The Fireface UCX is a professional audio solution in an ultra-compact format for live and studio recordings. UCX perpetuates the long tradition of RME in the design of compact high-end interfaces, comprising in a unit of the size of a half-rack which would usually be distributed over two or three panels of 19 inches.
By doing this, the Fireface UCX marks a new record: 300 electronic components more than already supplied Fireface UC!
In a considerable effort, RME once again brought together all the latest technologies, introduced with the UX, the award-winning flagship product, as well as new technologies, in a 19-inch half-inch case offering total user-friendliness on mobile.
The Fireface UCX is not just a smaller version of the UFX success. It continues the tradition of extremely successful compact interfaces of RME and associates them with the great experience of Babyface in terms of conviviality thanks to the optional remote control. With the Fireface UCX, the RME reinvents a product already perfect by improving its existing functions and features and adding new sophisticated.
The strengths
-Hammerfall X-Core for a USB 2.0 and Firewire hybrid connection
-Compliant class model (without driver) for iPad
-18 inputs / 18 outputs, including 8 analog inputs/outputs
-2 high quality micro preamplis, 2 instrument inputs
-Low latency, mastering quality
-Routing/mixing/monitor control via TotalMix with integrated effects
-Optional controls RME Basic Remote Control or Advanced Remote Control
-Two powerful DSPs for reverberation, delay, EQ and dynamic effects
-1 ADAT port (or S/PDIF), 1 SPDIF port coaxial, 2 MIDI ports
-Totally self-sustained
Sound quality
Equipped with a new 2011 AN/NA converter with high performance, the inputs/outputs run up to 192 kHz. The AN/NA conversion quality is superior to Fireface UC and 400 with an impressive dynamic 115 dBA range for recording and reading.
In pure tradition and philosophy produced RME, UCX’s converters and microphone preamps do not have its own, nor do they add or delete any sound component to the source signal, but capture it as it is. Thanks to an effective reduction in jitter, SteadyClock proprietary technology ensures outstanding conversion quality, even in external clocks.
Entries/Sorties
Design Bass Latence
All analog inputs/outputs are equipped with a low-latency design converter to achieve the impressive score of 14 input samples, and 7 output, regardless of the sampling frequency used. These values are a quarter of the Fireface UC/400, and even exceed those of much more expensive devices. The latency of the converter itself is so low (0.4 ms @ 48 kHz) that it can almost be ignored, as in a “analog style” monitoring!
Reference levels
A good converter must be compatible with the levels commonly used in the studio so that it can easily interface with other analog devices without losing a reserve (headroom). Like all products RME, the UCX is compatible with levels -10 dBV, +4 dBu, and Lo / HiGain.
-Entrés 3 à 8 : -10 dBV, +4 dBu and Lo Gain (adjustable in TotalMix in two groups – 3/4 and 5 to 8 channels).
-Sorties 1 to 6 : -10 dBV, +4 dBu and Hi Gain.
-Sorties Helmet/line 7/8 : -10 dBV, +4 dBu and Hi Gain. The headphone output (channel 7/8) can be set at a different level than channel 1 to 6.
Preamplifiers
Digital Control and AutoSet
As in the Fireface UFX, the two micro preamps use the technologies developed for Micstasy, the high-end preampli RME. The design of this preampli impresses with its very low distortion rate, excellent signal/noise ratio and a very linear frequency response surpassing the preamplis performance three or four times as expensive as the UX. In conclusion, an ideal solution to transmit and amplify any audio source without compromising it, whether at high level on stage or in studio, with instruments at low levels and high impedance, or dynamic microphones, condenser or tape.
The gain of 65 dB with 1dB numerical control on a page of 55 dB is adjustable for each preamp with the ink on the front or via TotalMix. All levels are 100% reproducible and controlled by MIDI remote control. The 48V ghost power can be activated individually on each channel. LEDs for the presence of signal, stop and activate the 48V give a visual feedback on the status of the device.
AutoSet
A limiter is frequently used at the recording to avoid breakout at the A/N converter level. Thanks to the digital gain control, the UCX can reduce the gain automatically, providing overload protection without deteriorating audio, without having to move into an additional circuitry, and with an unchanged signal/noise ratio and distortion rate.
Example: during a recording session, the engineer asks the singer or guitarist to sing or play a part and rules the preamp of the UCX at a particularly high level (e.g. 50 dB). AutoSet will automatically reduce the gain as soon as the level reaches -6 dBFS. The reduction is made in a musical way, based on the intensity and duration of the incoming signal. The manual gain adjustment is almost no longer necessary, but can be done. AutoSet can be activated for each micro and instrument preamp.
