ALVA offer a collection of durable audio products built to the highest standards. Forming a perfect complement to the products from our partners from RME, there's an extensive selection of professional cables and a range of other items designed to make studio or on-stage life easier.
Appsys ProAudio is a Swiss design and manufacture company dedicated to creating digital solutions for broadcast, post-production, live and recording studios.
Calrec Audio supplies audio broadcast mixing consoles which are relied on by the world's most successful broadcasters.
Originally formed as a microphone manufacturer in 1964, Calrec celebrated 50 years as audio specialists in 2014.
The company's reputation for build quality, reliability and audio performance has made it an industry benchmark across the world.
DirectOut GmbH specialises in developing essential pro audio connectivity, networking and bridging solutions for broadcast, studio, live and installed sound applications.
The product range offers solutions that build bridges between different audio worlds, with support for MADI, SoundGrid, Dante, RAVENNA and the standards AES67 and SMPTE ST2110-30/31.
Founded in 1977 in Skanderborg, Denmark, Dynaudio has over 40 years of experience in producing cutting-edge loudspeakers.
From the classic BM Series and contemporary LYD Series, to the
high-end Core and M Series ranges of studio monitors, Dynaudio's focus
on transparency and accuracy has made them a household name of the
recording studio and broadcast audio industries.
In the UK, Dynaudio can be found in major studios such as Abbey Road
and Air Studios, as well as the next generation of film and game studios
mixing for surround sound and Dolby Atmos.
As well as the highly respected B4000+ organ module, Ferrofish offers a range of quality ADAT <> MADI <> Analogue converters that can be used for studio, live, post-production and broadcast applications and at a price that will suit any budget.
iConnectivity is a renowned professional audio manufacturer known for creating innovative and versatile products.
Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta Canada, the iConnectivity range includes audio and MIDI interfaces that are perfect for both studio and live sound.
The mioXL MIDI 1U rack unit is a favourite among studio and live sound professionals as a robust MIDI hub, whilst the unique PlayAUDIO1U interface allows for the connection of multiple host computers via USB.
High-end monitor controllers, headphone amplifiers and microphone preamps from Konstanz, Germany.
Founded in 1986, Lake People has been designing and manufacturing top-tier professional recording solutions for over 30 years in the Lake Constance region.
Renowned for their exceptional sound quality and reliability, Lake People products proudly carry the acclaimed "Made in Germany" seal of quality.
Lauten Audio design and manufacture high quality studio microphones with a unique and distinctive character.
Based in Northern California, the company regularly collaborates with industry professionals when creating fresh and original sounding microphones.
RME is a German company founded in 1996 by a small group of professional audio engineers and designers.
From day one, the team have stuck to a strict philosophy of truly innovative design and unparalleled reliability in the field of digital audio.
Award-winning headphone and speaker calibration software / measurement microphones from Sonarworks.
Calibrate your headphones and studio monitors with Sonarworks' SoundID Reference software. Create, mix and deliver with confidence, trust every mixing decision, and deliver an accurate studio reference sound every time.
Used and loved by over 200,000 sound recording studios globally.
Handmade pro audio equipment from Madrid, Spain. Combining eco-friendly materials with premium analogue sound, the Tierra Audio range includes Microphones, Preamps, EQs, Compressors and more, and in a variety of different flavours - from clean and precise, to warm, colourful and full of character.
Every component is built to the highest of standards, guaranteeing high-end sonic performance and maximum durability for studio recording, mixing and mastering applications.
A selection of Ex-Demo, B-Stock and Open-Box products from our brands including RME, Ferrofish, Icon and Lauten Audio.
Available at reduced prices from new so grab yourself a bargain!
Synthax Audio UK is a
professional audio distributor supplying the recording studio, live
audio, broadcast, installation, education and scientific application
markets.
Representing a number of established pro audio manufacturers, we keep immediate stock of all key items
from our brands including RME Audio, Calrec Brio and Type R, Ferrofish,
Dynaudio studio monitors, DirectOut, iConnectivity, Appsys ProAudio Multiverter and SRC, TIERRA Audio, Lake People, and
Lauten Audio Microphones.
HomeLatestRME Fireface Series – 15 Years Of Premier Audio Evolution
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RME Fireface Series – 15 Years Of Premier Audio Evolution
Celebrating 15 years of Premier Audio Evolution
RME’s legendary Fireface 800 recently celebrated its 15 year anniversary, and although now discontinued from production, its legacy lives on through the RME Fireface Series.
And despite RME continuing to provide updates for its iconic audio interface, which still powers plenty of studios and live shows around the world, things have certainly moved on in the last 15 years! The new breed of Firefaces boast improvements across the board, with additional features and connectivity options, state of the art DSP processing, and of course, vastly improved sound.
