RME announces the HDSPe MADI FX

The HDSPe MADI FX features 390 audio channels! Three MADI I/Os - two optical and one coaxial – are accompanied by one AES/EBU I/O and one analog monitoring output. To complete the feature set, a Word Clock connection and four MIDI I/Os were added. The complete technology and connectivity are highly integrated into the smallest possible amount of space - typical for RME. Only one PCIe slot is required on the motherboard, plus one free slot opening on the case.

To guarantee RME’s unique low latency performance with such a huge amount of audio channels, the HDPSe MADI FX introduces a newly developed modular Hammerfall Pro Audio Core. The high-tech core will process three times as many channels as the channel count of the previous MADI flagship, while actually reducing the system load and enabling ultra-low latencies down to 32 samples on modern computers.

A sophisticated new efficiency technology will automatically deactivate currently unused channels, so that they require no processing power or bandwidth. A simple stereo playback will not require any more performance than from a standard stereo audio card - despite the use of a professional multi-channel system with almost 400 channels.

The new core technology is accompanied by a special version of TotalMix FX, which allows using the enormous channel count in an efficient and practical manner. The addition of numerous performance optimizations ensures that the 4096-channel mixer of the MADI FX responds just as smoothly as its 1800-channel counterpart in the Fireface UFX. A new and faster DSP allows for a greater number of EQs and compressors.

An innovative new layout of TotalMix enables ergonomic handling of the enormous number of channels. A special option makes it possible to visually hide unused channels. Complete “Hide setups” can be saved at any time, and switched with a simple mouse click, for example between the channel view of the drum mix and the full band setup.

The 192 kHz RME effects engine allows latency-free monitoring with numerous effects like EQs, Compressors, Reverb, and Echo rendered directly on the hardware of the card, independent from the DAW software in use.

The integrated TotalMix matrix conveniently allows the use of the card as powerful MADI router. Unlike most other router solutions, each channel can be routed individually - even with separate level settings for each routing.  The unparalleled flexibility of TotalMix can turn the most exotic applications into practical reality.

RME’s unique Seamless Redundancy Operation uses the cards’ 3 MADI receivers to provide professional users with state-of-the-art fail safe operation. The audio data is not interrupted when switching to another input – and the card can use not only one, but two more sources for redundancy. In SRO mode the card operates as single MADI input device, recording up to 64 channels. As soon as the current input fails the audio data received from one of the other two inputs is used. No relocking and synchronization to a different clock source is required, and the interruption caused by the external failure is minimized to a few samples.

RME Advanced Remote Control starts shipping
The RME Advanced Remote Control is an optional accessory to the Fireface UFX and Fireface UCX.

The wired Advanced Remote Control (ARC) has been designed for direct access to the most frequently used actions and commands required in a studio's daily work. Its extremely flexible configuration through TotalMix FX will simplify the workflow and greatly increase the usability of the RME interface in any real world situation.

The ARC consists of a solid metal case with a main encoder dial and 8 push buttons, 6 of them equipped with LEDs. Seven buttons can be freely assigned via TotalMix FX to more than 36 different commands. Among them: Solo, mute, fader groups, Speaker B, Dim, Mono, Reverb, Echo, Cue Phones, Mic Gains and more.

The behavior of each button can be changed between push, toggle, enable and disable, depending on the base function.

The Remote Control connects to the main interface via a 5 m (16.4 ft.) cable and a special connector on the back of UFX and UCX.

The Advanced Remote Control (ARC) can be used with the Fireface UCX. It can also be used with all Fireface UFX with a serial number 23241707 (built after June 2011) or higher.Users that own a Fireface UFX with a serial number below 23241707 have to send their UFX to their distributor as it requires a hardware modification to be fully compatible to the Advanced Remote Control. This modification is not free of charge.