All user reviews for the RME Audio Fireface UC

Converter and preamp RME attracted me.
I wanted a perfect card for sounds made with very good converters.

I compose, record and mix various artists. I have a QuadCore PC with 4GB of ram under 7 64bit.
I work on Sonar and Maschine!

UTILIZATION

Go there eyes closed ... the drivers are super stable!

I can spend a latency from 128 to 2048 according to my needs (composition, recording and mixing). Brefff in any case, this sound card is a FULL TIME JOB sound!

GETTING STARTED

Ttout is perfectly installed, and all parameters with ease.

I LOVE RME

OVERALL OPINION

I absolutely love everything about this card, and the only thing I can add him to want additional entries are the limit ... but for the moment I do not use so .... here is in 2 words I love this card and the TOTAL MIX!

I would do this choice .... 1000 times a map of this quality USB .... what more ....

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UTILIZATION

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GETTING STARTED

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OVERALL OPINION

I had the Fireface 400 before and a few stability problems with my new computer running Windows 7.
I use 'pro': audio recordings and sync music for films, commercials (using audio and midi) etc ...
6 months that I have this new card, no problem of stability.

Latency, power, size of the buffer used etc ... should be larger than the firewire are in fact the same as the Fireface 400.
I made plans with 30 tracks of Vienna Orchestra / VSL and there was still plenty of room.
Converters and preamps are the same as those of the Fireface 400, and are simply excellent, very clear and very low harmonic distortion (according to my ears). on the other hand, they are very neutral and do not give her grain. For this, buy preamp, compressors etc ... External

And the big advantage with USB is that: 1) a priori it will not disappear tomorrow (while the firewire ...) 2) there on all ordis, Mac or PC.

Bonus: the interface is a little TotalMix upgraded compared to the fireface (screens prettiest).

Used with a macbook pro 17 inch no latency issues or stability.
I bought it for its number of inputs and management perfect afternoon.

I plug my synths and my mpc directly above and the sound is crystal!

UTILIZATION

Stable in stable!
Never any problems, Deutscher quality )))))))

GETTING STARTED

Simple installation and unhindered total mix takes some time to learn but once mastered it is happiness.
Possibilities for internal routing is great!
I never needed the manual.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had a few months before I had a fireface 400 because I sold a lot of trouble with firewire stability.
I think it is worth the money because the sound (both preamp that converters) is impeccable, the sound pro at home is what I feel!
The sound is a bit colder than the apogee but clearer and more precise.

I remake that choice without hesitation, for those who have the budget go for it!

I wanted a perfect sound for voice, the rest of my prods are VST or MIDI so the quality of the sound card comes soon.

The preamp, the convertos, RME .... it motivated me. So I bought their eyes closed (by listening to hours of youtube users babyface or Fireface.

I plugged my microphone above TLM102. It's not upscale, it's not crap either.

UTILIZATION

It is stable, nothing to say. TotalMix system is intuitive and well thought out especially hyper. Cubase 5 with it's perfect.

I record mostly voice, sometimes acoustic guitars. The sound is very clean, what you hear in cubase is what you hear when you play.

I did not lag when I put the buffer 1024, then 2024 if I put a little yes, but hey it leaves me quite some margin ....

GETTING STARTED

Trouble-free installation. Note that I have not been able to install the drivers supplied with the card (I do not know why, they can be dated back too?) So I was on the RME site and there it was not nickel.

OVERALL OPINION

So I use it for more than six months. Before I had the M-Audio and I thought it was good. I'm still taking votes on my pc with the m-audio ... It's not comparable. The sound of the Fireface is clear, and especially NO BACKGROUND NOISE EVEN GAIN phantom power to 40db!!

on the other hand I expected a "grain" particular to a "coloring". There are none. I realized that the quality of the Fireface is the sound "clear", "neutral", and the fact that we can push the gain without suffering from noise. After, if you want a "his" particular, should see the plugins listed or hardwware.

I know not as good as the focusrites with their amp simulations, the Steinberg MR816 (that tempted me too much) at a time to make a choice we can not test everything at home! I do not regret getting one but I thought her perfect for the prod in fact I realize that this is a link in a chain (sidechain) and a typical dynamic processor avalon give me what I miss .... A color, warmth, a +.

But it was really the feeling of having pro gear is expensive but worth every euro I think ...