Future-Proof Your Studio For The Next 15 Years
The next generation of Firefaces embody everything we’ve come to expect from RME – pristine microphone preamps, detailed and transparent A-D/D-A conversion, unlimited routing and mixing control with TotalMix FX, industry-renowned rock-solid drivers, and equal performance on Windows, Mac and iOS (including the latest Mac OS 10.15 Catalina).
A number of I/O and connectivity options are available, extending up to 188 channels on USB and Thunderbolt, with unprecedented software control and routing capabilities offered by TotalMix FX. So whether you’re writing at home, recording a 12 piece band in the studio, or mixing a live stadium show, there is a Fireface that’s perfect for your pro audio setup.
RME continues to innovate and provide free additional updates to its customers, such as the TotalMix Remote app, a free download that allows for networked control over any RME audio interface, including wirelessly via an Apple iPad.
Relied on by top recording artists and live engineers around the world
RME’s reputation is built on consistently supplying high-quality, ultra-reliable equipment to
professional engineers and musicians, who need an interface they can use day in, day out, for years at a time.
A selection of artists using RME both live and in the studio include The Who, Coldplay, Depeche Mode, The Voice, Elton John, Iron Maiden, Kasabian, Robbie Williams, Tinie Tempah, Rudimental, Imogen Heap, Katy B, Tricky, Disclosure, Pixie Lott, Lily Allen, Jagwar Ma, Enter Shikari, Example and Massive Attack.
Get a 5 Year Warranty on all RME Fireface Series (exclusive to UK dealers)
So if you’d like your next audio interface to be one you can trust will serve you for years to come, scroll down to see which RME Fireface is right for your studio or live setup. You’ll also find out how to claim an extended 5 Year Warranty absolutely free.
Which RME Fireface Series is right for you?
RME Fireface 802
60 Channels (30 Ins / 30 Outs)
RME Fireface UFX II
60 Channels (30 Ins / 30 Outs)
RME Fireface UFX+
188 Channels (94 Ins / 94 Outs)
✓ Professional Audio Interface ✓ Pristine, Transparent Sound ✓ Classic Analogue Control ✓ TotalMix FX ✓ Standalone Operation
✓ Professional Audio Interface ✓ Pristine, Transparent Sound ✓ Digitally Controlled Preamps ✓ TotalMix FX ✓ Standalone Operation ✓ Standalone Recording (DURec) ✓ Front Panel Display ✓ Remote Control Connection
✓ Professional Audio Interface ✓ Pristine, Transparent Sound ✓ Digitally Controlled Preamps ✓ TotalMix FX ✓ Standalone Operation ✓ Standalone Recording (DURec) ✓ Front Panel Display ✓ Remote Control Connection ✓ MADI, Thunderbolt & USB 3.0
"Truly rock-solid drivers and control software... RME really delivers.
I have never once had this interface crash on me, on any platform."
Alan Sallabank
Post-Production Engineer
2020-02-06T12:46:42+00:00
Alan Sallabank
Post-Production Engineer
"Truly rock-solid drivers and control software... RME really delivers. I have never once had this interface crash on me, on any platform."
"The quality of the converters is stunning, and the ability to make a complete backup recording straight onto the USB drive... It’s pretty life changing!"
Matt Robertson
Musical Director (Björk, The Prodigy)
2019-11-06T14:57:12+00:00
Matt Robertson
Musical Director (Björk, The Prodigy)
"The quality of the converters is stunning, and the ability to make a complete backup recording straight onto the USB drive... It’s pretty life changing!"
The most powerful monitoring and routing controller available
TotalMix FX is RME’s comprehensive routing, mixing and monitoring control software, included free with the RME Fireface Series.
The DSP-based TotalMix mixer allows for fully independent routing and mixing of all audio channels, essentially turning the Fireface 802, UFX II and UFX+ into full-blown digital mixing consoles (complete with independent EQ and Compression on every channel, plus Reverb and Delay effects sends).
Other special features include a comprehensive control room section; the ability to create fader groups for level control, soloing and muting; saving mixer states for easy recall; plus unique features like 'Loopback', which allows for direct routing of all output channels back in as inputs, with zero latency.
For a more detailed introduction to TotalMix FX, see the TotalMix FX for Beginners series of YouTube Videos.
TotalMix Remote
Wireless control with TotalMix Remote
TotalMix Remote is a free companion app for TotalMix FX that allows you to control your RME Fireface Series interface over a network.
This means you have the option of monitoring and mixing from a different computer to the one your interface is connected to, including over Wi-Fi.
You can even use an Apple iPad for wireless touch-screen control when you’re playing a venue or working in the studio.
Whether you're looking to mix from a remote location, provide musicians with the ability to control their individual monitor mixes, or simply need a separate display for metering for all inputs, outputs and software playback channels, TotalMix Remote opens up a world of new possibilities.
Download TotalMix Remote (under the Software tab) here.
DIGICheck - Analysis & Measurement Tools
A Free Suite Of Audio Analysis & Measurement Softare
RME's DIGICheck software is a sometimes overlooked feature of the RME Fireface Series, and a bit of a hidden gem.
