Page 1
User's Guide Digiface AES ™ TotalMix FX 24 Bit / 192 kHz ™ ™ SteadyClock SyncCheck USB 2.0 Digital I/O System USB Bus Powered 6 Channel AES / SPDIF Interface 8 Channel ADAT Interface 2 + 4 Channel Analog Interface...
Page 2
(see warranty statement on page 102). Proper Use The Digiface AES is a digital interface for professional audio applications for use with CE ap- proved class B computers. To comply with the European CE standard, the Digiface AES must be used with CE approved Class B computers.
1. Introduction Thank you for choosing the Digiface AES. This compact audio interface is capable of transferring analog and digital audio data from any source directly to Windows and Mac computers. Numerous unique features include flexible clocking, well thought-out Settings dialogs, Sample Rate Conver- sion and supreme analog circuitry.
5. First Usage – Quick Start 5.1 Connectors – Controls – Display The front of the Digiface AES features two line and microphone inputs, a stereo headphone out- put, a rotary encoder with push functionality, four buttons, a graphical colour display and two status LEDs.
Page 10
The rear panel of the Digiface AES features 2 analog outputs, AES I/O, SPDIF I/O coaxial and optical, a connector for the included MIDI breakout cable, USB and the power socket. Balanced Line Level Outputs. 2 balanced analog outputs via XLR male.
5.3 Menu and Navigation The Digiface AES has a simple and clear menu structure, for fast and efficient operation directly at the device. In most cases, however, all settings will be done via the Settings dialog and TotalMix FX of the host computer. The operation on the device is typically limited to a direct adjustment of the monitoring volume (loudspeaker and headphones) and the microphone gain.
Page 12
The quick select buttons MIC/GAIN, USER, CHAN/MIX and SETUP are described in chapter 22.2. Navigation The Digiface AES has a simple and fast 1-button operation. Pressing the VALUE encoder switches between adjusting the pa- rameter and moving horizontally through the menu to moving ver- tically through the menu.
Control Panel, Software. Click on the entry 'RME MADIface'. 6.3 Firmware Update The Flash Update Tool updates the firmware of the Digiface AES to the latest version. It requires an already installed driver. Start the program fut_usb.exe. The Flash...
7. Configuring the Digiface – Settings Dialog 7.1 General Configuration of the Digiface AES is done via its own settings dialog. The panel Settings can be opened by clicking on the fire or hammer symbol in the Task Bar's system tray.
The screenshot to the right shows the ste- reo WDM devices available with the Digiface AES. Here the first 4 stereo de- vices have been activated. Any number can be activated. Also only higher numbered devices might be active. For example using...
Note: Since Windows Vista the audio application can no longer control the sample rate under WDM. Therefore the driver of the Digiface AES includes a way to set the sample rate globally for all WDM devices within the Settings dialog, see chapter 7.1.
* Playback only. 8.4 Multi-client Operation RME audio interfaces support multi-client operation. Several programs can be used at the same time. The formats ASIO and WDM can even be used on the same playback channels simultane- ously. But as WDM uses a real-time sample rate conversion (ASIO does not), all active ASIO software has to use the same sample rate.
Raise the source’s output level until the peak level meters in TotalMix reach about –3 dB. The level of the front-side analog inputs can also be optimized directly at the Digiface AES by the key Mic/Gain and the encoder. The multi-colour level meters shown on the display additionally provide useful information about the current level state.
A digital system can only have one master! If the Digiface’s clock mode is set to 'Master', all other devices must be set to ‘Slave’. The Digiface AES utilizes a very user-friendly, intelligent clock control, called AutoSync. In Auto- Sync mode, the system constantly scans the digital input for a valid signal. If any valid signal is found, the Digiface switches from the internal quartz (Clock Source –...
The Digiface AES supports ASIO Direct Monitoring (ADM). The Digiface AES MIDI I/O can be used with both MME MIDI and DirectMusic MIDI. 9.2 Channel Count under ASIO At a sample rate of 88.2 or 96 kHz, the ADAT optical input and outputs operate in S/MUX mode, so the number of available channels per port is reduced from 8 to 4.
