RME Audio MULTIFACE User Manual
RME Audio MULTIFACE User Manual

RME Audio MULTIFACE User Manual

Pci busmaster digital i/o system pci and cardbus interface 2 + 24 channels stereo / adat interface 24 bit / 96 khz analog stereo monitor adat sync in
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User's Guide
Hammerfall
®
DSP System
Multiface
The most compact professional multitrack recording system ever!
TotalMix
ü ü
24 Bit / 96 kHz
®
®
®
SyncAlign
ZLM
SyncCheck
PCI Busmaster Digital I/O System
PCI and CardBus Interface
2 + 24 Channels Stereo / ADAT Interface
24 Bit / 96 kHz Analog Stereo Monitor
ADAT Sync In

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Summary of Contents for RME Audio MULTIFACE

  • Page 1 User’s Guide Hammerfall ® DSP System Multiface The most compact professional multitrack recording system ever! ™ TotalMix ü ü 24 Bit / 96 kHz ® ® ® SyncAlign SyncCheck PCI Busmaster Digital I/O System PCI and CardBus Interface 2 + 24 Channels Stereo / ADAT Interface...
  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    15.1 Elements of the Surface ........25 15.2 Tour de TotalMix ..........26 15.3 Submix View ............27 15.4 Mute and Solo ............27 15.5 Hotkeys ..............27 15.6 Quick Access Panel..........28 15.7 Presets ...............29 15.8 Monitor ...............30 15.9 Level Meter ............31 User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 3 23.1 Block Diagram Multiface........39 23.2 ADAT Track Routing, ASIO 96 kHz ....40 23.3 ADAT Track Routing, MME 96 kHz ....41 23.4 Block Diagram TotalMix ........42 CE / FCC Compliance........... 43 User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 4: Introduction

    CardBus Interface: a free PCMCIA Slot type II, CardBus-compatible Note: Examples and detailed descriptions of suitable audio desktop systems can be found in the Tech Info RME Reference PCs: Hardware recommendations. Information on compatibility and performance of notebooks/laptops is included in RMEs Tech Infos about notebooks, HDSP System –...
  • Page 5: Brief Description And Characteristics

    Frequency response DA, -0.5 dB: 10 Hz - 44 kHz (sf 96 kHz) Sample rates playback: 32 / 44.1 / 48 / 64 / 88.2 / 96 kHz and variable (word clock) Ouput impedance: 75 Ohm Channel separation: > 110 dB User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 6: Transfer Modes: Resolution/Bits Per Sample

    32 bit, 4 byte (stereo 8 byte) Channel Interleave operation is not supported. The transfer of Channel Status bits and RME’s TMS (Track Marker Support) will be available in a future driver update. Until then DIGICheck’s Channel Status Display is deactivated.
  • Page 7: Hardware Installation

    4. Insert the PCI card firmly into a free PCI slot, press and fasten the screw. 5. Replace the computer's housing. 6. Reconnect all cables including the power cord. 7. Connect PCI interface and Multiface using the supplied cable (IEEE1394). This is a standard Firewire cable (6-pin). 6.2 CardBus Card...
  • Page 8: Driver Installation

    7. Driver Installation 7.1 Windows 98/SE/ME After the interface has been installed correctly, connected to the Multiface (see 6. Hardware Installation), and the computer has been switched on, Windows will recognize the new hardware component and start its ‘Add New Hardware Wizard’. Insert the RME Driver CD into your CD-ROM drive, and follow further instructions which appear on your computer screen.
  • Page 9: Operation And Usage

    8. Operation and Usage 8.1 Connections The front of the I/O-box Multiface has the MIDI input and output, the analog stereo output of the digital mixer, and several status LEDs: MIDI State indicates sent or received data for the MIDI port Input State indicates a valid input signal separately for each input.
  • Page 10: Playback

    Blaster clone and select this as Preferred Device in >Control Panel /Multimedia /Audio<. The RME Driver CD includes step by step instructions for configuring many popular audio applications, found in the directory \rmeaudio.web\english\techinfo\conf. The screenshot to the...
  • Page 11: Dvd-Playback (Ac-3) Under Mme

    To prevent this, be sure to re-assign this setting after usage, or to disable any system sounds (tab Sounds, scheme 'No audio'). Note: The DVD player will be synced backwards from the RME card. This means when using AutoSync and/or word clock, the playback speed and pitch follows the incoming clock signal.
  • Page 12: Recording Digital

