RME MADIFace XT User manual

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User Guide

MADIface XT

The world’s first and only USB 3 audio interface!

TotalMix FX

SyncAlign

USB 3 / USB 2.0 / PCI Express Digital I/O System

™

192 Channels Triple MADI Interface

™

SteadyClock™

ZLM™ SyncCheck™

24 Bit / 192 kHz Digital Audio

AES/EBU I/O

2 + 4 Channels Analog I/O

196 x 198 Matrix Router

1 x MIDI I/O

3 x MIDI embedded in MADI

General

1 Introduction ...............................................................8

2 Package Contents.....................................................8

3 System Requirements ..............................................8

4 Brief Description and Characteristics.....................8

5 First Usage – Quick Start

5.1 Connectors – Controls - Display ............................9

5.2 Quick Start ...........................................................10

Driver Installation and Operation - Windows

6 Hardware, Driver and Firmware

6.1 Driver Installation .................................................12

6.2 De-Installing the Drivers....................................... 12

6.3 Firmware Update..................................................12

7 Configuring the MADIface XT

7.1 Settings Dialog – Main Tab..................................13

7.2 Option WDM Devices........................................... 16

7.3 Tab Global............................................................18

7.4 Settings Dialog – Pitch .........................................19

7.5 Clock Modes – Synchronization...........................20

8 Operation and Usage

8.1 Playback...............................................................21

8.2 DVD Playback (AC-3 / DTS) ................................22

8.3 Multi-client Operation ...........................................23

8.4 Digital Recording..................................................23

8.5 Analog Recording.................................................23

9 Operation under ASIO

9.1 General ................................................................24

9.2 Known Problems ..................................................24

10 Using multiple MADIface XT ..................................25

11 DIGICheck Windows ............................................... 25

12 Hotline – Troubleshooting......................................26

Driver Installation and Operation - Mac OS X

13 Driver and Flash Update

13.1 Driver Installation .................................................28

13.2 De-installing the Drivers.......................................28

13.3 Firmware Update..................................................29

14 Configuring the MADIface XT

14.1 Settings Dialog .....................................................30

14.2 Clock Modes – Synchronization...........................32

15 Mac OS X FAQ

15.1 MIDI doesn't work ................................................33

15.2 Repairing Disk Permissions .................................33

15.3 Supported Sample Rates .....................................33

15.4 Various Information ..............................................33

16 Using multiple MADIface XT ..................................34

17 DIGICheck Mac........................................................34

18 Hotline – Troubleshooting......................................35

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

Usage and Operation

19 Front Panel Controls

19.1 Overviews ............................................................38

19.2 Encoders .............................................................. 38

19.3 Menu Keys MIC/GAIN and METERS ..................39

19.4 Channel Menu...................................................... 39

19.5 Setup Menu.......................................................... 41

19.5.1 Options Menu............................................... 41

19.5.2 Setups Menu................................................ 42

19.6 Clock .................................................................... 43

Inputs and Outputs

20 Analog Inputs / Outputs

20.1 Mic / Line In (XLR / TRS) ..................................... 46

20.2 Phantom Power ................................................... 46

20.3 AutoSet ................................................................46

20.4 Balanced Line Outputs ........................................ 47

20.5 Line - Headphones .............................................. 47

21 Digital Inputs and Outputs

21.1 MADI I/O ..............................................................48

21.2 AES / EBU ........................................................... 48

21.3 MIDI ..................................................................... 49

21.4 D-sub Pinout ........................................................49

22 Word Clock

22.1 Word Clock Input and Output .............................. 50

22.2 Technical Description and Background ............... 51

22.3 Cables and Termination....................................... 52

Stand-Alone Operation

23 Operation and Usage

23.1 General ................................................................54

23.2 Settings at the Unit............................................... 54

24 Examples

24.1 2/4-Channel AD/DA-Converter ............................55

24.2 2-Channel Mic Preamp ........................................ 55

24.3 194-Channel Monitor Mixer ................................. 55

24.4 Analog and Digital Inserter .................................. 55

24.5 3-Port MADI Router with Monitoring .................... 55

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

TotalMix FX

25 Routing and Monitoring

25.1 Overview ..............................................................58

25.2 The User Interface ...............................................60

25.3 The Channel.........................................................61

25.3.1 Settings ........................................................63

25.3.2 Equalizer ......................................................64

25.3.3 Dynamics .....................................................66

25.4 Section Control Room ..........................................67

25.5 The Control Strip ..................................................68

25.5.1 View Options ................................................69

25.5.2 Snapshots - Groups .....................................70

25.5.3 Channel Layout – Layout Presets................70

25.5.4 Scroll Location Markers ...............................72

25.6 Reverb and Echo .................................................73

25.7 Preferences .......................................................... 76

25.7.1 Store Setting for (Windows only) .................77

25.8 Settings ................................................................78

25.8.1 Mixer Page ...................................................78

25.8.2 MIDI Page ....................................................79

25.8.3 OSC Page ....................................................80

25.8.4 Aux Devices .................................................81

25.9 Hotkeys and Usage..............................................82

25.10 Menu Options.......................................................83

25.11 Menu Window ......................................................84

26 The Matrix

26.1 Overview ..............................................................84

26.2 Elements of the Matrix View ................................84

26.3 Operation .............................................................84

27 Tips and Tricks

27.1 ASIO Direct Monitoring (Windows) ......................85

27.2 Copy a Submix .....................................................85

27.3 Doubling the Output Signal (Mirror) .....................85

27.4 Delete a Submix ................................................... 85

27.5 Copy and Paste everywhere ................................86

27.6 Recording a Submix - Loopback..........................86

27.7 MS Processing .....................................................87

28 MIDI Remote Control

28.1 Overview ..............................................................88

28.2 Mapping ...............................................................88

28.3 Setup ....................................................................89

28.4 Operation .............................................................89

28.5 MIDI Control .........................................................90

28.6 Loopback Detection .............................................91

28.7 OSC (Open Sound Control) .................................91

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

Technical Reference

29 Technical Specifications

29.1 Analog .................................................................. 94

29.2 Digital Inputs ........................................................95

29.3 Digital Outputs ..................................................... 95

29.4 Digital ................................................................... 96

29.5 MIDI ..................................................................... 96

29.6 General ................................................................96

30 Technical Background

30.1 MADI Basics ........................................................97

30.2 Lock and SyncCheck ........................................... 98

30.3 Latency and Monitoring ....................................... 98

30.4 USB Audio ......................................................... 100

30.5 External PCI Express......................................... 101

30.6 DS – Double Speed ........................................... 102

30.7 QS – Quad Speed ............................................. 102

30.8 SteadyClock....................................................... 103

30.9 Notes on WDM................................................... 104

30.10 Terminology ..................................................... 105

Miscellaneous

31 Accessories........................................................... 108

32 Warranty................................................................. 108

33 Appendix................................................................ 109

34 CE / FCC Compliance........................................... 110

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

Important Safety Instructions

ATTENTION! Do not open chassis

No user serviceable parts inside. Refer service to qualified service personnel.

To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock do not expose this device to rain or moisture. Prevent moisture and water from entering the device. Never leave a pot with liquid on top of the device. Do not use this product near water, i. e. swimming pool, bathtub or wet basement. Danger of condensation inside – don't turn on before the device has reached room temperature.

Installation

Surface may become hot during operation – ensure sufficient ventilation. Avoid direct sun light and do not place it near other sources of heat, like radiators or stoves. When mounting in a rack, leave some space between this device and others for ventilation.

Unauthorized servicing/repair voids warranty. Only use accessories specified by the manufacturer.

Read the manual completely. It includes all information necessary to use and operate this device.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

User's Guide

MADIface XT

General

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

1. Introduction

Thank you for choosing the MADIface XT. This unique audio system is capable of transferring digital audio data directly into a computer, from any device equipped with a MADI interface. Analog sources can be connected to a stereo analog input, and 2 stereo analog outputs add full monitoring connectivity. Installation is simple, even for the inexperienced user, thanks to the latest Plug and Play technology. The numerous unique features and well thought-out configuration dialogs put the MADIface XT at the very top of the range of digital audio interfaces.

The package contains drivers for Windows (Vista, 7, 8, 10) and Mac OS X x86 (Intel).

Our high-performance philosophy guarantees maximum system performance by executing as many functions as possible not in the driver (i.e. the CPU), but directly within the audio hardware.

2. Package Contents

Please check that your MADIface XT package contains each of the following:

• MADIface XT

• AES/MIDI breakout cable

• Cable USB 3, 1.8 m (6 ft)

• External power supply with DC locking type connector

• RME Driver CD

• Manual

3. System Requirements

• Windows Vista or up, Mac OS X Intel (10.6 or up)

• External PCI Express port, or

• USB 3 port, or

• USB 2.0 port (requires computer with at least Pentium Core 2 Duo CPU)

4. Brief Description and Characteristics

• All settings can be changed in real-time

• 8 available buffer sizes/latencies: 0.7 / 1.5 / 3 / 6 / 12 / 23 / 46 / 93 ms

• 100/102 channels 96 kHz/24 bit record/playback

• 52/54 channels 192 kHz/24 bit record/playback

• Automatic and intelligent master/slave clock control

• Word clock input and output

• DDS technology for free setting of the sample rate (E-PCIe)

• TotalMix for latency-free submixes and perfect ASIO Direct Monitoring

• SyncAlign guarantees sample aligned and never swapping channels

• SyncCheck tests and reports the synchronization status of input signals

• 1 x MIDI I/O, 16 channels high-speed MIDI

• DIGICheck DSP: Level meter in hardware, peak- and RMS calculation

• TotalMix: 4096 channel mixer with 46 bit internal resolution

• TotalMix FX: 3-band EQ, Low Cut, Reverb, Echo, Compressor, Expander, Auto Level

• SteadyClock: Jitter-immune, super-stable digital clock

• Quick Boot technology for immediate loading of the hardware settings

• Full stand-alone operation including MIDI remote

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

5. First Usage – Quick Start

5.1 Connectors – Controls – Display

The front of the MADIface XT has 2 XLR/TRS line and microphone inputs, a stereo line/headphone output, two rotary encoders with push functionality, four menu keys, a graphical colour display, and six status LEDs.

The Neutrik combo sockets of

the two Mic/Line inputs provide

XLR and 6.3 mm / 1/4" TRS connection. They have LEDs for Signal (SIG), Overload (Clip) and phantom power (48V).

Channels 3/4 feed the headphone output, which also operates as high-quality unbalanced line output.

The display main screen (Global Level Meters) shows the current state of interface mode (PCIe orange, USB 2 yellow, USB 3 blue), the sync state of MADI and AES inputs, and incoming and outgoing MIDI data.

The four keys, the two encoders 1 and 2,

the high-resolution and clear colour display, and a well thought-out menu structure enable the user to quickly change and configure the device’s settings completely without a computer. Help notes and clear markers in the display guide the user through all functions.

The rotary encoder 1 and 2 set the monitoring volume of the rear and front output directly at the

device. Watch the display for further information.

The rear panel of the MADIface XT has two balanced analog outputs, word clock I/O, MADI coaxial I/O, two MADI optical I/O, USB 3 port (compatible to USB 2), PCI Express connector, MIDI/AES I/O D-sub for breakout cable, the power socket and a power switch.

Balanced Line Level Outputs. 2 balanced analog outputs via XLR. Word Clock I/O. BNC. In menu Options – Clock the input can be set to be terminated with 75

Ohms.

MADI I/O coaxial: Standard coaxial MADI ports. MADI I/O optical: 2 x standard optical MADI ports. Remote. Mini-DIN. Connector for the optional remote controls with Volume, Store, Dim and

Recall functions.

MIDI I/O and AES/EBU I/O. D-sub connector for the included breakout cable with XLR for AES

I/O and 5-pin DIN for MIDI I/O.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

USB 3.0. USB socket for connection to the computer. USB bus power is not supported. Compatible to USB 2.0.

PCI Express. External PCI Express connector for Molex E-PCIe standard cables. POWER (switch): Turns the MADIface XT on and off.

Socket for power connection. The locking type jack fits the locking type DC connector on the

included power supply. After inserting the connector carefully turn it so that it locks.

The included hi-performance switch mode power supply operates in the range of 100V to 240V AC. It is short-circuit-proof, has an integrated line-filter, is fully regulated against voltage fluctuations, and suppresses mains interference.

5.2 Quick Start

After the driver installation (chapter 6 / 13) connect the TRS or the XLR inputs with the analog signal source. The input gain can be adjusted in TotalMix FX (Input Channel Settings, Gain), assuring the highest signal to noise ratio will be achieved. Also try to achieve an optimum input level by adjusting the source itself. Raise the source’s output level until the peak level meters in TotalMix reach about –3 dB.

The signal level of the front inputs can also be optimized directly at the MADIface XT. The key MIC/GAIN gives direct access to this setting, which is then controlled by the encoders 1 and 2. Two LEDs beside the inputs indicate signal and overload.

All digital inputs show their current state already on the global level meter screen. No signal (label dark), signal (label flashing red) and sync state (label constantly lit) are easy to see and to understand. The Settings dialog in Windows and Mac OS X includes a more detailed analysis of the input signal state.

The digital outputs of the MADIface XT provide AES/EBU (SPDIF compatible) and MADI signals at the corresponding ports. They can be set up in different ways in the menu SETUP/REV, Options, MADI Settings, or the driver’s Settings dialog.

The output level of the current Main output (as selected in TM FX) and Phones (locked to the front output) can be adjusted right from the front. While in the global level meter screen simply turn encoder 1 or 2. More options, like balance, phase, mute or stereo/mono are available in the CHANNEL menu.

The MADIface XT can store and load its current state in 6 different memory slots, called Setups. With this, the MADIface XT can be used stand-alone after setting it up accordingly, replacing lots of dedicated devices (see chapter 24).

In online mode some settings are greyed out, as these should be changed only at the computer in Settings dialog or TotalMix. These include the choice of sample rate and the mix settings.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

User's Guide

MADIface XT

Driver Installation and Operation - Windows

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

6. Hardware, Driver and Firmware Installation

6.1 Driver Installation

To simplify installation it is recommended to first install the drivers before the card is connected to the computer. But it will also work the other way round.

Insert the RME Driver CD into your CD-ROM drive. The driver installer is located in the directory

\HDSPe FX for external PCI Express \MADIface_USB for USB 3 and USB 2.0

Start rmeinstaller.exe and follow the instructions of the installer. After installation connect com-

puter and XT using a USB 2, USB 3.0 or external PCI Express cable. Windows detects the new

hardware as MADIface XT and installs the drivers automatically.

After a reboot, the icons of TotalMix FX and Settings dialog appear

in the notification area. Driver Updates do not require to remove the existing drivers. Simply install the new driver over

the existing one.

6.2 De-Installing the Drivers

A de-installation of the driver files is not necessary – and not supported by Windows anyway. Thanks to full Plug & Play support, the driver files will not be loaded after the hardware has been removed. If desired these files can then be deleted manually.

Unfortunately Windows Plug & Play methods do not cover the additional autorun entries of TotalMix, the Settings dialog, and the registration of the ASIO driver. Those entries can be removed from the registry through a software de-installation request. This request can be found

(like all de-installation entries) in Control Panel, Software. Click on the entry 'RME HDSPe FX

(WDM)' or 'RME MADIface USB'. .

6.3 Firmware Update

The Flash Update Tool updates the MADIface XT to the latest firmware version. It requires an already installed driver.

Start the program hdspe_fx_fut.exe (PCI) or fut_mfusb.exe (USB). The Flash Update Tool

displays the current revision of the MADIface XT and whether it needs an update or not. If so, then please press the 'Update' button. A progress bar will indicate when the flash process is finished. The bar moves slowly first (program), then faster (verify).

After the update the MADIface XT needs to be reset. This is done by powering down the XT for a few seconds. A reboot of the computer is not necessary.

To reduce the time needed for the flash process the tool updates only the parts of the firmware

that are present in a newer version. The option Flash All forces the tool to update all parts.

When the update fails (status: failure), the card's second BIOS will be used from the next cold boot on (Secure BIOS Technology). Therefore the card stays fully functional. The flash process should then be tried again on a different computer.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

7. Configuring the MADIface XT

7.1 Settings Dialog – Main Tab

Configuration of the MADIface XT is done via its own settings dialog. The panel 'Settings' can be opened:

• by clicking on the hammer/flame symbol in the Task Bar's notification area

The mixer of the MADIface XT, TotalMix FX, can be opened:

• by clicking on the DSP symbol in the Task Bar's notification area

The HDSPe hardware offers a number of helpful, well thought-of practical functions and options which affect how the card operates - it can be configured to suit many different requirements. The following is available in the 'Settings' dialog:

• Latency

• WDM Device Configuration

• Current sample rate

• Synchronization behaviour

• Configuration of digital I/Os

• Input selection

• State of input and output

Any changes made in the Settings dialog are applied immediately confirmation (e.g. by clicking on OK or exiting the dialog) is not required.

However, settings should not be changed during playback or record if it can be avoided, as this can cause unwanted noises.

Also, please note that even in 'Stop' mode, several programs keep the recording and playback devices open, which means that any new settings might not be applied immediately.

The status displays at the bottom of the dialog box give the user precise information about the current status of the system, and the status of all digital signals.

The tab About provides information

about the current driver version of the MADIface XT. The USB driver also has

the options Lock Registry and Enable MMCSS for ASIO on this page (see tab

Global).

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

Buffer Size

The setting Buffer Size determines the latency between incoming and outgoing ASIO and WDM

data, as well as affecting system stability (see chapter 9.1). While ASIO can use any offered buffer size, WDM is limited to 256 (XP) or 512 samples (Win 7/8). The driver handles this automatically, higher settings are only applied to ASIO while WDM will stay at 256/512 internally.

Errors (USB only) does not refer to buffer errors, but USB transmission errors. The display will

be reset on any start of a playback/record. More information can be found in chapter 30.4.

WDM Devices

Allows to freely set which I/Os are available as WDM devices, if these are stereo or multichannel devices (up to 8 channels), and if one or multiple of the currently active WDM devices should have the Speaker property. More details are found in chapter 7.2.

Clock Mode Sample Rate

Sets the currently used sample rate. Offers a central and comfortable way of configuring the sample rate of all WDM devices to the same value, as since Vista the audio software is no longer allowed to set the sample rate. However, an ASIO program can still set the sample rate by itself.

During record/playback the selection is greyed out, so no change is possible.

Clock Source

The unit can be configured to use its own clock (Internal = Master), or one of the input signals (Word, MADI, AES). If the selected source isn't available (No Lock), the unit will change to the next available one (RME’s AutoSync behaviour). If none is available then the internal clock is

used. The current clock source is displayed as Current.

Pitch

More information on Pitch is available in chapter 7.4.

Output Format AES

The channel status of the AES output signal can be set to Consumer or Professional. For fur-

ther details please refer to chapter 21.2.

MADI 1/2/3

Defines the format of the MADI output signal. MADI can be a 56 or 64 channel signal.

96 kHz Word

The word clock output signal usually equals the current sample rate. Selecting Single Speed

causes the output signal to always stay within the range of 32 kHz to 48 kHz. So at 96 kHz and 192 kHz sample rate, the output word clock is 48 kHz.

MADI 1/2/3

Sample rates higher than 48 kHz can be transmitted using the normal 48K Frame, or using a native 96K Frame at the card's output.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

Options EQ+D for Record

Switches EQ and Dynamics of all input channels into the recording path. In case Loopback has been activated the EQ and Dynamics of the Output channel are within the recording path. See also chapter 27.5.

Word Clock In Term.

Checking this option terminates the word input internally with 75 Ohms.

TMS

TMS activates the transmission of

Channel Status data and Track Marker information from the AES and MADI input signal.

Redundancy Mode

With redundancy mode active the number of input channels is reduced to 66 (AES plus 1 MADI). The two other MADI ports serve as fail safe inputs, used as soon as the signal on the 'Current MADI Input' fails. This setting is also a perfect choice if the card is used as single MADI I/O, saving resources and providing simpler channel selection dialogs.

