RME Fireface UCX II : 40-Channel Advanced USB Audio Interface :

The Fireface UCX II is a highly integrated pro audio solution in an ultra-compact format for studio and live recordings. It continues RME's long tradition of designing compact advanced interfaces, packing into a half-rack size unit what usually would be spread out over two or three 19 inch panels.

The most powerful & portable RME Audio USB Interface

This unique audio system is capable of transferring analog and digital audio data directly to Windows and Mac computers. The latest Plug and Play technology guarantees a simple installation, even for the inexperienced user. Numerous unique features like a well thought-out Settings dialog and an integrated routing solution realize a quick, comfortable and efficient operation of the Fireface UCX II.

The Fireface UCX II houses two mic/line preamps in XLR combo configuration on the front panel, along with two digitally controlled line/instrument inputs, followed by a headphone jack, various control buttons, a display, and the main volume knob. At the rear is a set of ten analogue balanced line inputs and outputs, MIDI I/O, ADAT I/O, AES/EBU and SPDIF I/O, USB 2.0 as well as a switchable word clock I/O.

With the SteadyClock FS, the Fireface UCX II features the latest clock and jitter rejection technology from RME. Based on a femtosecond clock, SteadyClock FS reduces the intrinsic jitter when converting from and to analogue over all digital formats to a new all-time low.


Full Stand-alone Functionality

Control all device states directly from the front panel for convenient, direct access to all features. Four keys and the encoder, the high-resolution and clear color display, and a well thought-out menu structure enable the user to quickly change and configure the device's settings. Additionally internal memory allows for the permanent storage of six different states of the unit. Therefore the Fireface UCX II is able to operate fully stand-alone, without any connected computer. In stand-alone operation it can transform into totally different devices by the simple click of a button. Furthermore TotalMix FX can also be controlled via MIDI.

 
40-Channels ready for your Mobile Recording Rig

DURec is an integrated digital recorder for all inputs and outputs directly to USB memory devices via the rear USB port. It allows to record on USB thumb drives or hard drives with up to 2 TB capacity. The recording functionality is provided by the internal DSP, and is therefore independent from a connected Windows or Mac computer.

The Direct USB Recording converts the Fireface UCX II into a stand-alone field recorder and a powerful multichannel live player for previous recordings, e. g. for virtual sound checks. Live concerts, band rehearsals or spontaneous jam sessions can be directly recorded and played back from the medium - even completely stand-alone without computer or software. All input and output channels can be individually chosen for recording and playback.

Powerful Applications for Mixing, Monitoring and Measurement included

The Fireface UCX II comes with the TotalMix FX DSP mixer offering comprehensive routing and monitoring options, as well as the DIGICheck Analyzer allowing to measure and analyze the digital data feed in both directions with maximum precision. TotalMix FX can completely replace an external mixer, enabling the creation of multiple latency-free monitor mixes with EQ, Dynamics, Reverb and Delay for any outputs, incl. main monitors and headphone mixes for musicians.

The additional TotalMix Remote is a remote control for TotalMix FX, 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. Easily adjust all the mixer and FX settings from a distance, via Ethernet and WiFi.

DC-Coupled Outputs - CV/Gate Voltage Control

Most audio interfaces are traditionally designed with what is called 'AC-coupled outputs', where capacitors are used to filter out any extreme low frequencies.

Whilst these frequencies are generally considered undesirable for audio - eating into headroom and potentially causing damage to other equipment - one instance where DC-coupling remains desirable is the world of modular synthesizers, where static or slow-moving signals are used for control over various parameters such as pitch note values or LFOs.

All of the Fireface UCX II's line-level outputs are fully DC-coupled, allowing for the sending of control voltages (CV) or Gate information to modular synthesizers (such as the popular Eurorack and Moog/MOTM/Synthesizers.com formats) and other studio hardware.

Class Compliant Audio

The Fireface UCX II operates in two different modes: driver-based USB2 and Class Compliant. The Class Compliant mode is a standard that is natively supported by operating systems like Windows, Mac OSX and Linux distributions. No proprietary drivers are required, the device will be directly recognized when the CC firmware is loaded. The natively available features will be limited in comparison to those provided by the RME driver for the UCX II.

