Detailed instructions for use are in the User's Guide.
User's Guide
Fireface 800
The most powerful FireWire® audio interface ever!
TotalMix 24 Bit / 192 kHz SyncAlign
®
TM
ZLM
®
SyncCheck
TM
®
SteadyClock
FireWire 800 / 400 Digital I/O System 10 + 16 + 2 Channels Analog / ADAT / SPDIF Interface 24 Bit / 192 kHz Digital Audio 56 x 28 Matrix Router MIDI I/O Stand-Alone Operation MIDI Remote Control Stand-Alone MIDI Controlled Operation
General
Introduction ...............................................................6 Package Contents .....................................................6 System Requirements ..............................................6 Brief Description and Characteristics.....................6 First Usage - Quick Start 5.1 Connectors and Front Panel ...................................7 5.2 Quick Start ..............................................................8 6 Accessories ...............................................................8 7 Warranty.....................................................................9 8 Appendix ....................................................................9 1 2 3 4 5
Installation and Operation - Windows
Hardware Installation..............................................12 Driver and Firmware 10.1 Driver Installation .................................................12 10.2 Driver Update .......................................................13 10.3 Deinstalling the Drivers ........................................13 10.4 Firmware Update..................................................13 11 Configuring the Fireface 11.1 Settings dialog  General.....................................14 11.2 Settings dialog  DDS ..........................................17 11.3 Clock Modes - Synchronization............................18 11.4 Limit Bandwidth ....................................................19 12 Operation and Usage 12.1 Playback...............................................................20 12.2 DVD Playback (AC-3 / DTS) ................................21 12.3 Low Latency under MME......................................22 12.4 Notes on WDM .....................................................23 12.5 Multi-client Operation ...........................................24 12.6 Digital Recording ..................................................25 12.7 Analog Recording.................................................26 13 Operation under ASIO 2.0 13.1 General ................................................................26 13.2 Known Problems ..................................................27 14 Operation under GSIF.............................................27 15 Using more than one Fireface................................28 16 DIGICheck ................................................................29 17 Hotline  Troubleshooting 17.1 General ................................................................30 17.2 Installation ............................................................31 18 Diagrams 18.1 Channel Routing ASIO 96 kHz ............................32 18.2 Channel Routing MME 96 kHz.............................33 9 10
Installation and Operation - Mac OS X
Hardware Installation..............................................36 Driver 20.1 Driver Installation .................................................36 20.2 Driver Update .......................................................37 21 Firmware Update .....................................................37 19 20
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User's Guide Fireface 800 © RME
Configuring the Fireface 22.1 Settings Dialog  General.................................... 38 22.2 Settings Dialog  DDS ......................................... 41 22.3 Clock Modes - Synchronization ........................... 42 22.4 Limit Bandwidth.................................................... 43 23 Mac OS X FAQ 23.1 Round about Driver Installation............................ 44 23.2 MIDI doesn't work ................................................ 44 23.3 Supported Sample Rates..................................... 45 23.4 Repairing Disk Permissions................................. 45 23.5 FireWire Compatibility.......................................... 45 23.6 Various Information.............................................. 45 24 Hotline  Troubleshooting ..................................... 46 25 Diagram: Channel Routing at 96 kHz ...................... 47
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Stand-Alone Operation, Connections and TotalMix
Stand-alone Operation 26.1 10-channel AD/DA-Converter .............................. 50 26.2 4-channel Mic Preamp ......................................... 50 26.3 Monitor Mixer ....................................................... 50 26.4 Digital Format Converter ...................................... 50 26.5 Analog/digital Routing Matrix ............................... 50 27 Analog Inputs 27.1 Line Rear ............................................................. 51 27.2 Microphone / Line Front....................................... 51 27.3 Instrument ............................................................ 52 28 Analog Outputs 28.1 Line ...................................................................... 53 28.2 Phones................................................................. 53 29 Digital Connections 29.1 ADAT ................................................................... 54 29.2 SPDIF................................................................... 54 29.3 MIDI...................................................................... 55 30 Word Clock 30.1 Word Clock Input and Output .............................. 56 30.2 Technical Description and Background ............... 57 30.3 Cables and Termination....................................... 58 30.4 General Operation................................................ 58 31 TotalMix: Routing and Monitoring 31.1 Overview .............................................................. 59 31.2 The User Interface ............................................... 61 31.3 Elements of a Channel ........................................ 62 31.4 Tour de TotalMix .................................................. 62 31.5 Submix View ........................................................ 64 31.6 Mute and Solo ...................................................... 64 31.7 Quick Access Panel ............................................. 65 31.8 Presets ................................................................. 65 31.9 Monitor Panel ....................................................... 67 31.10 Preferences........................................................ 67 31.11 Editing the Names.............................................. 68 31.12 Hotkeys .............................................................. 69 31.13 Menu Options..................................................... 70 31.14 Level Meter ........................................................ 71 26
