Fireface 802

192kHz 60-channel USB/FireWire audio interface

The Fireface 802 was designed on the basis of the legendary Fireface 800, adopted by many musicians and sound technicians

60 audio channels, high-end microphone preamps, reference converters, full effects section and 192 kHz operation are just the first glimpse of its features: ultra-low latency over USB or FireWire, legendary driver stability and tracking RME, active jitter suppression, individual choice of reference levels for each input and output, standalone operating mode, DIGICheck analysis and measurement tool, and identical Mac and PC operation. TotalMix FX, the mixer and digital signal router from RME is controlled by two powerful DSPs, integrating corrections, dynamic processing and echo/reverberation effects up to 192 kHz, and monitoring control functions. These features also include a Class Compliant mode with the optional TotalMix FX for iPad app, allowing you to control the 802 from an iPad, without a computer. Easy to use, the app offers display of the levels of the 90 channels and effect buses, various configuration screens and control over all parameters.

The Fireface 802 is a pro audio solution, a complete studio in a 19” rack, an interface designed for users looking for solutions without compromise on sound quality, stability and latency and an impressive set of professional features

Entries exits
The Fireface 802 offers 60 audio channels: 30 in and 30 in sortie.Toutes inputs and outputs can be used simultaneously, and up to 12 analog and 18 digital channels can be recorded separately

Analog Inputs/Outputs
The Fireface 802 has 12 analog inputs/outputs.

12 inputs: 8 balanced jacks on the rear panel and 4 XLR inputs with microphone/instrument preamps on the front panel.

12 outputs: on the rear panel, 8 balanced jacks, on the front panel, 2 headphone outputs at high volume, even under high impedance (channels 9/10 and 11/12).

Sound quality: like other products RME, the Fireface 802 combines excellent design of its analog circuitry and latest generation digital conversion technology. All inputs/outputs via jacks or XLR, as well as the two headphone outputs, have incredibly low noise and distortion values. In the purest of traditions RME, preamps have no specific “color”, neither remove nor add anything to the signal, and capture it as it is.

Equipped with the latest A/D and D/A conversion circuits, all inputs and outputs operate up to 192 kHz and achieve a dynamic page of 118 dBA in playback, even on the headphone outputs, and regardless of the impedance of the helmet used. Thanks to its effective jitter reduction, SteadyClock technology RME guarantees premium A/D D/A conversion, even when slaved to an external clock.

The level of each input and output can be adjusted to classic references: -10 dBV, 4 dBu, HiGain (equivalent to 2 dBV, 13 dBu and 19 dBu for digital full scale).

All outputs can be used in ASIO Direct Monitoring (ADM).

Preamplification
The Fireface 802 has 4 transparent preamps equipped with low latency converters.

The Fireface 802's microphone and instrument preamps use the classic technologies of the OctaMic II, a high-end preamp. The symmetrical preamp design shines with extremely low distortion, excellent signal-to-noise ratio, and perfectly linear frequency response. A solution equally well suited to stage or studio conditions, low level or high impedance instruments, or dynamic, condenser or ribbon microphones.

The gain controlled by a potentiometer can go up to 60 dB, is adjustable over a range of 54 dB, and can be adjusted individually on the front panel.

The 4 front panel inputs use balanced XLR/Jack combo connectors and can be used as high impedance inputs to directly connect an electric guitar for example. Each channel can be individually set to 48V phantom power mode or instrument mode. Signal presence, clipping, and phantom power activation LEDs allow you to visualize the interface status

The Fireface 802 follows the tradition of flexibility and expandability of RME. Adding additional preamplifiers or analog inputs is made easy by the ADAT optical ports on the rear panel.

Digital inputs/outputs
AES/EBU: The Fireface 802 features AES/EBU input/output operating at up to 192 kHz.

ADAT: the two 8-channel ADAT ports allowing the connection of two additional AD/DA converters, the insertion of external processing or even mixing consoles. The two inputs/outputs operate up to 192 kHz (S/MUX4). As in AES/EBU, these 16 ADAT channels are available simultaneously with the analog channels. Using two external converters like the ADI-8 QS, the Fireface 802 can offer 28 analog inputs and outputs, 20 at a frequency of 96 kHz, and another 16 at 192 kHz.