Free to all RME users (you can download it from RME's website here), DIGICheck is a suite of highly accurate audio analysis and measurement tools for both Mac and Windows, and will be of benefit to anyone working in recording, mixing, mastering or broadcast.
The set of tools includes comprehensive multi-channel level metering (peak and RMS), plus a spectrum/frequency analyser made up of 30 bands that features freely adjustable rise and release times, customisable display modes, different filter types, and precise level information all the way down to -140 dBFS.
There’s also a correlation meter and vectorscope for checking the phase relationship of stereo signals (and for checking mono compatibility); a loudness metering tool for checking against the IT 1770 / EBU R128 standards commonly found in broadcast; and a Surround Audio Scope for surround sound level metering with extended correlation analysis, ITU weighting and ITU summing.
For more information about RME's DIGICheck, see the RME Fireface UFX II manual entry here.
Multi-track Recording & Playback with USB Pen Drives
DURec is the name given to RME’s unique direct-to-USB recording feature, found on both the Fireface UFX II and Fireface UFX+. DURec provides advanced standalone recording and playback via a dedicated front panel USB port, enabling audio to be captured directly to an external hard drive or thumb drive without the need for connecting to a computer.
Alternatively, DURec can also be used for creating simultaneous multi-track backups during a recording session, in the event that a problem arises with any connected computer hardware.
“I was recording with Roxana Panufnik and the London Mozart Players in Croydon, and due to a technical error, half a session got deleted right at the end. Fortunately, our bacon was well and truly saved by the DURec backups!” (Phil Rowlands, Classical Engineer and Producer)
For the Fireface UFX II, all 60 input and output channels can be recorded or played back simultaneously. For the Fireface UFX+, this functionality is extended to 76 channels, enabling the full MADI stream (64 channels), plus all analogue inputs (4 x mic/line and 8 x line), to be recorded simultaneously at 44.1 / 48 kHz.
Multi-channel recordings can also be played back via DURec, allowing engineers to create virtual soundchecks, or an archive of each night’s show during a live tour.
For more information on DURec, see the RME Fireface UFX+ manual entry here.
Rock-Solid Drivers (Mac/Windows)
Industry-Renowned, Rock-Solid Drivers
RME's drivers are regularly proclaimed as the best in the industry, and with good reason. The Fireface Series feature incredible low-latency performance across USB, Firewire and Thunderbolt, with RME devices regularly topping the bill in independent latency performance tests.
What’s more, all RME drivers are written in-house, and unlike many other audio manufacturers are therefore not reliant on third-parties. This has enabled the company to consistently stay ahead of the curve, providing updates for the latest operating systems before any other manufacturer.
RME also has a well-earned reputation for providing support for long-discontinued devices (including products dating all the way back to 2001).
All of this adds up to a device that can be relied upon to perform day in, day out for years to come, and the reason the RME Fireface Series is loved by professional audio engineers the world over.
RME ARC USB - Advanced Remote Control
Advanced Remote Control For RME Audio Interfaces
"this is a must-have piece of kit for any RME interface owner"(Pro Tools Expert)
"streamlines studio workflow, making sessions a delight to produce and record"(MusicTech)
"a very worthwhile addition to any RME-based studio setup"(MusicRadar)
The RME ARC USB is an optional extra for the RME Fireface Series.
Providing quick access to all of the most used functions in TotalMix FX, with the ARC USB you can control mixer functions including; • Volume levels (main and monitor mixes)
• Mic/Instrument gains • Switch between speakers A/B • Switch between Mono and Stereo • Solo, Mute or switch all of all of your inputs On/Off simultaneously
• Toggle FX bypassing (EQ, Dynamics, Reverb & Delay)
• Load Preset Mixer states • And more!
The ARC USB can connect directly to the Fireface UFX II and Fireface UFX+, via dedicated USB ports found on the back of each device.
Alternatively, the ARC USB can connect directly to a Mac or PC via a standard USB port, allowing for control over any other RME audio interface or soundcard (including the Fireface 802).
Since its inception in 1996, RME Audio has been supplying high-quality audio products to professional recording environments, including studios, live audio, broadcast and research facilities.
The company’s technically accomplished, no-fuss approach has found favour with professional engineers the world over, with RME devices in use day in, day out for years at a time without issue. In fact, one of the terms that we hear repeatedly to describe RME devices is “rock-solid reliability”.
For that reason, here at Synthax Audio UK we’re happy to offer a 5 year warranty on all RME devices, such is our confidence in their quality.
How do I claim my 5 Year Warranty?
It is important to note that the 5 Year Warranty is only available on RME Audio products purchased from an authorised UK dealer (linked below). Once you have purchased your unit, simply go to our Warranty Support Area and complete the form. You will then receive confirmation that you have been registered.
Still can’t decide which RME Audio Interface is right for you? Give us a call on 01727 821 870 to discuss your recording needs, or pop us a mail via our contact us form.