La Fireface 802 nasce per rinnovare la Fireface 800 senza intaccarne però le caratteristiche che hanno reso questa interfaccia un prodotto di successo planetario, andando ad integrare le funzionalità introdotte dalle interfacce all’avanguardia sviluppate dal marchio tedesco in questi ultimi 10 anni.
Come per l’unità originale, il cuore della Fireface 802 è rappresentato dai suoi 4 Pre microfonici analogici con impostazione manuale del guadagno in grado di garantire un’ottima trasparenza e altissimo livello qualitativo in fase di preamplificazione. I quattro ingressi sul pannello frontale utilizzano connettori combo con XLR/TRS bilanciati e possono anche operare come ingressi ad alta impedenza Hi-Z per la registrazione diretta di chitarre o altri strumenti.
La Fireface 802 ha un nuovo design più moderno rispetto alla Fireface 800, sul pannello frontale ci sono sempre gli stessi elementi ad eccezione della doppia uscita cuffie (non più singola). All’interno però è cambiato praticamente tutto, dai convertitori AD/DA di ultima generazione con un miglior SNR, alla presenza di 2 canali analogici aggiuntivi in ingresso e in uscita fino al supporto per l’Advanced Remote Control, solo per nominarne alcuni. Il supporto per il protocollo FireWire 800 è stato cessato in favore del protocollo USB 2, anche perché non si riscontravano particolari vantaggi rispetto al protocollo FireWire 400 che è sempre implementato. Naturalmente è garantito il supporto per il TotalMix FX (come per UCX e UFX) e per la modalità Class Compliant. La Fireface 802 può quindi essere controllata da iPad grazie all’applicazione TotalMix FX di RME. In totale la Fireface 802 è in grado di gestire fino a 60 canali con minima latenza via USB o FireWire e la rinomata stabilità dei driver RME.
La frequenza di campionamento supportata dai convertitori è di 192 kHz e raggiunge un range dinamico di 118 dBA in fase di riproduzione.
La Fireface UFX offre il nuovo TotalMix FX. Il mixer è stato interamente riprogettato dalle fondamenta ed offre possibilità di routing pressoché illimitate: i canali di ingresso possono essere liberamente raggruppati in submix diversi ed inviati ai canali di uscita. Ma la potenza non si esprime solo nel routing: il TotalMix FX consente di inserire EQ, processori di dinamica e Riverbero/Eco su tutti i canali di ingresso e di uscita fino a 192 kHz. La nuova sezione Control Room aggiunge alla flessibilità del routing una serie di funzioni avanzate di monitoraggio che semplificano notevolmente il lavoro in studio. La funzioni del TotalMix FX possono essere controllate tramite Advanced Remote Control o utilizzando qualsiasi controller MIDI che supporti il protocollo Mackie Control.
La straordinaria qualità dei driver RME garantisce latenze bassissime e un’affidabilità al top del settore anche nelle applicazioni audio più complesse; inoltre la scheda può vantare il sistema SteadyClock per la soppressione attiva del jitter, il monitoraggio professionale dei livelli, il funzionamento stand-alone, il tool di analisi e metering DIGICheck unico nel suo genere e, naturalmente, il supporto per le piattaforme PC e Mac.
Caratteristiche principali:
30 Input / 30 Output
12 x Analog I/O
4 x Mic/Instrument Preamp, classic technology
1 x AES/EBU I/O
2 x ADAT I/O (or 1 x ADAT I/O plus 1 x SPDIF I/O optical)
1 x Word Clock I/O
1 x MIDI I/O
FireWire e USB
TotalMix FX
INFORMAZIONI UTILI
Produttore: Rme
Modello: Fireface 802
Website: www.rme-audio.de
Distributore italiano: www.midiware.com
Costo: Euro 1250,00+ IVA
Alla prossima novità da Francoforte
Antonio CampegliaThe Fireface 802 renews RME’s reputation built on the legendary Fireface 800. 60 channels of audio, high-end microphone preamps, reference class converters, a complete effects section and operation at up to 192 kHz are the base for many more features.
Ultra-low latency operation with USB or FireWire, combined with the legendary RME driver stability and maintenance. Active jitter suppression, individually switchable reference levels for all inputs and outputs, full stand-alone functionality, RME’s unique DIGICheck metering and analysis toolbox, and identical operation on Windows PC and Mac.
TotalMix FX, RME’s digital high-end mixer and signal router, driven by two powerful DSPs, with integrated EQ, Dynamics and Reverb/Echo effects at up to 192 kHz, plus a built-in monitoring controller.
The full-blown feature set also includes optional Class Compliant mode and operation with TotalMix FX for iPad, RME’s app to fully control the 802 from the iPad, without any computer. The easy to use app includes metering for all 90 channels plus effects bus, different setup screens, and complete control of all features.
The Fireface 802 is a highly integrated pro audio solution, a full-blown studio, all within a 19” enclosure. An interface designed for users who don’t want to make compromises in sound, stability and ultra-low latency operation, and who long for an unrivaled professional feature set. Once again a milestone interface from RME, including the best of the best and even a bit more.
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Inputs and Outputs
The Fireface 802 provides 60 channels of audio: 30 input and 30 output channels.