SPDIF: The second ADAT port can be used for optical SPDIF input/output for added flexibility

Word Clock & MIDI: a word clock (BNC) input-output with termination, and a MIDI port complete the list of connections, making the Fireface 802 an ideal professional audio system for all types of use.

TotalMix FX
The DSP-based TotalMix mixer allows mixing and routing of the 30 inputs and 30 playback channels to the 30 physical outputs. 15 independent stereo submixes can be created, plus a Control Room section providing incredibly flexible and powerful monitoring and routing capabilities

Each input and output channel is equipped with sophisticated processing comparable to that of a digital console. Each channel has a 3-band parametric EQ, an adjustable low cut, an Auto Level, a compressor, expander, MS processing and phase inversion. The Reverb and Echo effects unit is available on all channels via a stereo send/return bus. All of these effects work at all frequencies, up to 192 kHz.

The two DSPs ensure impressive performance even in the most extreme uses. TotalMix is available for all channels (90) at all sample rates, without limitation. The second DSP only calculates the effects, and therefore has sufficient resources. 60 EQs, 40 low cuts, 8 dynamics processing, reverb and echo can be activated at 48 kHz

The effects DSP includes automatic overload monitoring. As soon as the DSP plus can no longer add any effects, the TotalMix graphical interface clearly displays this. When choosing a higher sample rate, the Fireface 802 automatically deactivates effects that exceed the processing capacity of the DSP, which is therefore never overloaded

TotalMix can easily replace an external mixing desk, for example to create latency-free mixes with EQ and reverb for the main monitors and the singer's headphones

Monitoring control
The Fireface 802 is of course an excellent monitoring controller, but also a monitor and source selector with talkback function for today's “Mix-In-the-Box” studios. As the Fireface 802 integrates monitoring control functionalities generally provided externally, it preserves signal quality, its physical outputs being directly connected to the monitors

Monitoring management: any physical output can be assigned as a main (Main) or headphone (Phones) output. Talkback, Listenback, Mono, Dim, Recall and External Input will then automatically operate on the assigned outputs.

Advanced Remote Control: The Fireface 802 features a connector for the optional Advanced Remote Control, providing direct access to settings for Volume, DIM, Store, Recall, Mono, Talkback, External Input and more. The remote control buttons can be customized.


USB and FireWire
RME is the only manufacturer that does not use third-party USB or FireWire audio technology, but uses a proprietary audio core with exceptional performance and features

Like the Fireface UCX and Fireface UFX, the Fireface 802 brings together USB 2.0 and FireWire 400 in one interface.

USB 2.0: The Fireface 802 has been optimized for uncompromised performance on Windows and Mac OS. It uses specific firmware for each of these operating systems. Like the Fireface UCX and UFX, the Fireface 802 allows ultra-low latencies * even with many channels, performance comparable to that of PCI and PCI-Express solutions.

* depending on the computer and software used

FireWire: the FireWire core of RME combines exceptional compatibility and very high performance

Other Features

SteadyClock: jitter suppression technology RME guarantees the sound quality of the signal, regardless of the quality of signals coming from external clocks

ICC: Intelligent Clock Control displays clock synchronization statuses, and retains the last valid input sample rate in the event of external clock source failure. Other technologies RME like SyncCheck offer a quick way to detect clock problems.

DIGICheck: the Fireface 802 comes with tools for analyzing, measuring and testing audio signals, entirely developed by RME. Tools are offered for multi-track recording, calculation via hardware of peak or RM levels, analysis and display of audio in stereo, multi-channel, surround, spectrum, etc

Autonomous operation with configuration reminder. TheFireface 802 can be configured directly from the iPad, via MIDI remote or the ARC remote control. Additionally, 6 memory locations can be used to permanently store the current configuration, making the 802 completely independent of any computer