User's Guide Fireface 800 © RME
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TotalMix: The Matrix 32.1 Overview ..............................................................72 32.2 Elements of the Matrix View ................................72 32.3 Usage ...................................................................72 32.4 Advantages of the Matrix .....................................73 33 TotalMix Super-Features 33.1 ASIO Direct Monitoring (Windows only) ..............73 33.2 Selection and Group based Operation ................74 33.3 Copy Routings to other Channels ........................74 33.4 Delete Routings....................................................74 33.5 Recording a Subgroup (Loopback)......................75 33.6 Using external Effects Devices ............................76 33.7 MS Processing .....................................................77 34 TotalMix MIDI Remote Control 34.1 Overview ..............................................................78 34.2 Mapping ...............................................................78 34.3 Setup ....................................................................79 34.4 Operation .............................................................79 34.5 Simple MIDI Control .............................................80 34.6 Loopback Detection .............................................80 34.7 Stand-Alone MIDI Control ....................................81
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Technical Reference
Tech Info ..................................................................84 Technical Specifications 36.1 Analog ..................................................................85 36.2 MIDI......................................................................86 36.3 Digital ...................................................................86 36.4 Digital Inputs ........................................................87 36.5 Digital Outputs......................................................88 36.6 Transfer Modes: Resolution/Bits per Sample ......88 36.7 General ................................................................88 37 Technical Background 37.1 Lock and SyncCheck ...........................................89 37.2 Latency and Monitoring........................................90 37.3 FireWire Audio .....................................................91 37.4 Number of Channels and Bus Load.....................93 37.5 DS Â Double Speed .............................................93 37.6 QS Â Quad Speed................................................93 37.7 AES/EBU Â SPDIF ...............................................94 37.8 Noise Level in DS / QS Mode ..............................95 37.9 SteadyClock .........................................................95 38 Diagrams 38.1 Block Diagram Fireface........................................96 38.2 Connector Pinouts ...............................................97 35 36
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User's Guide Fireface 800 © RME
User's Guide
Fireface 800
General
User's Guide Fireface 800 © RME
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1. Introduction
Thank you for choosing the Fireface 800. This unique audio system is capable of transferring analog and digital audio data directly to a computer from practically any device. The latest Plug and Play technology guarantees a simple installation, even for the inexperienced user. The numerous unique features and well thought-out configuration dialog puts the Fireface 800 at the very top of the range of computer-based audio interfaces. The package contains drivers for Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP, XP 64, Mac OS X and Mac OS X x86. Our high-performance philosophy guarantees maximum system performance by executing as many functions as possible not in the driver (i.e. the CPU), but directly within the audio hardware.
2. Package Contents
Please check that your Fireface 800 package contains each of the following: · · · · · RME Driver CD Cable IEEE1394a (FW400), 4 m (13 ft) Power cord Manual 1 optical cable (TOSLINK), 2 m (6.6 ft)
3. System Requirements
· Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP, Windows XP 64, Mac OS X (10.3 or higher) · 1 OHCI compatible FireWire Port 400 (1394a) or 800 (1394b) · Pentium III 866 MHz or better, G4 Dual 867 or better Note: Examples and detailed descriptions of suitable audio desktop systems can be found in the Tech Info RME Reference PCs: Hardware recommendations. Information on compatibility and performance of notebooks/laptops is included in RMEs Tech Infos about notebooks, HDSP System  Notebook Basics and Tests. A report about incompatible FireWire 800 controllers is found in the Tech Info FireWire 800 Hardware  Compatibility Problems.
4. Brief Description and Characteristics
· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Enhanced Mixed Mode: Analog, ADAT and SPDIF I/O simultaneously usable 8 buffer sizes/latencies available: 1.0 / 1.5 / 2.1 / 3 / 6 / 12 / 17 / 23 ms All settings can be changed in real-time 8 channels 96 kHz/24 bit Record/Playback via ADAT optical (S/MUX) Clock modes slave and master Automatic and intelligent master/slave clock control Unsurpassed Bitclock PLL (audio synchronization) in ADAT mode Word clock input and output TotalMix for latency-free submixes and perfect ASIO Direct Monitoring TotalMix: 1568 channel mixer with 42 bit internal resolution SyncAlign guarantees sample aligned and never swapping channels SyncCheck tests and reports the synchronization status of input signals 1 x MIDI I/O, 16 channels high-speed MIDI 1 x Hi-power headphone output DIGICheck DSP: Level meter in hardware, peak- and RMS calculation
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User's Guide Fireface 800 © RME
5. First Usage - Quickstart
5.1 Connectors and Front Panel
The front of the Fireface 800 features an instrument input, microphone inputs and line inputs with gain pots, a stereo headphone output with volume pot, and several status LEDs. MIDI/I indicates MIDI data received by the MIDI input. MIDI/O indicates MIDI data sent to the MIDI output.
The Digital State LEDs (WC, SPDIF, ADAT, TCO) indicate a valid input signal separately for each digital input. Additionally, RME's exclusive SyncCheck indicates i ...