All inputs and outputs can be used at the same time. Up to 12 analog and 18 digital channels can be recorded onto 30 tracks separately.
Analog I/O
The Fireface 802 has 12 analog I/Os.
12 Inputs . 8 balanced TRS on the back and 4 XLR inputs with Mic/Instrument preamps on the front.
12 Outputs . On the rear: 8 balanced TRS. On the front: Two hi-power TRS stereo phones outputs provide high volumes even with hi-impedance headphones (playback channels 9/10 and 11/12).
Sound Quality . Like other RME products before the Fireface 802 combines excellent analog circuit design with latest digital conversion technology. All balanced TRS & XLR I/Os as well as the two phones outputs offer outstanding low noise and distortion values. In best RME tradition and product philosophy converters and preamps don’t produce “sound”, they do not add or remove anything from the source signal, just capture it as it is.
Equipped with the latest A/D and D/A converter chips, all I/Os operate at up to 192 kHz and reach 118 dBA dynamic range on playback – even both headphone outputs. Their high power technology delivers high volume no matter if high or low impedance phones are used.
Due to its efficient jitter reduction, RME’s superior SteadyClock guarantees state-of-the-art AD/DA conversion, even when clocking to an external clock source.
Every input and output is individually switchable to these common professional studio levels: -10 dBV, +4 dBu, HiGain (equivalent to +2 dBV, +13 dBu and +19 dBu for digital full scale).
All outputs can be used for ASIO Direct Monitoring (ADM) purposes.
Preamps . for Microphones and Instruments with Low Latency Conversion. The 802 has four high-transparency preamps with four low latency converters.
Microphone and instrument preamps of the 802 use the classic technology of the OctaMic II, a high-end preamp for supreme sonic demands and critical applications, like the professional recording of classical concerts. The symmetrical preamp design impresses with extremely low distortion, excellent signal to noise ratio and a perfect linear frequency response. A premium solution for transmitting and amplifying any audio input truly unchanged, be it high-level stage or typical studio signals, lower level and high-impedance instruments, or dynamic, condenser and ribbon microphones.
The pot-controlled gain of up to 60 dB, adjustable over a range of 54 dB, is individually set for every preamp on the front of the 802.
The four inputs on the front use balanced XLR/TS combo sockets and operate alternatively as Hi-Z inputs. Directly plug in up to four guitars or other instruments – no other hardware required.
Each channel can be individually switched to 48V phantom power or instrument mode. LEDs for signal, clip, TS operation and activated phantom power provide overview on the unit’s status.
The Fireface 802 follows RME’s tradition of providing flexible and expandable audio systems. Adding additional preamplifiers or more analog inputs is easily done via the dual ADAT optical I/Os on the rear.
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Digital I/O
AES/EBU: The Fireface 802 has one professional AES/EBU I/O operating at up to 192 kHz.
ADAT: Two 8-channel ADAT I/Os allow for a connection of two additional AD/DA converters or the insertion of effects devices and mixing consoles. Both I/Os support sample rates at up to 192 kHz (S/MUX4). Like AES/EBU, these 16 ADAT channels are available simultaneously with the analog channels. Using two external converters like the ADI-8 QS, the 802 will provide 28 analog inputs and outputs, 20 with a sample rate of 96 kHz, and still 16 at 192 kHz.
SPDIF: The second ADAT I/O can be used as optical SPDIF I/O, making the UFX connections even more flexible.
Word Clock & MIDI: A word clock input and output (BNC) with switchable termination and a MIDI I/O complete the list of connections, turning the Fireface 802 into a professional audio system with universal usability.
TotalMix FX
The DSP based TotalMix mixer allows fully independent routing and mixing of all 30 input and 30 playback channels to all 30 physical outputs. Up to 15 totally independent stereo submixes plus a luxury Control Room section offer unrivalled monitoring capabilities and unsurpassed routing flexibility.
Every input and output channel comes with a luxury feature set, comparable to a full-scale digital console. The effects per channel include 3-band parametric EQ, adjustable Low Cut, Auto Level, Compressor, Expander, MS Processing and phase reversal. The Reverb and Echo effects unit is available for all channels by a stereo send and return bus. The Fireface 802 offers all these effects in all sample rates, including 192 kHz.
The two DSPs ensure an impressive performance even in extreme applications. As usual with RME, TotalMix is available with all channels (90) at all sample rates, completely unlimited. The second DSP calculates the effects only, therefore has sufficient resources. For example, at 48 kHz 60 EQs, 40 Low Cuts, 8 Dynamics, Reverb and Echo can be activated.
The FX-DSP uses automatic overload surveillance. As soon as no effect can be added anymore the TotalMix surface will clearly signal this condition. When changing to higher sample rates the 802 automatically deactivates all effects that exceed the DSP’s performance – the DSP will never be overloaded. This also prevents the user from destroyed loudspeakers.
The complete effects section not only adds a lot of flexibility to the recording chain, but makes latency burdened software dispensable. TotalMix can easily replace any external mixer, e.g. to create different latency-free monitoring mixes with EQ and Reverb for the main studio monitors and the headphone of the vocalist(s) in the recording chamber.