Pro Solution for iPad
Class Compliant
The Fireface UCX is the first professional audio interface offering the option of using Class Compliant mode. This mode allows it to operate without a driver in audio and MIDI interface on several operating systems, and with Apple iPad and iPad 2 (Camera Connection Kit required). The UCX then offers the iPad range the professional analog connections it is devoid of, but also the superb micro preamplis, correctors, dynamic treatments, a high-level headphone output. And level settings, reverberation, echo, and zero latence monitoring. All this digitally via USB, that is to say without quality limit.
USB and Firewire, "made by" RME
Hammefall X-Core
The secret of success RME resides in the fact that it is the only manufacturer not to use Firewire chipset or audio USB developed by another manufacturer. RME has indeed developed a Hammerfall Audio heart with exceptional audio performance and managed to integrate it into the UCX half-rack format.
USB 2.0: uX has been optimized for very high performance on Windows and Mac OS, by dedicating a particular firmware for each operating system, allowing to offer ultra low latency, even in multichannels.
Firewire: the Firewire Hammerfall technology completely reviewed from the X-Core offers the UX the same compatibility and the same exceptional performance as those of the USB RME. UCX contains no FireWire chipset: bus management has been fully programmed via FPGA and remains under the full control of developers RME. It can, if necessary, evolve via a simple firmware update.
TotalMix FX for Effects
Mixer Integrated equipment
The UX has the same effect engine as the Fireface UFX. The DSP-based TotalMix mixer allows the routing and mixing of the 18 inputs and reading channels to the 18 outputs. 9 fully independent stereo submixes and a Control Room section offer very sophisticated monitoring and routing possibilities. Moreover, the last generation of TotalMix, completely rewritten, offers many new features and an improved ergonomics.
In the way of a pro digital console, each input and output channel is richly equipped: 3-band parametric corrector, adjustable bottom cut, Auto Level, compressor, expander, MS treatment and phase inversion. The reverberation and echo effects are available on all channels via a stereo start and return, even at 192 kHz.
Two DSPs provide impressive performance, the second DSP calculating only the effects. For example: at 48 kHz, it is possible to have 36 EQs, 36 cups, 26 compressors, and the echo activated. With reverberation and echo in service, 36 EQs, 36 Cups and 16 compressors are always available. The effects DSP conducts automatic monitoring of overloads. As soon as it is no longer possible to add effects, TotalMix displays an indicating signal. During higher sampling frequency passages, the UCX automatically disables all DSP overflow effects, avoiding overload. The DSP calculates the RMS and Peak levels on all posters.
TotalMix can therefore replace an external mixer by creating a variety of latence-free monitoring mixings with fixtures and reverberation for the cab and headphones in the direction of the instrument player in the studio. All TotalMix functions can be controlled via MIDI and any remote control to the Mackie Control protocol.
Integrated Monitoring
Thanks to its multi-function rotary encoder, the UX is ideal for controlling the level of the headphones and headphones. the integrated TotalMix FX mixer offers a large number of features dedicated to monitoring control for console-free mixing or live: Dim, source selection, monitor shift, integrated Talkback, flexible CUE configuration, Mute and Mute FX, Mono, etc. And unlike external third-party monitoring solutions, the choice of UX preserves the original sound by avoiding any connection to another device and thus possible sound degradation.
Optional remote controls
Basic Remote Control
It has a large wheel, a button for recall/stocking, and a button freely assignable to almost all the functions of TotalMix FX.
Advanced Remote Control
The optional Advanced Remote Control (ARC) adds to the above 6 buttons with programmable LEDs. Then attach to these buttons any frequently used function.
Both remotes are supplied with a flexible cable of 5 m.
Additional functions
SteadyClockTM
Jitter removal technology, specific to RME, ensures optimal sound quality making the UX completely independent of the quality of the clock signal. In addition SteadyClock allows the Fireface UCX to freely control its sampling frequency. The dialog box offers a direct choice of the most common frequencies in the world of audio and video.
ICC (Intelligent Clock Control)
Intelligent Clock Control technology allows to measure and display the frequencies of all clock sources, even those of Word Clock. Based on its validity and current sampling frequency, the system decides directly at the material level, from the clock source to be used automatically. The Fireface UCX offers flexible clock management while maintaining total control over multiple digital inputs.
DIGICheck
UX has, like all interfaces RME, DIGICheck measurement software. This allows to measure, test and analyze all digital streams through the interface. It offers the calculation of ridges and RMS levels directly from the FPGA of the card and, on PC, has a multichannel recording function.
Autonomous operation with setting reminder
Thanks to its internal flash memory, all TotalMix settings, including routing and treatments, are recalled to ignition. The UX can thus be configured and used in stand-alone mode, without connection to a computer, to serve as an AN/NA converter, group mixer, headset mixer, format converter, micro preamplifier...And in this mode, TotalMix can be controlled by MIDI. The display and its encoders allow direct access to control of the unit and its various parameters.