Mirror MADI1 Output to MADI2/3

This option provides a quick and simple solution to mirror the first MADI output to outputs 2 and 3. The outputs are reduced to 2+4+64 channels (AES, 2 x analog, one MADI port). All the data routed and mixed to MADI port 1 is sent to MADI port 2/3 as well.

Isochronous Streaming (USB 3 only)

The XT uses a special transmission mode with error correction to record data. In case the XT’s

default mode does not work Isochronous Streaming can be tried. This is the standard’s native

mode for audio transmission and should work with any USB 3 controller. See also chapter 30.4.

WDM Devices (USB 2/3)

Reduce the number of WDM devices to the ones really needed to improve performance. See chapter 7.2.

Input Status

Displays the state of the current input signal:

• Clock state (No Lock, Lock, Sync)

• Sample rate (coarse)

• MADI Frame format (48K or 96K)

• Channel format (64 or 56 channels)

Sync Check

RME’s exclusive SyncCheck technology provides an easy to use check and display of the cur-

rent clock status. The clock state column indicates whether no signal (No Lock), a valid signal

(Lock) or a valid and synchronous signal (Sync) is present at each of the digital inputs.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

7.2 Option WDM Devices

The WDM Devices configuration has one button to enter the edit dialog, a status display show-

ing the number of currently enabled WDM devices, and a listbox to select between Stereo or Multi-Channel devices.

The number represents both record and playback devices, so ‘1’ means one input and one output device.

The screenshot to the right shows the stereo WDM devices available with the XT, and that only MADI 1/2 has been activated. Any number can be activated. Also only higher numbered devices might be active. For example using the MADI 2 output for system based audio does not require to activate all 32 stereo devices of MADI 1. Only MADI 65+66 will show up in the Windows Sound control panel.

The checkbox All to the right allows for a

quick check/uncheck of all devices.

Warning! Activating all 99 stereo devices will most probably freeze your computer! Activate only the ones which are really needed!

The screenshot to the left shows the multichannel WDM devices available with the MADIface XT after selecting ‘Multi-Channel’ in the WDM Devices listbox and hitting

WDM Configure. In this example the devices MADI 1 to 8 and MADI 65 to 72 are

active.

Using a multi-channel WDM device allows for the use of multi-channel playback with specialized software as well as Surround sound from DVD or Blu-Ray player software.

Please note that configuring the WDM device to a specific surround mode in the control panel Sound requires the device to have the Speaker property. See next page.

Again the checkbox All to the right allows

for a quick check/uncheck of all devices.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

Changing to the tab Speaker presents a list

of all currently activated WDM devices. Any of these can now get the Speaker property.

Please note that defining more than one device as Speaker usually makes no sense, and the speakers also don’t get numbered or renamed in Windows, so it is impossible to find out which one is which.

After leaving the dialog with OK the WDM devices are reloaded so Windows sees their new properties. You can now assign any surround mode, from stereo to 7.1, in the Windows Sound control panel by selecting the playback device and clicking the Configure button.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

7.3 Tab Global (PCI Express Mode)

This tab includes several options that work on all currently installed cards.

Lock Registry

Default: off. Checking this option brings up a dialog to enter a password. Changes in the Settings dialog are no longer written to the registry. As the settings are always loaded from the registry when starting the computer, this method provides an easy way to define an initial state of the MADIface XT.

Optimize Multi-Client Mixing

Default: off. Checking this option removes short noise bursts when multiclient playback starts, but will also introduce some additional CPU load.

Enable MMCSS for ASIO activates

support with higher priority for the ASIO driver. Note: At this time, activating this option seems to be useful only with the latest Cubase/Nuendo at higher load. With other software this option can decrease performance. The change becomes active after an ASIO reset. Therefore it is easy to quickly check which setting works better.

ASIO 32 Channel Limit

Default: off. Checking this option limits the number of ASIO I/Os to 32. Reducing the number of ASIO channels is required for older versions of ProTools to prevent them from crashing on start-up.

Change Card Order

This dialog lists all cards currently installed in the system and controlled by the driver. Their order can then be changed by selecting a card and using the up/down arrows. Confirm the operation with the Apply button. This feature comes in handy if different cards are installed and a specific one of them should always be the first in the ASIO channel list.

At the end of the card info line the current firmware version is shown (Revision).

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

7.4 Settings Dialog – Pitch (E-PCIe only)

Usually soundcards and audio interfaces generate their internal clock (master mode) by a quartz. Therefore the internal clock can be set to 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, but not to a value in between. SteadyClock, RME's sensational Low Jitter Clock System, is based on a Direct Digital Synthesizer (DDS). This superior circuitry can generate nearly any frequency with highest precision.

DDS has been implemented into the MADIface XT with regard to the needs of professional video applications, as well as to maximum flexibility. The section Pitch includes both a list of typical video frequencies (so called pull up/pull down at 0.1% and 4%) and a fader to freely change the basic sample rate in steps of 1 Hz (!) over a range of +/- 5%.

The Pitch function requires the MADIface XT to be in clock mode Master! The frequency setting will only be applied to this one specific card!

Changing the sample rate during record/playback often results in a loss of audio, or brings up warning messages of the audio software. Therefore the desired sample rate should be set at least coarsely before starting the software.

Coarse

Coarse modification in steps of 50 Hz is done by clicking with the mouse to the left and right of the fader knob.

Fine

Fine modification in steps of 1 Hz is done by using the left/right cursor keys.

Reset

Ctrl key plus left mouse click.

Application examples

Pitch allows for a simultaneous change of speed and tune during record and playback. From alignment to other sources up to creative effects – everything is possible.

Pitch enables you to intentionally de-tune the complete DAW. This way, the DAW can match instruments which have a wrong or unchangeable tuning.

Pitch allows for the change of the sample rate of all WDM devices at the same time. Since Vista this is no longer possible via the audio program, thus requires a manual reconfiguration of all WDM devices. Changing the sample rate from the Settings dialog solves this problem.

: For technical reasons, Pitch is not available with USB 3 and USB 2.

Note

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

7.5 Clock Modes - Synchronisation

In the digital world, all devices must be either Master (clock source) or Slave (clock receiver). Whenever several devices are linked within a system, there must always be a single master clock.

A digital system can only have one master! If the card’s clock mode is set to 'Master', all other devices must be set to ‘Slave’.

The MADIface XT utilizes a very user-friendly, intelligent clock control, called AutoSync. In

AutoSync mode, the system constantly scans the digital input for a valid signal. If any valid sig-

nal is found, the card switches from the internal quartz (Clock Mode – Current Internal) to a clock extracted from the input signal (Clock Mode – Current MADI, Word or AES). The differ-

ence to a usual slave mode is that whenever the clock reference fails, the system will automatically use its internal clock and operate in clock mode Master.

AutoSync guarantees that normal record and record-while-play will always work correctly. In certain cases however, AutoSync may cause feedback in the digital carrier, so synchronization breaks down. To remedy this, switch the XT’s clock mode to ‘Internal’.

RME’s exclusive SyncCheck technology enables an easy to use check and display of the current clock status. Input Status indicates whether there is a valid signal (Lock, No Lock) for each input (Word, MADI, AES), or if there is a valid and synchronous signal (Sync). See chapter

30.2.

Via Clock Source a preferred input can be defined. As long as the card sees a valid signal

there, this input will be designated as the sync source, otherwise the other inputs will be scanned in turn. If none of the inputs are receiving a valid signal, the MADIface automatically switches clock mode to ‘Master’.

Under WDM the unit will (has to) set the sample rate. Therefore the error shown to the right can occur. A stable signal with a sample rate of 32 kHz is detected at the Word Clock input (Sync), but Windows audio had been set to 44100 Hz before. The red colour of the text label signals the error condition, and prompts the user to set 32000 Hz manually as sample rate.

Under ASIO the audio software sets the sample rate, so that such an error will usually not happen – but it can too. In slave mode the external sample rate has priority. Feeding 44.1 kHz will prevent the ASIO software to set 48 kHz – obviously, as the only way to do so would be to enter a different clock mode (Master/Internal).

In practice, SyncCheck provides the user with an easy way of checking whether all digital devices connected to the system are properly configured. With SyncCheck, finally anyone can master this common source of error, previously one of the most complex issues in the digital studio world.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

8. Operation and Usage

8.1 Playback

The MADIface XT can play back audio data in supported formats only (sample rate, bit resolution). Otherwise an error message appears (for example at 22 kHz and 8 bit).

In the audio application being used, the XT must be selected as output device. This can often

be found in the Options, Preferences or Settings menus under Playback Device, Audio Devices, Audio etc.

We strongly recommend switching off all system sounds (via >Control Panel /Sounds<). Also MADIface should not be the Preferred Device for playback, as this could cause loss of synchro-

nization and unwanted noises. If you feel you cannot do without system sounds, you should use

on-board sound or any cheap sound card and select this one as Preferred Device in >Control Panel /Multimedia /Audio< or >Control Panel /Sound /Playback<.

The screenshot to the right shows a typical configuration dialog as displayed by a (stereo) wave editor. After selecting a playback device, audio data is sent to the according channels.

Increasing the number and/or size of audio buffers may prevent the audio signal from breaking up, but also increases latency i.e. output is delayed. For synchronized playback of audio and MIDI (or similar), be sure to activate the checkbox ‘Get position from audio driver’.

The MADIface XT allows sample rates of up to 192 kHz via MADI. In this mode, only 16 channels are functional per MADI port.

Note

: Since Vista the audio application can no longer control the sample rate under WDM. Therefore the driver of the MADIface XT includes a workaround: the sample rate can be set globally for all WDM devices within the Settings dialog, see chapter 7.1.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

8.2 DVD-Playback (AC-3/DTS)

AC-3 / DTS

When using popular DVD software players like WinDVD and PowerDVD, their audio data

stream can be sent to any AC-3/DTS capable receiver via the MADIface XT. For this to work an

output wave device has to be selected in >Control Panel/ Sounds and Multimedia/ Audio< or >Control Panel/ Sound/Playback<. Also check 'use preferred device only'.

The DVD software's audio properties now show the options 'SPDIF Out' or similar. When selecting these, the software will transfer the non-decoded digital multichannel data stream to the

MADIface. Naturally a successful decoding also requires a MADI to AES converter like the RME ADI-642, converting the playback signals to stereo AES3 or SPDIF.

: This 'SPDIF' signal sounds like chopped noise at highest level. The channels Loud-

Note

speaker do not support digital AC-3/DTS playback.

Multichannel

PowerDVD and WinDVD can also operate as software decoder, sending a DVD's multichannel data stream directly to the outputs of the MADIface XT. For this to work select the WDM playback device ’Loudspeaker’ of the MADIface XT in

XP: >Control Panel/ Sounds and Multimedia/ Audio<, and 'Use only default devices' has to be checked. Additionally the loudspeaker setup, found under >Volume/ Speaker Settings/ Ad- vanced< has to be changed from Stereo to 5.1 Surround.

Vista/7/8: >Control Panel/ Sound/ Playback < as ‘Standard’. Additionally the loudspeaker setup, found under >Configuration<, has to be changed from Stereo to 5.1 Surround.

PowerDVD's and WinDVD's audio properties now list several multichannel modes. If one of these is selected, the software sends the decoded analog multichannel data to the MADIface XT. TotalMix can then be used to play back via any desired output channels.

The typical channel assignment for surround playback is:

1 - Left 2 - Right 3 - Center 4 - LFE (Low Frequency Effects) 5 - SL (Surround Left) 6 - SR (Surround Right)

Note 1 professional devices are not specialized to play back system sounds, and shouldn't be disturbed by system events. To prevent this be sure to re-assign this setting after usage or disable any system sounds (tab Sounds, scheme 'No audio').

Note 2 Sync and/or word clock, the playback speed and pitch follows the incoming clock signal.

: Setting the unit to be used as system playback device is against common sense, as

: The DVD player will be synced backwards from the MADIface. So when using Auto-

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

8.3 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 simultaneously. As WDM uses a real-time sample rate conversion (ASIO does not), all active ASIO software has to use the same sample rate.

However, a better overview is maintained by using the channels exclusively. This is no limitation at all, because TotalMix allows for any output routing, and therefore a playback of multiple software on the same hardware outputs.

Inputs can be used from an unlimited number of WDM and ASIO software at the same time, as the driver simply sends the data to all applications simultaneously.

RME's sophisticated tool DIGICheck operates like an ASIO host, using a special technique to

access playback channels directly. Therefore DIGICheck is able to analyse and display playback data from any software, no matter which format it uses.

8.4 Digital Recording

Unlike analog soundcards which produce empty wave files (or noise) when no input signal is present, digital interfaces always need a valid input signal to start recording.

Taking this into account, RME added a comprehensive I/O signal status display to the MADIface XT, showing sample frequency, lock and sync status for every input.

The sample frequency shown in the fields Clock Mode and Input Status is useful as a quick display of the current configuration of the unit and the connected external equipment. If no sample frequency is recognized, it will read ‘No Lock’.

This way, configuring any suitable audio application for digital recording is simple. MADIface XT displays the current sample frequency of the currently used input. This parameter can then be changed in the application’s audio properties (or similar) dialog.

8.5 Analog Recording

For recordings via the analog inputs the corresponding record device has to be chosen (MADIface XT Analog (1+2)).

The level of the front-side analog inputs can be optimized via TotalMix (Input Channel Settings, Gain), or directly at the MADIface XT by the key MIC/GAIN and the encoders 1/2. Here a signal and clip LED provide useful information about the current level state.

A further optimization can be achieved by adjusting the source itself. Raise the source’s output level until the peak level meters in TotalMix reach about –3 dB.

Further information is found in chapter 20.

It often makes sense to monitor the input signal or send it directly to the output. This can be

done at zero latency using TotalMix (see chapter 25). An automated control of real-time monitoring can be achieved by Steinberg’s ASIO protocol

with RME’s ASIO drivers and all ASIO 2.0 compatible programs. When 'ASIO Direct Monitoring' has been switched on, the input signal is routed in real-time to the output whenever a recording is started (punch-in).

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

9. Operation under ASIO

9.1 General

Start the ASIO software and

select ASIO HDSPe FX or ASIO MADIface USB as the

audio I/O device.

MADIface XT supports ASIO Direct Monitoring (ADM).

Its MIDI I/Os can be used with both MME MIDI and DirectMusic MIDI.

At a sample rate of 88.2 or 96 kHz (Double Speed mode), the number of channels available at the MADI input and output is halved. At a sample rate of 176.4 or 192 kHz (Quad Speed mode), the number of channels is reduced to 16.

: When changing the sample rate range between Single, Double and Quad Speed the

Note number of channels presented from the ASIO driver will change too. This may require a reset of the I/O list in the audio software.

9.2 Known Problems

If a computer does not provide sufficient CPU-power, and/or sufficient USB or PCI bus transfer rates, and/or sufficient PCIe-bus transfer rates, then drop outs, crackling and noise will appear. Raising the buffer size in the Settings dialog of the MADIface XT helps in most cases. It is also recommended to deactivate all PlugIns to verify that these are not the reason for such effects. Further information is found in chapter 30.4.

Another common source of trouble is incorrect synchronization. ASIO does not support asynchronous operation, which means that the input and output signals not only have to use the same sample frequency, but also have to be in sync. All devices connected to the MADIface XT must be properly configured for Full Duplex operation. As long as SyncCheck (in the Settings

dialog) only displays Lock instead of Sync, the devices have not been set up properly!

The same applies when using more than one MADIface XT - they all have to be in sync. Else a periodically repeated noise will be heard.

MADIface XT supports ASIO Direct Monitoring (ADM). Please note that not all programs sup-

port ADM completely or error-free. The most often reported problem is the wrong behaviour of panorama in a stereo channel. Also try to avoid setting the TotalMix FX hardware outputs (third row) to mono mode. This will most likely break ADM compatibility.

In case of a drift between audio and MIDI, or in case of a fixed deviation (MIDI notes placed close before or behind the correct position), the settings in Cubase/Nuendo have to be changed. At the time of print the option 'Use System Timestamp' should be activated. The MADIface supports both MME MIDI and DirectMusic MIDI. It depends on the used application which one will work better.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

10. Using multiple MADIface XT

The current driver supports operation of up to three MADIface XT. All units have to be in sync, i.e. have to receive valid sync information either via word clock or by using AutoSync and feeding synchronized signals.

• If one of the XTs is set to clock mode Master, all others have to be set to clock mode Slave,

and have to be synced from the master, for example by feeding word clock. The clock modes of all units have to be set up correctly in their Settings dialogs.

• If all units are fed with a synchronous clock, i.e. all units show Sync in their Settings dialog,

all channels can be used at once. This is especially easy to handle under ASIO, as the ASIO driver presents all cards as one.

TotalMix is part of the hardware of each unit. Up to three mixers are available, but these

Note: are separated and can't interchange data. Therefore a global mixer for all units is not possible.

11. DIGICheck Windows

The DIGICheck software is a unique utility developed for testing, measuring and analysing digital audio streams. Although this software is fairly self-explanatory, it still includes a comprehensive online help. DIGICheck 5.81 operates as multi-client ASIO host, therefore can be used in parallel to any software with both inputs and outputs (!). The following is a short summary of the currently available functions:

• Level Meter. High precision 24-bit resolution, 2/8/198 channels. Application examples: Peak

level measurement, RMS level measurement, over-detection, phase correlation measurement, dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratios, RMS to peak difference (loudness), long term peak measurement, input check. Oversampling mode for levels higher than 0 dBFS. Vertical and horizontal mode. Slow RMS and RLB weighting filter. Supports visualization according to the K-system.

• Hardware Level Meter for Input, Playback and Output. As above, receive pre-calculated

directly from the MADIface hardware with near zero CPU load.

• Spectral Analyser. World wide unique 10-, 20- or 30-band display in analog bandpass-filter

technology. 192 kHz-capable!

• Vector Audio Scope. World wide unique Goniometer showing the typical afterglow of an

oscilloscope-tube. Includes Correlation meter and level meter.

• Totalyser. Spectral Analyser, Level Meter and Vector Audio Scope in a single window.

• Surround Audio Scope. Professional Surround Level Meter with extended correlation

analysis, ITU weighting and ITU summing meter.

• ITU1770/EBU R128 Meter. For standardized loudness measurements.

• Bit Statistics & Noise. Shows the true resolution of audio signals as well as errors and DC

offset. Includes Signal to Noise measurement in dB and dBA, plus DC measurement.

• Channel Status Display. Detailed analysis and display of SPDIF and AES/EBU Channel

Status data.

• Global Record. Long-term recording of all channels at lowest system load.

• Completely multi-client. Open as many measurement windows as you like, on any chan-

nels and inputs or outputs!

To install DIGICheck, go to the \DIGICheck directory on the RME Driver CD and run setup.exe.

Follow the instructions prompted on the screen.

DIGICheck is constantly updated. The latest version is always found on our website www.rme- audio.com, section Downloads / DIGICheck.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

12. Hotline – Troubleshooting

The newest information can always be found on our website www.rme-audio.com, section FAQ, Latest Additions.

The dialog 'New hardware component found’ does not appear:

• Check whether the PCI Express interface is correctly inserted in the PCI Express slot.

The card and drivers have been installed correctly, but playback does not work:

• Check whether the MADIface XT appears in the Device Manager. When the device has a yellow exclamation mark, then there is a conflict.

The input signal cannot be monitored in real-time

• ASIO Direct Monitoring has not been enabled, and/or monitoring has been disabled globally (wrong mix setup in TotalMix)

Playback works, but record doesn’t

• 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 MADIface XT has been selected as recording device in the audio application.

• Check whether the sample frequency set in the audio application (‘Recording properties’ or similar) matches the input signal.

Crackle during record or playback

• Increase the number and size of buffers in the ‘Settings’ dialog or in the application.

• Try different cables (coaxial or optical) to rule out any defects here.

• Check that cables/devices have not been connected in a closed loop. If so, set the system’s

clock mode to ‘Internal’.

