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Overview: |
The Fireface 800 is the world's most powerful FireWire audio interface ever. Up to 56 channels record/playback, up to 192 kHz sample rate, and true FireWire 800 sum up to an unsurpassed high-end, high performance and high speed FireWire audio interface. Since the Fireface first shipped in July 2004, the unit became the reference for FireWire audio - and still is today!
The Fireface 800 combines the latest and also proven technologies of previous RME products with the fastest FireWire technology. Analog technology of the ADI-8 converters, microphone technology of the OctaMic, TotalMix technology of the Hammerfall DSP series, years of experience in programming of efficient and reliable drivers, up to complete support from DIGICheck - only the best of the best, and even a bit more. The Fireface 800 offers the best worked out instrument input that could ever be found in an audio interface, a high power headphone output and signal-to-noise ratios of 119 dBA.
RMEs Fireface 800 is seen as reference by users and editors, when talking about FireWire audio and mobile recording.
It includes lots of features and capabilities not available from other manufacturers.
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Connectivity |
- 10 x Analog I/O
- 2 x ADAT I/O or 1 x ADAT I/O plus 1 x SPDIF I/O optical
- 1 x SPDIF I/O coaxial
- 1 x MIDI I/O
- 4 x Mic/Line Preamps
- 1 x Instrument input
- optional: Time Code Module
- TotalMix
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Inputs and Outputs: |
Analog I/Os: Eight balanced line inputs and outputs with software controlled switching of the reference levels (-10 dBV, +4 dBu, HiGain), of course realized discretely in the analog domain, guarantee highest dynamic range and highest fidelity. Apart from the levels of the microphone pre-amps and the headphone outputs, all device settings are software controlled. Equipped with the latest A/D and D/A converter chips, all I/Os operate up to 192 kHz and reach 119 dBA dynamic range on playback - even the headphone output (playback channels 9/10), whose high power technology delivers high volume even with low-impedance headphones.On the front side, the Fireface 800 has 4 discrete balanced microphone inputs with class-A stage, separate activation of 48 V phantom power and separate XLR/TRS inputs, where the latter can also be used as additional Line inputs. Two of the four mic inputs are permanently available as channels 9 and 10, the other two can be used together with or alternatively to the inputs 7/8 on the back.
The FireFace 800's Hi-Z instrument input offers a soft-limiter, which has been tuned especially for musical instruments. Due to a soft transition and deliberate creation of harmonics, the input signal is compressed steplessly according to taste, or the limiter can be used for distortion with tube sound. Activate the Drive circuit too for broad guitar distortion. The Speaker Emulation filter, which can also be switched on separately, takes low- and high-frequency disturbances away and guarantees an optimal basic sound even when recording directly into the computer, or when monitoring through a mixing console.
Digital I/Os: Two ADAT optical I/Os allow for a connection and insertion of effects devices, mixing consoles or external converters. Of course, these 16 channels are available simultaneously with the analog channels. Using two additional ADI-8 DS, there are 26 analog inputs and outputs, which remain still 18 at 96 kHz. The coaxial SPDIF I/O works up to 192 kHz, so that there are still 10 analog in- and outputs at the highest sample rate, plus two digital ones.
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Features: |
All inputs and outputs can be used at the
same time*!. E. g., the instrument input can
be used either instead of the line input on
the back, or together with it. Even the TRS
jack and the XLR socket of the microphone
inputs can be used simultaneously. This way,
up to 35 signal sources can be connected to
the Fireface 800 and recorded onto 28
separate tracks!
Thanks to the DSP-based TotalMix mixer,
known from the Hammerfall DSP series, all
inputs and outputs can be freely mixed,
distributed and routed. Up to 14 completely
independent stereo submixes are possible.
Each of the mixer's output channels, that is
every single submix channel, can be recorded
directly, without the need of external cable
loops. And there's more: TotalMix can be
MIDI remote controlled with any Mackie
Control compatible controller.