    I/O cards always need a valid input signal to start recording. To take this into account, RME has included three unique features in the Hammerfall DSP system: a comprehensive I/O signal status display (showing sample frequency, lock and sync status) in the Settings dialog, status LEDs for each input, and the protective Check Input function.
  • Page 13: Recording Analog

    This would make no sense for the digital inputs, but also for the analog inputs one can do without it. It doesn't matter if the Multiface is operated at a mixing desk or a multichannel Mic preamp, in either case the level can be controlled directly at the source to match the Multiface's sensitivity perfectly.
  • Page 14: Analog Outputs

    8 outputs separately. As with the analog inputs the analog output levels are defined to maintain a problem-free operation with most other devices. The headroom of the Multiface lies between 9 and 15 dB, according to the chosen reference level:...
  • Page 15: Configuring The Multiface

    'Time Code' displays time information received from the I/O-box ADAT Sync port. This is convenient for checking whether the system is running in time with the transmitting device (e.g. ADAT). User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 16: Word Clock

    I/O Box error: I/O-box not connected or missing power I/O Box detected: The interface has found a I/O-box and tries to load the firmware I/O Box locked: Communication between interface and I/O-box ok * Under W2k/XP also GSIF data User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 17: Clock Modes - Synchronization

    The samples will inevitably be corrupted, because the signal from the CD player is read with the (wrong) clock from the ADAT i.e. out of sync. In this case, 'Pref Sync Ref' should be temporarily set to SPDIF. User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 18: Changing The Jumper Settings

    To change the jumper settings the Multiface must be opened. If you feel unsecure to do so please consult a technician and let him show you how to do it. Else please follow the instructions below step by step.
  • Page 19 Use this unique moment and have a look at the internal design of the Multiface. On the right side of the lower printed circuit board (PCB) you can see the two switching power supplies. They generate both 5 Volts (for the digital circuitry) and ±13 Volts (for the analog circuitry) from nearly every possible input voltage.
  • Page 20: Word Clock

    (as above), but connect the free end to the next device in the chain via a further BNC cable. The last device in the chain should be terminated using another T-adapter and a terminator plug as described in the previous paragraph. User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 21: General Operation

    The audio bit in the header can be set to 'Non-Audio'. This is necessary when Dolby AC-3 encoded data is sent to external decoders (surround-sound receivers, television sets etc. with AC-3 digital inputs), as these decoders would otherwise not recognize the data as AC-3. User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 22: Operation Under Asio

    26 tracks are only possible after changing ‘Disk Block Buffer Size’ to 256kB (depending on your computer). Please note that these parameters are only updated after clicking on ‘Apply’. User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 23: Synchronization

    Select ‘Reset Devices’ from the Options menu. Switch on the ADAT recorder(s) before starting Cubase Use the BRC as Master and send its word clock to all other devices Use the Clock Mode ADAT Sync User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 24: Known Problems

    Please also note that Gigastudio is running unexpectedly in the background (thus blocking its assigned audio channels), as soon as the Gigastudio MIDI ports are used – even when Gigastudio itself hasn't been started. User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 25: Totalmix: Routing And Monitoring

    ADAT inputs to one (realizing two additional inputs) On page 42 you’ll find a block diagram of the TotalMix mixer of the Multiface. It can help to understand the basic signal flow and routing. It shows that the record signal always stays un- altered, but can be passed on as often as desired, even with different levels.
  • Page 26: Tour De Totalmix

    The checkmarks are un-checked by moving the fader to m.a. This setting deactivates the routing...why route if there is no level? Click onto 'AN 3+4' in the routing window, pull the fader down, open the routing window again - the checkmark is gone. User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 27: Submix View

    If you want to set several faders to m.a. for instance, it is sufficient to click onto the lower end of the fader path. Which happens pairwise with the Alt-key pressed. User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 28: Quick Access Panel

    Up to three Hammerfall DSP systems can be used simultaneously. The Card buttons switch between the systems. Systems, because card 1 can be a Multiface, but card 2 can also be a Digiface. The number of ADAT channels is reduced to half automatically when chosing double speed operation (88.2 or 96 kHz).
  • Page 29: Presets