Windows boot time became much worse since the MADIface XT has been added

• Deactivate all WDM devices that are unused in the card’s settings dialog. If only ASIO is

used disable all.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

User's Guide

MADIface XT

Driver Installation and Operation – Mac OS X

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

13. Driver and Flash Update

13.1 Driver Installation

After the MADIface has been connected to the computer and switched on install the drivers from the RME Driver CD. The driver files are located in the folder

\Fireface_USB for USB 3 and USB 2.0 \HDSPe FX for external PCI Express Installation works automatically by a double-click on the file Fireface_USB.pkg or

hdspe_fx.pkg. During driver installation the programs Totalmix (TotalMix FX) and Fireface USB Settings or

HDSPe FX Settings are copied to the Applications folder. They will automatically start into the

dock if a MADIface is connected. A reboot of the computer is not required.

Driver Updates do not require to remove the existing drivers. Simply install the new driver over

the existing one.

: PCI Express and USB can be connected at the same time. However, the unit will use only

Note one port. If no interface mode is pre-defined, then the port that becomes active first at the computer will be used.

13.2 De-installing the Drivers

In case of problems the driver files can be deleted manually by dragging them to the trash bin:

PCI Express

/Applications/Totalmix /Applications/HDSPe FX Settings /Library/Audio/MIDI Drivers/HDSPe FX MIDI.plugin /System/Library/Extensions/HDSPe_FX.kext /Users/username/Library/Preferences/RME TotalMix FX folder /Users/username/Library/Preferences/de.rme-audio.TotalmixFX.plist /Users/username/Library/Preferences/com.rme.HDSPe FX Settings.plist /Library/LaunchAgents/de.rme-audio.hdspe_FX_Launcher.plist

USB

/Applications/Fireface USB Settings /Applications/Totalmix /System/Library/Extensions/FirefaceUSB.kext /Users/username/Library/Preferences/de.rme-audio.TotalmixFX.plist /Users/username/Library/Preferences/de.rme-audio.Fireface_USB_Settings.plist /Library/LaunchAgents/de.rme-audio.firefaceUSBAgent.plist

Under the latest Mac OS the User/Library folder is not visible in the Finder. To unhide it start Finder, click on the menu item Go. Hold down the option (alt) key, then click on Library.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

13.3 Firmware Update

The Flash Update Tool updates the MADIface XT card to the latest firmware version. It requires an already installed driver.

Start the program HDSPe FX Flash Update or RME USB Series Flash Tool. The Flash Up-

date Tool displays the current revisions inside the XT, and whether it needs an update or not. If so, then simply press the 'Update' button. A progress bar will indicate when the flash process is finished. The bar moves slowly first (program), then faster (verify).

After the update the MADIface XT needs to be reset. This is done by powering down the XT for a few seconds. A reboot of the computer is not necessary.

To reduce the time needed for the flash process the tool updates only the parts of the firmware

that are present in a newer version. The option Flash All forces the tool to update all parts.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

14. Configuring the MADIface XT

14.1 Settings Dialog

Configuring the MADIface XT is done via its own settings dialog. The panel 'Settings' can be opened by clicking on the hammer or flame icon in the dock. The mixer of the MADIface XT, TotalMix FX, can be opened by clicking on the DSP FX icon in the dock.

The MADIface hardware offers a number of helpful, well thought-of practical functions and options which affect how the card operates - it can be configured to suit many different requirements. The following is available in the 'Settings' dialog:

• Configuration of digital I/Os

• Hardware Options

• Synchronization behaviour

• Current sample rate

• State of inputs and outputs

Any changes performed in the Settings dialog are applied immediately

- confirmation (e.g. by exiting the

dialog) is not required.

However, settings should not be changed during playback or record if it can be avoided, as this can

cause unwanted noises.

The status display at the bottom of the dialog box gives the user precise information about the current status of the system, and the status of all digital signals.

Use the drop down menu

Properties For to select the card to

be configured. To the right the current firmware and driver version is shown.

Output Format AES

The channel status of the AES output signal can be set to Consumer or Professional. For fur-

ther details please refer to chapter 21.2.

MADI 1/2/3

Defines the format of the MADI output signal. MADI can be a 56 or 64 channel signal.

96 kHz Word

The word clock output signal usually equals the current sample rate. Selecting Single Speed

causes the output signal to always stay within the range of 32 kHz to 48 kHz. So at 96 kHz and 192 kHz sample rate, the output word clock is 48 kHz.

MADI 1/2/3

Sample rates higher than 48 kHz can be transmitted using the normal 48K Frame, or using a native 96K Frame at the card's output.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

Options EQ+D for Record

Word Clock In Term.

Checking this option terminates the word clock input internally with 75 Ohms.

Mirror MADI1 Output to MADI2 and 3

This option provides a quick and simple solution to mirror the first MADI output to outputs 2 and

3. The outputs are reduced to 2+4+64 channels (AES, 4 x analog, one MADI port). All the data routed and mixed to MADI port 1 is sent to MADI port 2 and 3 as well.

Redundancy Mode

With redundancy mode active the number of input channels is reduced to 68 (AES plus analog plus one MADI). The two other MADI ports are used as fail safe inputs and are used as soon as the signal on the 'Current MADI Input' fails. This setting is also a perfect choice if the card is used as single MADI I/O, saving resources and providing simpler channel selection dialogs.

Isochronous Streaming (USB 3 only)

The XT uses a special transmission mode with error correction to record data. In case the XT’s

default mode does not work Isochronous Streaming can be tried. This is the standard’s native

mode for audio transmission and should work with any USB 3 controller. See also chapter 30.4.

Clock Mode Sample Rate

Used to set the current sample rate. This is the same setting as in the Audio MIDI Setup, just added here for your convenience.

Clock Source

The unit can be configured to use its own clock (Internal = Master), or one of the input signals (Word, MADI, AES). If the selected source isn't available (No Lock), the unit will change to the next available one (this behaviour is called AutoSync). If none is available then the internal

clock is used. The current clock source is displayed as Current Clock.

Input Status

Displays the state of the current input signal:

• Clock state (No Lock, Lock, Sync)

• Sample rate (coarse)

• MADI Frame format (48K or 96K)

• Channel format (64 or 56 channels)

RME’s exclusive SyncCheck technology provides an easy to use check and display of the cur-

rent clock status. The clock state column indicates whether no signal (No Lock), a valid signal

(Lock) or a valid and synchronous signal (Sync) is present at each of the digital clock source

inputs.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

14.2 Clock Modes - Synchronisation

In the digital world, all devices must be either Master (clock source) or Slave (clock receiver). Whenever several devices are linked within a system, there must always be a single master clock.

A digital system can only have one master! If the card’s clock mode is set to 'Master', all other devices must be set to ‘Slave’.

The MADIface XT utilizes a very user-friendly, intelligent clock control, called AutoSync. In

AutoSync mode, the system constantly scans the digital input for a valid signal. If any valid sig-

nal is found, the card switches from the internal quartz (Clock Mode – Current Internal) to a clock extracted from the input signal (Clock Mode – Current MADI, Word or AES). The differ-

ence to a usual slave mode is that whenever the clock reference fails, the system will automatically use its internal clock and operate in clock mode Master.

30.2.

Via Clock Source a preferred input can be defined. As long as the card sees a valid signal

there, this input will be designated as the sync source, otherwise the other inputs will be scanned in turn. If none of the inputs are receiving a valid signal, the card automatically switches clock mode to ‘Master’.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

15. Mac OS X FAQ

15.1 MIDI doesn't work

In some cases the applications do not show the MIDI port. The reason for this is usually visible

within the Audio MIDI Setup – MIDI Window. It displays no RME MIDI device, or the device is

greyed out and therefore inactive. Mostly, removing the greyed out device and searching for MIDI devices again will solve the problem.

The HDSPe MIDI driver is a plugin. During installation it will be copied to >Library/ Audio/ MIDI Drivers<. Its name is HDSPe FX MIDI.plugin. The file can be displayed in the Finder and also

be removed by simply dragging it to the trash bin.

The MADIface XT USB MIDI is class compliant. Therefore it comes without a driver. OS X recognizes it as MIDI device and will be using it with the driver included in the operating system.

15.2 Repairing Disk Permissions

Repairing permission can solve problems with the installation process - plus many others. To do

this, launch Disk Utility located in Utilities. Select your system drive in the drive/volume list to the left. The First Aid tab to the right now allows you to check and repair disk permissions.

15.3 Supported Sample Rates

RME's Mac OS X driver supports all sampling frequencies provided by the hardware. This in-

cludes 32 kHz and 64 kHz, and even 128 kHz, 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz.

But not any software will support all the hardware's sample rates. The hardware's capabilities

can easily be verified in the Audio MIDI Setup – Audio Window. Select the MADIface XT. A click on Format will list the supported sample frequencies.

15.4 Various Information

The driver of the MADIface XT requires 10.6 or higher.

Programs that don't support card or channel selection will use the device chosen as Input and Output in the System Preferences – Sound panel.

Via Launchpad – Other – Audio MIDI Setup the MADIface XT can be configured for the sys-

tem wide usage in more detail.

Programs that don't support channel selection will always use channels 1/2, the first stereo pair. To access other inputs, use the following workaround with TotalMix: route the desired input

signal to output channels 1/2. In the channel settings of outputs 1/2 activate Loopback. Result:

the desired input signal is now available at input channel 1/2, without further delay/latency.

Use Configure Speakers to freely configure the stereo or multichannel playback to any avail-

able channels.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

16. Using multiple MADIface XT

OS X supports the usage of more than one audio device by the same audio software. This is

done via the Core Audio function Aggregate Devices, which allows to combine several devices

into one. This function is found in the Audio MIDI Setup – Audio window. Click the + sign in the lower left.

The current driver supports up to three MADIface. All units have to be in sync, i.e. have to receive valid sync information either via word clock or by feeding synchronized signals.

• If one of the units is set to clock mode Master, all others have to be set to clock mode

Slave, and have to be synced from the master, for example by feeding word clock. The clock modes of all units have to be set up correctly in the Settings dialog.

• If all units are fed with a synchronous clock, i.e. all units show Sync in their Settings dialog,

all channels can be used at once.

Note

: TotalMix is part of the hardware of each MADIface. Up to three mixers are available, but these are separated and can't interchange data. Therefore a global mixer for all units is not possible.

17. DIGICheck Mac

The DIGICheck software is a unique utility developed for testing, measuring and analysing digital audio streams. Although this Mac software is fairly self-explanatory, it still includes a comprehensive online help. DIGICheck 0.690 operates in parallel to any software, showing all input data. The following is a short summary of the currently available functions:

• Level Meter. High precision 24-bit resolution, 2/8/198 channels. Application examples: Peak

level measurement, RMS level measurement, over detection, phase correlation measurement, dynamic range and signal-to-noise ratios, RMS to peak difference (loudness), long term peak measurement, input check. Oversampling mode for levels higher than 0 dBFS. Vertical and horizontal mode. Slow RMS and RLB weighting filter. Supports visualization according to the K-System.

• Hardw are Level Meter for Input, Playback and Output. As above, receives pre-calculated

data directly from the MADIface hardware with near zero CPU load.

• Spectral Analyser. World wide unique 10-, 20- or 30-band display in analog bandpass filter

technology. 192 kHz-capable!

• Vector Audio Scope. World wide unique Goniometer showing the typical afterglow of a

oscilloscope-tube. Includes Correlation meter and level meter.

• Totalyser. Spectral Analyser, Level Meter and Vector Audio Scope in a single window.

• Surround Audio Scope. Professional Surround Level Meter with extended correlation

analysis, ITU weighting and ITU summing meter.

• ITU1770/EBU R128 Meter. For standardized loudness measurements.

• Bit Statistics & Noise. Shows the true resolution of audio signals as well as errors and DC

offset. Includes Signal to Noise measurement in dB and dBA, plus DC measurement.

• Completely multi-client. Open as many measurement windows as you like, on any chan-

nels and inputs or outputs!

To install DIGICheck, go to the \DIGICheck directory on the RME Driver CD and run the in-

staller. Follow the instructions prompted on the screen.

DIGICheck is constantly updated. The latest version is always available on our website

www.rme-audio.com, section Downloads / DIGICheck.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

18. Hotline – Troubleshooting

Playback works, but record doesn’t:

• Check that there is a valid signal at the input.

• Check whether the MADIface XT has been selected as recording device in the audio appli-

cation.

• Check whether the sample frequency set in the audio application (‘Recording properties’ or similar) matches the input signal.

• Check that cables/devices have not been connected in a closed loop. If so, set the card’s clock mode to Internal.

Crackle during record or playback:

• Increase the number and size of buffers in the application.

• Try different cables to rule out any defects here.

The card and drivers have been installed correctly, but playback does not work:

• Is MADIface XT listed in the System Report, PCI or USB? (Vendor 10EE, Device ID 3FC7).

• Has MADIface XT been selected as current playback device in the audio application?

• While recognition and control of the device are low bandwidth applications, playback/record

needs the full USB transmission performance. Therefore, defective USB cables with limited transmission bandwidth can cause such an error scheme.

Possible causes for a MADIface not working

• The USB cable is not, or not correctly inserted into the socket

• The E-PCIe cable is not genuine. We have seen (not Molex) cables with connectors having

too long screws. This caused the connectors to become loose and subsequently fail.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

User's Guide

MADIface XT

Usage and Operation

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

19. Front Panel Controls

19.1 Overview

The output level of the current Main output (as selected in TotalMix FX) and Phones (locked to the front output) can be adjusted directly with encoder 1 and 2 when the level meter overview is shown in the display. Simply turn encoder 1 or 2 to bring up the according screen.

More options, like balance, phase, mute or stereo/mono are available in the CHANNEL menu.

The four menu keys offer quick access to a simple menu structure. Pressing any of these keys again exits the current menu and returns to the level meter overview.

MIC/GAIN. Mic Gain. Setting the gain for the inputs 1 and 2 with the encoders 1 and 2. METERS. Brings up the Mix screen. Note that changes to the current mix state can not be per-

formed at the unit when it is connected to a computer! These settings are available at the device to adjust or modify a routing/mixing when the unit is used stand-alone.

CHANNEL. This menu gives access to all inputs and outputs of the MADIface XT. Encoder 1

selects the input, then output to be configured. Encoder 2 selects the function that is to be modi-

fied: Settings, Low Cut, Parametric EQ Compressor/Expander and Auto Level. Settings are

shown in chapter 19.4. All others have the same settings that are found in TotalMix FX, see

descriptions in chapter 25. SETUP/REV. Encoder 1 selects Setups, Options and Reverb/Echo. Options has the subpages

Clock, MADI Settings, Hardware/Diagnosis and Control Room. Reverb/Echo has the subpages Reverb and Echo. The subpages are selected with encoder 2.

19.2 Encoders

The encoders can be turned endlessly, but also pressed, adding a key function. Their current functionality is clearly shown in the display. In general turning them either changes the current parameter, or moves the selection/cursor horizontally to the next page. Pressing the encoders moves the selection/cursor vertically, up with 1 and down with 2, as indicated by the arrows in the display.

On the Mic Gain page brought up by the MIC/GAIN key pressing encoder 1 and 2 activates the AutoSet function. The label AS in the display changes from light gray to solid black (see picture in chapter 19.3).

Example: Press the key SETUP. The menu Setups is now shown

the display. The number 1 within the circle on the right side indicates that by turning encoder 1 more pages are available. In

this case only one, Options. Setups itself has no further sub-

pages. By pressing encoder 2 the cursor moves down, by pressing encoder 1 it moves back up. On a selected field or entry, the 2 to the right indicates that the current parameter can be changed by turning encoder 2.

On the Options page several sub-pages exist, therefore a 2 is shown on the right side of those

sub-pages. By turning encoder 2 the pages Clock, MIDI Sources, General Settings and Digital Routing are shown. The arrow under the 2 indicates that pressing encoder 2 the corresponding

page is entered, and settings can be changed then.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

19.3 Menu Keys MIC/GAIN and METERS

MIC/GAIN

This key brings up the Mic Gain screen, where the gain can be

directly controlled with encoder 1 and 2. Pressing encoder 1 and 2 activates the AutoSet function. The label AS in the display changes from light gray to solid black.

METERS. Brings up the Mix screen. Note that changes to the

current mix state can not be performed at the unit when it is connected to a computer! This feature is a means to be able to adjust or modify a routing/mixing when the unit is used standalone. Proceed as follows:

Turn encoder 1 and select the desired output, for example Mix to Analog Out 1/2. Now turn encoder 2 for the signal that should be routed/mixed to Analog Out 1/2 – for example Mic In 1. Press encoder 2 one time, so Fader gets selected. Turn encoder 2 to

adjust the gain for this routing, equalling the fader position of the Mic In 1 input with selected Submix AN 1/2 in TotalMix FX.

As with the other three keys pressing METERS a second time returns the display to the global level meter screen showing all inputs, outputs and FX send/return levels, DSP load meter, current interface mode, digital input state of all 5 inputs and MIDI state.

19.4 Channel Menu

All channels have the following entries in Settings: Mute

Mutes a channel. Allows to remove a signal without the need to change the current gain/volume setting.

Channel Type

Mono / Stereo.

Phase Invert

Phase Invert changes the polarity (180°). Useful to fix wrongly soldered cables or to eliminate sound and phase errors.

All input channels have these additional entries: M/S-Proc

Activates M/S processing within the stereo channel. Monaural information is sent to the left channel, stereo information to the right.

FX Send

Sets the level of the signal sent to the FX bus which feeds Echo and Reverb effect.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

Mic In 1 and 2 have these additional entries: Pre Amp Gain

Sets the current gain/amplification. Choices are 0 dB, and +9 up to +60 dB in steps of 3 dB.

+48V

Activates phantom power for condenser microphones or special accessories (Alva Test Plug). Phantom power should only be activated when condenser microphones that require such a power supply are used, and only in the specific channel. Additionally always make sure the microphone is plugged in first before the phantom power is switched on. The MADIface turns on the phantom power smoothly (soft start). Connecting and disconnecting microphones while phantom power is active causes a high voltage surge, which can destroy the sensitive microphone input stage.

Phantom power is only applied to the XLR socket, the inner TRS contacts do not carry any voltage.

AutoSet Gain

Automatic overload protection by gain reduction in case of overload. AutoSet tries to keep a

headroom of 6 dB. Levels higher than -6 dBFS will permanently reduce the gain. To check set the channels to a high gain and apply an input signal. The displayed gain will quickly decrease to a gain that is appropriate. While AutoSet in the XT is not exactly the same as in the RME Micstasy (with extreme overloads distortion will occur for the fraction of a second before the level is set correctly), it works quite well in real-world applications and will prevent distorted recordings reliably.

AutoSet can be activated in CHANNEL as well as on the Mic Gain screen: a push on encoder 1 and 2 activates AutoSet. The label AS in the display changes from light gray to black.

To avoid shifts in panorama AutoSet should work in stereo mode (ganged), so that gain changes of one channel are also applied

to the other one. This function is activated by setting Channel Type to Stereo. Other than all other channels Mic will still have

two entries. But TotalMix FX changes to a stereo channel, and AutoSet is linked between both channels.

As soon as AutoSet reduces the gain the label AS, shown in the Mic Gain screen, changes its color from black to blue.

All output channels have these additional entries: Volume

Sets the output level from -64 dB up to +6 dB, in steps of 1 dB. Mute is also available.

Balance

Adjustable from -1 (left) through 0 (middle) to +1 (right). Greyed out on mono channels

FX Return

Amount of Reverb/Echo mixed to the current output.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

19.5 Setup Menu

SETUP offers several options to configure the device. Encoder 1 changes between Options and

Setups. The sub-menus in Options, General Settings, Digital Routing, Clock and MIDI Sources,

are accessed with encoder 2.

19.5.1 Options Menu

The page Clock has the following entries: Clock Source

Only adjustable in stand-alone mode! Choices are INT (Internal, Master), WCK (word clock), AES, MADI 1 to 3.

