I use-live4, reaktor5, REASON3

compared to the wamirack192 esi, buffer latency and latency of the soft ds Fireface is very very low .. unheard of

OVERALL OPINION

I love her rack
its power supply cable to computer format
what I like is that it not freeze when the sound goes from soft (Reason to its settings panel is strange .. for now

this is my best interface in terms of quality
I have a wamirack192l with very good converters, but also below the rms

I had an Edirol FA101 that I do not recommend ... because there is no listener edirol, followed by some drivers .. darling (600euros) .. but it is on design points important as the concerns of breath, the abscence of ergonomics laborious mix .. .. in short, all the OPOS F800

magifffique parcontre craft a flat ... it's so delicious that my laptop is bad ducoup the road

this interface is far from being super stable as the infallible wamirack
short repeated crashes .. alas

I am mixed on this point. because its price is expensive
(I use it in its entirety) except ADAT and word clock

A completely professional grade interface. I track live instruments with Neumann M149 tube, AEA R84, RE20, Rode and modified Shure SM 57s , all in a real studio through high end tube pres and 1950s vintage mic pres etc... This interface has phenomenal sound quality even at 44.1.

The multiple connections allow me to connect a Lexicon hardware digitally via SPDIF. I also use all my vintage tube gear - not only to track- but to mix as well in Logic pro in the same way as you use plugins..except they are the real thing! and with the same flexibility as a plugin. So if you desire to be able to use all your analog gear to mix in the box alongside your plugins simultaneously, this interface makes it happen and Logic pro 9 is set up for it, so it is very easy.

UTILIZATION

The clock is so good it has become the master clock in the studio. Clocking makes an audible difference in terms of audible phase shift harshness. I have not yet used the mic pres, as I have plenty of amazing vintage ones by Altec, UA, UREI, and a Buzzaudio MA2.2.

The headphone monitor volume is very powerful and clean. The overall sound -if coupled with Logic pro 9- approximates the sweetness of 30 ips Ampex tape in general character and vibe (at 44.1). At higher rates it becomes more" Hollywood soundtrack" in detail level and vivid transient response as well as dynamic range perception.


GETTING STARTED

getting started was simple, it actually suprised me with how easy it was.

OVERALL OPINION

Overall, I am shure it will sound very different depending on what DAW you have ( protools, nuendo, cubase all have their own sound character due to differing algorithms and design priorities.

But the great news is it's superb -smooth non ear-fatiguing- performance at CD quality 44.1.

I hope this gives an idea of how this unit performs in strictly professional circumstances (the studio has a IT 20 series II Furman balanced power supply conditioning) for very long hours at a time.

number of inputs and outputs, ADAT, quality preamps, stability

UTILIZATION

really stable, works like a real virtual table thanks to a TotalMix that bears his name, I'm working on iMac and I never had any problems

TotalMix at first glance a bit complicated but really great, reinjection, etc. ....

good preamp, very transparent and superb converters, beautiful bass definition

GETTING STARTED

simple
no paper manual, the French is in pdf format (remember to ask)

OVERALL OPINION

at first I thought I was over-equipped, all these inputs and outputs and everything went well filled up quickly because I opted to work in hardware, the convertos are waiting for you, TotalMix is super to configure its parameters and I run some knob in midi through BCN44 (notably the speaker volume)

headphone jack super hi-Z input, nice, really a pro product 

good, since I have convertos mytek, superb, but the Fireface does not fall shy

Centerpiece of my home studio!

Plugged into a PC that was already a little dated (Athlon 2600 + dual-body 2gig RAM ... etc)
It is connected to a Central Station, analog of course, to enjoy its excellent converters NA.   All with good cables. I returned several preamps, including a UA LA-610 and an SPL Gain Station. It is also connected to a Neutrik patch.

It is very well built and seems very solid. No surprise, the connection is Neutrik. Very abundant, also: 4 preamps with XLR or jack, 1 DI jack, 8 inputs + 8 outputs TRS lines, 16 I / O in ADAT, SPDIF, MIDI + Wordlclock. What to do!

I made 10 with the AES / EBU

Previously I had a Motu Ultralite, good interface, but also had become the weakest link in my home studio!

UTILIZATION

Drivers? A wonder! With the Motu I had no problem, but this one is 3 floors above! The 56 channels can be controlled by a console, the famous "Total Mix", and any input, any playback channel and are routable to any output with each other forever!

The card is fully configurable via its inteface soft and reacts in real time to any change! In addition, drivers are frequently updated.

Anyway ... Welcome to the professional world!

GETTING STARTED

Installation without worry, as it has never crashed!

the manual is a wealth of information!

OVERALL OPINION

The sound? Compared to the Motu Ultralite:
- In pure monitoring, basses are sharper, more vibrant and a little more clarity it seems to me.
- When recording a little more of everything. Clarity, presence, dynamic ...