All settings including TotalMix are recalled
during boot via flash memory. After making
all desired settings, the device works
stand-alone even without computer as a
submixer, A/D and D/A-converter, headphone
mixer, format converter, instrument or
microphone pre-amplifier, monitoring mixer
and much more.
The Fireface 800 is equipped with
SteadyClock(TM), RME's unique sync and clock
technology. With this, the device becomes a
sync reference for the whole studio.
SteadyClock refreshes clock signals, removes
jitter, and takes permanent care of optimal
conversion quality, thus guarantees a
sensational sound quality, completely
independent from the reference clock's
quality.
SteadyClock allows the Fireface
800 to control the sample rate freely on
its own. The Settings dialog includes a
direct choice of the video and audio world's
most often used sample rates. Additionally,
two faders can be used to set the sample
rate freely and in real-time, within the
range of +/- 4% and +/- 0.4%.
Via an insert slot on the back, a
Time Code Option (TCO) for synchronizing
to LTC and video can be added. Thanks to
SteadyClock, the Fireface 800 does not only
extract absolute positions, but also a very
clean low-jitter word clock.
The Fireface 800 has a second port for hub
functionality, bi-lingual mode for full
FireWire 400 compatibility, and an
additional FireWire 400 port. Several
Fireface 800 can be used in parallel and at
the same time on one FireWire port.
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Tech Specs: |
Input AD:
8 x 1/4"
TRS, 4 x XLR
Mic, 4 x
1/4" TRS
Line, all
servo-balanced.
1 x 1/4" TS
unbalanced
Output
DA: 8 x
1/4" TRS,
servo-balanced,
DC-coupled
signal path.
1 x 1/4" TRS
unbalanced
Input
Digital:
2 x ADAT
optical or
SPDIF
optical,
SPDIF
coaxial
(AES/EBU
compatible)
Output
Digital:
2 x ADAT
optical or
SPDIF
optical,
SPDIF
coaxial
(AES/EBU
compatible)
MIDI:
1 x MIDI I/O
via 5-pin
DIN jacks,
for 16
channels low
jitter
hi-speed
MIDI
Dynamic
range AD:
109 dB RMS
unweighted,
112 dBA
THD AD:
< -110 dB (<
0.00032 %)
THD+N AD:
< -104 dB (<
0.00063 %)
Crosstalk
AD: >
110 dB
Dynamic
range DA:
116 dB RMS
unweighted,
119 dBA (unmuted)
THD DA:
< -103
dB (< 0.0007
%)
THD+N DA:
< -100
dB (< 0.001
%)
Crosstalk
DA: >
110 dB
Input/Output
level for 0
dBFS @ Hi
Gain: +19
dBu
Input/Output
level for 0
dBFS @ +4
dBu: +13 dBu
Input/Output
level for 0
dBFS @ -10
dBV: +2 dBV
Sample
rate
internally:
32, 44.1,
48, 64, 88.2
kHz, 96 kHz,
128, 176.4,
192 kHz
Sample
rate
externally:
28 kHz - 200
kHz
Frequency
response
AD/DA:
-0.1 dB: 5
Hz - 21.5
kHz (sf 48
kHz)
Frequency
response
AD/DA:
-0.5 dB: < 5
Hz - 43.5
kHz (sf 96
kHz)
Frequency
response
AD/DA:
-1 dB: < 5
Hz - 70 kHz
(sf 192 kHz)
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Driver support: |
Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP, Vista, Vista
64: Full ASIO multi-client operation of WDM,
MME (not XP64), GSIF 2.0 and ASIO 2.0. WDM
(DirectSound) with stereo and multi-channel
support. Full hot-plugging. Up to 3 units
operational. Mac OS X (10.3 or higher) PPC
and Intel: Core Audio, Core MIDI. Full
hot-plugging. Up to three units operational.
* In Quad Speed mode (176.4 and 192
kHz), both ADAT I/Os are deactivated
** Firewire is a registered
trademark of Apple Inc.
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