TotalMix FX - Mixing/Routing with superior features for Studio and Live Work

Since 2001 TotalMix added unlimited routing and mixing to RME's audio interfaces. Its unique capability to create as many independent submixes as output channels available turned it into the most flexible and powerful mixer of its kind.

DigiCheck - The Secret Weapon of High Resolution Audio Measurements

RME Audio interfaces not only provide you with a professional digital audio interface, but also with a free available software tool: DigiCheck, for metering, testing, measuring and analyzing digital audio streams.


RME USB - Transport audio with lowest latency and industry leading stability

Use your RME audio interface on Mac and PC with reliable, stable, and regularly updated drivers for our products. RME Audio develops its own interface core, it's not dependent on 3rd parties for upgrades, modifications or bug fixes, so customers can use latest operating systems without interruption or delay."

SteadyClock FS - Reference class Digital Clocking

Excellent performance in all clock modes and High Quality Analog Conversion to hear your mix as it is, with lowest jitter and highest jitter immunity



Specifications


Analog

AD, Line In 5-8, rear

    Resolution AD: 24 bit
    Signal to Noise ratio (SNR): 112 dB RMS unweighted, 115 dBA
    Frequency response @ 44.1 kHz, -0.1 dB: 5 Hz - 20.8 kHz
    Frequency response @ 96 kHz, -0.5 dB: 3 Hz - 45.8 kHz
    Frequency response @ 192 kHz, -1 dB: 2 Hz - 92 kHz
    THD: < -110 dB, < 0.00032 %
    THD+N: < -104 dB, < 0.00063 %
    Channel separation: > 110 dB
    Input: 6.3 mm TRS jack, electronically balanced
    Input impedance: 8 kOhm unbalanced, 12 kOhm balanced
    Input sensitivity switchable to +19 dBu and +13 dBu
    Variable gain: 0 to +12 dB
    Minimum level for 0 dBFS: +1 dBu, -1.2 dBV

Line In 3-4, front

As AD, but:

    Additional Gain stage: 0 up to +12 dB
    Maximum input level, +19 dBu, Gain 0 dB: Line +19 dBu, Inst +13 dBu
    Maximum input level, +13 dBu, Gain 12 dB: Line +1 dBu, Inst -5 dBu
    Input impedance: Instrument 1 MOhm. Line 13 kOhm balanced, 9 kOhm unbalanced
    Input Gain Inst: +6 dB
    Input mode: Line balanced (TRS), Inst unbalanced (TS)

Microphone In 1-2, front

As AD, but:

    Input: XLR, electronically balanced
    Input impedance: 5.4 kOhm
    Gain range: 75 dB
    Maximum input level, Gain 0 dB: +18 dBu
    Maximum input level, Gain 75 dB: -57 dBu
    EIN: -128 dBu A-weighted, 60 dB gain,150 Ohm, 20 Hz - 20 kHz

Line In 1-2

As AD, but:

    Input: TRS, electronically balanced
    Input impedance: 10 kOhm balanced, 5 kOhm unbalanced
    Maximum input level, Gain 0 dB: +24 dBu
    Maximum input level, Gain 75 dB: -51 dBu

DA, Line Out 1-6, rear

    Resolution: 24 bit
    Dynamic range (DR): 112 dB RMS unweighted, 115 dBA
    Frequency response @ 44.1 kHz, -0.5 dB: 5 Hz - 20.8 kHz
    Frequency response @ 96 kHz, -0.5 dB: 5 Hz - 45 kHz
    Frequency response @ 192 kHz, -1 dB: 5 Hz - 89 kHz
    THD: < -108 dB, < 0.0004 %
    THD+N: < -104 dB, < 0.00063 %
    Channel separation: > 110 dB
    Maximum output level: +19 dBu
    Output: 6.3 mm TRS jack, servo-balanced
    Output impedance: 75 Ohm
    Output level switchable +19 dBu, +13 dBu, +4 dBu

DA - Stereo Monitor Output Phones (7-8)

As DA, but:

    Output: 6.3 mm TRS stereo jack, unbalanced
    Maximum output level at 0 dBFS, High: +19 dBu
    Maximum output level at 0 dBFS, Low: +4 dBu
    Output impedance: 1 Ohm
    Max power per channel @ 32 Ohm load, 0.1% THD: 210 mW (2.6 Vrms, +10.5 dBu)