Sample Rate

Choices are 32, 44.1, 48, 64, 88.2, 96, 128, 176.4 and 192 kHz. Setting the correct sample rate is even necessary in slave mode, with external clocking via word or one of the digital inputs. Only with AES the real current sample rate can be detected. With MADI the user has to inform the unit, whether the input signal is in the single, double or quad speed range.

WCK Alw. Singl

Word Clock Always Single Speed. Choices are On or Off.

WCK Term.

Word clock termination for the word clock input – On or Off.

These options are explained in detail in chapter 19.6.

The page Hardware Diagnosis has the following entries: AES State Pro

On – channel status Professional. Off – channel status Consumer.

Standalon. MIDI

Device reacts on MIDI commands when in stand-alone mode: On or Off.

Interface Mode

Available options: Auto, PCIe, USB 3, USB 2. In USB 2 mode the number of transmitted channels is reduced to 70.

LCD Contrast

Adjusting the contrast of the display.

Test Results

Please ignore. No user related data.

SW Version

Shows the current version number and date of the internal DSP software.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

The page MADI Settings has the following entries:

MADI 1/2/3 Format

Can be set to 56 or 64 channels.

MADI 1/2/3 Frame

Can be set to 48k or 96k.

Redundancy M

Redundancy Mode.

Mirror Output

On or Off. . These options are explained in detail in chapter 7.1 / 14.1.

The page Control Room has the following entries: Main Out

Defines the mixer’s Main output.

Dim

Defines the amount of Dim on the Main output.

Dim Active

Activates Dim on the Main output.

Recall Volume

Stores a volume value which can be is called by the Recall button on the external remote (ARC).

These options are explained in detail in chapter 25.4.

19.5.2 Setups Menu

The page Setups, Load/Store all Settings, has the following entries: Setup Select

Choices are memory slots 1 to 6 and Factory (factory default).

Operation

Choices are Load and Store.

Start

Press 1s. Pressing and holding encoder 2 for at least one second triggers the action selected in Operation.

These options are explained in detail in chapter 23.1.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

19.6 Clock

Source and frequency of the unit’s clock are configured in Options – Clock. Clock Source offers

several choices for the current clock source: internal clock or external clock (WCK = Word clock, AES, MADI 1-3). Sample Rate sets the sample rate for both external and internal clock.

WCK, AES, MADI 1-3 (Slave Mode)

Activates the corresponding input as clock reference. In case of a missing or invalid clock source signal the display of the current sample rate in the lower right corner of the display turns to red, then the unit changes to its internal clock.

INT (Master Mode)

Activates the internal clock.

With a setting of INT (internal clock) it is mandatory that the clock rate of the sources is synchronous to the MADIface. Therefore the external device has to be synchronized to the MADIface word clock output or AES/MADI output.

The MADIface thus has to be master, all devices connected to it must be slave. In order to

avoid clicks and drop outs due to faulty or missing synchronicity, a special process called Sync- Check compares the incoming data and the MADIface’s internal clock. The sync state is indi-

cated by a flashing (error) or constantly lit (OK) field in the display.

A selection of Double and Quad Speed is also possible when using external clock (Slave). If the MADIface should operate at 192 kHz, but receives a synchronous word clock of 48 kHz, set Sample Rate to that value. This way, AD/DA-conversion and digital outputs are configured to operate in the frequency ranges Single Speed, Double Speed or Quad Speed.

Single Speed

All outputs carry a signal in the range of 32 kHz up to 48 kHz.

DS (Double Speed)

The AES output carries a signal in the range of 64 kHz up to 96 kHz. MADI stays at no higher than 48 kHz, with the data transmitted in the S/MUX format (48K Frame), or changes to native 96 kHz (96K Frame). In both cases the number of channels is reduced to 32 per port.

QS (Quad Speed)

The AES output carries a signal in the range of 176.4 kHz up to 192 kHz. MADI stays at no higher than 48 kHz, with the data transmitted in the S/MUX4 format. Therefore MADI is limited to 16 channels per port in this mode.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

User's Guide

MADIface XT

Inputs and Outputs

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

20. Analog Inputs / Outputs

20.1 Mic / Line In (XLR / TRS)

The MADIface XT has 2 balanced XLR/TRS inputs on the front panel.

When using unbalanced cables make sure to connect pin 3 (-) to 1 (ground) (TRS: ring to ground). Otherwise noise may occur, caused by the unconnected negative input pin.

The pin assignment follows international standards. With XLR, pin 2 is + or hot, pin 3 is – or cold, pin 1 is ground. Pin 1 is connected to the chassis directly at the socket (AES48).

XLR and TRS Line have a gain range of 51 dB in steps of 3 dB, and another step of 9 dB, a total range of 60 dB. The TRS Line input gain range is shifted by about 12 dB to support +24 dBu balanced operation (SMPTE). TRS also has a higher input impedance (6.6 kOhm).

The AD-converter in the MADIface XT reaches full scale already at an input level of –48 dBu (Gain 60 dB, XLR input), but also at +24 dBu (Gain 0 dB, TRS input). Therefore the inputs are both sophisticated microphone and line types.

20.2 Phantom Power

The LED +48V indicates activated phantom power for the XLR input. Phantom power should

only be activated when using condenser microphones which require such a power supply.

Connecting and disconnecting microphones while phantom power is active causes a high voltage surge, which can destroy the microphone input stage! Switch phantom power off before connecting/disconnecting any external device.

The MADIface turns on the phantom power smoothly during one second, from 0 to 48 Volts. This technique is advantageous for the connected microphone as well as the MADIface.

The phantom power of the MADIface is short-circuit proof. With a maximum load the internal voltage from the power supply does not drop below 47 Volts.

20.3 AutoSet

Some preamps include limiters in order to prevent clipping, especially of the A/D converter stage. Such a circuitry is not feasible for the MADIface, because it would spoil the mic preamp's excellent technical data.

But as the MADIface's gain is controlled completely digitally, the device can set it automatically, thus providing perfect protection from overload with no degradation of the audio signal, which does not have to pass any additional electronic circuits.

Since AutoSet operates as overload protection and not as 'compressor', there is no automatic gain increase. AutoSet only reduces gain. And with AutoSet activated, the gain can still be changed manually. The currently highest possible value can not be exceeded, because AutoSet will reduce the gain in real-time during the manual change.

In practice, there are two possible ways to work with AutoSet:

• Gain of all channels is set to a rather high value, e.g. 60 dB. Then a rehearsal with maximum acoustic level is performed. Thereafter AutoSet is switched off.

• As above, with AutoSet permanently active.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

There are good reasons for both of these alternatives. Thanks to the flexible threshold setting and easy manual correction of set values, the MADIface is fit for all applications.

AutoSet can be activated in CHANNEL: a push on encoder 1 and 2 activates AutoSet. The label AS in the display changes from light gray to black.

To avoid shifts in panorama AutoSet should work ganged with related channels, so that gain changes of one channel are also applied to the other one. For using ganged AutoSet the input channels Mic1/2 have to be set to Stereo mode in TotalMix FX.

As soon as AutoSet reduces the gain the label AS, shown in the front display, changes its color from black to blue.

20.4 Balanced Line Outputs

The short circuit protected, low impedance line outputs of channels 1 and 2 use male XLR jacks on the back of the unit. The maximum balanced output level is +15 dBu.

The electronic driver circuit of the XLR outputs does not operate servo-balanced! When connecting unbalanced equipment, make sure pin 3 of the XLR output is not connected. A connection to ground will cause higher THD (distortion)!

When used unbalanced the maximum output level is 6 dB lower (+9 dBu).

20.5 Line - Headphones

MADIface XT offers a hi-quality analog monitor output. The short circuit protected stereo line output provides high output level, low impedance, and is available via a 6.3 mm (1/4") TRS jack. Therefore it is also suitable for a direct use with headphones.

The analog output is directly driven from the channels 3/4. Its output volume is controlled by the hardware output faders of channel 3/4 in TotalMix. Additionally the analog output can play back any input or playback signal using TotalMix.

The analog output does not include speaker protection. When switching the computer on and off, noise may

occur at the analog outputs.

In case the output should operate as line out, an adapter TRS plug to RCA phono plugs, or TRS plug to TS plugs is required.

The pin assignment follows international standards. The left channel is connected to the tip, the right channel to the ring of the TRS jack/plug.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

21. Digital Inputs and Outputs

21.1 MADI I/O

The BNC input is built according to AES10-1991. The input impedance is 75 Ohm. It will operate error-free from about 180 mVpp on.

The optical input and output uses a FDDI (ISO/IEC 9413-3) compatible optical module, according to AES10-1991. More information can be found in chapter 30.1, MADI Basics.

MADIface XT includes automatic input selection (Redundancy Mode). In case the current input signal fails, the unit switches to the other input immediately. This mode, called redundancy operation, offers improved safety against errors on the transmission line. Switching the inputs is done in less than a sample and - provided the input signal fails abruptly – click free.

The BNC output is built according to AES10-1991. The output's impedance is 75 Ohm. The output voltage will be 600 mVpp when terminated with 75 Ohm.

In MADI1 output mirror mode output 2 and 3 hold the same signal as MADI port 1. This mode

allows for distributing a signal to three destinations, or redundant operation at the output of the unit.

21.2 AES/EBU

The XLR AES/EBU input and output is transformer-balanced and ground-free. The incoming channel status is ignored. Connection is accomplished using balanced cables with XLR plugs.

Input

Thanks to a highly sensitive input stage SPDIF coaxial can be fed too by using a simple cable adapter phono/XLR. To achieve this, pins 2 and 3 of a male XLR plug are connected individually to the two pins of a phono plug. The cable shielding is only connected to pin 1 of the XLR - not to the phono plug.

Output

Using the cable adapter XLR/phono described above, devices with coaxial SPDIF interface can be connected to the AES output of the MADIface XT as well. Note that most consumer equipment with phono (SPDIF) inputs will only accept signals having a Channel Status ‘Consumer’ format. The Consumer status is activated in the Settings dialog. In Consumer mode the output voltage is reduced as well, as SPDIF calls for a lower voltage than AES/EBU.

The output signal coding of the MADIface XT has been implemented according to AES3-1992 Amendment 4:

• 32 / 44.1 / 48 kHz, 64 / 88.2 / 96 kHz, 176.4 / 192 kHz depending on the current sample rate

• Audio use

• No Copyright, Copy permitted

• Format Professional or Consumer

• Category General, Generation not indicated

• 2-Channel, No Emphasis

• Aux Bits Audio use, 24 Bit

• Origin: MAXT

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

21.3 MIDI

The MADIface XT offers one MIDI I/O via 5-pin DIN connectors. The MIDI port is added to the system by the driver. Using MIDI capable software, the port can be accessed under the name

MADI MIDI.

The three software-only MIDI ports receive and transmit MIDI data via MADI. MIDI data can be transmitted from/to other RME devices with MADI ports, without any additional line or cabling between computer (MADI card) and external units.

The MIDI ports support multi-client operation. A MIDI input signal can be received from several programs at the same time. Even the MIDI outputs can be used by multiple programs simultaneously. However, due to the limited bandwidth of MIDI, this kind of application will often show various problems.

21.4 D-sub Pinout

Pin assignment of the 9-pin D-type connector, breakout cable MIDI / AES

Pin Name Pin Name Pin Name 1 MIDI In (4) 4 AES Out + 7 MIDI Out (5) 2 MIDI Out (4) 5 GND 8 AES In 3 AES In + 6 MIDI In (5) 9 AES Out -

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

22. Word Clock

22.1 Word Clock Input and Output

SteadyClock guarantees an excellent performance in all clock modes. Based on the highly effi-

cient jitter suppression, the MADIface XT refreshes and cleans up any clock signal, and provides it as reference clock at the BNC output (see chapter 30.8).

Input

The MADIface XT word clock input is active when Clock Source in the Settings dialog has been switched to Word Clock, and a valid word clock signal is present. The signal at the BNC input

can be Single, Double or Quad Speed, the MADIface XT automatically adapts to it. As soon as a valid signal is detected the Settings dialog shows either Lock or Sync (see chapter 30.2).

Thanks to RME's Signal Adaptation Circuit, the word clock input still works correctly even with

heavily mis-shaped, dc-prone, too small or overshoot-prone signals. Thanks to automatic signal centering, 300 mV (0.3V) input level is sufficient in principle. An additional hysteresis reduces sensitivity to 1.0 V, so that over- and undershoots and high frequency disturbances don't cause a wrong trigger.

The word clock input is shipped as high impedance type (not terminated). The Settings dialog

allows to activate internal termination (75 Ohms). Activate the option Word Clock Input Term.

Output

The word clock output of the MADIface XT is constantly active, providing the current sample frequency as word clock signal. As a result, in master mode the provided word clock is defined by the currently used software or the pitch setting. In slave mode the provided frequency is identical to the one present at the currently chosen clock input. When the current clock signal fails, the MADIface XT switches to master mode and adjusts itself to the next, best matching frequency (44.1 kHz, 48 kHz etc.).

Selecting Single Speed in the Settings dialog causes the output signal to always stay within the

range of 32 kHz to 48 kHz. So at 96 kHz sample rate, the output word clock is 48 kHz.

The received word clock signal can be distributed to other devices by using the word clock out-

put. With this the usual T-adapter can be avoided, and the MADIface XT operates as Signal Refresher. This kind of operation is highly recommended, because

• input and output are phase-locked and in phase (0°) to each other

• SteadyClock removes nearly all jitter from the input signal

• the exceptional input (1 Vpp sensitivity instead of the usual 2.5 Vpp, dc cut, Signal Adapta-

tion Circuit) plus SteadyClock guarantee a secure function even with highly critical word clock signals

Thanks to a low impedance, but short circuit proof output, the MADIface XT delivers 4 Vpp to 75 Ohms. For wrong termination with 2 x 75 Ohms (37.5 Ohms), there are still 3.3 Vpp fed into the network – per output!

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

22.2 Technical Description and Usage

In the analog domain one can connect any device to another device, a synchronisation is not necessary. Digital audio is different. It uses a clock, the sample frequency. The signal can only be processed and transmitted when all participating devices share the same clock. If not, the signal will suffer from wrong samples, distortion, crackle sounds and drop outs.

AES/EBU, SPDIF, ADAT and MADI are self-clocking, an additional word clock connection in principle isn't necessary. But when using more than one device simultaneously problems are likely to happen. For example any self-clocking will not work in a loop cabling, when there is no 'master' (main clock) inside the loop. Additionally the clock of all participating devices has to be synchronous. This is often impossible with devices limited to playback, for example CD players, as these have no SPDIF input, thus can't use the self clocking technique as clock reference.

In a digital studio synchronisation is maintained by connecting all devices to a central sync source. For example the mixing desk works as master and sends a reference signal, the word clock, to all other devices. Of course this will only work as long as all other devices are equipped with a word clock or sync input, thus being able to work as slave (some professional CD players indeed have a word clock input). Then all devices get the same clock and will work in every possible combination with each other.

Remember that a digital system can only have one master!

But word clock is not only the 'great problem solver', it also has some disadvantages. The word clock is based on a fraction of the really needed clock. For example SPDIF: 44.1 kHz word clock (a simple square wave signal) has to be multiplied by 256 inside the device using a special PLL (to about 11.2 MHz). This signal then replaces the one from the quartz crystal. Big disadvantage: because of the high multiplication factor the reconstructed clock will have great deviations called jitter. The jitter of a word clock is multiple times higher than the one of a quartz based clock.

The end of these problems should have been the so called Superclock, which uses 256 times the word clock frequency. This equals the internal quartz frequency, so no PLL for multiplying is needed and the clock can be used directly. But reality was different, the Superclock proved to be much more critical than word clock. A square wave signal of 11 MHz distributed to several devices - this simply means to fight with high frequency technology. Reflections, cable quality, capacitive loads - at 44.1 kHz these factors may be ignored, at 11 MHz they are the end of the clock network. Additionally it was found that a PLL not only generates jitter, but also rejects disturbances. The slow PLL works like a filter for induced and modulated frequencies above several kHz. As the Superclock is used without any filtering such a kind of jitter and noise suppression is missing.

The actual end of these problems is offered by the SteadyClock technology of the MADIface

XT. Combining the advantages of modern and fastest digital technology with analog filter techniques, re-gaining a low jitter clock signal of 22 MHz from a slow word clock of 44.1 kHz is no problem anymore. Additionally, jitter on the input signal is highly rejected, so that even in real world usage the re-gained clock signal is of highest quality.

This is especially true when extracting the word clock out of a MADI signal. Caused by the MADI format itself, such a signal will have around 80 ns of jitter, which is reduced to about 1 ns by SteadyClock.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

22.3 Cabling and Termination

Word clock signals are usually distributed in the form of a network, split with BNC T-adapters and terminated with resistors. We recommend using off-the-shelf BNC cables to connect all devices, as this type of cable is used for most computer networks. You will find all the necessary components (T-adapters, terminators, cables) in most electronics and/or computer stores. The latter usually carries 50 Ohms components. The 75 Ohms components used for word clock are part of video technology (RG59).

Ideally, the word clock signal is a 5 Volt square wave with the frequency of the sample rate, of which the harmonics go up to far above 500 kHz. To avoid voltage loss and reflections, both the cable itself and the terminating resistor at the end of the chain should have an impedance of 75 Ohm. If the voltage is too low, synchronization will fail. High frequency reflection effects can cause both jitter and sync failure.

Unfortunately there are still many devices on the market, even newer digital mixing consoles, which are supplied with a word clock output that can only be called unsatisfactory. If the output breaks down to 3 Volts when terminating with 75 Ohms, you have to take into account that a device, of which the input only works from 2.8 Volts and above, does not function correctly already after 3 meter cable length. So it is not astonishing that because of the higher voltage, word clock networks are in some cases more stable and reliable if cables are not terminated at all.

Ideally all outputs of word clock delivering devices are designed with very low impedance, but all word clock inputs as high impedance types, in order to not weaken the signal on the chain. But there are also negative examples, when the 75 Ohms are built into the device and cannot be switched off. In this case the network load is often 2 x 75 Ohms, and the user is forced to buy a special word clock distributor. Note that such a device is generally recommended for bigger studios.

The MADIface XT word clock input can be high-impedance or terminated internally, ensuring maximum flexibility. If termination is necessary (e.g. because the card is the last device in the

chain), activate the option Word Clock In Term. in the Settings dialog.

In case the MADIface XT resides within a chain of devices receiving word clock, plug a Tadapter into its BNC input jack, and the cable supplying the word clock signal to one end of the adapter. 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 75 Ohm resistor (available as short BNC plug). Of course devices with internal termination do not need T-adaptor and terminator plug.

Due to the outstanding SteadyClock technology of the MADIface XT, we recommend not to pass the input signal via T-adapter, but to use the card's word clock output instead. Thanks to SteadyClock, the input signal will both be freed from jitter and - in case of loss or drop out – be reset to a valid frequency.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

User's Guide

MADIface XT

Stand-Alone Operation

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

23. Operation and Usage

23.1 General

Using the two rotary encoders and the clear colour display the MADIface XT can be configured and set up completely at the device. Additionally an internal memory allows for the permanent storage of six different states of the unit. The current state is stored 5 seconds after any change, and is loaded at power-on. Saved settings are:

Settings dialog

Sample rate, clock mode Master/Slave, configuration of the channels and the digital I/Os.

TotalMix FX

The complete mixer state.

After hitting the key SETUP/REV, turning the encoder 1 changes to Setups. First select the

preferred storage place, then the desired process (load or store). The load/store process is completed by pushing encoder 2 for more than one second.

The memory also improves the clock situation immediately after power-on, avoiding wrong clocking and noise disturbances in a complex setup, caused by wrong synchronization.

Setups can also be loaded into the unit from the computer. As the Setups are usually generated at the computer the final step of transmission offers a convenient workflow. In TotalMix FX use

Options / Store current state into device to select the desired storage place (Setup) within the

unit.