    Description: Submix on SPDIF at -6 dB. As Preset 6, but submix of all inputs and outputs on SPDIF. View Submix SPDIF active. Preset8.mix Description: Panic. As Preset 4, but also playback muted (no output signal) User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 30: Monitor

    For this to work the option 'Hardware monitoring during punch' activated Samplitude/Sequoia. Then at each punch-in the corresponding Mute buttons will be deactivated, at punch-out they will be re- activated. All settings can be changed and configured in real-time. User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 31: Level Meter

    RMS measurement, thus making possible a SNR measurement 'RMS unweighted', which you would otherwise need extremely expensive measurement devices for. An ADI-8 DS connected to the Multiface will therefore show around -113 dB on all 8 channels. This level display will constantly bring the reduced dynamic range of your equipment, maybe of the whole studio, in front of your eyes.
  • Page 32: Notes On Laptops And Cardbus

    Windows boot, but only when plugged in manually. The problem vanished after a fresh install of Windows ME. The Hammerfall DSP System was tested thoroughly on several notebooks by RME. Basically our CardBus card operates with any notebook we have tested. But there were some significant performance differences, and some laptops suffered from a very low data transfer rate of the PC-Card controller.
  • Page 33: Hotline - Troubleshooting

    17. Hotline - Troubleshooting 17.1 General The newest information can always be found on our website www.rme-audio.com, section FAQ, Latest Additions. The ADAT timecode is not in sync The tape is formatted to 48 kHz, but played back at 44.1 kHz (Pitch). This 'Blackface' problem cannot be solved in a satisfactory way.
  • Page 34: Installation

    If your graphics board is an older Matrox Mystique or uses a ‘968’ S3 chip, there could be a memory allocation error. Change the memory area allocated to the Hammerfall DSP via /Resources/Change Setting. Detailed information on this subject can be found in \rmeaudio.web\techinfo\install.htm on the RME Driver CD. User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 35: Hdsp Software

    To start press F2 and F7, the most important hotkeys. To install the HDSP Meter Bridge, go to the \HDSP Meter Bridge directory on the RME Driver CD and run setup.exe. Follow the instructions prompted on the screen.
  • Page 36: Accessories

    36000 19“, 1UH Universal rack holder This 19" rack holder has holes for Digiface and Multiface. Two units can be installed side by side in any combination. The rack holder also includes holes for nearly all 19" half-rack units from other manufacturers.
  • Page 37: Tech Info

    20. TECH INFO Not all information to and around our products fit in a manual. Therefore RME offers a lot more and detailed information in the Tech Infos. The very latest Tech Infos can be found on our website, section News & Infos, or the directory \rmeaudio.web\techinfo on the RME Driver CD.
  • Page 38: Warranty

    Current driver version: W98: 2.13, W2k/XP: 2.33 Although the contents of this User’s Guide have been thoroughly checked for errors, RME can not guarantee that it is correct throughout. RME does not accept responsibility for any misleading or incorrect information within this guide. Lending or copying any part of the guide or the RME Driver CD, or any commercial exploitation of these media without express written permission from RME Intelligent Audio Solutions is prohibited.
  • Page 39: Diagrams

    23. Diagrams 23.1 Block Diagram Multiface User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 40: Adat Track Routing, Asio 96 Khz

    ASIO have been implemented according to the hardware. Signal routing is identical for record and playback. Device: The device name in the audio application SR: Sample Rate Device name code: Channel in ASIO host, interface, Multiface, card number User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 41: Adat Track Routing, Mme 96 Khz

    5, 6, 7 and 8 of the ADAT device have been omitted. Signal routing is identical for record and playback. Device: The device name in the audio application SR: Sample Rate User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...
  • Page 42: Block Diagram Totalmix

    23.4 Block diagram TotalMix This diagram shows the signal flow inside the TotalMix mixer of the Multiface. It shall clarify the following function: The input signal of the hardware (ADAT/SPDIF In) is always directly fed through to the recording software. At the same time it can be routed to all 20 hardware outputs (Analog/ ADAT/ SPDIF/Monitor), even to all of them simultaneously.
  • Page 43: Ce / Fcc Compliance

    When connecting external devices to this product, compliance to limits for a Class ‘B’ device requires the use of shielded cables. FCC compliance statement: Tested to comply with FCC standards for home or office use. User’s Guide HDSP System Multiface © RME...

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