MIDI

    1 x MIDI I/O via 5-pin DIN jacks
    Galvanically isolated by optocoupled input
    Hi-speed mode: Jitter and response time typically below 1 ms
    Separate 128 byte FIFOs for input and output

Digital

    Clocks: Internal, ADAT, AES, SPDIF, word clock
    Jitter suppression of external clocks: > 50 dB (2.4 kHz)
    Effective clock jitter influence on AD and DA conversion: near zero
    PLL ensures zero dropout, even at more than 100 ns jitter
    Digital Bitclock PLL for trouble-free varispeed ADAT operation
    Supported sample rates: 28 kHz up to 200 kHz

Digital Inputs

AES/EBU

    1 x XLR, transformer-balanced, galvanically isolated, according to AES3-1992
    High-sensitivity input stage (< 0.3 Vpp)
    SPDIF compatible (IEC 60958)
    Accepts Consumer and Professional format
    Lock range: 27 kHz - 200 kHz
    Jitter suppression: > 50 dB (2.4 kHz)

SPDIF coaxial

    1 x RCA, according to IEC 60958
    High-sensitivity input stage (< 0.3 Vpp)
    Accepts Consumer and Professional format, copy protection will be ignored
    Lock Range: 27 kHz - 200 kHz
    Jitter suppression: > 50 dB (2.4 kHz)

ADAT Optical

    1 x TOSLINK, format according to Alesis specification
    Standard: 8 channels 24 bit, up to 48 kHz
    Double Speed (S/MUX): 4 channels 24 bit 96 kHz
    Quad Speed (S/MUX4): 2 channels 24 bit 192 kHz
    Bitclock PLL ensures perfect synchronisation even in varispeed operation
    Lock range: 31.5 kHz - 50 kHz
    Jitter suppression: > 50 dB (2.4 kHz)
    SPDIF compatible (automatic detection)

Word Clock

    BNC
    Internal termination 75 Ohm switchable
    Automatic Double/Quad Speed detection and internal conversion to Single Speed
    SteadyClock guarantees super low jitter synchronization even in varispeed operation
    Not affected by DC-offsets within the network
    Signal Adaptation Circuit: signal refresh through auto-center and hysteresis
    Overvoltage protection
    Level range: 1.0 Vpp - 5.6 Vpp
    Lock Range: 27 kHz - 200 kHz
    Jitter suppression: > 50 dB (2.4 kHz)

Digital Outputs

AES/EBU

    XLR, transformer-balanced, galvanically isolated, according to AES3-1992
    Output level Professional 4.5 Vpp, Consumer 2.6 Vpp
    Format Professional according to AES3-1992 Amendment 4
    Format Consumer (SPDIF) according to IEC 60958
    Single Wire mode, sample rate 28 kHz up to 200 kHz

SPDIF coaxial

    1 x RCA, according to IEC 60958
    Output level Professional 1.2 Vpp, Consumer 0.6 Vpp
    Format Professional according to AES3-1992 Amendment 4
    Format Consumer (SPDIF) according to IEC 60958
    Single Wire mode, sample rate 28 kHz up to 200 kHz

ADAT

    1 x TOSLINK, format according to Alesis specification
    Standard: 8 channels 24 bit, up to 48 kHz
    Double Speed (S/MUX): 4 channels 24 bit 96 kHz
    Quad Speed (S/MUX4): 2 channels 24 bit 192 kHz

Word Clock

    BNC
    Max. output voltage: 5 Vpp
    Output voltage @ 75 Ohm termination: 4.0 Vpp
    Output impedance: 10 Ohm
    Frequency range: 27 kHz - 200 kHz

General

    Power supply: external power supply
    Typical power consumption: 13 Watts
    Current at 12 Volt operating voltage: 910 mA (11 Watts)
    Dimensions incl. rack ears, full depth (WxHxD): 265 x 44 x 155 mm (10.5" x 1.73" x 6.1")
    Dimensions without rack ears, body depth (WxHxD): 215 x 44 x 130 mm (8.5" x 1.73" x 5.1")
    Weight: 910 g ( 2.0 lbs)
    Temperature range: +5° up to +50° Celsius (41° F up to 122°F)
    Relative humidity: < 75%, non condensing