With all this the MADIface XT is able to operate fully stand-alone, without any connected computer. In stand-alone operation it easily transforms into different devices by the simple click of a button. Furthermore TotalMix, and with this the application examples shown below, can also be

controlled via MIDI, see chapter 28.5, MIDI Control. The full Mackie Protocol and MIDI remote

support makes it possible to use the unit even without connected computer, still being able to change many parameters not only at the front, but also from a remote.

23.2 Settings at the Unit

The MADIface XT has a simple menu structure, depending on the button pressed.

MIC/GAIN. Page Mic Gain. Setting the gain for the inputs 1/2 using encoder 1 and 2. METERS. Brings up the Mix page. Note that changes to the current mix state can not be per-

formed at the unit when it is connected to a computer. Mix gives access to the whole submix of the specific output. Any input routed to that output can be modified in level and panorama.

CHANNEL. Encoder 1 selects the input and output to be configured, encoder 2 selects the function to be configured. These are Settings, Low Cut, Parametric EQ Compressor/Expander and Auto Level.

SETUP/REV. Encoder 1 selects Setups, Options and Reverb/Echo. Options has the subpages Clock Options, HW Options/Diagnosis and Control Room Options. Reverb/Echo has the subpages Reverb and Echo. The subpages are selected with encoder 2.

More information on the different menus and screens is available in chapter 19.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

24. Examples

24.1 2/4-Channel AD/DA-Converter

TotalMix' super-flexible routing functions make it easy to turn the MADIface XT into a 2 input and 4 output channel AD/DA converter. It’s easy to build the setup. For a clean start perform a

Total Reset from the Options menu. Then select the AES output in the third row, and pull up the

faders of the Analog input 1/2 in the first row. Now do the same for the analog outputs, route the AES input to these. A monitoring of all or selected I/Os can be easily set up for the AES output, or as analog mixdown on one of the phones outputs.

24.2 2-Channel Mic Preamp

Use TotalMix to route the two microphone inputs directly to the analog outputs. This turns the MADIface XT into a 2-channel microphone preamp. The AD- and DA-conversion will cause a small delay of the signals of around 0.17 ms (at 192 kHz, see chapter 30.3). But this is nothing to worry about, as it is the same delay that would be caused by changing the microphone's position by about 5.6 centimeter (2 inches).

24.3 194-channel Monitor Mixer

TotalMix allows ANY configuration of all I/Os of the MADIface. For example, set up the device as monitor mixer for 2 analog signals, 194 digital via AES and 3 x MADI or any number inbetween. Additionally, TotalMix lets you set up ANY submixes, so all existing outputs can be used for different and independent monitorings of the input signals. The perfect monitoring/surveillance solution for multiple MADI streams!

24.4 Analog and Digital Inserter

As TotalMix allows for any routing of the input signals, the MADIface XT can be used to insert AES or analog into any place of the three MADI streams. Those can be passed through, so the signal is either unchanged (refreshed), newly mixed/routed/levelled, or parts are replaced.

24.5 3-port MADI Router with Monitoring

The Matrix in TotalMix enables you to route and link all inputs and outputs completely freely. All the above functionalities are even available simultaneously, can be mixed and combined in many ways. Simply said: the MADIface XT is a perfect digital routing matrix!

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

User's Guide

MADIface XT

TotalMix FX

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

25. TotalMix: Routing and Monitoring

25.1 Overview

The MADIface XT includes a powerful digital real-time mixer, the Hammerfall DSP mix er, based on RME’s unique, sample-rate independent TotalMix technology. It allows for practically unlim-

ited mixing and routing operations, with all inputs and playback channels simultaneously, to any hardware outputs.

Here are some typical applications for TotalMix:

• Setting up delay-free submixes (headphone mixes). The MADIface XT allows for up to 99 (!) fully independent stereo submixes. On an analog mixing desk, this would equal 198 (!) Aux sends.

• Unlimited routing of inputs and outputs (free utilisation, patchbay functionality).

• Distributing signals to several outputs at a time. TotalMix offers state-of-the-art splitter and

distributor functions.

• Simultaneous playback of different programs using only one stereo output. The ASIO multiclient driver handles several programs at the same time, even identical playback channels. TotalMix provides the means to mix and monitor these on a single stereo output, even when originating on different playback channels.

• Mixing of the input signal to the playback signal (complete ASIO Direct Monitoring). RME not

only is the pioneer of ADM, but also offers the most complete implementation of the ADM

functions.

• Integration of external devices. Use TotalMix to insert external effects devices, be it in the playback or in the record path. Depending on the current application, the functionality equals insert or effects send and effects return, for example as used during real-time monitoring when adding some reverb to the vocals.

Every single input channel, playback channel and hardware output features a Peak and RMS level meter, calculated in hardware (hardware output is Peak only). These level displays are very useful to determine the presence and routing destinations of the audio signals.

For a better understanding of the TotalMix mixer you should know the following:

• As shown in the block diagram (next page), the record signal usually stays un-altered. TotalMix does not reside within the record path, and does not change the record level or the audio data to be recorded (exception: loopback mode).

• The hardware input signal can be passed on as often as desired, even with different levels. This is a big difference to conventional mixing desks, where the channel fader always controls the level for all routing destinations simultaneously.

• The level meter of inputs and playback channels are connected pre-fader, to be able to visually monitor where a signal is currently present. The level meters of the hardware’s outputs are connected post-fader, thus displaying the actual output level.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

25.2 The User Interface

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 MADIface XT provides 196 input channels, 198 software playback channels, and 198 hardware output channels:

TotalMix can be used in the above view (View Options 2 Row). However, the default is a vertical alignment in three rows as known from an Inline desk, so that the row Software Playback equals the Tape Return of a real mixing desk:

• Top row: Hardware inputs. The level shown is that of the input signal, i. e. fader independent. Via fader and routing menu, any input channel can be routed and mixed to any hardware output (bottom row).

• Middle row: Playback channels (playback tracks of the audio software). Via fader and routing menu, any playback channel can be routed and mixed to any hardware output (third row).

• Bottom row (third row): Hardware outputs. Here, the total level of the output can be adjusted.

This may be the level of connected loudspeakers, or the necessity to reduce the level of an overloaded submix.

Usage in mode Submix View (Default): simply click on the hardware output channel where

you want to have an audio signal. This channel turns brighter, means it is selected as current submix. Now move the faders up from all sources - input and playback channels - that you want to hear at the submix output.

The following chapters explain step by step all functions of the user interface.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

25.3 The Channels

A single channel can be switched between mono and stereo mode. The mode is set in the channel settings.

Channel name. The name field is the preferred place to select a channel by a

mouse click. A double click opens a dialog to assign a different name. The original

name will be shown when activating the option Names in the View Options. Panorama. Routes the input signal freely to the left and right routing destination

(lower label, see below). The level reduction in center position is -3 dB.

Mute and Solo. Input channels and playback channels each have a mute and solo

button.

Numerical level display. Shows the current RMS or Peak level, updated twice per

second. OVR means overload. The setting Peak/RMS is changed in the View Options.

Level meter. The meter shows both peak values (zero attack, 1 sample is enough for a full

scale display) by means of a yellow line, and mathematically correct RMS values by means of a green bar. The RMS display has a relatively slow time constant, so that it shows the average loudness quite well. Overs are shown in red at the top of the bar. In the Preferences dialog (F2) the Peak Hold time, the over detection and the RMS reference can be set.

Fader. Determines the gain/level of the signal routed to the current routing destination (lower label). Please note that this fader is not the fader of the channel, but only the fader of the cur-

rent routing. Compared to a standard mixing desk TotalMix does not have a channel fader, but only Aux Sends, as many as there are hardware outputs. Therefore TotalMix can create as many different Submixes as there are hardware outputs. This concept is understood best in the Submix View, but more on that later.

Below the fader the Gain is shown in a numerical display field,

according to the current fader position. The fader can be:

¾ dragged with the left mouse button pressed

¾ moved by the mouse wheel

¾ set to 0 dB and −∞ by a double click. The same happens

with a single click plus held down Ctrl key.

¾ adjusted in fine mode by mouse drag and mouse wheel

when holding the Shift key down

A Shift-click on a fader adds the fader to the temporary fader group. All faders now marked yellow are ganged, and move

simultaneously in a relative way. The temporary fader group is deleted by a click on the F symbol in the upper right of the window.

The arrow symbol at the bottom minimizes the channel width to that of the level meters. An-

other click maximizes it again. A mouse click with held Ctrl key causes all channels to the right to enlarge and minimize at once.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

The lowest field shows the current routing target. A mouse click

opens the routing window to select a routing target. The list shows all activated routings of the current channel by arrows in front of the listed entries. The current one is shown in bold letters.

An arrow is only shown with an activated routing. A routing is seen as activated when audio data is sent. As long as the fader is set to

−∞ the current routing will be shown in bold letters, but not have an

arrow in the front.

Trim Gain. After a click on the T-button one channel’s faders are all synchronized. Instead of

changing only a single routing the fader affects all the channel’s active routings. For a better overview the faders currently not visible are indicated by orange triangles beside the fader path. When moving the fader the triangles also move to a new position, equalling the faders new settings.

Note that the fader button is set to the highest routing gain of all routings so that best control is offered. 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 MADIface XT there are 99 stereo Aux sends, shown alternately as single fader within the channel strip. The high number of Aux sends enables multiple and fully independent routings.

In some cases it is necessary to synchronize the gain changes of these routings. An example is the Post fader function, where a change of the singer’s volume shall be performed identical to the volume change of the signal sent to the reverb device, so that the reverb level keeps its relation to the original signal. Another example is the signal of a guitar that is routed to different submixes, means hardware outputs, which gets much too loud during the solo part, and therefore needs to be reduced in volume on all outputs simultaneously. After a click on the Trim button this can be done easily and with a perfect overview.

As all channel’s routings change simultaneously when Trim is active, this mode basically causes the same behaviour as a trim pot within the input channel, affecting the signal already before the mixer. That’s how this function got its name.

In the View Options / Show the function Trim Gains can be globally switched on and off for all

channels. The global Trim mode is recommended when using TotalMix FX as live mixing desk.

The Context Menu. With a right click on the input, playback and output channels their context

menus provide advanced functionality (these menus are also available in the Matrix, but only directly on the channel labels). The entries are self-explanatory and automatically adjust to

where the click is performed. The input channels offer Clear, Copy input, paste the input mix and paste its FX. On a playback channel Copy, Paste and Clear the playback mix are available. On an output channel Copy and Mirror functionality for the current submix and copying of the FX settings is offered.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

25.3.1 Settings

A click on the tool symbol opens the channel’s Settings panel. It includes these elements: Stereo. Switches the channel to mono or stereo mode. 48V (only channels 1/2). Activates phantom power at the corresponding input. Serves as

power supply for high quality condenser mics. This option should stay off with other sources to prevent failure by spikes.

Gain (only channels 1/2). Sets the gain for the two front inputs. The

knob can be adjusted by dragging the mouse or by the mouse wheel. This also works when the mouse has been moved over the two gain displays. Then the gain can be changed separately for left and right

channel, even when the channel is in stereo mode. Width. Defines the stereo width. 1.00 equals full stereo, 0.00 mono,

-1.00 swapped channels.

FX Send. Setting the level of the signal sent to the FX bus which feeds

Echo and Reverb. The current setting is also visible with closed channel settings, because knob and small fader are synchronized. To make this function as useful as possible FX Send is locked to the highest submix,

thus imitating the Aux Post Fader function of a standard mixing desk.

When moving the big fader both knob and small fader will move. This

way the reverb signal keeps the correct relation to the dry signal. The level of the signal sent to the effects can be controlled by the FX In level meters of the FX

window. It becomes visible after a click on FX in the View Options.

MS Proc. Activates M/S processing within the stereo channel. Monaural information is sent to

the left channel, stereo information to the right.

Phase L. Inverts the phase of the left channel by 180°. Phase R. Inverts the phase of the right channel by 180°.

: Width, MS Proc, Phase L and Phase R affect all routings of the respective channel.

Note

The Hardware Outputs have no width, but other options:

FX Return. The effect signal (Echo and Reverb) is mixed to the

respective hardware output by the duo knob/small fader.

Talkback. Activates this channel as receiver and output of the Talkback

signal. This way Talkback can be sent to any outputs, not only the Phones in the Control Room section. Another application could be to send a certain signal to specific outputs by the push of a button.

No Trim. Sometimes channels need to have a fixed routing and level,

which should not be changed in any case. An example is the stereo

mixdown for recording of a live show. With No Trim active, the routing to

this output channel is excluded from the Trim Gains function, therefore is not changed unintentionally.

Loopback. Sends the output data to the driver as record data. The

corresponding submix can be recorded then. This channel’s hardware input sends its data only to TotalMix, no longer to the recording software.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

Another difference to the input and playback channels is the Cue button instead of Solo. A click on Cue sends the respective Hardware Output’s audio to the Main Out, or any of the Phones outputs (option Assign / Cue to in the Control Room section). With this any hardware output can

be controlled and listened to through the monitoring output very conveniently.

25.3.2 Equalizer

A click on EQ opens the Equalizer panel. It is available in all input and output channels, and

affects all routings of the respective channel (pre fader). The panel includes a low cut and a 3band parametric equalizer which can be activated separately.

EQ. Activated by the EQ button. Type. Band 1 and 3 can operate in peak (bell) or shelf

(shelving) mode. The middle band is fixed to peak mode.

Band 3 can also operate as Hi Cut (low pass filter),

especially useful for LFE and subwoofer purposes.

Gain. All three bands can change their amplification

between +20 dB to -20 dB.

Freq. The center frequency of the filters is adjustable

between 20 Hz and 20 kHz. While in peak mode the center frequency is adjusted, in shelf mode the cut-off point (-3 dB) will be changed.

Q. The Quality factor of the filter is adjustable from 0.7

(wide) to 5.0 (narrow).

Lo Cut. Activated by the button Lo Cut. The slope of the high-pass filter is adjustable between

6, 12, 18 and 24 dB per octave. The cut-off point (-3 dB) is adjustable between 20 Hz and 500 Hz.

The frequency graphics give a precise overview of the filter results. Overlapping filters influence each other. This can be used to achieve more than 20 dB amplitude, or to generate difficult frequency response optimizations.

: TotalMix has internal headroom of 24 dB. Extreme boosts with overlapping filters can

Note therefore cause an internal overload. In any case such an overload is displayed by the Over LED of the channel’s level meter.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

Preset. Settings of the EQ and the Low Cut

can be stored, loaded, and copied between channels at any time. A click on Preset opens a menu with several entries:

¾ Recall: Presets stored before by the user

can be selected and loaded

¾ Save to: There are 16 storage places

available (EQ Preset 1 to 16)

¾ Import: Loads a previously stored TM EQ

file (.tmeq)

¾ Export: Stores the current state as TM

EQ file (.tmeq)

¾ Factory: Includes 14 examples for the

creative use of Low Cut and Equalizer

¾ Reset: Resets the Low Cut and EQ to

have zero influence (Gain 0 dB)

¾ Rename: The EQ Presets 1 to 16 can be renamed. The changes will be shown in both lists

Recall and Save to.

Notes on the EQ Presets Copy between channels: The EQ Preset menu of all channels is identical. If an EQ setup is

stored via Save to on one of the 16 storage places, it is then also available in any other channel

via Recall.

Copy between Snapshots: The Presets are not saved in Snapshots, therefore do not change

when a different Snapshot is loaded. Presets are saved in Workspaces and also loaded with these.

Copy between Workspaces: is done by the export and import function of the Preset menu.

Important and useful Presets should always be saved as TM EQ file, so that they can not get lost even on accidental overwrite.

Factory Presets: loaded like all Presets the settings of both Low Cut and EQ simultaneously.

The current state, On or Off, is neither saved nor activated on load. With this a preset can be loaded anytime, but will not become active before the user decides to switch the EQ and/or LC on – except they had been active already before the load process. For this reason some Factory Presets have special names. For example Telephone (LC+EQ) will sound much better when the LC has been activated additionally to the EQ, as the LC is set to an unusual high frequency of 500 Hz here.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

25.3.3 Dynamics

A click on D opens the Dynamics panel with Compressor, Expander and Auto Level. They are

available in all input and output channels, and affects all routings of the respective channel.

Dynamics. Activated by this button. Thresh. Threshold where Compressor or Expander start to

work. The Compressor is adjustable from -60 dB to 0 dB, the Expander is adjustable from -99 dB to -30 dB.

Ratio. Ratio of input to output signal. Defines the intensity

of the signal processing. Adjustable from 1 to 10.

Gain. Gain stage to compensate a loss in level caused by

the Compressor. Adjustable from -30 to +30 dB. With inactive Compressor (Threshold 0 dB, Gain 1:1) this function can also be used as universal digital gain stage.

Attack. Defines the rise time for the control voltage of

Compressor/Expander. Adjustable from 0 ms to 200 ms.

Release. Defines the release time for the control voltage of Compressor and Expander. Adjust-

able from 100 ms to 999 ms.

The amplitude graphics gives a precise overview of the level changes caused by the current settings of Compressor and Expander. The white dot shows the level of the input signal and with this whether the signal is within the processing range or not. The small light blue lines in

the level meter show the currently active gain reduction. Settings for these Dynamic Meters are

found in the Preferences dialog (F2).

Auto Level. Activated by this button. Max. Gain. Defines the maximum amplification of the input signal. Adjustable from 0 dB to 18

dB.

Headroom. To minimize short-time overloads

and clipping of the signal peaks Auto Level can be set to operate at a fixed offset to 0 dBFS. Adjustable from 3 dB to 12 dB.

Rise Time. Defines the speed of a level increase

after a level reduction. Adjustable from 0.1 s to

9.9 s.

Preset. Includes the same functions as

described on the previous page for the Equalizer. The names of the Factory Presets make clear whether Compressor, Auto Level or both (C+A) have to be switched on.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

25.4 Section Control Room

In the section Control Room the menu Assign is used to define the Main Out which is used for

listening in the studio. For this output the functions Dim, Recall, Mono, Talkback, External In and Mute FX are automatically applied.

Additionally the channel will be shifted from the Hardware

Outputs into the Control Room section, and renamed Main.

The same happens when assigning Main Out B or the Phones. The original name can be displayed by the function

Names in the View Options - Show at any time.

Phones 1 to 4 will have Dim (set in Settings) and a special routing applied when Talkback is activated. Also putting them beside the Main Out increases the overview within the output section greatly.

Dim. The volume will be reduced by the amount set in the

Settings dialog (F3).

Recall. Sets the gain value defined in the Settings dialog. Speaker B. Switches playback from Main Out to Main Out B.

The faders of the channels Main and Speaker B can be ganged via Link.

Mono. Mixes left and right channel. Useful to check for mono compatibility and phase problems. Talkback. A click on this button will dim all signals on the Phones outputs by an amount set up

in the Preferences dialog. At the same time the control room's microphone signal (source de-

fined in Preferences) is sent to the Phones. The microphone level is adjusted with the channel's

input fader.

External Input. Switches Main monitoring from the mix bus to the stereo input defined in the

Settings dialog (F3). The relative volume of the stereo signal is adjusted there as well.

Mute FX. Mutes Reverb and Echo on the Main

Out, to hear the mix without those effects.

Assign. Allows to define the Main Out, Main Out

B (Speaker B), and up to four Phones outs.

The output for the Cue signal, which is usually Main, can also be set to one of the four Phones outputs. This setting also controls the PFL monitoring.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

25.5 The Control Strip

The Control Strip on the right side combines different functions that are either required globally, or constantly used, and therefore should not be hidden in a menu. Still using the menu entry

Window, Hide Control Strip, the Control Strip is shifted out of the visible area to gain more

space for other elements.

Device selection. Select the unit to be controlled in case more than one is installed on the

computer.

FX - DSP Meter. Shows the DSP load caused by activated EQ, Low Cut,

Compressor, Auto Level, Echo and Reverb. The DSP of the MADIface XT has an automatic load limiter. If no DSP resources are left further effects can not be activated. When switching to DS and QS modes effects will be deactivated

automatically until the DSP is not overloaded anymore. Undo / Redo. With the unlimited Undo and Redo changes of the mix can be

undone and redone, at any time. Undo/Redo does not cover graphical changes (window size, position, channels wide/narrow etc.), and also no changes to the Presets. The accidental overwrite of an EQ Preset can not be made undone.