The preamps are impeccable, but without particular color. It's pro but functional, period. Good dynamics and big transparency. They do not have the class of Gain Station, but that would be asking a lot!

In short, the great class! The converters are impeccable, the clock is reputable, the Firewire block is built by RME (these are the only ones doing this) in conjunction with excellent drivers! No wonder it runs! 3ms latency with harm to my PC, but with a powerful Bécanne power 1ms is achieved! Wow!

And it's made in Germany!

I was interested in the 2-Port ADAT to record a concert that was a part of a digital table. The Firewire 800 was indispensable because the 400 was not enough with my Vaio (cracks) at low latencies Used now with a mac book pro, so exclusively with Firewire 800. Very stable

UTILIZATION

The drivers are the most stable on the market. So I dare to use instead of a console for live (with cubase5 Pro9 and logic). Never had a problem until today.

GETTING STARTED

The total mix is highly efficient but quite confusing ... It still takes me 30 seconds to put the ideas in place before each use ... even after 4 years .. 

OVERALL OPINION

I love the quality converters ... the choice of the level of inputs and output (-10dB, 4dB, HiGain), the number of runs, the total power mix, especially the stable DRIVERS 

I like less the coldness and hardness of the preamp microphones (catastrophic when taken together with  a Neumann TLM 103) ... On the other hand, it gives definition to a live SM 58.

The quality / price ratio is very good given the confidence we have in the gear (it's so rare) during the various sessions

well

GETTING STARTED



OVERALL OPINION

hello all,
I just wanted to strongly advise you not to buy RME at musikia formerly playback. In fact I bought this sound card in late 2008. Then someone had mistakenly reversed the direction of the firewire cable (which apparently is possible). So this has burnt the power supply circuit card. It is party due to the SAV in April 2010. I recovered last September after six months!, This one still did not work. So I returned home in September and still I did not recovered.
They did not even offered an exchange or a loan.
In short, the service at musikia after selling is just deplorable !
good music to you all

The main thing that motivated my choice was the High quality preamps, the amazing ad/da converters and the fact that it had both firewire 400 and 800 ports on it. I am currently using a macbook laptop but intend to upgrade to a Mac Pro desktop and having both the firewire 400 and 800 was a must. I use the Fireface 800 to handle all of my instrumentation. I run ableton live 8 with the fireface and I run everything (vocals, guitars, bass, Rhodes piano, synths, computer based synths/effects and outboard effects through effects loops) through the computer, through live in order to loop all audio at my bidding. As for connection types, you get it all; 4 XLR's, 8 analog in/outs, two adats, 1 firewire 400, 2 firewire 800's, word clock in/out, spdif in/out. I run this all on a macbook (2.2ghz 4gb ram, 320hdd).

UTILIZATION

I have not had the unit long enough to update again but the unit has been out for a few years and has been updated regularly. I can very easily use all of my inputs and tons of computer synths/effects and loop it all with the looper and set the buffer so it runs with less than 8 milliseconds of latency. Its quite remarkable especially compared to my former unit the Presonus Firebox. The drivers are extremely stable, as to be expected from RME. I use this mainly with ableton 8 but I also use it often with Logic 9. The most amount of tracks I have tried to record simultaneously is 8 and it performed perfectly. xpected from RME. I use this mainly with ableton 8 but I also use it often with Logic 9. The most amount of tracks I have tried to record simultaneously is 8 and it performed perfectly.

GETTING STARTED

I have had no compatibility issues so far. The manual that came with the fireface is fairly indepth and I highly suggest reading cover to cover if you want to get the most out of this unit. It is a very well written manual and is more than sufficient. I guess I could say the general setup is simple, but this unit can do so much. If you want to use all its amazing options, then you better be ready to do your homework. Yes, the typical functions are accessible via the front of the unit and the software mixer/control panel that automatically loads on the computer when you connect via firewire.

OVERALL OPINION

What I love most about this unit is the pristine ad/da converters. I run my analog instruments (guitar/bass/rhodes/synths) into a Mackie Vlz3 mixer with the output going to a Fender Twin Reverb amp and a Peavey TNT 150 bass amp. I use the Alt Outputs on the mixer to send a "loop" to the RME then back into the mackie so I can "Loop" the instruments in Ableton 8. When I did this with the presonus, there was a little latency and the audio quality was significantly altered. With the the Fireface, the difference between the straight analog pathway and the computer pathway are virtually indistinguishable. I have even thought about getting rid of the Mackie and just running everything direct with the RME, its that good!!!! New these go for $1700 but I got mine used for $1250. Its a lot of money, no doubt, but if you want this kind of quality, you have to pay, and its worth every last penny. 10 out of 10 for sound quality (I'd give it an 11 if I could). I have used a Presonus Firebox, Firepod, Alesis Multimix, and a MOTU 828 mk2 and this blows them all out of the water. I would definitely make the same choice again. I highly recommend this unit.