Lock instead of Sync, the devices have not been set up properly. The same applies when using more than one Digiface AES - they all have to be in sync. Else a periodically repeated noise will be heard.
Check that there is a valid signal at the input. If so, the current sample frequency is displayed in the Settings dialog. Check whether the Digiface AES has been selected as recording device in the audio applica- tion.
Fireface USB.pkg. During driver installation the programs Totalmix (TotalMix FX) and Fireface USB Settings are copied to the Applications folder. They will automatically start into the dock if a Digiface AES is connected. A reboot of the computer is not required.
Configuring the Digiface is done via its own settings dialog in the app Fireface USB Settings. The mixer app of the Digiface AES is called TotalMix FX. The Digiface’s hardware offers a number of helpful, practical functions and options to suit many different requirements.
A digital system can only have one master! If the Digiface’s clock mode is set to 'Master', all other devices must be set to ‘Slave’. The Digiface AES utilizes a very user-friendly, intelligent clock control, called AutoSync. In Auto- Sync mode, the system constantly scans the digital input for a valid signal. If any valid signal is found, the Digiface switches from the internal quartz (Clock Mode –...
Core Audio function Aggregate Devices, which allows to combine several devices into one. The current driver supports up to three Digiface AES. All units have to be in sync, i.e. have to receive valid sync information either via word clock or by feeding synchronized signals.
Check that there is a valid signal at the input. If so, the current sample frequency is displayed in the Settings dialog. Check whether the Digiface AES has been selected as recording device in the audio applica- tion.
19. Analog Inputs The two balanced microphone inputs of the Digiface AES offer a digitally controlled gain of 75 dB, adjustable in steps of 1 dB. The soft switching, hi-current Phantom power (48 Volt), switchable per channel, provides a professional handling of condensor mics. Up to a level of +18 dBu the front XLR input can also be used as balanced and unbalanced Line input.
21.2 SPDIF (Coaxial, Optical) The Digiface AES has up to three SPDIF inputs and outputs: coaxial, optical and AES can be used simultaneously, with different audio signals. Note that at least two sources have to be syn- chronous, as the unit includes only one sample rate converter.
To output SPDIF via the optical output, select Optical Out - ADAT in the Settings dialog. 21.4 MIDI Digiface AES offers one MIDI I/O via a breakout cable with two 5-pin DIN sockets. The MIDI ports are added to the system by the driver. Using MIDI capable software, these ports can be accessed under the name Digiface AES MIDI Port.
Even if there are unformatted spots on the tape, or the DAT is being stopped or switched off, the Digiface AES receives a constant signal (which in this case does not contain audio information).
22. Operation and Usage 22.1 General Using the rotary encoder, the four buttons and the clear colour display the Digiface AES can be configured and set up completely at the device. Additionally internal memory allows for the per- manent storage of six different states of the unit. Therefore the Digiface AES is able to operate fully stand-alone, without any connected computer.
23.4 Digital Format Converter (Multitool) As TotalMix allows for any routing of the input signals, the Digiface AES can be used as ADAT to AES converter, ADAT to two SPDIF (splitter), AES to ADAT converter, and universal 1 to 3 dis- tributor and format converter.
TotalMix FX adds 3-band parametric Equalizer and Low Cut. Here are some typical applications for TotalMix: Setting up delay-free submixes (headphone mixes). The Digiface AES allows for up to 8 fully independent stereo submixes. On an analog mixing desk, this would equal 16 Aux sends.
The visual design of the TotalMix mixer is a result of its capability to route hardware inputs and software playback channels to any hardware output. The Digiface AES has 14 input channels, 16 software playback channels, and 16 hardware output channels: TotalMix can be used in the above view (View Options 2 Rows).
Page 52
The gain (fader knob position) of the currently active routing (the submix selected in the third row) is shown as white triangle. Background: TotalMix has no fixed channel fader. In case of the Digiface AES there are 16 mono Aux sends, shown alternately as single fader within the channel strip.
FX - DSP Meter. Shows the DSP load caused by activated EQ and Low Cut. The DSP of the Digiface AES has been designed so that an overload cannot occur. The display therefore is for information purposes only.