Undo/Redo also operates across Workspaces. Therefore a completely differently set up mixer view can be loaded via Workspace, and with a single click on Undo the previous internal mixer state is returned – but the new mixer view stays.

Global Mute Solo Fader. Mute. Global Mute operates in a pre fader style, muting all currently activated routings of the

channel. As soon as any Mute button is pressed, the Mute Master button lights up in the Control

Strip area. With this button all selected mutes can be switched off and on again. One can comfortably set up a mute group or activate and deactivate several mute buttons simultaneously.

Solo. As soon as any Solo button is pressed, the Solo Master button lights up in the Control

Strip area. With this button all selected Solos are switched off and on again. Solo operates as Solo-in-Place, post fader style, as known from common mixing desks. A typical limitation for mixing desks, Solo working only globally and only for the Main Out, does not exist in TotalMix. Solo is always activated for the current submix only.

Fader. A Shift-click on a fader adds the fader to the temporary fader group. All faders now

marked yellow are ganged, and move simultaneously in a relative way. The temporary fader group is deleted by a click on the F symbol.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

25.5.1 View Options

View Options. This area combines different functions of routing, the level meters and the mi-

xer view.

Routing Mode

¾ Submix. The Submix view (default) is the preferred view and delivers the

quickest overview, operation and understanding of TotalMix. The click on one of the Hardware Output channels selects the respective submix, all other outputs are darkened. At the same time all routing fields are set to this channel. With Submix view, it is very easy to generate a submix for any output: select the output channel, then adjust the fader and pans of first and second row – finished.

¾ Free. The Free view is for advanced users. It is used to edit several

submixes simultaneously, without the need to change between them. Here one works with the routings fields of the input and playback channels only, which then show different routing destinations.

Level Meters

¾ Post FX. Switches all level meters before (pre) or after (post) the effects. Level changes by

these can be easily checked using this feature. Additionally the input signal can be checked for overloads. It is recommended to use Post FX as default setting, as the extreme reduction of a signal by LC/EQ is very seldom. Also all over displays of all level meters operate both pre and post, efficiently preventing overloads going unnoticed.

¾ RMS. The numerical level display in the channels displays peak or RMS.

Show

¾ FX. Opens the window to set up the effects Reverb and Echo. ¾ 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.

¾ 2 Row . Switches the mixer view to 2 rows. Hardware Inputs and Software Playbacks are

placed side by side. This view saves a lot of space, especially in height.

¾ Names. Display of the original names of channels when they had been renamed by the

user.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

25.5.2 Snapshots - Groups

Snapshots. Snapshots include all mixer settings, but no graphical elements like window posi-

tions, window size, number of windows, visible EQs or Settings, scroll states, Presets etc. Only the state wide/narrow of the channels is registered. Moreover the Snapshot is only temporarily stored. Loading a Workspace causes the loss of all stored Snapshots, when these all had not

been saved before in a Workspace, or separately via File / Save Snapshot as. Via File / Load

Snapshot the mixer states can be loaded individually.

8 different mixes can be stored under individual names in the Snapshot section. A click on any of the 8 buttons loads the corresponding Snapshot. A

double click on the name field opens the dialog Input Name to edit the name.

As soon as the mixer state is changed the button starts flashing. A click on Store lets all buttons flash, whereby the last loaded one, the base of the current state, flashes inversely. The storage finishes by clicking the desired button (means storage place). The storage process is exited by another click on the flashing Store button.

The area Snapshots can be minimized by a click on the arrow in the title bar.

Groups. The area Groups provides 4 storage places each for fader, mute and

solo groups. The groups are valid per Workspace, being active and usable in all 8 Snapshots. But with this they are also lost when loading a new workspace, in case they have not been saved before in a different Workspace.

Note

: The Undo function will help in case of an accidental overwrite or

deletion of the groups.

TotalMix uses flashing signals to guide you through the group setup. After a click on Edit and click on the desired storage place all desired functions for this group have to be activated or selected. The storage process is finished by another click on Edit.

When setting up a fader group make sure to not add faders that are at the top or low position, except all faders of that group have this position.

The Mute groups operate – other than the global mute – exclusively for the current routing. This way you can not mute signals on all outputs unintentionally. Instead signals can be muted on specific submixes by the push of a button.

A solo group operates exactly like the global solo, signals outside the current routing are not affected.

25.5.3 Channel Layout - Layout Presets

To maintain overview within TotalMix FX channels can be hidden. Channels can also be ex-

cluded from being remoted. Under Options / Channel Layout a dialog lists all I/Os with their

current state. Selecting one or several channels enables the options to the right:

¾ Hide Channel in Mixer/Matrix. The selected channels are no longer shown in TotalMix FX,

nor are they available via MIDI or OSC remote control.

¾ Hide Channel in MIDI Remote 1-4. The selected channels are hidden for MIDI remote (CC

and Mackie Protocol).

¾ Hide Channel in OSC Remote 1-4. The selected channels are hidden for OSC remote

control.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

Hidden channels in Mixer/Matrix are still fully functional. An existing routing/mixing/FX processing stays active. But as the channel is no longer visible it can not be edited anymore. At the same time the hidden channels are removed from the list of remote controllable channels, to prevent them from being edited unnoticed.

Hidden channels in MIDI Remote x are removed from the list of remote controllable channels.

Within an 8-channel block of a Mackie compatible control they are skipped. The control therefore is no longer bound to consecutive orders. For example it will control channels 1, 2, and 6 to 11, when channels 3 to 5 are hidden.

The same can be done for OSC. With unnecessary channels made invisible for the OSC remote the more important channels are available as one block on the remote.

The dialog can be called directly from TotalMix by a right mouse click on any channel. The corresponding channel will then be preselected in the dialog.

Rows Inputs, Playbacks and Outputs are set up individually by the tabs at the top. In Use shows

which channels are currently used in the mixing process.

In the above example the Phones output channel has been made invisible. When the Phones output is not used this is an easy way to remove it from the mixer completely. A more complex setup would be to only show all channels of the drum section, the horn section or the violins.

After finishing those settings the whole state can be stored as Layout Preset. A click on Store and the desired memory slot makes the current channel layout recallable anytime. The button All makes all channels temporarily

visible again.

With a simple click on a button it will then be possible to easily switch views of only the channels involved with the mixing of the drum section, the horn section, the violins, or any other useful view. An optimized remote layout can be activated here as well, with or without visible changes. Double-click the default slot name to enter any other name.

Layout Presets are stored within the Workspace, so make sure to save the current state before loading a different Workspace!

The button Sub activates another useful special view. When in Submix view, Sub will cause all

channels to disappear that are not part of the currently selected Submix/Hardware Output. Sub temporarily shows the mix based on all channels from Inputs and Playback row, independent from the current Layout Preset. That makes it very easy to see and to verify which channels are mixed/routed to the current output. Sub makes checking and verifying of mixes, but also the mix editing itself, a lot easier, and maintains perfect overview even with lots of channels.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

25.5.4 Scroll Location Markers

Another feature to improve overview and working with TotalMix FX are scroll location markers

(TotalMix view only). These are displayed automatically when the horizontal size of the TotalMix FX window is smaller than the channel display requires. Shown on the right side of the scrollbar of each row they have four elements:

¾ Arrow to the left. A left mouse

click let the channels scroll to the very first one, or most left.

¾ 1. Marker number 1. Scroll to the

desired position and perform a right mouse click on 1. A dialog comes up with precise information. Once stored, a left mouse click will scroll the channels to the stored position.

¾ 2. Marker number 2. See 1 for

details.

¾ Arrow to the right. A left mouse

click let the channels scroll the last one, or most right.

Scroll location markers are stored in the Workspace.

Application Examples

• When the TotalMix FX window is intentionally made small in width, so only a few channels

are shown.

• When the available screen space is not sufficient to show all channels.

• When some or all EQ or Dynamics panels are open. Then all relevant settings are always

visible, but require a lot of space horizontally.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

25.6 Reverb and Echo

A click on FX in the View Options / Mixer Setup brings up the Output FX panel. Here all pa-

rameters for the effects Reverb and Echo are adjusted.

Reverb. Activated by the On button. Type. Lists different reverb types for selection. Available are:

¾ Rooms Small, Medium, Large, Walls. Room simulation of rooms

in different size and behaviour.

¾ Shorty provides a short, rich and warm reverb. ¾ Attack slaps back. ¾ Swagger enriches and blows up the original sound source. ¾ Old School is just that. ¾ Echoistic has a heavy echo part within the reverb sound which

brings some nice stereo effect as well.

¾ 8plus9 is a mixture of Old School and Echoistic. ¾ Grand Wide stands for a wide and open room and space. ¾ Thicker can be used as short reverb to enrich the original signal. ¾ Space has the most sizzle and longest reverb time. ¾ Envelope. Reverb effect where the volume course (envelope) is

freely adjustable.

¾ Gated. Simpler version of the Envelope reverb for cut reverb

effects.

Please note that all these reverb types are extremely flexible due to the available Smooth and Room Scale controls. Most of them can be used as short and long reverb, and sound totally different with Smooth turned to maximum or minimum.

TotalMix FX comes with factory presets and default values for all reverb types to ensure a fast setup time and quick results. Please take the time to experiment with them with different signals

and different settings, to learn how different they can sound and can be used.

User's Guide MADIface XT © RME

General Settings PreDelay. Delay of the reverb signal. Adjustable from 0 ms up to 999 ms. Low Cut. High-pass filter before the reverb generation, removes low frequency signals which

should not cause a reverb sound. Adjustable from 20 Hz up to 500 Hz.

High Cut. Low-pass filter after the reverb generation. A reduction of the treble often lets the

reverb sound more natural. Adjustable from 5 kHz up to 20 kHz.

Smooth. Softens the reverb effect, affects stereo width, density and sound colour. Adjustable from 0 up to 100.

Width. Adjusts the stereo width of the reverb signal from 100 (stereo) to 0 (mono). Volume. Adjusts the level of the reverb effects signal sent to the FX return bus.

Special Settings for Room Types Room Scale. Determines the size of the room, thus changing density and length of the reverb

effect. Adjustable from 0.5 up to 3.0.

Special Settings for Envelope and Gated Attack. Length of time for the volume increase of the reverb signal. Also called rise time. Ad-

justable from 5 ms up to 400 ms.

Hold. Length of time for the fixed volume part of the reverb signal. Adjustable from 5 ms up to

400 ms.

Release. Length of time for the volume decrease of the reverb signal. Adjustable from 5 ms up to 400 ms.

Special Settings for Space Reverb Time. Sets the duration of the reverb referenced to a volume drop of 20 dB. Adjustable

from 0.1 s up to 4.9 s.

High Damp. Sets the treble damping over time for the reverb signal. In principle, this is a low-

pass filter like High Cut. Because of the operation principle of this reverb it shows a slightly different behaviour. Adjustable from 5 kHz up to 20 kHz.

Echo. Activated by the On button. Type. Lists different echo algorithms for selection. Available are:

¾ Stereo Echo. Separated echo generators on left and right channel. As a result the echo

follows the sound source within the stereo field.

¾ Stereo Cross. Echo generator on left and right channel with cross coupled feedback which

is only working for the stereo parts of the input signal. In case the input signal is only left or

right the Stereo Cross acts exactly like the Pong Echo.

¾ Pong Echo. Generates an echo that jumps between left and right channel, independent

from the source signal’s stereo position.

Settings Delay Time. Sets the delay time for the first echo. BPM. A double click on the lower value field offers a delay adjustment as Beats Per Minute. Feedback. Feedback to produce further echoes. Width. Adjusts the stereo width of the echo signal from 100 (stereo) to 0 (mono). Volume. Adjusts the level of the echo effects signal sent to the FX return bus. High Cut (HC). Option for more natural sound or intentional damping of the delayed signal.

Preset. Settings of the Reverb and the Echo can be stored, loaded, and copied between chan-

nels at any time. A click on Preset opens a menu with several entries:

¾ Recall: Presets stored before by the user

can be selected and loaded

¾ Save to: There are 16 storage places

available (Reverb/Echo Preset 1 to 16)

¾ Import: Loads a previously stored TM FX

Reverb file (.tmrv) or a TM FX Echo file (.tmeo)

¾ Export: Stores the current state as TM FX

Reverb file (.tmrv) or as TM FX Echo file (.tmeo)

¾ Factory: Includes 10 examples for the

configuration of the Reverb

¾ Reset: Resets the Reverb or Echo ¾ Rename: The Presets 1 to 16 can be renamed. The changes will be shown in both lists

Recall and Save to.

25.7 Preferences

The dialog Preferences can be opened via the Options menu or directly via F2.

Level Meters

¾ Full scale samples for OVR. Number

of consecutive samples to trigger an over detection (1 to 10).

¾ Peak Hold Time. Hold time of the peak

value. Adjustable from 0.1 up to 9.9 s.

¾ RMS +3 dB. Shifts the RMS value by

+3 dB, so that full scale level is identical for Peak and RMS at 0 dBFS.

Mixer Views

¾ FX Send follows highest Submix.

Locks the FX Send knob to the channel fader. As TotalMix supports multiple routings per channel, a definition is needed which fader (only one is visible) is the one that FX Send will follow. This is always the one with the highest fader position, means the highest gain.

¾ FX Send follows Main Out mix.

Gangs the FX Send knob only to the

channel fader of submix Main Out. When a different submix is active FX Send will not follow the fader.

¾ Center Balance/Pan when changing

Mono/Stereo. When switching a

stereo channel into two mono channels the pan-pots are set fully left and right. This option will set them to center instead.

¾ Disable double click fader action.

Prevents unintentional gain settings, for example when using sensitive touchpads.

Dynamic Meters ¾ Compressor/Expander. Activates the

display of the Compressor/Expander’s gain reduction as thin blue line in the level meters of the corresponding channel.

¾ Include Gain setting. The currently set fixed amplification value (by the Gain knob) is in-

cluded in the display. This can lead to positive values, with the display limited to +6 dB. In case the option Compressor/Expander is deactivated this option is also not available, therefore grayed out.

¾ Auto Level. Activates the display of the variable amplification of the Auto Leveler. As Auto

Level can both amplify and attenuate the audio signal, depending on its configuration, the display can show negative (typical gain reduction) as well as positive (above 0 dB, amplification) values.

Snapshots ¾ Do not load Main volume/balance. The values stored in the Snapshot are not loaded for

the Main Out, so the current setting is not changed.

Device Handling

¾ Always init DSP devices with TotalMix FX settings. Not supported by the hardware. ¾ Count MADI Channels per port. Channels shown in TotalMix are counted 1 to 64 three

times.

¾ Disable ASIO Direct Monitoring. Disables ASIO Direct Monitoring (ADM) for the MADI-

face XT within TotalMix FX.

Graphics ¾ Use D2D (Change requires restart). Default on. Can be deactivated to use a compatible

but CPU-taxing graphics mode, in case graphics problems show up.

¾ Brightness correction. Set TotalMix FX screen brightness to your taste, matching the

monitor setting or the environment.

Store Setting for (Windows only)

¾ All Users (Restart required). See next chapter. Special Options

¾ Lock User Interface. Default off. Can be activated to freeze the current mix state. Faders,

buttons and knobs relating to the mix state can not be moved anymore.

25.7.1 Store for Current or All Users (Windows)

TotalMix FX stores all settings, workspaces and snapshots for the current user in:

XP: C:\Documents and Settings\ Username\Local Settings\ Application Data\TotalMixFX Since Vista: C.\Users\Username\AppData\Local\TotalMixFX

Current User ensures that when workstations are used by several people they all find their own

settings. In case the settings should be identical or given for any user, TotalMix FX can be

changed to use the All User directory. An admin could even write protect the file lastMADI- faceXT1.xml, which results in a complete reset to that file’s content whenever TotalMix FX is

restarted. The xml-file is updated on exit, so simply set up TotalMix as desired and exit it (right mouse click on the symbol in the notification area).

25.8 Settings

The dialog Settings can be opened via the Options menu or directly via F3.

25.8.1 Mixer Page

On the mixer page some typical settings for the mixer operation are set, like Talkback source, Dim amount when Talkback is active, the stored main volume or the input used for the External Input function.

Talkback

¾ Input. Selects the input channel of the

Talkback signal (microphone in control room). Default: None.

¾ Dim. Amount of attenuation of the

signals routed to the Phones in dB.

Listenback

¾ Input. Selects the input channel of the

Listenback signal (microphone in recording room). Default: None.

¾ Dim. Amount of attenuation of the

signals routed to the Main Out in dB.

Main Out

¾ Recall. User defined listening volume,

activated by the Recall button at the unit or in TotalMix.

¾ Dim. Amount of attenuation for the

Main Out in dB.

¾ External Input. Selects the stereo

input that replaces the mix signal on the Main Out when activated. The volume of the stereo signal is adjusted by the slider Gain.

PFL Mode ¾ Live Mode, PFL replaces Solo. PFL means Pre Fader Listening. This feature is very use-

ful when operating TotalMix in a live environment, as it allows to quickly listen/monitor any of the inputs by hitting the Solo button. The monitoring happens on the output set for the Cue signal via the Assign dialog.

25.8.2 MIDI Page

The MIDI page has four independent settings for up to four MIDI remote controls, using CC commands or the Mackie Control protocol.

Index

Select one of four settings pages and thus remote controls. Settings are remembered automatically. To activate or deactivate any of the four remote controls check or uncheck ‘In Use’.

MIDI Remote Control

¾ MIDI In. Input where TotalMix receives MIDI Remote data. ¾ MIDI Out. Output where TotalMix sends MIDI Remote data. ¾ Disable MIDI in background. Deactivates MIDI Remote Control as soon as another appli-

cation is in the focus, or when TotalMix has been minimized.

Mackie Control Options

¾ Enable Protocol Support. When

disabled TM FX will only react on the Control Change commands of chapter

28.5.

¾ Extender to. Sets the current remote

to be an extender to the main remote. Both remotes will be shown as one block and navigate simultaneously.

¾ Map Stereo to 2 Mono Channels.

One fader controls one (mono) channel. Should be disabled when stereo channels are used.

¾ Submix Selection in Input/Playback

Row. Enables a selection of the

submix when in first row, without having to change to the third row first. However, when using both mono and stereo channels, first and third row usually do not match anymore, so the selection often becomes unclear this way.

¾ Enable full LCD support. Activates

full Mackie Control LCD support with eight channel names and eight volume/pan values.

¾ Send User defined Names. Channel

names defined by the user will be sent to the remote device via MIDI and – if supported – shown in its display.

¾ Send Level Messages. Activates the transmission of the level meter data. Peak Hold acti-

vates the peak hold function as set up for the TotalMix level meters in the preferences.

: When MIDI Out is set to NONE then TotalMix FX can still be controlled by Mackie Control

Note MIDI commands, but the 8-channel block is not marked as remote target.

25.8.3 OSC Page

The OSC page has four independent settings for up to four MIDI remote controls via Open Sound Control (OSC). This is a network based remote protocol that can be used for example by

Apple’s iPad with the app TouchOSC or Lemur to wirelessly remote control TotalMix FX running

on a Mac or Windows computer.

Index

Select one of four settings pages and thus remote controls. Settings are remembered automatically. To activate or deactivate any of the four remote controls check or uncheck ‘In Use’.

TotalMix FX OSC Service

¾ IP. Shows the network address of the

computer running TotalMix FX (local host). This address must be entered on the remote side.

¾ Host Name. Local computer name. ¾ Port incoming. Must match the

remote entry ‘Port outgoing’. Typical values are 7001 or 8000.

¾ Port outgoing. Must match the remote

entry ‘Port incoming’. Typical values are 9001 or 9000.

Remote Control

¾ IP or Host name. Enter the IP or host

name of the remote control. Please note that the IP number usually works better than the host name.