I needed a portable config not too expensive, so a USB sound card to use with my laptop (600 euros) that allows me to get a few channels at the same time and with proper quality and reliability.
I would have added a converter 8 in / 8 out behringer ADA8000 (about 200 euros) and
a behringer headphone amp (50 euros), I could put everything in rack on wheels with a housing for the computer (2U Gator Fly: about 50 euros) and here I am with a mobile config to less than 2000 euros and holds up, for the fans.

UTILIZATION

Question reliability of the RME, no problems so far, latency correct for use with virtual instrumentals of the moment (it depends on the computer, mine is not overkill), and stable drivers, question quality I am filled, two XLR inputs on the front seems to be equipped with a good preamp very clear and precise, no "noise", the two following entries in jack for connecting a guitar or bass or whatever you want, but for a scratch c ' the top is to use the virtual rig, no noise either, the real stuff, no gadget, a simple design and pro, it's not the RME on the cheap, it's just a sound card usb pro in the only in this category I think.
So to summarize:
up to 16 simultaneous inputs with a latency used to make real-time, including 4 with pro-quality preamps. (It's better to invest a little more than me in the computer to really enjoy it)

GETTING STARTED

Installation very easy, in fact I do not remember really, but if it does not mark me is that it had to be simple and rapide.Pas crash or conflict with the sound card of the native 'computer, I use Cubase 5, Live 8 and a lot of plug ins, I have no particular concern, sometimes some plug "doubtful" plant with Live, but I think that that is the RME that is in cause.
The software that manages the card is quite logical and intuitive for someone who knows a bit consoles, the patch and routing in digital audio for a beginner it may be not so simple, but it does the is never, in any case I tested the MOTU 896 mk3 and there by the software against hated, certainly more complete eq, reverbs and all but too choppy, too gadget too, had no need to all this, I was Soulé.
With the RME I not need the manual to tell the truth is clear.

OVERALL OPINION

I have been using for over a year, no worries, I do not regret at all the investment, I doubt that it must scare a bunch of people 900 euros for a USB sound card, but in fact all depends on what you intended.
I have sold my home studio config, I had a 01V96 and a RME 9652 on a tower PC, I did not like the sound of the console preamps and I could not move without feeling with moving, Now I have a real sound, and the ability to move and all that without spending the big thing, thanks to the resale of my old stuff. Well, before testing the MOTU RME I tried adjusting the first mini firewire port of my laptop (total failure), then adding a Firewire Express card (with Texas Instruments chipset) and it played but there it's often cracked, adding that the software malfoutu, it did not. Now I finally have the equipment that suits me in terms of quality, reliability and ergonomics.

Rme reputation has motivated my choice and my experience: Rme are ultra stable and very low latency. The converter is also quite clear from what I've had in the past. Noted no extraneous noise does not pass through the signal. I had a bad experience with the previous card in USB plug (background noise of a hub connected to another USB port or a USB cable just plug into my synthesizer)
I use my Rme only to record my moog synthesizer, or in the future, use of external analog effects in return.

UTILIZATION

The drivers are ultra stable, for now I have not seen better, and the team that made the drivers is very reactive! no problems with Mac OSX Leo!
I use with my RME, Ableton Live and Logic, the routing is very quick and easy. loopback function of the total mix is ​​very interesting!
Small flat for the RME Fireface UC (which has a dsp a little tired in the end). No way to have this effect the equalization or the babyface and UFX. it's a shame I did use the babyface!

GETTING STARTED

Connection, the intallation is fast: when you have little confusing switch in "Mac", but quickly set!
The card is easy takes over, the total mix of a huge opportunity, though a bit tricky at first!
Many people regret the lack of a manual in French (thankfully a Audiofanzine forumers of us share a great link to a manual in French!)

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for a few weeks! It remains to make some test to see if it suits me, but for now I'm happy.
The most interesting feature is the converter, which has the money, intended for the professional home studio. The presence of the adat of the word clock, the adat is a plus!
I try before 5 this model! Rme babyface is the one that still had the most satisfied, but it had some weaknesses that I can not find with the Fireface.
the price / quality ratio is excellent, although there are serious competitor in electronics such as tc (twin impact
, Konnekt 48)
I would definitely do it again this election with just under a dsp does not exist!

