All user reviews for the RME Audio Hammerfall DSP Multiface

I dvais replace Wamirack24 fart that had me right in between the finger pressing travil (obviously).
I wanted to be: 8 in / out analog, at least one in / out digital, if possible, MIDI, uncompromising sound quality, the GSIF drivers ASIO2 and well written and mostly a stability / reliability.
Usage: mainly composed of fairly dense instrumentals using internal expanders and 1 or 2 + for external microphones.
Config: PC (Abit KG7raid, Athlon XP2000 +, 20Ho registered RAM, 2 discs IBM-Hitachi)

UTILIZATION

Installation is no problem on the condition * * to read step by step instructions and to peel the RME website. Because they have reviewed all the quasiement sproblème you could get even though this problem is not their equipment.

No conflict with my stuff.

The general configuration is not simple because very modular. The signals can be routed virtually anywhere. At first, you really take your time and spend time with the manual. But it becomes a highlight of the card thereafter.

The manual is clear enough. But do not miss a line because everything is said and everything that is said is important.

GETTING STARTED

The drivers are rock-steady, regular updates, even though the card is more than the young.

I get a latency of 12ms with sequences moderately loaded, and this without any problems (many MIDI tracks, VST qques, CPU loaded at less than 50% and not too dfd, qques audio tracks with EQ, compressor and some FX)
For heavy sequences (bcp VSTi loaded flush the mouth and audio + FX), I must go to 23ms to avoid cracking. But look good with what I turn CPU

A reading of more than 32 track without bcp FX has not caused any problems. But I rarely use my system for the post prod, + for the preprod, so I have not had a chance to go too the number of audio tracks.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for over 3 years (07/2003) and it did not move (my old card, wamriack 24 EgoSys-ESI home, I was regularly miseries which forced me to reinstall the drivers and ended by actually die).
This reliability is the characteristic I like most.

What I like least is perhaps the conceptiojn the internal routing is not easy to pick up when you have not used the studio pro. But we must hold on and that's all. It's not a design error, it's a rite of passage

The price is high (rappot the minimum wage, I mean). But compared to the quality, it is justified. I had a hard time letting go of the chequos to our friends at Pigalle, but now I do not regret Aaaaaaabsolument not have made this choice (with Audiofanzine by the way).

- I t convinced by the tests I've read user reviews and reputable RME.
It possde 8 inputs and 8 outputs, which is enough to record a drum kit.
We record everything with in a direct line, through a prampli with microphones (songs, taken from amp).
She gre at a resolution sufficiently leve 96khz and 32 bit floating.
You plug your speakers on the rear output taken, and a closed headphone output on the faade for recording sessions, or a mix paufiner headphones.

UTILIZATION

Trs is stable under Win XP Pro sp1.
My entire setup is based on the converters, I have no mixer and use it with cubase sx2.
I printed the manual for the RME site, it is fairly complete.

GETTING STARTED

I use it with Cubase SX with a PIII 2.4Ghz and 1000 MB of memory.
A 12 ms latency in 96 kHz must be made with maximum ECONOMY CPU, and the least possible options, make choices to not have time processing rl on all tracks.
In 32bit 44Khz dj is much more comfortable on tracks 16 and no less intensive treatment time rls: formulation amp (guitar rig, etc. ...), AmpliTube compressors, EQ, rverbs, limiters (eg L3).
With a dual-processor must be a luxury!

OVERALL OPINION

I find trs reliable, and I know that if some records with effectus
do not sound pro, does not come from the RME converters, but sources: low-end instruments, microphones Chinese (not bad), treatment programs, lack of hardware. I intend to continue using it for a long time and I am Fully satisfied.

Refer also to the documentation downloaded from the manufacturer site for technical characteristics.

The current use is computer music.

Certain restrictions are observed and listed in the doc but they are references to problems dificil to meet: very old machine.

Used with Cubase 4 on PC platform

UTILIZATION

Installation without problem. Regular updating of drivers and proper monitoring of the manufacturer. Linux driver exists.

no inconsistency PC to my knowledge

Map aimed at a warned Routig and synchronization with great potential, so a little confusing for the novice.

GETTING STARTED

See above. The issue of latency does not make sense. It depends on the configuration of your PC. The more he shook shook swift over low latency. The menu system has a zero-latency direct monitoring (some nano seconds in reality). on a computer P4 400 FSB latency is 12ms. The card does not consume CPU resources. recording 18 tracks simultaneously without problems. The limit comes from the FSB. You can put three cards and record 54 tracks if you wish (in 44.1 kHz 24 bit).

OVERALL OPINION

Use for 3 years. Will appreciate the most is the TotalMix (a mixer with the routing despossibilités unlimited).
I use professionnellemnt. I'm going to gain personally.

a lot of people advised me to take this card

mpc 2000 xl, s 3000 xl, mpc 2500
cubase plug and

hip hop

2 pc "ASUS P5Q Deluxe," on each card rm, 3g for proc and 4gig of ram on each pc.

UTILIZATION

perfect driver.

cubase, Sound Forge and a few plugs on energieXT

I never pushed the card all the way, recording with 8 x 3000 out of the 8 tracks in stereo and "see" on cubase phase mixing

update "it's a long time, as it works ..."

(3 min)

GETTING STARTED

it was a little tedious for me "unsupported hardware"
back to the seller, a simple manipulation of audio options to force the installation path of drivers after nikel ..

I put a little time getting used to, not easy to adapt quickly when that of the prod.

incompatibilities, never

clear

OVERALL OPINION

5 / 6 years

I had a choice between the Reverend and Echo Layla
I looked at the Rme

+ Converter
-Interface, the box a little small for the I / O, no preamp
for instruments which made voice

a very good machine nothing to say "between 200/350 Used"

for a model above yes

I needed a portable sound card with a maximum of which is reliable.
I also wanted a connection in symtriques jacks for the audio quality (noise rduction).
The RME has become both the choice to do so.
Setup: I used the card several laptops, various CHARACTERISTICS trs, as well as several audio software. Never had a problem with.
I have often used with a converter AD / DA 8 inputs (a cheap trick to home Berhinger) to take advantage of 8 ADAT supplmentaires. In the same genre, I also used with a 01V on which I plugged in ADAT. It's really very practical: We arrive in the studio, you plug a single cable (ADAT) and presto, you record 8 tracks pet as a.
The SPDIF input is also handy when you have a tool that can connect to it (I plugged it a mc909).
Also I use the MIDI in / out.
I'm not 10/10 because the card has no XLR inputs. But in any fawn, it is better to have micro prampli indpendants as a, we choose what we want according to its needs and its Bugdet.

UTILIZATION

Installation is very easy. I had no problem.
When I bought the card a few years ago, I was not a powerful laptop trs (configuration "leisure" of the era: 256MB RAM, faster processor etc no rev. ). I have since changed several times in portable configurations for the most powerful. I also chang audio software.
I never had any problem. The Systm is extremely stable.

GETTING STARTED

Latency: I RULES values ​​diffrent following my use of the card.
- When using a virtual instrument, I put the latency to a minimum in order to play "rel time."
- When I record in multitrack or I'm working on a mix of dozens of tracks, with effects etc everywhere. I put a latency leve, as I am a sr I will not have the problem.
Number of recording tracks: I need gnralement maximum of 10 tracks. But I did some tests with all the tracks (8 analog + 8 ADAT + 2 SPDIF = 18 tracks) and passes without problem.

OVERALL OPINION

This card is a Swiss Army knife vritable and I used it in various situations trs.
It can be used to record a musical (it should however prampli if you have microphones).
But it can also serve as a mixer 18 inputs. As such, the routing is extremely well done (you can route everything with everything, in all configurations).
The map itself is relatively small (half a rack) and lightweight, so no problem to transport. Its solid appearance (while mtal) trust.
In the era, this card had no competitors in its class srieux. Now it's DIFFERENT. The offer is full and there are certainly other cards equivalents in other brands (and even with RME Fireface with the offering XLR inputs I think).
That said, I think it's still one of the best maps of portable, since it is based on a PCMCIA connection as fast as the PCI (same Firewire is not as fast ... and do not talk about the USB, even 2.0).
I regret the era, was the lack of XLR or micro level. But I have bought some time later a converter AD / DA ADAT to take advantage of the card and as he had on all of prampli between ... Finally, the most n'tait a default for me.

I bought this card to its low latency for software instruments as well as its quality of its rpute. Then I RALIS few models and now an album.
I use a Sony Vaio 2.4 GHz, HDD 7200 rev / min and 1 GB of RAM.
I pramplis 2:

Spl-a golmike
A blue-tube

couraging for the album I also had one of Mindprint numrique console and yamaha.

UTILIZATION

An extreme simplicity. I only had a few problems in trying couraging the MAJ. So I returned to my base config.

GETTING STARTED

I work on Live. I 3ms latency drops to record and then I go back.
I recorded the album up 14 tracks simultaneously!
8 + 4 per console numrique adat. She did not flinch.

OVERALL OPINION

was 4.5 years that I have and I'm not changing prs.
It is stable, trs good quality sound.
I keep it as my computer may hold.

I wanted an alternative to my DIGIFACE which has only digital inputs.

Having several cards and a Digiface Hammerfall PCI Express and PC, the case seemed ideal for multifaceted able to have I / O analog and digital.

AUDIO
8 line I / O (Cack TRS)
1 ADAT I / O (TOS)
1 SPDIF I / O (RCA)

DATA / COM
1 RMEWIRE (FW 1394 connector)
1 WC I / O (BNC)
1 Midi I / O (DIN)
1 ADAT sync

UTILIZATION

In RECORDING
I use it with my laptop and my desktop.
I use it with the release of an adat OctaMic D in RME too.
The ocatmic gives me 8-channel "transparent" and I use the 8 inputs with preamps lines + "colored"

In MIX
I use it on a desktop where I do all in the box but I connect hardware effects in both analog and digital.
For monitors, I go to a digital tc electronic BMC-2 converted to analog ...

GETTING STARTED

We can not say that it's going alone. The SHIFT frimware are sometimes problematic but once it works does not crash ever ca ...
RME

OVERALL OPINION

THE +

RME-Super converters
-Stable
-Up to 18 I / O


The -

Update the firmware.

(Originally written by Supermanu/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
I was looking for a stable sound card to record albums.

It has worked with several PC's but I won't give you any details.

UTILIZATION

Very easy installation... Just install it and it works!

I never had any incompatibility problems.

Very simple configuration.

I didn't read the user's manual.

GETTING STARTED

The drivers stability is outstanding I've never had a system crash!!

RME makes constant updates.

I use it with Cubase.

I get 3 ms latency for recording. And I increase it for mixing.

I only make mono or stereo recordings. I can play back up to 60 tracks.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for 4-5 years, I don't know exactly.

I tested many other sound cards and this is the only one I kept.

Good value for money.

Based on my experience, I would buy it again.