Options

¾ Send Peak Level. Activates the

transmission of the peak level meter

data. Peak Hold activates the peak

hold function as set up for the TotalMix level meters in the preferences.

25.8.4 Aux Devices

The RME OctaMic XTC is a highly flexible hi-quality 8-channel microphone, line and instrument preamp with integrated ADconversion to ADAT, AES/EBU and MADI, plus 4 channels of DA-conversion for monitoring. It can be used as universal front-end for the MADIface XT and other interfaces.

To simplify operation the most important parameters of the XTC (gain, 48V, phase, mute, AutoSet) can be controlled directly from the TotalMix FX input channels. This special remote control uses MIDI of any format (DIN, USB, MIDI over MADI).

Device Settings

¾ Digital Channels. Select where the

OctaMic XTC sends its 8 analog channels to. With the MADIface XT this will be the eight 8-channel blocks of MADI port 1.

¾ Device. At this time only the OctaMic

XTC is supported and can be chosen.

MIDI Settings

¾ MIDI In. Set the currently used MIDI connection to OctaMic XTC. ¾ MIDI Out. Set the currently used MIDI connection to OctaMic XTC. ¾ Device ID. Default 0. This setting relates to the current choice in Digital Channels.

When using more than one OctaMic XTC these must have different Device IDs (configuration is

done at the OctaMic XTC). Aux Devices supports to set different Device IDs to the 8-channel

blocks as well. Storing the setting is done automatically when selecting a Device ID. To check

the current assignments select all 8-channel blocks sequentially.

The screenshot to the right shows what happens as soon as the above settings have been confirmed with OK. The MADI channels show new elements for phantom power, Inst/PAD, Gain and AutoSet. Control operates bidirectional, so changing the gain at the unit will be mirrored in the TotalMix channels. Changing the gain in TotalMix FX will set the gain in the unit, which is also shown on the unit’s display.

For the remote to work the XTC’s currently used

MIDI I/Os have to be set to Control. More details

are found in the manual of the OctaMic XTC.

25.9 Hotkeys and Usage

TotalMix FX has many hotkeys and mouse/hotkey combinations to speed up and simplify the

usage. The below description refers to Windows. On Mac substitute Ctrl in the below list with

the command key (

The Shift key enables a fine-tuning of the gain with all faders and in the Matrix. On all knobs it

will speed up the setting.

A click on a fader with held down Shift key adds the fader to the temporary fader group. A click in the fader path with held down Ctrl key will let the fader jump to 0 dB, at the next click

to −∞. Same function: Double click of the mouse.

Clicking on one of the Panorama or Gain knobs with held down Ctrl key lets the knob jump to

center position. Same function: Double click of the mouse.

Clicking on the Panorama knob with held down Shift key lets the knob jump to fully left, with Shift-Ctrl to fully right.

Clicking on one of the channel settings buttons (slim/normal, Settings, EQ, Dynamics) with held

down Ctrl key lets all channels to the right change their state. For example all panels can be

opened/closed simultaneously.

A double click of the mouse on a knob or its numerical field opens the according Input Value

dialog. The desired value can then be set by keyboard.

Dragging the mouse from a parameter field increases (move up) or decreases (move down) the value in the field.

Ctrl-N opens the dialog Function Select to open a new TotalMix window. Ctrl-W opens the dialog File Open of the operating system to load a TotalMix Workspace file.

The key W starts the dialog Workspace Quick Select for a direct selection or storage of up to 30

Workspaces.

The key M switches the active window to Mixer view. The key X switches the active window to Matrix view. Ctrl-M opens a new Mixer window, Ctrl-X opens a new Matrix window. Another

Ctrl-M or Ctrl-X closes the new window again.

F1 opens the online help. The Level Meter setup dialog can be opened with F2 (same as in DIGICheck). The dialog Preferences is opened with F3.

Alt-F4 closes the current window. Alt and number keys 1 to 8 (not on the numeric keypad!) will load the corresponding Work-

space from the Workspace Quick Select feature (hotkey W).

u).

25.10 Menu Options

Deactivate Screensaver: When active (checked) any activated Windows screensaver will be

disabled temporarily.

Always on Top: When active (checked) the TotalMix window will always be on top of the Win-

dows desktop.

: This function may result in problems with windows containing help text, as the TotalMix

Note window will even be on top of those windows, so the help text isn't readable.

Enable MIDI / OSC Control: Activates external MIDI or OSC control of the TotalMix mixer. In

Mackie Protocol mode the channels which are currently under MIDI control are indicated by a colour change of the name field. This setting also controls the MIDI remote function in standalone operation. The current state is kept when changing from online to offline. Additionally the

current state is stored in the six Setups, the unit’s own memory. Submix linked to MIDI / OSC control (1-4). The 8-channel group follows the currently selected

submix, means Hardware Output, when a different submix is chosen on the remote as well as when doing this in TotalMix. When using multiple windows it can be useful to deactivate this feature for specific windows. The view will not change then.

Preferences: Opens a dialog box to configure several functions of the level meters and the

mixer. See chapter 25.7.

Settings. Opens a dialog box to configure several functions like Talkback, Listenback, Main Out

and the MIDI Remote Control. See chapter 25.8.

Channel Layout. Hide channels visually and from remote. See chapter 25.5.3. Key Commands. Opens a dialog box to configure the computer’s keyboard keys F4 to F8.

Reset Mix. Offers several options to reset the mixer state:

¾ Straight playback w ith all to Main Out. All Playback channels are routed 1:1 to the Hard-

ware Outputs. Simultaneously all playbacks are mixed down to the Main Out. The faders in the third row are not changed.

¾ Straight Playback. All Playback channels are routed 1:1 to the Hardware outputs. The

faders in the third row are not changed.

¾ Clear all submixes. Deletes all submixes. ¾ Clear channel effects. Switches off all EQs, Low Cuts, Reverb, Echo, Dynamics and Ste-

reo Width and sets their knobs to default position.

¾ Set output volumes. All third row faders will be set to 0 dB, Main and Speaker B to -10 dB. ¾ Reset channel names. Removes all names assigned by the user. ¾ Set all channels mono. Reconfigures all TotalMix FX channels to mono mode. ¾ Set all channels stereo. Reconfigures all TotalMix FX channels to stereo mode. ¾ Set inputs mono / outputs stereo (ADM). Preferred setup for best ASIO Direct Monitoring

compatibility. In most cases mono hardware outputs will break ADM. Mono inputs are in most cases compatible. If not wrong panning might occur.

¾ Total Reset. Playback routing 1:1 with mixdown to Main Out. Switches off all other func-

tions.

25.11 Menu Window

Zoom Options 100%, 135%, 200%. Depending on the size of the monitor and the current reso-

lution TotalMix FX might be much too small and the controls too tiny to easily operate them. Together with the 2 Row mode these options give a lot of different window sizes that suit all monitors and resolutions currently existing.

Hide Control Strip. Shifts the Control Strip out of the visible area to gain more space for other

elements.

26. The Matrix

26.1 Overview

The mixer window of TotalMix looks and operates similar to mixing desks, as it is based on a conventional stereo design. The matrix display presents a different method of assigning and routing channels, based on a single channel or monaural design. The matrix view of the MADIface XT has the look and works like a conventional patchbay, adding functionality way beyond comparable hardware and software solutions. While most patchbays will allow you to connect inputs to outputs with just the original level (1:1, or 0 dB, as known from mechanical patchbays), TotalMix allows you to use a freely definable gain value per crosspoint.

Matrix and TotalMix are different ways of displaying the same processes. Because of this both views are always fully synchronized. Each change in one view is immediately reflected in the other view as well.

26.2 Elements of the Matrix View

The visual design of the Matrix is based o in the architecture of the MADIface XT system:

¾ Horizontal labels. All hardware outputs ¾ Vertical labels. All hardware inputs. Below are

all playback channels.

¾ Green 0.0 dB field. Standard 1:1 routing ¾ Dark grey field with number. Shows the

current gain value as dB

¾ Blue field. This routing is muted ¾ Red field. Phase 180° (inverted) ¾ Dark grey field. No routing.

To maintain overview when the window size has been reduced, the labels are floating. They won't leave the visible area when scrolling.

26.3 Operation

Using the Matrix is a breeze. It is very easy to indentify the current crosspoint, because the outer labels light up in orange according to the mouse position.

¾ If input 1 is to be routed to output 1, use the mouse and click one time on crosspoint In 1 /

Out 1 with held down Ctrl key. Two green 0.0 dB field pop in, another click removes them.

¾ To change the gain (equals the use of a different fader position, see simultaneous display of

the mixer view), drag the mouse up or down, starting from the gain field. The value within the field changes accordingly. The corresponding fader in the mixer view is moving simultaneously, in case the currently modified routing is visible.

¾ On the right side is the Control Strip from the mixer window, adapted to the Matrix. The but-

ton for the temporary fader group is missing as well as all View options, as they don’t make

sense here. Instead the button Mono Mode lets you decide whether all the actions per-

formed in the Matrix are valid for two channels or just one.

The Matrix not always replaces the mixer view, but it significantly enhances the routing capabilities and - more important - is a brilliant way to get a fast overview of all active routings. It shows you in a glance what's going on. And since the Matrix operates monaural, it is very easy to set up specific routings with specific gains.

27. Tips and Tricks

27.1 ASIO Direct Monitoring (Windows)

Programs that support ADM (ASIO Direct Monitoring - Samplitude, Sequoia, Cubase, Nuendo etc.) send control commands to TotalMix. This is directly shown by TotalMix. When a fader is moved in the ASIO host the corresponding fader in TotalMix will move too. TotalMix reflects all ADM gain and pan changes in real-time.

But: the faders only move when the currently activated routing (the selected submix) corresponds to the routing in the ASIO host. The Matrix on the other hand will show any change, as it shows all possible routings in one view.

27.2 Copy a Submix

TotalMix allows you to copy complete submixes to other outputs. In case a complex submix is need with only a few changes on a different output, the whole submix can be copied to that output. Right click with the mouse on the original submix output, means Hardware Output. In the context menu select Copy Submix. Then right click on the new submix output, choose Paste Submix in the context menu. Now fine tune the submix.

27.3 Doubling the Output Signal (Mirror)

If a mix should be sent out via two (or more) different hardware outputs simply mirror that mix to any number of other outputs. A right click on the original output brings up the option to

Copy/Mirror <name>. Another right click on the new output, then selecting Mirror of Output <name> will paste the whole submix and then synchronize it automatically to any future

changes. The outputs now always send out the same signals, but their main volume (fader) and the EQ settings stay fully independent.

27.4 Delete a Submix

The easiest and quickest way to delete complex routings is by selection of the according output

channel in the mixer view by a right mouse click, and selection of the menu entry Clear Submix.

As TotalMix FX includes an unlimited undo the delete process can be undone without any problem.

27.5 Copy and Paste everywhere

The above three tips use functions found in the right click context menu available on all channels of the TotalMix FX mixer view. These menus are also available in the Matrix, but only directly on the channel labels. They are self-explanatory and automatically adjust to where the

click is performed. The input channels offer Clear, Copy input, Paste the input mix and Paste its FX. On a playback channel Copy, Paste and Clear the playback mix are available. On an output channel Copy and Mirror functionality for the current submix and copying of the FX settings is

offered.

These options are very advanced and mighty tools to quickly do the impossible. Still there is no need to fear breaking something, as a simple click (or several) on the Undo button will get you back to where you started!

27.6 Recording a Submix - Loopback

TotalMix includes an internal loopback function, from the Hardware Outputs to the recording software. Instead of the signal at the hardware input, the signal at the hardware output is sent to the record software. This way, submixes can be recorded without an external loopback cable. Also the playback from a software can be recorded by another software.

The function is activated by the Loopback button in the Settings panel of the Hardware Out-

puts. In loopback mode, the signal at the hardware input of the corresponding channel is no longer sent to the recording software, but still passed through to TotalMix. Therefore TotalMix can be used to route this input signal to any hardware output. Using the subgroup recording, the input can still be recorded on a different channel.

As each of the 99 stereo hardware outputs can be routed to the record software, and none of these hardware inputs get lost, TotalMix offers an overall flexibility and performance not rivalled by any other solution.

The risk of feedbacks, a basic problem of loopback methods, is low, because the feedback can not happen within the mixer, only when the audio software is switched into monitoring mode.

The block diagram shows how the software's input signal is played back, and fed back from the Hardware Output to the software input.

The block diagram also shows why with activated Loopback the EQ of the Hardware Output is now within the record path. With Loopback active the EQ of the input is not in the record path,

only in the monitoring path, even when the Option DSP – EQ+D for Record is activated.

Note

: The phones output has no matching input, therefore does not support Loopback.

Recording a Software's playback

In real world application, recording a software's output with another software will show the following problem: The record software tries to open the same playback channel as the playback software (already active), or the playback one has already opened the input channel which should be used by the record software.

This problem can easily be solved. First make sure that all rules for proper multi-client operation are met (not using the same record/playback channels in both programs). Then route the playback signal via TotalMix to a hardware output in the range of the record software, and activate Loopback for recording.

Mixing several input signals into one record channel

In some cases it is useful to record several sources into only one track. For example when using two microphones recording instruments and loudspeakers, TotalMix' Loopback mode saves an external mixing desk. Simply route/mix the input signals to the same output (third row), then redefine this output into a record channel via Loopback. This way any number of input channels from different sources can be recorded into one single track.

27.7 MS Processing

The mid/side principle is a special positioning technique for microphones, which results in a mid signal on one channel and a side signal on the other channel. These information can be transformed back into a stereo signal quite easily. The process sends the monaural mid channel to left and right, the side channel too, but phase inverted (180°) to the right channel. For a better understanding: the mid channel represents the function L+R, while the side channel represents L-R.

During record the monitoring needs to be done in 'conventional' stereo. Therefore TotalMix also offers the functionality of a M/S-decoder. Activation is done in the Settings panel of the Hard-

ware Input and Software Playback channels via the MS Proc button.

The M/S-Processing automatically operates as M/S encoder or decoder, depending on the source signal format. When processing a usual stereo signal, all monaural information will be shifted into the left channel, all stereo information into the right channel. Thus the stereo signal is M/S encoded. This yields some interesting insights into the mono/stereo contents of modern music productions. Additionally some very interesting methods of manipulating the stereo base and generating stereo effects come up, as it is then very easy to process the side channel with Low Cut, Expander, Compressor or Delay.

The most basic application is the manipulation of the stereo width: a change of the level of the side channel allows to manipulate the stereo width from mono to stereo up to extended.

28. MIDI Remote Control

28.1 Overview

TotalMix can be remote controlled via MIDI. It is compatible to the widely spread Mackie Control protocol, so TotalMix can be controlled with all hardware controllers supporting this standard. Examples are the Mackie Control, Tascam US-2400 or Behringer BCF 2000.

Additionally, the stereo output faders (lowest row) which are set up as Main Out in the Control Room section can also be controlled by the standard Control Change Volume via MIDI chan- nel 1. With this, the main volume of the MADIface XT is controllable from nearly any MIDI

equipped hardware device.

MIDI remote control always operates in View Submix mode, even when the View Option Free is

currently selected in TotalMix FX.

28.2 Mapping

TotalMix supports the following Mackie Control surface elements*:

Element: Meaning in TotalMix:

Channel faders 1 – 8 volume Master fader Main Out channel fader SEL(1-8) + DYNAMICS Activate Trim mode V-Pots 1 – 8 pan pressing V-Pot knobs pan = center

CHANNEL LEFT or REWIND move one channel left CHANNEL RIGHT or FAST FORWARD move one channel right BANK LEFT or ARROW LEFT move eight channels left BANK RIGHT or ARROW RIGHT move eight channels right ARROW UP or Assignable1/PAGE+ move one row up ARROW DOWN or Assignable2/PAGE- move one row down

EQ Master Mute PLUGINS/INSERT Master Solo STOP Dim Main Out PLAY Talkback PAN Mono Main Out

FLIP Speaker B DYN TrimGains MUTE Ch. 1 – 8 Mute SOLO Ch. 1 – 8 Solo SELECT Ch. 1 – 8 Select REC Ch. 1 – 8 select output bus (Submix) RECORD Recall

F1 - F8 load Snapshot 1 - 8 F9 select Main Out F10 - F12 select Cue Phones 1 - 3

*Tested with Behringer BCF2000 Firmware v1.07 in Mackie Control emulation for Steinberg mode and with Mackie Control under Mac OS X.

28.3 Setup

Open the Settings dialog (menu Options or F3). On the MIDI tab select the MIDI Input and MIDI Output port where your controller is connected to.

When no feedback is needed select NONE as MIDI Output.

Check Enable MIDI Control in the Options menu.

28.4 Operation

The channels being under Mackie MIDI control are indicated by a colour change of the name field, black turns to brown.

The 8-fader block can be moved horizontally and vertically, in steps of one or eight channels.

Faders can be selected to gang them.

In Submix View mode, the current routing destination (output bus) can be selected via REC Ch. 1 – 8. This equals the selection of a different output channel in the lowest row by a mouse click when in Submix View. In MIDI operation it is not necessary to jump to the lowest row to perform this selection. This way even the routing can be easily changed via MIDI.

Full LC Display Support: This option in Preferences (F3) activates complete Mackie Control LCD support with eight channel names and eight volume/pan values. When Full LC Display Support is turned off, only a brief information about the first fader of the block (channel and row)

is sent. This brief information is also available on the LED display of the Behringer BCF2000.

Disable MIDI in Background (menu Options, Settings) disables the MIDI control as soon as

another application is in the focus, or in case TotalMix has been minimized. This way the hardware controller will control the main DAW application only, except when TotalMix is in the foreground. Often the DAW application can be set to become inactive in background too, so that MIDI control is switched between TotalMix and the application automatically when switching between both applications.

TotalMix also supports the 9th fader of the Mackie Control. This fader (labelled Master) will con-

trol the stereo output faders (lowest row) which are set up as Main Out in the Control Room

section.

28.5 MIDI Control

The hardware output which is set up as Main Out can be controlled by the standard Control Change Volume via MIDI channel 1. With this, the main volume of the MADIface XT is control-

lable from nearly any MIDI equipped hardware device.

Even if you don't want to control all faders and pans, some buttons are highly desired to be

available in 'hardware'. These are mainly the Talkback and the Dim button, and the monitoring option Cue (listen to Phones submixes). Fortunately a Mackie Control compatible controller is

not required to control these buttons, as they are steered by simple Note On/Off commands on MIDI channel 1.

The notes are (hex / decimal / keys):

Dim: 5D / 93 / A 6 Mono: 2A / 42 / #F 2 Talkback: 5E / 94 / #A 6 Recall: 5F / 95 / H 6 Speaker B: 32 / 50 / D3

Cue Main Out: 3E / 62 / D 4 Cue Phones 1: 3F / 63 / #D 4 Cue Phones 2: 40 / 64 / E 4 Cue Phones 3: 41 / 65 / F 4 Cue Phones 4: 42 / 66 / #F 4

Snapshot 1: 36 / 54 / #F 3 Snapshot 2: 37 / 55 / G 3 Snapshot 3: 38 / 56 / #G 3 Snapshot 4: 39 / 57 / A 3 Snapshot 5: 3A / 58 / #A 3 Snapshot 6: 3B / 59 / B 3 Snapshot 7: 3C / 60 / C 4 Snapshot 8: 3D / 61 / #C 4

Trim Gains: 2D / 45 / A 2 Master Mute Master Solo: 2B / 43 / G 2

Note

: Switching off Mackie Protocol support in Settings / Mackie Control Options will also dis-

able the above simple MIDI note commands, as they are part of the Mackie protocol.

Furthermore all faders of all three rows can be controlled via simple Control Change com-

mands. The format for the Control Change commands is:

Bx yy zz

x = MIDI channel yy = control number zz = value

The first row in TotalMix is addressed by MIDI channels 1 up to 4, the middle row by channels 5 up to 8 and the bottom row by channels 9 up to 12.