Sound card with multiple inputs / outputs, ADAT Converter, SPDIF, word clock ... I use it on a Laptop M70VN: Vista 32-bit 4 GB RAM 2x250 GB HDD NVIDIA GeForce 9650M (1GB) I chose to make models (drums, guitars, keyboards, vocals ...) , live recordings from small groups ...

UTILIZATION

To install, you plug the card on the field and then the PC's USB drivers and s'intallent virtually alone! I use it with Sonar 8, Traktor Pro, Guitar Rig 3 in multitrack playback (for up to 15 tracks instand) me <strong>longer an</strong> issue. I have not yet tested in multitrack recording. Latency is set to 5.8 ms ... which I think is not bad at all!

GETTING STARTED

The installation was no problem. The Fireface UC has a "TotalMix" which lets you use the card as a console, but there is no effect built into this software (EQ, compressor ...). Routing I / O is done without difficulty and can be registered for use in Stand Alone. But the card has only one knob on the front panel control knob that unfortunately that the levels of E / S. .. damage. The manual is in English and German, but "fiddling" a little, it does very well without. ! After adjusting the audio config Sonar 8, still I got a slight muting both reading and recording. The buffer settings, disabling the firewall, wifi ... there were nothing. But after disabling the appearance of Vista Aero, the problem seems to be resolved and I've even been able to reduce the latency of the map and the buffer size for reading and recording. So for those who are on Vista, this process seems to be to test!? Ah, yes. I also put the software (Sonar here) priority "High" process in Task Manager.

OVERALL OPINION

I have only been two weeks so I did that step back ... After testing the Motu Ultralite MK3, a presonus (I forget which), several crashes (PC and hardware) and the inability to install Firewire cards, I turned to the latest RME has finally out a USB model. And then, oh wonder, it works (fingers crossed) and sound ... what sound. The budget is not what I set (budget exceeded € 250), but well worth the cost. For a USB card, the price is a bit high, but the functionality, product quality and software are well worth the cost. If it again ..? Yes, I do it again.

Reputation for quality construction and sound quality.

I use it alone or with an external preamp SPL on a laptop Dell Latitude E6500 Core 2 Duo 2.5Ghz nt of 2007 data, 4Gb Ram, two HD (SSD 80Gb, 500Gb HD).

Usage: audio output quality from my laptop, and recording voice and / or acoustic guitar.

UTILIZATION

No pb with the drivers, which are regularly updated. Without attempting to optimize the latency of 7ms in ASIO.

The software used is 8 Ableton Live, Cubase 5, 6 Sibelius, Kontakt 4, Aria Player, UVI worstation, EZ Drummer, Addictive Drums.

I record one or two simultaneous audio tracks (two mono or stereo) and a maximum of 4 to 8 VST MIDI tracks (bass, drums, percussion, flute, piano, etc. ...). Never any points.

GETTING STARTED

No problems installing or updating the drivers and firmware. Configuration is easy for me, quite clear and the manual but in English (or German) and it is essential to read, to understand the use of software annexes (TotalMix, etc.) in particular to create mixes up to different outputs (headphones, monitors, software).

I do not see how one could use such a tool without taking the trouble to understand its possibilities and how they are used.

The only potential defect (but not for me as bilingual) is the absence of doc in French (to my knowledge of 2007, I have not tried since).

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 2 years before I was using an M-Audio Fast Track Pro is a level well below (technical quality, power and breath of the preamp, technical support and development, technical possibilities).

Great to completely / control the RME from the screen of the computer via TotalMix without ever having to use the hardware buttons. You can put the box anywhere (even when knowing that the headphone output is on the case).

Only drawback: the on / off switch is in the rear, accessible from the top, forcing the manner in which case the Fireface in its installation. I never dared to use a switch directly on the cable box's power, but it's still possible, really minor.

Taking power supply is a little shaky in its housing, but I've never had a pb. Pity though that the Fireface UC is not directly on the plug-sector (presumably because it would swell the machine transformer, and electronic connectors).

Expensive, but it was worth the money (the M-audio as FTP but not in the same direction!).

Map comprehensive I / O, I use a PC and Win XP, and I enter my phoenix drs-q4 it.

UTILIZATION

I use it with cubase, incredibly stable drivers, the usb made me a little scared, but I must recognize that it's just pure happiness and more flexible than the bcp FW

GETTING STARTED

Installation is easy, after the routing software is so complete that it is not so simple to understand all the subtleties! A manual of office in French and a little more clear on some point would be welcome ...
Now once understood the logic, it is a treat

OVERALL OPINION

One thing that really amazed me was when I listen to a project with this card: the sound, as if I change the speaker! `Really great converters nothing to say, pre-amps me look very good, so now I use my phoenix ...

the internal routing is a gem!

I tested lots of cards, I think this one is just perfect, easy to carry, solid, super convertos, preamp more than adequate, bcp / O, in short I do not know if there is also a good value Price Performance

RME's reputation, the desire to move to a serious sound card after trying many models of entry-level and mid-range.
I use a macbook 2.2 ghz 2007, 3GB Ram, 500GB HD and 7200T / m.
I use it on stage for Live 8 and drive a sampler, and at home for models or record tracks final.

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable,
J'utlise Live 8, and rarely Logic.
I record rarely more than 2 tracks at the moment, and I read a 20taine with plugs in all directions.
I'm not aware of updates to drivers.
In terms of latency I have obtained a very low, but I had a problem with a project a little loaded, but my computer is full!

GETTING STARTED

The installation caused me problems at first because I did not understand the need to turn the knob so that the card is in AP (for Apple), it was invariably on the PC.
Since no worries, it remains for me to manage the total mix, by the way I want to know how to route to get the headphone on an output (7 / 8) and listen to another (1 / 2) for example.
I have not encountered a conflict and I'm not too checker the manual!

OVERALL OPINION

I use it since the early 2011, I have tried many cards before: Edirol, Presonus Firepod one, an inspiration, Motu, an Mbox mini, in no particular order, and there is no picture at all levels of RME is well above the quality of catch, stability, etc ...
I love the sound, flexible routing, the quality of converters, different connectors ...
It's a bit expensive but good, and I will redeem it first instead of procrastinating, with intermediate models that eventually resell ...

What characteristics have motivated your choice?

Side in a small Swiss army knife half-rack. Everything is there: 2 CMOP quality preamps, analog I / O, I / O ADAT / SPDIF, Word Clock, 2 MIDI I / O ...
I also wanted a nickel finish and especially a serious and worry-free brand, which provides regular updates of its drivers and meet the technical service. They are few and RME is one of them.

What is your config (Motherboard / CPU / Ram / Hard ,...)?

Mac Book Pro dual core 2.2 gz (old model)

With which instruments or systems (console, preamp, DTD ...) do you use the connection and how? ...
For what purpose?

Output: Connected on a pair of headphones monitor + monitoring + other headphone when I do a voice session.
Input: two microphones, one for the vocalist / singer for a talkback.

It may seem under-used, but I like the idea of ​​being able to meet almost any situation.

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable?

Yes

They are often updated?

Yes, really not worry about that.

What software do you use most often?

Ableton Live, Logic

How many tracks you get to record / playback simultaneously? ...

For now, I'm just taken the voice, so a track.
However, I have heard it read usb, the Fireface no more than four tracks beyond 44.1kz. I have not tried it so I do not confirm.

What you get lag?

My computer is rather feeble and is still subject to the cleat plug-ins, so I'm always up latency, even when I made my voice (I use the time lag on the mode 0 Total Mix).

GETTING STARTED

The installation is done it without problems? Have you experienced any incompatibilities? The general configuration is easy? The manual is clear and sufficient? ...

Yes

OVERALL OPINION

How long have you use it?

6 months

Have you tried many other models before buying it?

Apogee Duet

What is so special that you like most and least?
The overall quality: everything is good, preamps, converters, word clock. In addition, it works without any problem. I have not much to complain, but I have not pushed to its limits.
If we had to say a least it would be the only notched button to control everything and the lack of level meter. Nevertheless, I control via midi and it works very well.

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

The value for money is excellent, and in this range, I would do this choice.

What motivated my choice are quality converters, low latency and move on something really pro.

UTILIZATION

Drivers-very stable
"I use the Fireface with Fl studio 9 software xxl, cubase cubase sx 2 and 5 (no worries on these 3 software, everything works fine once you get everything configured properly.
-I recorded a track so I can not really speak to ca. Having said that I read at least 40 tracks simultaneously tranquillou
"I get it a latency of 6 ms, which is very good.

