With RME’s latest audio interface on the horizon, we take a look at what makes the RME Fireface UFX+ the ultimate in modern recording technology.
First unveiled at Musikmesse earlier this year, the RME Fireface UFX+ has continued to receive a growing interest from members of the pro audio community. The company is known for only releasing products that fill a specific need, and so this will be RME's first 1U interface since the Fireface 802 was first launched in 2014. With the UFX+ set for an imminent release, we thought we'd take a look at just what makes this new interface such an exciting prospect for audio professionals.
So why is the UFX+ such a special box?
Put simply, the Fireface UFX+ is the most comprehensive and flexible audio interface in its class, with an extremely high channel count and range of connections that make it perfect for use in studio, live and broadcast applications. With such a wealth of connections and control options, the UFX+’s exhaustive feature set means that it’s also more than just a high-quality multi-channel interface.
RME's latest masterpiece offers so much more – it’s a Multi-track HD Recorder and playback device, a comprehensive monitor controller, a digital mixing console and a routing matrix all rolled into one. And of course, all of this is combined with RME’s latest research, making the Fireface UFX+ the pinnacle of RME technology – highly detailed, transparent recording and playback combined with rock-solid reliability and performance.
Flexible input and output connectivity
The Fireface UFX+ is fully equipped to handle a range of projects, whether commercial or project recording studios, broadcast, live installations for venues, plus academic and scientific applications. The mic preamps allow for 4 microphones to be connected on the basic unit, with the option to expand via the ADAT and MADI connections on the back of the unit. The analogue inputs allow for plenty of line level equipment or instruments to be connected directly to and from the unit, and again the connections can be expanded with the digital I/O, with a total of 188 channels of pristine quality audio in use simultaneously.
MADI I/O
If you’re unfamiliar with the MADI format, then you may be wondering what makes this I/O so special. MADI is a purpose-built digital audio format that allows for the transfer of up to 64 channels of audio via a single cable each way, with a range of up to 2km over optical fibre. This makes MADI a brilliant solution for live, broadcast and in studios too, providing an incredibly simple and elegant solution for transferring high channel-counts from one location to another, and replacing bulky analogue multicore cables. For example, many mixing desk manufacturers feature MADI I/O on their consoles, and so the Fireface UFX+ provides a convenient way of transferring a multi-track audio project between a main console and a computer.
Legendary Transparent RME Sound
Regardless of what you’re recording, you need a device with high quality AD conversion to capture every sonic detail, whether that's the energy of a rock band, the subtle dynamics of a string quartet, the tonal qualities of the human voice, or the character of vintage analogue gear.
Equally important is the quality of the DA stage, which has a direct effect on what you hear during playback, and therefore will effect the decisions you make during a mix. If your device is not giving you a true representation of your recordings, you may find yourself making the wrong decisions, or failing to spot problems.
The RME Fireface UFX+ uses the latest analogue circuitry to provide outstandingly low signal to noise ratios and distortion values, and the new converters remain characteristically transparent. Rest assured, the Fireface UFX+ records and reproduces audio with an astonishing level of accuracy and detail, allowing you to make the right mix decisions from start to finish.
Choose your platform – USB 3.0 & Thunderbolt, for both Windows and Mac OSX
The Fireface UFX+ features both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt connections, providing enough bandwidth to support the devices high channel-count. Unlike some manufacturers, RME have designed the UFX+ to run seamlessly on both Mac and Windows based systems. You can also expect equal performance in terms of latency, processing power and operation for both platforms. All that’s required is the driver, so if you want to connect your UFX+ to another computer, you simply download and install the latest driver from RME's website to that Mac or PC. Then it's just a case of choosing your connection (Thunderbolt or USB), plugging it in and away you go, it’s that simple!
Advanced DURec feature
Another new feature, unique to the UFX+, is the improved DURec. DURec (Direct USB Recording) is RME’s method of allowing simultaneous recordings (and playback) to be made to (or from) an external USB hard drive or pen drive via the USB port found on the UFX+'s front panel. Along with giving you the option of making a backup recording when you’re on a session, this also means that you can use the UFX+ as a standalone hard disk recorder and playback device. The UFX+ also features a set of comprehensive controls and a display on the front of the unit, so you can control levels, effects and routing all from the front the unit itself. When using DURec on the UFX+ you also have the ability to timestamp each audio file, meaning that each sound file contains accurate timecode information (stored as a BWAV file), allowing for seamless playback of tracks in a project.
Advanced Remote Control via USB
The RME Fireface UFX+ also features an additional USB port on the rear of the unit, for connecting the upcoming RME ARC USB (Advanced Remote Control). The ARC USB can either be connected to your Mac or PC, or directly to the UFX+ itself, providing additional control when using the device in standalone mode. With 15 assignable buttons and an encoder wheel, plus the option to connect a footswitch via a TS jack, the ARC USB provides quick access to any of the functions of the UFX+'s onboard DSP mixer (TotalMix FX), such as levels, talkback, muting and soloing, controlling effects, adjusting mic and input gains, or configuring a headphone mix.
TotalMix FX
A discussion of any RME interface would not be complete without mentioning TotalMix FX, RME’s comprehensive mixing and routing software. Unique to RME devices, TotalMix FX gives you complete control over all inputs and outputs on your device, allowing you to route audio to any output on your interface and providing latency-free monitoring of all channels.
This makes the Fireface UFX+ a fully comprehensive monitor controller, allowing you to set up submixes for each output from a combination of physical inputs on the device and software playback channels from software on your Mac or PC. TotalMix FX also completely removes the need for an external mixer in a setup, with built-in DSP EQ, Compression, Reverb and Delay effects on every channel. The most recent update to TotalMix FX iPad includes support for the UFX+, so you can even control the interface from an Apple iPad.
The RME Fireface UFX+ is currently available to pre-order, with the first shipment expected later September 2016.
Find out more about the RME Fireface range of audio interfaces