16 Controller numbers are used: 102 up to 117 (= hex 66 to 75). With these 16 Controllers (= faders) and 4 MIDI channels each per row, up to 64 faders can be controlled per row.

: 2C / 44 / #G 2

Examples for sending MIDI strings:

- Set input 1 to 0 dB: B0 66 68

- Set input 17 to maximum attenuation: B1 66 0

- Set playback 1 to maximum: B4 66 7F

- Set Output 16 to 0 dB: B8 75 68

Note

: Sending MIDI strings requires to use programmer's logic for the MIDI channel, starting

with 0 for channel 1 and ending with 15 for channel 16.

Further functions:

- Trim Gains On: BC 66 xx (BC = MIDI channel 13, xx = any value)

- Trim Gains Off: BC 66 xx or select a submix

Select submix (fader) in third row:

- channel 1/2: BC 68/69 xx

- channel 3/4: BC 6A/6B xx etc.

Input Gain control is available via CC9, value range as the gain itself (up to 60). The MIDI channel determines the controlled channel, from 1 to 16 (XT: only 1/2). For this to work, Enable MIDI Control in the Options menu has to be activated. Note that gain steps smaller 3 dB are not

possible from the XT hardware, so sending ‘11’ and getting a display of ‘+11 dB’ in TotalMix FX is an invalid command as well as display.

28.6 Loopback Detection

The Mackie Control protocol requires feedback of the received commands, back to the hardware controller. So usually TotalMix will be set up with both a MIDI input and MIDI output. Unfortunately any small error in wiring and setup will cause a MIDI feedback loop here, which then completely blocks the computer (the CPU).

To prevent the computer from freezing, TotalMix sends a special MIDI note every 0.5 seconds to its MIDI output. As soon as it detects this special note at the input, the MIDI functionality is

disabled. After fixing the loopback, check Enable MIDI Control under Options to reactivate the

TotalMix MIDI.

28.7. OSC (Open Sound Control)

Besides simple MIDI notes, the Mackie Protocol and Control Change commands, TotalMix FX can also be controlled by the Open Sound Control, OSC. For details on setup and usage see chapter 25.8.3.

An OSC implementation chart can be downloaded from the RME website:

http://www.rme-audio.de/download/osc_table_totalmix.zip

RME offers a free iPad template for the iOS app TouchOSC (by Hexler, available in the Apple App-Store):

http://www.rme-audio.de/download/tosc_tm_ipad_template.zip

The RME forum hosts further information, more templates (iPhone…) and lots of useful user feedback.

User's Guide

MADIface XT

Technical Reference

29. Technical Specifications

29.1 Analog

AD, Microphone/Line 1-2

• Input: XLR, electronically balanced

• Input impedance: 2 kOhm

• Resolution: 24 bit

• Signal to Noise ratio (SNR): 108 dB RMS unweighted, 111 dBA

• Frequency response @ 44.1 kHz, -0.5 dB: 12 Hz – 20.9 kHz

• Frequency response @ 96 kHz, -0.5 dB: 12 Hz – 45.3 kHz

• Frequency response @ 192 kHz, -1 dB: 8 Hz - 90 kHz

• THD: < -100 dB, < 0.001 %

• THD+N: < -98 dB, < 0.0012 %

• Channel separation: > 110 dB

• Gain range: 0 dB, +9 up to +60 dB

• Maximum input level XLR, Gain 0 dB: +12 dBu

• Maximum input level XLR, Gain 60 dB: -48 dBu

• CLIP LED: 0 dBFS

• SIG LED: -52 dBFS

AD, TRS

As Microphone/Line 1-2, but:

• Input: 6.3 mm TRS jack, unbalanced

• Input impedance: 5 kOhm

• Maximum input level TRS, Gain 0 dB: +24 dBu

• Maximum input level TRS, Gain 60 dB: -36 dBu

DA, Line Out 1-2

• Resolution: 24 bit

• Dynamic range (DR): 112 dB, 115 dBA @ 44.1 kHz (unmuted)

• Frequency response @ 44.1 kHz, -0.5 dB: 10 Hz - 22 kHz

• Frequency response @ 96 kHz, -0.5 dB: 10 Hz – 45 kHz

• Frequency response @ 192 kHz, -1 dB: 5 Hz - 80 kHz

• THD: - 104 dB, 0.00063 %

• THD+N: -100 dB, 0.001 %

• Channel separation: > 110 dB

• Output: XLR balanced

• Output impedance: 150 Ohm

• Output level balanced at 0 dBFS: +15 dBu

• Output level unbalanced at 0 dBFS: +9 dBu

DA, Phones 3/4

As DA Line Out, but:

• Output: 6.3 mm TRS jack, unbalanced

• Output impedance: 30 Ohm

• Output level at 0 dBFS: +7 dBu

29.2 Digital Inputs

MADI

• Coaxial via BNC, 75 Ohm, according to AES10-1991

• High-sensitivity input stage (< 0.2 Vpp)

• Optical via FDDI duplex SC connector

• 62.5/125 and 50/125 compatible

• Accepts 56 channel and 64 channel mode, plus 96k Frame

• Standard: up to 64 channels 24 bit 48 kHz

• S/MUX: up to 32 channels 24 bit 96 kHz

• S/MUX4: up to 16 channels 24 bit 192 kHz

• Lock range: 25 kHz – 54 kHz

• Jitter when synced to input signal: < 1 ns

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 when synced to input signal: < 1 ns

• Jitter suppression: > 30 dB (2.4 kHz)

Word Clock

• BNC, not terminated (10 kOhm)

• Switchable internal termination 75 Ohm

• Automatic Double/Quad Speed detection and conversion to Single Speed

• SteadyClock guarantees super low jitter synchronization even in varispeed operation

• Not effected by DC-offsets within the network

• Signal Adaptation Circuit: signal refresh through auto-center and hysteresis

• Overvoltage protection

• Level range: 1.0 Vss – 5.6 Vpp

• Lock range: 28 kHz – 200 kHz

• Jitter when synced to input signal: < 1 ns

• Jitter suppression: > 30 dB (2.4 kHz)

29.3 Digital Outputs

MADI

• Coaxial via BNC, 75 Ohm, according to AES10-1991

• Output voltage 600 mVpp

• Cable length: up to 100 m

• Optical via FDDI duplex SC connector

• 62.5/125 and 50/125 compatible

• Cable length: up to 2000 m

• Generates 56 channel and 64 channel mode, plus 96k Frame

• Standard: up to 64 channels 24 bit 48 kHz

• S/MUX / 96k Frame: up to 32 channels 24 bit 96 kHz

• S/MUX4: up to 16 channels 24 bit 192 kHz

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

Word Clock

• BNC

• Max. output voltage: 5 Vpp

• Output voltage @ 75 Ohm termination: 4.0 Vpp

• Output impedance: 10 Ohm

• Frequency range: 28 kHz – 200 kHz

29.4 Digital

• Clocks: Internal, MADI In, Word Clock In, AES In

• Low jitter design: < 1 ns in PLL mode, all inputs

• Internal clock: 800 ps jitter, random spread spectrum

• Jitter suppression of external clocks: about 30 dB (2.4 kHz)

• Effective clock jitter influence on DA conversion: near zero

• Provides nearly jitter-free word clock directly from the MADI input signal

• Input PLL ensures zero dropout, even at more than 100 ns jitter

• Supported sample rates: 28 kHz up to 200 kHz

• Compliant with PCI Express Base Specification v1.1

• 1-Lane PCI Express Endpoint device

• 2.5 Gbps line speed

• Packet-based full-duplex communication (up to 500 MB/s transfer rate)

29.5 MIDI

• 1 x MIDI I/O via breakout cable

• 3 x MIDI I/O via MADI

• PCIe bus based hi-speed operation

• Separate 128 byte FIFO for input and output

• MIDI state machine in hardware for reduced interrupt request load

• Invisible transmission via User bit of channel 56 (up to 48 kHz)

• Invisible transmission via User bit of channel 28 (up to 96 kHz)

29.6 General

• Power supply: external power supply

• Typical power consumption: 10 Watts

• Current at 12 Volt operating voltage, idle: 720 mA (8.6 Watts)

• Dimensions incl. rack ears, full depth (WxHxD): 265 x 44 x 159 mm (10.5" x 1.73" x 6.26")

• Dimensions without rack ears, body depth (WxHxD): 215 x 44 x 130 mm (8.5" x 1.73" x 5.1")

• Weight: 1.0 kg ( 2.2 lbs)

• Temperature range: +5° up to +50° Celsius (41° F up to 122°F)

• Relative humidity: < 75%, non condensing

• Included power supply: Internal switching PSU, 100 - 240 V AC, 2 A, 24 Watts

30. Technical Background

30.1 MADI Basics

MADI, the serial Multichannel Audio Digital Interface, has been defined already in 1989 as an

extension of the existing AES3 standard following several manufacturers' wish. The format also known as AES/EBU, a balanced bi-phase signal, is limited to two channels. Simply put, MADI contains 28 of those AES/EBU signals in serial, i. e. after one another, and the sample rate can still even vary by +/-12.5%. The limit which cannot be exceeded is a data rate of 100Mbit/s.

Because an exact sampling frequency is used in most cases, the 64 channel mode was introduced officially in 2001. It allows for a maximum sample rate of 48 kHz + ca. 1%, corresponding to 32 channels at 96 kHz, without exceeding the maximum data rate of 100 Mbit/s. The effective data rate of the port is 125 Mbit/s due to additional coding.

Older devices understand and generate only the 56 channel format. Newer devices often work in the 64 channel format, but offer still no more than 56 audio channels. The rest is being eaten up by control commands for mixer settings etc. RME's devices of the MADI series show that this can be done in a much better way, with an invisible transmission of 16 MIDI channels and the MADI signal still being 100% compatible.

For the transmission of the MADI signal, proved methods known from network technology were applied. Most people know unbalanced (coaxial) cables with 75 Ohms BNC plugs, they are not expensive and easy to get. The optical interface is much more interesting due to its complete galvanic separation, but for many users it is a mystery, because very few have ever dealt with huge cabinets full of professional network technology. Therefore here are some explanations regarding 'MADI optical'.

• The cables used are standard in computer network technology. They are thus not at all expensive, but unfortunately not available in every computer store.

• The cables have an internal fibre of only 50 or 62.5 µm diameter and a coating of 125 µm. They are called network cables 62.5/125 or 50/125, the former mostly being blue and the latter mostly being orange. Although in many cases not clearly labelled, these are always (!) glass fibre cables. Plastic fibre cables (POF, plastic optical fibre) can not be manufactured in such small diameters.

• The plugs used are also an industry standard and called SC. Please don't mix them up with ST connectors, which look similar to BNC connectors and are being screwed. Plugs used in the past (MIC/R) were unnecessarily big and are not being used any longer.

• The cables are available as a duplex variant (2 cables being glued together) or as a simplex variant (1 cable). The XT’s optical module supports both variants.

• The transmission uses the multimode technique which supports cable lengths of up to almost 2 km. Single mode allows for much longer distances, but it uses a completely different fibre (8 µm). By the way, due to the wave-length of the light being used (1300 nm) the optical signal is invisible to the human eye.

30.2 Lock and SyncCheck

Digital signals consist of a carrier and the data. If a digital signal is applied to an input, the receiver has to synchronize to the carrier clock in order to read the data correctly. To achieve this, the receiver uses a PLL (Phase Locked Loop). As soon as the receiver meets the exact fre-

quency of the incoming signal, it is locked. This Lock state remains even with small changes of

the frequency, because the PLL tracks the receiver's frequency.

If a MADI signal is applied to the MADIface XT, the unit indicates LOCK, i. e. a valid input signal. This information is presented in the MADIface XT Settings dialog. In the status display

SyncCheck, the state of all clocks is decoded and shown as simple text (No Lock, Lock, Sync).

Unfortunately, LOCK does not necessarily mean that the received signal is correct with respect to the clock which processes the read out of the embedded data. Example: The MADIface XT is set to 44.1 kHz internally (clock mode Master), and a mixing desk with MADI output is connected to the card's MADI input. The status display will show LOCK immediately, but usually the mixing desk's sample rate is generated internally (it is Master too), and thus slightly higher or lower than the MADIface XT internal sample rate. Result: When reading out the data, there will frequently be read errors that cause clicks and drop outs.

Also when using multiple clock signals, a simple LOCK is not sufficient. The above described problem can be solved elegantly by setting the MADIface XT from Master to AutoSync (its internal clock will then be the clock delivered by the mixing desk). But in case the card is clocked to word clock, this signal can also be un-synchronous, and there will again be a slight difference in the sample rate, and therefore clicks and drop outs.

In order to display those problems, the MADIface XT includes SyncCheck. It checks all clocks used for synchronicity. If they are not synchronous to each other, the status display will show

LOCK. If they are synchronous to each other (i.e. absolutely identical), the status display will change to SYNC. In the example above it would have been obvious immediately that the entry

LOCK is shown in SyncCheck instead of SYNC, right after connecting the mixing desk. With

external synchronisation via word clock, both entries Word Clock and MADI must display SYNC.

In practice, SyncCheck allows for a quick overview of the correct configuration of all digital devices. So one of the most difficult and error-prone topics of the digital studio world finally becomes easy to handle.

30.3 Latency and Monitoring

The term Zero Latency Monitoring has been introduced by RME in 1998 for the DIGI96 series

of audio cards. It stands for the ability to pass-through the computer's input signal at the interface directly to the output. Since then, the idea behind has become one of the most important features of modern hard disk recording. In the year 2000, RME published two ground-breaking

Tech Infos on the topics Low Latency Background, which are still up-to-date: Monitoring, ZLM and ASIO, and Buffer and Latency Jitter, both found on the RME website.

How much Zero is Zero?

From a technical view there is no zero. Even the analog pass-through is subject to phase errors, equalling a delay between input and output. However, delays below certain values can subjectively be claimed to be a zero-latency. This applies to analog routing and mixing, and in our opinion also to RME's Zero Latency Monitoring. The term describes the digital path of the audio data from the input of the interface to its output. RME's digital receivers operate buffered, and together with TotalMix and the output via the transmitter cause a typical delay of 3 samples. At 44.1 kHz this equals about 68 µs (0.000068 s), and about 15µs at 192 kHz.

Oversampling

While the delays of digital interfaces can be disregarded altogether, the analog inputs and outputs do cause a significant delay. Modern converter chips operate with 64 or 128 times oversampling plus digital filtering, in order to move the error-prone analog filters away from the audible frequency range as far as possible. This typically generates a delay of one millisecond. A playback and re-record of the same signal via DA and AD (loopback) then causes an offset of the newly recorded track of about 2 ms. The exact delays of the MADIface XT are:

Sample frequency kHz 44.1 48 88.2 96 176.4 192

AD (43.2 x 1/fs) ms 0.98 0.9 0.49 0.45

AD (38.2 x 1/fs) ms 0.22 0.2

DA (28 x 1/fs) ms 0.63 0.58 0.32 0.29 0.16 0.15

Buffer Size (Latency) Windows: This option found in the Settings dialog defines the size of the buffers for the audio

data used in ASIO and WDM (see chapter 7 and 9).

Mac OS X: The buffer size is defined within the application. Only some do not offer any setting.

For example iTunes is fixed to 512 samples.

General: A setting of 64 samples at 44.1 kHz causes a latency of 1.5 ms, for record and play-

back each. But when performing a digital loopback test no latency/offset can be detected. The reason is that the software naturally knows the size of the buffers, therefore is able to position the newly recorded data at a place equalling a latency-free system.

AD/DA Offset under ASIO and OS X: ASIO (Windows) and Core Audio (Mac OS X) allow for the

signalling of an offset value to correct buffer independent delays, like AD- and DA-conversion or the Safety Buffer described below. An analog loopback test will then show no offset, because the application shifts the recorded data accordingly.

Because the MADIface XT is mainly a digital interface, and the delays introduced by external AD/DA-converters or other digital interfaces are unknown to unit and driver, the drivers include the digital offset values (3 / 6 / 12 samples). Therefore the delays caused by external converters have to be taken care off in the record software, which usually means that the user has to enter specific offset values manually.

Note

: Cubase and Nuendo display the latency values signalled from the driver separately for record and playback. The current driver includes a safety offset of 32 samples for the playback side only, which will be included in the shown value.

Safety Buffer

An additional small Safety Buffer on the playback side has proven to be very efficient and useful. The MADIface XT uses a fixed additional buffer of 32 samples, which is added to the current buffer size. The main advantage is the ability to use lowest latency at highest CPU loads. Furthermore, the fixed buffer does not add to the latency jitter (see Tech Info), the subjective timing is extraordinary.

Core Audio's Safety Offset

Under OS X, every audio interface has to use a so called Safety Offset on record and playback,

otherwise Core Audio won't operate click-free. The MADIface XT uses a Safety Offset of 16 samples. This offset is signalled to the system, and the software can calculate and display the total latency of buffer size plus 2 x Safety Offset plus Safety Buffer for the current sample rate.

30.4 USB Audio

USB audio is in several ways different from PCI based audio interfaces. Thanks to the high

speed of USB 3, typical problems of streamed (isochronous) data transmission can be circum-

vented. RME’s proprietary USB 3 technology makes it possible to achieve performance similar

to PCI Express, IF all participating components work perfectly. At this time USB 3 has got a bad

reputation because many layouts, cables and connectors are designed badly and lower the maximum throughput. Typical problems are not or randomly detected devices, devices that fail as soon as data is transmitted, transmission errors and following (as required by the USB 3 standard) the reset of the host controller, guaranteeing a drop out for several seconds.

It is therefore not possible to guarantee reliable and highest performance of USB 3 operation with any computer and cable just because they support USB 3. The real performance has to be evaluated on a per USB 3 port (!) and per cable base.

To make this as easy as possible, and to quickly signal problems, RME added an extensive error detection and analysis into the MADIface XT hardware, detecting errors during transmis-

sion via USB 2 and 3, and displaying them in the Settings dialog. Additionally the MADIface provides a special mechanism to continue recording and playback in case of drop-outs, and to correct the sample position in real-time.

While some errors shown here might not cause audible clicks and do not stop record/playback, the golden rule

applies: only zero errors are acceptable. If errors show up

use a different USB 3 port and exchange the USB 3 cable. Never use USB 3 cable extensions!

Current MADIface XT USB 3 Compatibility Information ¾ Fully compatible to Intel's USB 3 implementation which - on current Windows and Mac

computers - is part of the chipset. USB 3 sockets that are connected via an internal cable (not directly soldered onto the motherboard) can cause transmission errors (shown in the Settings dialog).

¾ Fully compatible to AMD's USB 3 implementation. USB 3 sockets that are connected via an

internal cable (not directly soldered onto the motherboard) can cause transmission errors (shown in the Settings dialog).

¾ Compatible to NEC / Renesas USB 3. Real-world performance and error-free operation

depend on the firmware version, driver version and the PCB layout of the respective extension card/motherboard.

¾ Fully compatible to Fresco USB 3 chip. ¾ ASMedia - not compatible

¾ Etron EJ168A - not compatible ¾ Texas TUSB7340 - not compatible ¾ Via VL800/805 - not compatible

The MADIface XT is capable of using two different transmission modes to record data. The XT

defaults to Bulk Mode, which improves reliability of USB 3 audio tremendously and helps with

both less than perfect cabling as well as critical layouts around the USB 3 chip. The standard’s

default is Isochronous Streaming, which is unreliable as per the standard (errors are to be ex-

pected!), unreliable in real-world operation, and not correctly supported by popular USB 3 chips. In very seldom cases, bulk mode can not keep up with the strict timing required for continuous audio streaming. Then, to make the XT work at all, isochronous mode must be used (but is still prone to clicks and drop-outs). To make the standard mode available as reference, firmware versions higher than 160 enable the activation of the isochronous mode in the Settings dialog.

The MADIface XT also supports USB 2. Good performance and click-free operation even at low

buffer sizes are indeed possible on current computers. However, using older computers a simple stereo playback might cause a CPU load of more than 30%.

100

RME MADIFace XT User manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual