RME Audio Fireface UFX

I was looking for a sound card can have many inputs and many outputs. This can by adding two additional converters to 30 entrées/30 outputs.
What I have today. I have a studio and loves all or redébrancher reconnect every time I record. Therefore, everything is plugged in simultaneously battery (10 microphones, three guitars, two basses, three songs, 1 keyboard + hardware)
All connected to a Mac with 16MB and Logic Pro 9 and Logic Pro X now.
Everything can be run at the same time and it does not ppose of resource problem.

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable, no latency, the simple but effective effects a low memory if they are all used for all tracks at the same time.

GETTING STARTED

The installation is simple. But the configuration settings and need more refinements for this sounds really good. The manual is clear but not detailed enough in my opinion.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for over a year and NIOHC would do this without hesitation. this is the bomb

Getting to lodge itself in one rack unit 4 mic preamps (more correct), 8 line inputs, 1 and 2 AES Adat ... not bad.

8 line inputs are connected to two quad preamps, which gives me 12 mic in flight 4 U, any good classic pickup.

Any recent computer will work well with this interface because it takes both USB and Firewire.

UTILIZATION

RME drivers have a reputation for being very reliable and this is true regardless of the platform.
I use this interface mainly with Pyramix (PC) and also with Pro Tools (Mac).
In my case, latencies do not matter because I do not do rere and I hardly ever use returns for musicians.

GETTING STARTED

As with all RME interfaces, the first startup is fast, then the moment comes when one reads a bit to tour features.
These are high, especially with the integrated recording, a brilliant idea.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had a little over a year and I have gained enormously in space during my travels. The interface is nice. And then you can save a backup in case of trouble with the main station is a nice touch

A clear answer: its USB 2.0 connection

I previously used the Fireface 800 that gave me any satisfaction, apart from the issue of Firewire connection. This type of connection is endangered, and a good part of my work consisting of capatations Live disability that did not become more severe: almost no laptops equipped with Firewire, or even expansion slot for express card R34, I struggled to find a correct card and MSI LaCie, this set represents undoubtedly the weakest link in the chain. The USB 2.0 connection solves all

I use the 'UFX with a custom made preamp CRS 8 input table or sometimes Sonosax to 8 channels. 4 mic inputs of the UFX are efficient and seamless integration with other channels ... all line outputs from mixers are pluggées on the rear of the UFX and 12 analogue channels are stored on the sequencer Samplitude.
The PC is recording an MSI with 8GB Ram I running W7-64, audio streams are recorded on HDD Seagate 1TB connected via a USB 2.0 output.

The PC studio also run under W7-64 with an I7 and a Gigabyte motherboard with X58 chipset and 18GB of RAM.

Rating for this item: 9/10

UTILIZATION

The drivers are extremely stable, the site provides all RME SHIFT timely. So far, I am limited to 18 tracks in 24/88 without any difficulty.
Latency of 7 ms with a buffer size of 256 MB

I've never seen crackling, noise or other interference in relation to the size of the buffer. For projects exceeding 8 tracks, I wear the buffer size to 512MB by prudence, no more.

Rating for this item: 10/10

GETTING STARTED

The installation is done "like a breeze" ... In my case, I downloaded the RME website the latest drivers and firmware and everything went without difficulty anicroches.Aucune installation or incompatibility.

However, we regret a certain lack of intuitiveness in TotalMix FX: read a user manual is always useful, but here it is really necessary. And even after six weeks of intensive use, I would not swear that I master all the possibilities, huge it is true, TotalMix ..!

One difficulty comes from the interaction of the channel configuration between the sequencer software and TotalMix FX: you really think about what you are doing.

As the manual (English version / German AND French version) is very good, but I would say longer limited to a detailed statement of possibilities rather than a guide "Hands On" which would be useful for decision hand. However, for a good commentary on the connection to use for connections balanced / unbalanced: a wiring error and harmonic distortion increases significantly.

I would say a convenient summary and schematic commands as a card or flyer would be welcome!

Rating for this item: 7/10

OVERALL OPINION

I use the UFX for about 7 weeks. Before that, I worked daily with the RME Fireface 800 with great satisfaction and I have not tried other brands before deciding.

The +: quality converters

The - the price ... but the quality is paid and price / quality ratio is excellent.


With experience, you do again this choice?: Yes, certainly

Rating for this item: 9/10

What characteristics have motivated your choice? 8in / 8OUT analog + adat ports for future expansion, signal conversion and brand reputation.

For what purpose? I use it for my personal projects and to give courses of computer music.

What is your config (Motherboard / CPU / RAM / Disk, ...)? Mac Pro 8 cores / 10 GB RAM / 128 MB SSD + 1TB Sata

What instruments or systems (console, preamp, DtDs ...) the use and how you connect? I connect my external synth it with Klotz cable and microphone and monitors with Vovox. Note that the partners, via TotalMix, can cope with two pair of monitor and it is easy to switch from one to the other through the software interface.

UTILIZATION

The drivers are stable? Absolutely, I have no stability problem penny OS X 10.7.x (Lion)

How often are updated? I watch from time to time but it is known that RME monitors its products and its users and responsive.

What software do you use most often? Logic Pro 9

What you get lag? It depends on the project (size and configuration), Ubut average below 7ms

How many tracks do you manage to record / play simultaneously? I have not tested in this particular sense, but for now, I have not encountered any performance problem.

GETTING STARTED

The installation is done it without problem? no installation problems, it installs, it reboots and it works.

Have you encountered any incompatibilities? no, no.

The general configuration is easy? Finger in the nose. The TotalMix is ​​very well designed, although one can always improve with a small function by here and there, but RME cares and has already evolved well done!

The manual is clear and sufficient? Yes, they are doing things in RME It is a manual, a real one.

OVERALL OPINION

How long you use it? I use it for 5 or 6 months intensively as I am every day from 6 to 8 pm at the studio.

What is so special that you love the most, least? The flexibility of the signal through TotalMix, the quality of the signal conversion, incidentally, do not overlook the cables, as with audio of this quality do not use cheap cables. Manufacturing quality made in Germany, neat and tidy.

Did you tried many other models before buying it? I had a lot of audio card in the past, one I kept for as long as it was the fire Creamware but back then I was on PC, but coincidentally, another German product. (In addition to working for the Service of France Creamware I knew them well).

How would you rate the quality / price? Quality to its price.

With experience, you do again this choice? Absolutely, in fact, I will soon add an ADI-8 DS (or QS, I would see this ...) to enjoy 8 in / 8 out further.

It's a product I HIGHLY recommend.