RMS. The numerical level display in the channels displays peak or RMS. Show FX. Not available for the Digiface AES. Trim. Activates all Trim buttons on all channels. TotalMix thus behaves like a conventional, simple mixing desk. Each fader affects all active routings of the channel simultaneously, as if the fader were a trim-pot in the hardware input.
FX settings. Used to suppress the mis- match message after using the unit stand-alone. Settings in the unit are lost. Count MADI Channels per port. Not available with the Digiface AES. Disable ASIO Direct Monitoring. Disables ASIO Direct Monitoring (ADM) for the Digiface AES within TotalMix FX.
ADAT, AES/EBU and MADI, plus 4 channels of DA-conversion for moni- toring. It can be used as universal front-end for the Digiface AES and other interfaces. To simplify operation the most important pa- rameters of the XTC (gain, 48V, phase, mute, AutoSet) can be controlled directly from the TotalMix FX input channels.
The matrix display presents a different method of assigning and rout- ing channels, based on a single channel or monaural design. The matrix view of the Digiface AES has the look and works like a conventional patchbay, adding functionality way beyond comparable hardware and software solutions.
Input Gain control is available via CC9, value range as the gain itself (up to 65). The MIDI chan- nel determines the controlled channel, from 1 to 16 (Digiface AES: 5/6). For this to work, Enable MIDI Control in the Options menu has to be activated.
TotalMix Remote is a remote control for TotalMix FX v1.50 and up, to control the hardware mixer and effects in RME audio interfaces. TotalMix Remote mirrors the current state of the host system on the iPad and Windows/Mac computers - the entire mixing state, the complete routing, all FX settings, up to the level meters, and everything in real-time.
CC firmware is loaded. The natively available features will be limited in comparison to those provided by the RME driver for the Digiface AES. For example there will be no hardware settings, no (Total) Mix and no settings for the effects. However, on the iPad (iOS) the Digiface AES can be fully controlled by the optional app TotalMix FX for iPad.
32. Operation Activation of the Class Compliant mode Remove USB cable from the Digiface AES. Press SETUP so that the page Options is shown in the display. Turn the encoder until Hardware/Diagnosis appears in the display. Pushing the en- coder the knob symbol changes into a double arrow symbol. Now turn the encoder to move the cursor vertically through the menu page.
All outputs can be pro- cessed independently (volume/EQ/LC). Configuring the Digiface AES is ideally done via the app TotalMix FX for iPad, otherwise by load- ing Setups. These are written into the unit while operated with PC/Mac via TotalMix FX, also storing control clock mode master or AutoSync and the current sample rate.
The input effects EQ/LC will always be active in the recording path The Digiface AES can be pre-configured for CC mode via TotalMix FX under Windows/Mac by saving up to 6 configurations into its setup memory, see next chapter.
PLL tracks the receiver's frequency. If an ADAT or SPDIF signal is applied to the Digiface AES, the corresponding input field starts flashing. The unit indicates LOCK, i. e. a valid input signal (in case the signal is also in sync, the filed is constantly lit, see below).
RME's Zero Latency Monitoring. The term describes the digital path of the audio data from the input of the interface to its output. The digital receiver of the Digiface AES can't operate un-buffered, and together with TotalMix and the output via the transmitter, it causes a typical delay of 3 samples.
USB devices, including the Digiface AES. By reconnecting to a different port this view shows at which of the two controllers the Digiface AES is connected. With multiple devices it can be checked if they are connected to the same controller.
Because the ADAT interface does not allow for sampling frequencies above 48 kHz (a limitation of the interface hardware), the Digiface AES automatically uses Sample Multiplexing in DS mode. One channel's data is distributed to two channels. As the transmission of double rate signals is done at standard sample rate (Single Speed), the ADAT outputs still deliver a 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz...
Audio AG does not accept claims for damages of any kind, especially consequential damage. Liability is limited to the value of the Digiface AES. The general terms of business drawn up by Audio AG apply at all times.
Synthax United States, 6600 NW 16th Street, Suite 10, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33313 T.:754.206.4220 Trade Name: RME, Model Number: Digiface AES This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.