RME HDSPe MADI FX - 390 Channel PCIe Audio Card

The HDSPe MADI FX from RME is a two-card, compact PCIe solution for transmitting a huge number of audio channels using the MADI protocol. Utilizing two optical and one coaxial set of inputs and outputs, the cards are capable of delivering 194 input and 196 output channels when used in conjunction with the two-channel AES/EBU I/O and the analog monitor output. Wordclock connection and four MIDI I/Os are also available, and only a single PCIe slot is required on the motherboard, plus one free slot opening on the case.

Not only does the system provide an impressive input and output count, but the included TotalMix FX software features a 4,096-channel mixer with a 192 kHz effects engine that allows latency-free monitoring with numerous effects like EQs, compressors, reverb, and echo, rendered directly on the hardware of the card and independent of the DAW software being used. MIDI is integrated and provides comprehensive remote control, while Wordclock I/O includes switchable termination. Additionally, a complete set of diagnostic and monitoring software is available.

Overview

• Two-card PCIe solution for transmitting a huge number of audio channels using the MADI protocol
• 194 input and 196 output channels when used in conjunction with the two-channel AES/EBU I/O and the analog monitor output
• Wordclock connection and four MIDI I/Os
• Only a single PCIe slot is required on the motherboard, plus one free slot opening on the case
• Efficiency technology automatically deactivates currently unused channels, so that they require no processing power or bandwidth
• Special version of TotalMix FX allows using the enormous channel count in an efficient and practical manner and ensures that the 4,096-channel mixer of the MADI FX responds just as smoothly as its 1,800-channel counterpart in the Fireface UFX
• Faster DSP allows for a greater number of EQs and compressors
• To enable ergonomic handling of the enormous number of channels, an option makes it possible to visually hide unused channels
• Complete " Hide setups" can be saved at any time, and switched with a simple mouse click
• The 192 kHz RME effects engine allows latency-free monitoring with numerous effects like EQs, compressors, reverb, and echo, rendered directly on the hardware of the card and independent of the DAW software being used
• TotalMix matrix allows for using the card as powerful MADI router, with the ability to route each channel individually, even with separate level settings for each routing
• Seamless Redundancy Operation utilizes the three MADI receivers to provide state-of-the-art fail safe operation with seamless switching in the event of failure
• Includes SteadyClock active jitter suppression, and DIGICheck meter and analysis toolbox (including EBU R128 metering)
• Nearly identical operation of the card under Windows and Mac OS

Inputs and Outputs

3 x MADI I/O

• Two optical and one coaxial MADI I/O (SC industry standard optical connectors, coaxial configured as 75 BNC)
• 192 inputs and 192 outputs simultaneously available at 44.1 and 48 kHz, 96 inputs and 96 outputs at 96 kHz, and 48 inputs and 48 outputs at 192 kHz
• In general, two optical MADI-I/Os are adequate to implement a major studio or live setup with long cable lengths, whereas the additional coaxial MADI I/O provides maximum flexibility and provides in-the-box conversion between both formats

Analog Monitoring Output

• Low-latency, reference quality analog stereo output, ideally suited to high- and low-impedance headphones
• Using the monitoring features of TotalMix, any input channel, recorded tracks, or complex sub-mixes can be selected for listening
• Cue function allows each of the 98 possible stereo sub-mixes to be monitored with a single mouse click

AES/EBU I/O

• Digital input/output in the professional AES/EBU format for those who work with additional AES/EBU devices and would like to easily connect them to their DAW
• Allows the connection of a simple AD/DA converter (e.g. RME's ADI-2 for example) to get a second monitoring output, or to create a talkback setup
• Easily connect an external digital effects unit
• The AES/EBU I/O can also be used for synchronization, e.g. with Steinberg's synchronizer and clock device, the Nuendo Sync Station


• MIDI Integration and Remote Control
  • Four MIDI I/Os - one via the external breakout cable, the other three internal as virtual MIDI ports, one for each MADI I/O
  • Each MADI I/O owns a virtual MIDI I/O in the operating system that can be addressed by any MIDI program
  • MIDI signals are transmitted through the same lines and distances as the MADI data, with the MIDI signals able to be played back from RME MADI devices via a standard MIDI DIN port
  • Allows remote control of all RME MADI devices, including monitoring and configuring a device's complete status
  • All units can be programmed with their own ID, allowing independent remote control of multiple devices via a single MIDI channel
  • Makes MADI transmission across large distances practical, such as when host computers and devices are far from each other, as for example FOH and stage
  • RME provides free Windows and Mac software to control all RME MADI devices - this " MIDI Remote" can use any existing MIDI port within the system to remotely control and monitor all connected devices
  • The software provides both a front-panel like operation and an extended Matrix display
  
  Wordclock I/O
  • Wordclock I/O with switchable termination
  • The MADI FX card uses SteadyClock to extract the reference clock directly from the MADI signal, while reducing possible jitter to a minimum, making long-distance connections even more convenient
  • Wordclock input processes signals automatically in single, double or quad speed

TotalMix FX

Digital Zero Latency Effects

• DSP-based hardware mixer with 46-bit internal resolution
• Provides the same 192 kHz effects engine as the Fireface UFX and UCX but with improved DSP efficiency, ensuring that the 4,096-channel mixer reacts just as smoothly as those on other RME interfaces that feature significantly fewer channels
• Every input and output channel comes with a feature set comparable to a full-scale digital console
• Effects per channel include 3-band parametric EQ, adjustable Low Cut, Auto Level, Compressor, Expander, MS Processing and phase reversal
• Reverb and Echo effects unit is available for all channels by way of a stereo send and return bus
• TotalMix can easily replace any external mixer, for example to create different latency-free monitoring mixes with EQ and Reverb for the main studio monitors and the headphone of the vocalist(s) in the recording room
• The FX-DSP uses automatic overload surveillance - as soon as no effect can be added to the fully loaded DSP, the TotalMix surface will clearly signal this condition
• When changing to higher sample rates all effects that exceed the DSP's performance are automatically deactivated - this also prevents any possible damage to loudspeakers due to distortion
• The DSP hardware calculates RMS and Peak levels for all level meters, so there is zero CPU load on the host

Flexible Routing with Professional Matrix View

• All 194 inputs and 196 playback channels can be freely routed and mixed to 196 physical outputs
• This creates a powerful router/mixer and allows for much more than usage as simple computer I/O unit
• Examples include a MADI optical patchbay and router, MADI coaxial/optical (or vice versa) converter and splitter, or a MADI redistributor, patchbay and router
• Enables lightning-quick changes and the creation of routings and setups with just a few mouse clicks