GETTING STARTED

Installation on Windows 7 is a little galley because you have to install everything manually, but once we found the manip gonna fast (but well before finding the manip ... lol)
No incompatibility. The manual is quite clear, although in English.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for 5 months. Before acquiring the Fireface I had a Line 6 UX2 then Edirol FA-101.
+ What I like is the quality of the converters, low latency, mic preamps clear and transparent so that the top level of the headphone output. What I like least ... lol probably the price, 849 euros for a small audio interface it's still relatively expensive, but hey, hopefully the quality is there ...
The value for money is good but not excellent, I think it is expensive for what it is. I think at 650 euros it would have a value for money excellent.
I remake that choice without hesitation.

It is an external audio interface connected by USB2.

It has 8 inputs and 8 analog outputs.

The entries are as follows:
2 XLR Mic inputs with 48v power supply and gain control
2 instrument / line inputs with adjustable gain and impedance (in jack 6.35)
4 balanced line inputs (jack in 6.35)

And outputs:
6 balanced line output jack (6.35)
2 x line / phone unbalanced (stereo mini jack)

There are also 16 digital inputs / outputs and 2 ADAT optical inputs / outputs have AES-EBU SPDIF cinch.

So a total of 20 inputs / outputs.

Here is a short description.

For more info, the site of EMR:
https://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_fireface_uc.php

UTILIZATION

Installation on Windows XP is automatic.
I did once installed and since then no problem.
Everything works nickel.

on the other hand, Windows 7, you must install the drivers "by hand".
The automatic installation is blocked by Windows security.

No problems in recording and playback

I have not yet registered more than two tracks simultaneously.

on the other hand, no problems playing more than 20 audio tracks in the mix.

The drivers seem stable in the 2 systems. No problems for 2 weeks of use.

I get to have a latency of 7.5 ms and 7.5 ms recording playback, so 15 ms in total, which I think is not bad considering the number of entries available.

GETTING STARTED

I found this really easy to use interface.
I had a creamware pulsar which worked very well (PCI) but needed a storm of neurons in each new project.
The software that drives the EMR are really intuitive and easy to use.

The converters seem at least as good as those of creamware, if not better. I have not yet had time to get a true opinion on this subject.

The manual (in English and German) is very comprehensive. It must be possible without them if you know already what type of stuff.

OVERALL OPINION

After 2 weeks of use in home studio, I'm really happy with this card yet.

It remains to explore use live, and to really judge the quality of the converters.

It's still expensive materials for non-professional, but it certainly is a sustainable investment. The production looks good.

chose me at the USB due to the death of firewire and insurance, in light of the seriousness of the mark, having something of reliable and stable.
I had an Alesis io2 so look good in front ...
I use a macbook pro that has 3 years, a 2.4 GB intel core duo two, a MD421 and a B1 and I discover the true potential of these two microphones as well as my G2 KRK 5.

UTILIZATION

drivers are stable even if with logic, the CPU resources are consumed faster (I have the minimum required config for the card) and I had to learn that we need to send the tracks on different buses to divide history the effort of each heart.
AC once assimilated, how happy!

I get to play 30 tracks with 3-4 effects without problèmes.Je can not talk about input latency accurately but I must say that I can put effects and recording without noticeable latency even on a big project as previously mentioned


GETTING STARTED

I have not had to worry especially if it is that we must not rush during installation:
if you do not read the leaflet, or at least the beginning, we pass beside the fact that we must configure the card between mac and pc ... after that it ride
I tried it with my interface osx 10.5 and Win XP Pro and Nuendo and nickel is

English manual but comfortable grip to start with a minimum of savvy and dig it after his English

OVERALL OPINION

I have been using a mois.j adore its integrated preamps (I had an Alesis io2 DMP3 + m-audio) that have power without blowing side to me.
I do not spend my time fixing my sound sources with eq or add gain and has therefore to optimize the blast but my mix which is a breeze thanks to the card and its preamp and output monitoring that low or high volume remains faithful.
Now, I spend 4 times less time to record, mix ... thank you rm.

Quality is paid, I went plaisir.je discovers the Middle Ages to 21th century

I did not really step back and am not able to compare with something like that but when I compose, I am concerned over the technical aspect and do not feel anxious about my mixes rehearing other than my castle ...
In conclusion: expensive but damn good. I only recorded 3 tracks simultaneously, but it works nickel.
alesis io2 is dead, long live rm uc!