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PRESS RELEASE

RME Fireface UC 36-channel USB 2.0 Interface Starts Shipping

August 28, 2009

Based on a newly developed RME Hammerfall core, the RME Fireface UC provides revolutionary ultra-low latencies even with multiple audio channels and breaks performance restrictions of typical USB audio interfaces with sophisticated transfer technologies. It has been uncompromisingly optimized for highest performance under Windows and OSX with dedicated firmware versions for each platform.

Be it on a Mac or a PC, achievable latencies are simply sensational in practice. Using current USB chipsets (2008 or later), the Fireface UC provides performance previously seen only with sophisticated PCI Express interfaces. Even record-breaking buffer sizes of 32 samples at CPU loads close to full capacity are possible with modern desktop and laptop systems.*

With the Fireface UC, RME consistently set forth the path that was begun with the Fireface series. While the FireWire units (Fireface 400 and 800) still used a dedicated FireWire chip, the UC additionally integrates the entire USB protocol inside the FPGA and its programmable firmware, making the unit fully controllable and adjustable to new situations.

A field test with a wide variety of computer systems prior to delivery allowed for adjustments of the transfer protocol and adaptations to specific systems, ensuring the highest possible performance and compatibility. An overview of tested systems (both current and older varieties) and achievable performance can be found on RME's website: http://www.rme-audio.de/en_products_fireface_uc_systems.php?page=content/products/uc_general

Besides the uncompromising use of the USB High-Speed interface, the new Fireface UC — like the highly successful Fireface 400 - provides a list of features unrivalled in its class, e.g. 36 simultaneously usable channels, active jitter suppression, and full standalone functionality with frontpanel control. Highly flexible analog I/Os in professional quality, including two high-end preamps based on the technology of the Micstasy and an unsurpassed 648-channel mixer and matrix router (TotalMix) add to the list — and all of it supports sample rates up to 192 kHz. Once again, RME have defined the standard of innovative, future-proof mobile audio recording solutions.

Features and Functions:

  • 18 inputs / 18 outputs
  • 8 x analog I/O
  • 1 x ADAT I/O or 1 x SPDIF I/O (optical)
  • 1 x SPDIF I/O (coaxial)
  • 2 x MIDI I/O
  • Sample rates up to 192 kHz on all I/Os
  • Two digitally controlled Mic Preamps in high-end quality
  • Two balanced universal inputs for line and instrument signals
  • SteadyClock™ for maximum jitter suppression and clock refresh
  • Stand-alone operation with rotary encoder and front panel operation
  • 54 Level Meter Peak/RMS, hardware-calculated
  • TotalMix: 648-channel mixer with 42-bit internal resolution

  • Lowest latencies can not be guaranteed for every possible setup, performance depends on the computer and audio application predominantly.

Included software:
DIGICheck for Mac and Windows: Spectral Analyser, professional level meters for 2, 8 or 36 channels, Vector Audio Scope, Global Record (Windows only), Surround Scope, several other audio analysis tools.

Available drivers:
Windows XP (SP2 or higher) / Vista / Vista 64 / 7 (multiclient with WDM and ASIO), Mac OS X Intel 10.5 or higher (Core Audio and Core MIDI).

  

(Click for close-up)

For more information, visit their web site at http://www.rme-audio.com/.

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